2011 in Review: Best Issue

Today’s 2011 in Review segment is the intense category of Best Issue. It turns out that a lot of comics came out this year, and with eleven different people making ten different votes for best issue, we had a lot of entrants.

That said, there was still a lot of overlap across our lists and one recent book in particular that earned a lot of love. Find those picks after the jump, and thanks once again to Tim Daniel for the fantastic 2011 in Review logo.

10. Animal Man #1

Why it makes the list (Brian Salvatore): The best page in comics this year was page #1 of Animal Man #1. The faux-Believer interview with Buddy Baker was the absolutely perfect way to launch the series and establish itself as a unique little corner of the DCnU. The first issue of any series is all about context, and Animal Man contextualized itself as a book about more than just another hero from jump street.

The interview was a brilliant way to let the reader download a ton of information without giant dialogue bubbles or clunky exposition. From there, the Baker family takes center stage, with heroics taking up a fairly small portion of the issue. Travel Foreman’s art is exceptionally weird, in the best sense, and it allows the book to be something you can’t find anywhere else, visually or story wise. In fact, the best analogue to the family dynamic is Fantastic Four — and, as much fun as it is to imagine Jeff Lemire writing Marvel’s First Family, that is light years away from Animal Man in just about every conceivable way. It is a testament to Lemire and Foreman’s work on this book that it has just gone to its fourth printing; and a fourth printing on a book featuring a third string hero’s family with horror-style art is truly something I never thought I would see in 2011.

9. Uncanny X-Force #15

Why it makes the list (Brandon Burpee): I loved this book when I read it so much the first time that I decided I had to read it a second time. Not to be certain that my initial instinct, that this book was something special, was right but because I knew it was right and I HAD to reread it. After reading it the second time I actually enjoyed it more.

In this issue Rick Remender does his usual amazing job in writing this book and gives Deadpool some of the best lines since Joe Kelly made the character the fan favorite he is today. My personal favorite line being the out of nowhere, “ Hey–Look! That monkey’s got a green butthole!”. That line gave me the best laugh I’ve gotten from a comic in more time than I can even begin to figure out. It’s a simple and childish line but it worked so well and it does a lot to prove the depth of writing Remender provides this issue when you juxtapose it with the Dark Angel Saga that powers the issue and arc forward. (Editor’s Note: Deadpool talking about “Famine’s dope beats” was better!)

I wouldn’t dare finish explaining my love for this issue without touching on Jerome Opena’s art. There is a lot to love here but by far my favorite parts of this issue are those that involve the evolution of Tabula Rasa. The world development in what amounts to eight panels is breathtaking. Opena provides visuals to Remenders scripts in these eight panels that have more depth and artistic world building than most books accomplish in an issue or series. I want to know more about that world and it’s only a setting to serve a purpose. That’s how good this issue was.

I’m sure you’ve all read this issue but seriously do yourself a favor and read it just one more time.

8. X-Men Schism #4

Why it makes the list (Mike Romeo): This issue cemented itself in my mind with one exchange.

“She NEVER loved you, you know. You always frightened her.”

“And if she was here right now… who do you think she’d be more frightened of?”

The she in question is Jean Grey, Marvel Girl. The Phoenix. The heated exchange is between Cyclops and Wolverine on the craggy shore of Utopia, in the shadow of what could be their impending doom, an approaching sentinel. To me, this is the X-Men. Sentinels, mutants fighting a world that hates and fears them, and the love triangle. Scott, Jean, and Logan. It’s like Jason Aaron cracked open my head like an egg and made an omelet out of my childhood. This issue is him feeding it back to me.

The three issues before this were spent building up to where the riff would form in the X-Verse, and what the dilemma at hand would be. But it was the spark that was surprising. It was Logan who brought the dynamite, literally and figuratively, but Scott had the match. And I think what follows calls into question the leadership and frame of mind of both men. This was a solid comic book, not only one of the best single issues this year, but one of the best X books in a while. It’s a callback for longtime fans, as well as a sign of what the future holds.

Oh! I’d be failing in my duties if I didn’t mention Alan Davis’ art. Look, you already know Cyke and Wolvie are gonna duke it out, so when you grab this issue flip right to the back and check out that last page. It is GORGEOUS. Then once you’re all excited, give it the proper read through. A couple of times.

5 (tie). Amazing Spider-Man #655

Why it makes the list (David Harper): There’s a lot of reasons to love this haunting, beautiful comic. However, I want to start with my top reason: Marcos Martin.

Martin did not make my list of top artists for the year, but it was so hard to not include him simply because of this issue. I’ve always loved Martin, and thought his expressive, Ditko-esque work was both a throwback and the natural progression of that style. This book might have been his greatest effort yet, spending the first half of this issue telling the story strictly with his visuals with the book not suffering, but thriving throughout. This part of the story, telling the tale of Marla Jameson’s funeral, is haunting. The opening with J. Jonah Jameson laying awake, completely motionless in bed with an empty, cold spot next to him is one of the most memorable images of the year, and it along with many other moments make this one of the best issues of Amazing Spider-Man ever if only from an artistic standpoint.

Dan Slott smartly leans on Martin in the first half, but by the second half he combines his written dream narrative with Martin’s topsy turvy visuals into a hard learned lesson for Peter.

This issue isn’t just an impressive standalone one, but it’s also one Slott uses to set up everything that comes after it. It’s a powerful, beautifully rendered issue that marks career peaks from two top notch creators in Slott and Martin. It’s a heartfelt swan song for a supporting character and one that fiercely humanizes many characters in this cast. It’s one of the best books I read this year, and something that I imagine will stick by me and other Amazing Spider-Man readers for a long time.

5 (tie). Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160

Why it makes the list (Josh Mocle): If anyone ever doubted Brian Michael Bendis’ ability to tell deeply emotional stories that cut right to the core of what makes the reader human, this issue would prove them wrong almost universally. To say the impact of death in comics has been watered down would be an immense, immense understatement. It has gotten to the point in recent years that a character dying in a mainstream comic book is essentially a minor annoyance not because the character will be off the table for a while before their inevitable return, but because the story wasn’t damn creative enough to tell a story with more depth. However, the death of Ultimate Spider-Man was different in a way I didn’t feel coming, and it wasn’t until I began writing this recap, many months after the fact, that I realized just how different it was.

In a way, knowing the death was coming (the arc was called “The Death of Spider-Man” after all) almost made that final, gut wrenching issue even harder to read. I hadn’t realized how much the character of Ultimate Peter Parker had connected with me, so as I watched him fight his epic final battle knowing that even if he won, he would ultimately lose gave each impacted punch, each explosion, each grunt of pain that much more terrible. For once in my career as a comics reader, I was reading a fight with a genuine impact, and as the inevitable happened and Aunt May’s perfectly crafted cries of anguish reached my eyes, I felt a small tear well up in my eyes. This death was different, this one was real, and the story itself was next to perfect comic book storytelling.

5 (tie). Fear Agent #32

Why it makes the list (Matt Meylikhov): I think John “Hannibal” Smith said it best when said, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Such is the case with Fear Agent — a perfectly executed, 32-issue long plan from Rick Remender and co.

As I said in my review of the issue back in November, it was a very long wait for this issue, but all good things come to those who wait. If you look back at where the book began in 2005, Huston’s fight for survival since then has been a stalwart endeavor to be able to behold, enjoy and partake in. We all came to Fear Agent through different ways – some were there for beginning, the rest of us caught up in trades – but we were all there with Huston as he took flight one more time. Given that the book is designed like an intricate and emotional labyrinth, it should surprise no one that the book reached a fulfilling apex with this final issue. It truly encapsulated the emotion of watching a close friend finally get their victory over life, the universe and everything.

Huston is one of the few characters in comics to have truly earned his ending, and Fear Agent #32 was as much of a win for the reader as it was for Huston himself, let alone Remender, Moore, Opena, Hawthorne and the entire talented crew behind the title. An emotional journey through the eye of the universe, we’re proud to tip our hat to you one last time, Mr. Huston — you did good.

4. Detective Comics #881

Why it makes the list (Matt Meylikhov): If you have an internet connection and access to Google, a quick search of modern day Batman stories will reveal to you one thing — unless Grant Morrison wrote it, most people did not really care about any throwaway Batman story being published by DC Comics. Or rather, that is until a man named Scott Snyder came to town. With a take on the Dark Knight that was slick in all the right ways, Snyder slowly worked himself up from “upstart newcomer” to “Lord of the Bat”, with the fantastic artwork of Jock and Francesco Francavilla in hand — and with only ELEVEN ISSUES, the trio managed to tell one of the best Batman stories in the past decade.

Let me put it this way: I’m a lapsed Batman fan. I thought he was cool when I watched the cartoons as a kid, but somewhere around 2005, I stopped caring as much, slowly yet surely. Soon, I very much couldn’t stand Batman, because as a comic fan talking to other comic fans, it is rather infuriating to talk to fans so obsessed with the concept that no one is better than some rich nerd in a cape with pointy ears on his head. To that end, I would only read Morrison’s Batman run, because why should I care about anything else? It was all just so generic; Batman was an old bike that got left out on the rain and rusted, yet people still greased it up and rode it around town before leaving it out to rust again.

Then along came Snyder, Jock and Francavilla. Then came my friends here on this site urging me to just get over myself and give the book a go. Then came me buying the first three issues all at once one afternoon. Then came me buying the next issue, and the next, and the next. Then, finally, came the final issue of Detective Comics, and the completion of one of my current all-time favorite Batman stories.

With just eleven issues, Snyder, Jock and Francavilla brought me back into the Church of the Bat Man. I’m still a lapsed fan, but if I ever see Snyder, Jock or Francavilla’s name anywhere near a Batman title again, I will buy without hesitation, and the incredible final issue of Detective Comics is the reason why.

3. Action Comics #1

Why it makes the list (Patrick Tobin): It’s something like culture shock, finding old college snapshots and realizing that at some point in time, the universe supported the idea of your dad being cool. Action Comics #1 recasts the history of Superman by shattering perfection — no longer is Superman limited by such banal nagging injuries as “well, sometimes he feels sad.” By showing us the angry young Superman, taking a political side and wearing scuffed blue jeans, Grant Morrison and Rags Morales have firebombed The House That Byrne Built, and invested more humanity into the character of Superman than 30-plus years of “but really, deep down” stories chewing on their own fingers. “This is a chord, this is another, this is a third. Now…”

2. Wolverine and the X-Men #1

Why it makes the list: I’ve been an avid fan of the X-Men for almost my entire life. When I was little, I can’t remember things like taking my first steps or playing tee ball or the first time I made contact with my life mate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but I can remember things like Wolverine getting his Adamantium forcibly removed by Magneto or Cable APPARENTLY shooting Professor X like it was yesterday. Those things were legitimately tragic happenings in my day-to-day life as an elementary school kid.

I’ve been pursuing that feeling for a long time, as while the X-Books have had intermittent highs and sustained successes off to the side of the main books (things like X-Factor and Uncanny X-Force are always great), a lot of the content out there has been not exactly world shattering even to a six-year-old psyche.

I knew I’d love Wolverine and the X-Men, as it is written by Jason Aaron (my favorite current writer) and illustrated by Chris Bachalo (one of my favorite artists). What I didn’t realize is that in this issue, they would rekindled the childlike glee and splendor I enjoyed comics with when I was young. It was like I was an adult tapping into a part of myself I didn’t realize still existed, flipping through pages and adoring each and everything I saw. While the big things were great, I have to give the team credit for really nailing the small things. Inclusions of people like Doop and Husk completely slayed me, and the back matter in this issue was worth the price of admission in itself.

Wolverine and the X-Men has a very decent shot of making my best ongoing list next year, but for now it has to settle for being one of my favorite issues and my favorite new series of 2011.

1. Fantastic Four #600

Why it makes the list (Walt Richardson): I don’t want to turn this into a review. I really don’t. But good lord there is just so much to say about the sextennial issue of Fantastic Four. I’ve been an avid run of Jonathan Hickman’s run so far, but I have to admit, FF really wasn’t cutting it for me. There were some good moments to balance out the surprising amount of bad moments – or, if not bad, then just not good – but it never quite reached the highs or the first act of his run. Then this issue happened. I mean… goddamn. Anyone who complained about the issue bringing back Johnny Storm – spoilers, I guess – just doesn’t get it. Hickman isn’t responsible for the hype machine that is Marvel’s PR. Hickman is responsible for telling good stories. And in this issue, that’s exactly what he did, and then some. This issue brought back the bombastic science fiction that originally drew me to his run on so many levels. And holy crap was the art team was firing on all cylinders.

But that’s not the sole reason it won best issue, in my opinion. A lot of these renumbered centennial issues really don’t live up to their number – or, to honest, their price tag. This whopping 100 page issue was an equally whopping $7.99, but unlike a lot of “anniversary issues,” I didn’t feel like a single cent was wasted. #400s, #500s, #600s, and so on and so forth will often be stuffed with supplementary material which, while nice, often leave the reader thinking “Well, that wasn’t bad, but I would have paid a dollar or two less for just the main story.” In this case, every chapter was by Hickman, and every one contributed to his ongoing story at least a bit. In my opinion, only one story – the one featuring the Inhumans – wasn’t particularly good, but even then it wasn’t bad at all. Fantastic Four #600 gets kudos for not only having a stellar story, but for breaking all the expectations of money-grabbing anniversary issue.

Cue the “Nuh-uh, what about Johnny Storm?” I really don’t care.

David’s List
1. Fear Agent #32
2. Amazing Spider-Man #655
3. Wolverine and the X-Men #1
4. Muppet Thor
5. Fantastic Four #600
6. Uncanny X-Force #15
7. Scalped #52
8. Casanova: Avaritia #1
9. American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #5
10. Detective Comics #875

Matt’s Picks
1. Detective Comics #881
2. Secret Warriors #25
3. Fear Agent #32
4. Casanova: Avaritia #2
5. Secret Avengers #18
6. Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #6
7. Fantastic Four #600
8. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160
9. Joe the Barbarian #8
10. Our Love is Real

Gil’s Picks
1. Action Comics #1
2. Fantastic Four #587
3. Fantastic Four #600
4. Batman #1
5. X-Men Schism #5
6. Uncanny X-Force #12
7. Wolverine and the X-Men #1
8. Batwoman #1
9. Shame Itself #1
10. Flashpoint #5

Brandon’s Picks
1. Wolverine and the X-Men #1
2. Uncanny X-Force #15
3. Li’l Depressed Boy #4
4. Amazing Spider-Man #655
5. Sweet Tooth #25
6. Batman #1
7. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #4
8. Detective Comics #881
9. Invincible #79
10. The Walking Dead #83

Josh’s Picks
1. Detective Comics #878
2. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160
3. X-Men Schism #4
4. Animal Man #1
5. The Sixth Gun #17
6. Fantastic Four #588
7. Doom Patrol #22
8. Morning Glories #10
9. Action Comics #900
10. Jonah Hex #69

Walt’s Picks
1. Detective Comics #879
2. Fantastic Four #600
3. Criminal: Last of the Innocent #2
4. American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #5
5. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160
6. The Infinite Vacation #1
7. The Unwritten #31.5
8. Amazing Spider-Man #655
9. Secret Warriors #27
10. Batman Incorporated #6

Patrick’s Picks
1. Action Comics #1
2. Gangsta Rap Posse #2

Brian’s Picks
1. The Flash #3
2. The Red Wing #4
3. Justice League of America #60
4. Detective Comics #881
5. Animal Man #1
6. Mudman #1
7. Hellboy: House of the Living Dead
8. Swamp Thing #3
9. Starman/Congorilla #1
10. Wolverine and the X-Men #1

Chad’s Picks
1. Jimmy Olsen #1

Mike’s Picks
1. Hellboy: The Fury #3
2. Action Comics #1
3. X-Men Schism #4
4. Butcher Baker, the Righteous Maker #1
5. Elephantmen #33
6. Detective Comics #880
7.  The Unexpected #1
8. Optic Nerve #12
9. Jonah Hex #69
10. Herculean #1