June 2014 in comics was a rather low key month, all things considered. DC Comics continued to release a couple of pretty good weekly comics in “Batman Eternal” and “New 52 Futures End”, while the rest of their line continues to be hit and miss. “Batman Eternal” #11, in particular, was a very special issue with vibrant art from Ian Bertram. It was truly one of the most pleasant surprises of DC’s year so far. They also announced two new Bat-books. Who needs more Bat books? DC’s bottom line, I guess. However, it should be noted that they look like unique takes on Batman’s world, for what it’s worth – and not just another book with Batman at the center.
Marvel Comics started dropping teases for “Spider-verse” related comics. We got a list of collaborators for the build-up to the event, including a techno-Spidey issue by Gerard Way and Jake Wyatt. On the other hand, Marvel’s solicitations were also abnormally packed with $4.99 books. Most of these issues were labeled as “special” events, and they all have added page counts, but it still seemed like a disturbing trend to the writers here at Multiversity, and one that has the potential to alienate.
What was better received were the casting announcements for Marvel Studios’ Daredevil Netflix series. Rosario Dawson, Elden Henson, and “Private Pyle” himself – Vincent D’onofrio as Kingpin. A winning cast, all around.
The new Star Wars films got a slew of directors involved with future movies, including sci-fi favorites Josh Trank (doing a standalone film) and Rian Johnson (who will be doing the two main series entries after J.J. Abrams’ “Episode VII.”
Michael Moreci and Vic Malhotra finally quit teasing us and gave us the goods on their terrific looking new cerebral sci-fi series “Roche Limit”
And finally, in a very special moment in comic strip history, Bill Watterson returned to do a guest strip on Stephan Pastis’ “Pearls Before Swine.” Watterson is a personal hero of mine, and an philosophical inspiration for how to look at the world. It was great to have him back, if even for a fleeting moment with someone else’s strip. Very special.
Now let’s talk about the comics:
Best Issue: “Moon Knight” #4
I’m going to be honest – “Moon Knight” #4 gave me nightmares. Not only was it incredibly unsettling and vivid in the way that it blended fantasy and reality, blurring lines and keeping the reader in the dark as to what is real and what is imaginary. That’s difficult to convey in a Marvel 616 universe, where our heroes routinely encounter alien beings from other planets and use cosmic abilities to accomplish their goals. With all due respect to Brandon Graham’s unique artistic vision, I referenced it when talking about “Moon Knight” #4, because I think it is reaching for a similar goal. When Moon Knight encounters this weird mushroom “world”, I was reminded of the exploration of impossible planetscapes that “Prophet” gives us on a monthly basis. This issue dares to do things that mainstream comics often don’t, using a minimalist plot as a springboard for Shalvey to do some of his best work yet. A masterstroke, as far as “big 2” comics goes.
Runner Up: “The Wicked + The Divine” #1 – Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie doing what they do best. Riffing on the themes of modern millennial life and pop culture through the lens of godly fantasy.
Best Writer: Warren Ellis
Ellis’ “Moon Knight” has joined “Hawkeye” as a Marvel comic that I would gladly recommend to anyone and everyone as “essential reading.” And with only 6 issues of Ellis and Shalvey’s run coming, in total, I feel safe saying that it’s not going to overstay its welcome or run out of steam with its gimmick.
But he’s also writing “Trees” over at Image Comics, a provocative and rich book that explores the ramifications of a relatively benign alien invasion on the entire world. I surrender that the series is slow moving, but it almost has to be, with the approach that Ellis is taken. The scope is just so very wide. A particularly impressive thing about “Trees” is the way that Ellis establishes everything around the Trees, and very little about the Trees themselves. As long as we know so little about the Trees, there will be endless tension and unsettling calm before an anticipated storm. If someday we do find out what they’re here for, or if they take a more active role in Ellis’ world, it’s going to be a powderkeg.
Continued belowAny which way that Ellis goes, he has set himself up for success.
Runner Up: Tim Seeley – Wrote on the best issue of “Batman Eternal” (#11) yet and participated in the “Chew/Revival” crossover, which was insanely fun.
Best Artist: Declan Shalvey
I just keep pouring on the praise for “Moon Knight” #4, but it really was the best issue of June 2014 in comics. Ellis pretty much turns the second half of the issue over to Shalvey and lets him run wild. Together with Jordie Bellaire’s vibrant colors schemes (color schemes very foreign to the series’ first few issues), Shalvey creates a landscape for mushroom world unlike anything we’ve seen at Marvel Comics. Shalvey’s work, like so many unique talents at Marvel right now, is a great example of the narrative benefits of not having a “house style.” In the hands of an artist that is capable of exploring and experimenting with a character and what makes him unique, we got a really special issue with eye-popping art.
Runner Up: Jason Howard – Ellis is enjoying an embarrassment of riches with artists right now.
Best Cover: “New Avengers Annual” #1
My favorite comics covers this month were both pretty simple headshots, but they conveyed a lot. The book between the covers of “New Avengers Annual” #1 was a visual treat, which is what we’ve come to expect from Marco Rudy. But the cover conveys a very stark, strong image of Doctor Strange and the essential elements of his mystical character. At the same time, there’s a grave and sinister quality somewhere in the depiction. Doctor Strange, when written correctly, is a nice mix of supernatural fun and unhinged, dangerous madness. Barbiere and Rudy captured that really well.
Runner-up: “The Wicked + The Divine” #1
Best Debut: “The Wicked + The Divine” #1
I think there’s the potential for a lot of different readers to get a lot of different things out of “The Wicked + The Divine.” For me, I just continued to be impressed with the way that Gillen and McKelvie examine and depict the youth of today and extrapolate that toward fantastical concepts. They understand modern youth culture and when they depict it, it doesn’t feel immediately dated or cheesy. That’s rare. If you liked what they did on “Young Avengers”, this is a natural, creator-owned extension of that.
Runner Up: “The Empty Man” #1 – Noir horror with cool art. Nice start.
Best Reaction Face: “Batman Eternal” #11 – I just really loved this issue.
