Every year in January, MC’s EIC Matthew Meylikhov and Associate Editor David Harper wrap up our Year in Review coverage by picking who’s next, who are the creators we think will take a big step in 2014. We don’t just mean new creators breaking out entirely, we even are looking at creators we think will be taking their work to the next level. The only rule we have is these creators can’t have more than 5,000 followers on Twitter, besides one exception on each list, and that exception can’t be over 10,000 followers.
That’s it though! Let’s get to the lists, and if you’d like to brush up on years past, you can find 2012 and 2013 here and here. I think we did pretty well.
Matt’s Picks
Box Brown
Whenever I’ve heard people talk about the work of Box Brown, it’s always been in that In-The-Know way. You know, where the cool kids know all about this awesome artist who is making great comics and they can’t wait to bring you into the fold. In this scenario, however, First Second Publishing is the “cool kids” crowd and we are the lucky ones, as Box Brown’s “Andre the Giant” is set for release next year in what is perhaps already an early contender for one of the year’s must-buy non-fiction graphic novels. With what we have already seen from Brown, I’d put money down that this book will be a can’t miss release from a creator who seems perfect to tell this story, and I can not wait to see what this does for his career in comics.
Chris Sebela
If you ask me, I think Chris Sebela is one of those creators who is going to have an amazing year in 2014. Why? Primarily because throughout 2013 he managed to incept the comic world in such an interesting way. Whether he was co-writing Marvel comics with Fraction and DeConnick or putting out his own work with Monkeybrain’s “High Crimes”, Sebela was ostensibly using 2013 as a Planning Year for which he would unleash his ultimate domination of comics in 2014. And, having read his latest effort with “Ghost” and getting sneak peaks at what he’s got coming up in the future, I’d say Sebela is easily one of the creators most poised to surprise and astonish new fans all over the interwebs.
Rebekah Isaacs
With this past year, Rebekah Isaacs certainly made a name for herself in illustrating the second Buffyverse title, “Angel and Faith.” And while it was certainly a good book in the way that Angel was always a good show alongside Buffy, that shadow perhaps didn’t put Isaacs on enough radars when for all intents and purposes she should’ve been on ALL the radars! But in 2014, Isaacs will be illustrating “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Season 10, and boy howdy, if there was any reason to be excited about that book its certainly this one. “Buffy” Season 10 will see a complete overhaul of the title, and with Isaacs at the wheel in bringing those characters to life, there has never been a more exciting time for the series or to see what Isaacs can do.
Kate Leth
Kate Leth is certainly Internet Popular (I don’t know how else to put that) with the comics crowd, what with her Kate Or Die! strips, her occasional “Locke & Key” or “Luther Strode” back-ups and rather affable personality. But I think it is 2014 that will really see Kate pushed to the next tier of her career in a multitude of ways. The larger audience for her webstrips (now existing as topical coverage of comic events at Comics Alliance) will certainly help, but it’s her work doing interiors at BOOM! Studios for the Bravest Warriors Catbug Annual as well as her Adventure Time graphic novel that she wrote that I think will put Leth on many new radars, as well as any plans she may have for the Valkyries. Many people know of Kate Leth already, but I’d guess that 2014 will be The Year for her comics career in a big way.
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Michel Fiffe
If there is one comic creator that many fans seem proud to know of, it’s Michel Fiffe. With his oft-recommended albeit tough to come by “Copra,” Fiffe has made a name for himself as a self-published creator who has been working tirelessly to make comics his way for the past couple years. And with “Copra” reaching its conclusion with #12 and the last Compendium on its way (as, perhaps hopefully, a “Copra” omnibus?), whatever Fiffe has planned next will ostensibly be nothing short of spectacular. There are many creators to watch out for in 2014, but I’d say that Fiffe is the one who is perhaps most deserving of our eyes and attention, as the incredible feat he has made in publishing “Copra” is teeing him up to be this generation’s Smith, Moore and Sim in terms of accomplishments.
David’s Picks
Cory Smith
Cory Smith is a guy that not a lot of people have talked about, as most of his work has been on books like TMNT’s Villains micro series or various Aspen titles, but when you look at his art, you can see that he’s someone who is just waiting for the right project to get in front of a lot more eyes and become a far bigger name in the industry. Based off the buzz from people like Fred Van Lente and others involved with the Gold Key Relaunch at Dynamite, it sounds like without a doubt, Cory Smith has found that project in “Magnus: Robot Fighter.” We’ve seen very little of his work on the book, but what we have seen makes us know that undoubtedly, this is a guy who is going to blow up in 2014, and we can’t wait to read this book if only because of his art (Fred’s writing should be neat too).
Evan “Doc” Shaner
Shaner is a guy who has been around for a bit, and is beloved in art aficionado circles for his prolific contributions to art blogs like Comic Twart. He’s one of the most talented artists around, but for some reason we’ve yet to see him get on a notable project fitting his talents. 2014 will at least bring one, as he’s illustrating a three issue arc of “Adventures of Superman” that assuredly fits his Golden Age stylings, but we have a sneaking suspicion that he’ll get a project that will make him a fan favorite artist this year (DC Comics, please let him draw a Shazam book with Nate Cosby writing, you can thank me later). If not, this industry is just not smart, because this man should be on a big book.
Goran Parlov
Some would argue that Parlov is too big for an article like this, as he’s done standout work on titles like “Fury MAX” and “Punisher MAX” previously, but given that I can count the people I know who read the former – even though it was one of the best titles in 2013 – on one hand, it’s clear that he’s not as big of a draw as he should be. 2014 will find Parlov shooting into the stratosphere, as he’s working with Mark Millar on “Starlight”, a book that will assuredly sell big and will see Parlov’s work somehow finding a new level of awesome. I mean, have you SEEN the preview pages? I have a feeling he could finish at the top spot for our Best Artist in 2014. That’s how confident I am in his work blowing people’s minds.
Mike Del Mundo
Already our Best Cover Artist of 2013, Deadly Mike is taking his work from the covers to interiors in the upcoming “Elektra” title he’s working on with W. Haden Blackman, and we think he’s destined to be one of the next big artists in comics. Personally, I’ve only seen his work on interiors in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” Infinite Comics story for Groot, but I saw enough to know he’s going to bring some dynamic design and quality storytelling to “Elektra”. Generally, I’m not a huge fan of that character, but with Del Mundo drawing? It’s actually one of the books I am most excited for in 2014.
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Wes Craig
I’m going to say this: I’ve read “Deadly Class” from Craig, Rick Remender, Lee Loughridge and Image Comics, and I can say in total honesty that this is an absolute must buy. It’s one of the most exciting and original debuts I’ve read in some time, and one of the big reasons why is the energetic, emotive, innovative art by Craig. Rick Remender is a smart writer, and he paired up with an incredible artist and simply unleashed him, and in this first issue, he plays your emotions and your sentiments like you’re his puppet. There’s one two page splash in this issue that is as devastating and well designed as anything I’ve seen in comics in recent memory, and much of that is Craig’s doing. It’s going to be a big year for everyone involved with that book, but Craig? He’s my one to watch.
