This is the end of our 2011 in Review column series, as today we go over the books that are our favorite ongoing series for the year.
Some of our absolute favorites didn’t make the list, but that’s simply because it was a strong, deep year of comics, with books both in the Big Two and in the world of creator-owned making a strong presence on our list. Check our list out after the jump, and thanks one last time to Tim Daniel for his fantastic logo.
9 (tie). The Unwritten
Why it made the list (Walt Richardson): Aw man, I already Friday Rec’d this not too long ago. What more can I say about The Unwritten? Well, I suppose I can spare a few words to my personal favorite Vertigo series. The Unwritten wasn’t exactly as great as it was this year as it was in previous ones, but that still puts it above and beyond most titles on the shelves these days. The two main arcs this year were “Leviathan” and “Citizen Taylor,” both of which further explained further what was really going on and how it was happening. Well, only slightly, but come on, you don’t want Mike Carey and Pete Gross to play their hand just yet, do you? By far the single most exciting moment of this year was the finale of “Citizen Taylor,” with Tommy lighting up the sky in an open threat to his opponents, but it was issue #31.5 that was my favorite issue of the series of the year. Fleshing out the Cabal’s long reach and making its ultimate goal a little clearer, it played along with the previously mentioned “Leviathan” and “Citizen Taylor” to stir up excitement for what’s to come in the book’s future. While it may not have had as many “Oh shi–!” moments as last year, this year’s worth of Unwritten issues – well, I suppose a few of them have been turned in already – certainly got me excited for what’s to come. Here’s to 2012!
9 (tie). Locke & Key
Why it made the list (Matt Meylikhov): The way I see it, when a comic truly hits you in the right spot, when it truy just zeros in on all that you love and burrows it’s way into a special new space cared out of your heart, then that comic is special. It can’t happen every time, but after reading a great title, you should see it as “There was once before ___, and now there is only after ____.” Such is the case with Locke & Key — there is before you read Locke & Key, and there is after. When that after arrives, you will be so much better off for it.
I came to Locke & Key for the first time this year via a sale on hardcovers, and I instantaneously became addicted. To me, Locke & Key was the comic equivalent of that sweet, sweet blue stuff from Breaking Bad, and I smoked the heck out of the book, burning through four books worth of content within the short span of a week. I came out of my drug-induced haze tweaking and begging for more, which is perhaps the best sign a comic book is not just good, but great; if each issue doesn’t leave you literally salivating for more, it’s not entirely doing its job.
Locke & Key may not be the title you hear most about when you hear people talking about horror comics (given that a certain other title got a TV show and Locke & Key somehow didn’t), but it definitively holds the market on creative and unique horror blended with a completely engrossing family-based drama. The title is deeply immersed in the fictional, but it sings with the realism other horror-based forms of entertainment crave to actively acquire; you WILL care about these characters, you WILL care about their plight, and you have absolutely no choice in the matter. Like a spirt of the night, Locke & Key will sneak in through your window and take you over, and you’re going to love every damn second of it.
Continued belowSuffice it to say, anyone not reading Locke & Key is missing out on one of the best titles year after year. There once was before Locke & Key, and now there is only after.
7 (tie). Sweet Tooth
Why it made the list (Brandon Burpee): Sweet Tooth is one of my favorite titles currently being published. If you go back and look at our year in review here at Multiversity and look at my lists you’ll notice I have this series in just about every category that I could place it in. It makes appearances in Best Issue, Best Ongoing and sadly Most Overlooked. Taking it further I voted Jeff Lemire on both the Best Writer and Artist lists. In the artist category I place Lemire as numero uno! These nods were for his work on this book. To say I love this book is an understatement for sure.
This is a book that I anticipate every month. It’s an anticipation that comes from knowing month in and month out there will be solid storytelling and ever changing art styles. Lemire is constantly pushing the medium and his own personal limits with this title. I appreciate this quite a bit and respect Lemire and artist more than any other for taking chances and pushing his own personal style to greater heights each month. I truly feel Lemire is overlooked in the artist category. You don’t hear his name mentioned enough when you hear people praising artists.
On the writing side of things this is a book where the connection to characters came quickly and in the last year the cast has gone from two mains to a full on extended cast that you can feel a connection to and care for. I personally feel I have more tension when reading this book than others because I feel more emotionally invested than any of the other books I read. I read a lot of titles so that is saying something.
Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book and nothing I’d care to complain about. Well, other than the fact that there is a planned end. That’s the worst part of the whole book. I don’t ever want it to end. That’s just something I’ll have to get over though I suppose. In the meantime I’ll keep reading and probably look into getting some original art from the series so I can own an actual piece of this masterpiece.
7 (tie). B.P.R.D.
Why it made the list (Mike Romeo): B.P.R.D. is one of the best comic books you can read right now. It has everything you need; monsters attacking cities, rich character backstories, demon possessions, team drama, all manner of horror, it’s incredible. From the brain-pans of Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, B.P.R.D. is everything you’ve ever loved about monster movies blended with all the stuff that you wish would happen, but never does, in an end-of-the-world type story. Strange and terrifying creatures erupt out of the earth, widespread destruction and chaos follows, and characters that you love will be altered in ways that can not be undone.
The heart of this series lies in the cast that Mignola and Arcudi have created and fleshed out. From Abe Sapien, the reluctant semi-amphibious leader, to Liz Sherman the pyrokinetic, to Dr. Kate Corrigan, liaison to the U.N., these characters feel real. They’re interesting, dynamic, and they are fully realized. This is why every issue doesn’t have to be some catastrophic global event, or some monster killing people. Half an issue can be Kate sitting across a table from her Russian counterparts having an argument and still have my undivided attention.
Up until the beginning of this year Guy Davis was the regular series artist. He didn’t do every arc, but he did most of them for almost seven years. Davis defined the look of B.P.R.D., in the same way Arcudi did it’s tone. When it was announced Guy would be leaving the book, I was nervous. But Tyler Crook stepped in to the role and has been knocking his issues dead. Tyler has a style not unlike Guy’s, but it’d be impossible to confuse the two. He’s taken these characters and made them his, and done it without overhauls and redesigns. And as always, Dave Stewart works his color magic on the pages, helping give the series it’s unique feel through the use of his palette.
Continued belowAll in all, it’s been an exceptional year for Mignola and crew over at B.P.R.D. HQ. Twelve regular issues and two mini series is surely no small feat. If you look ahead to next year’s plans, you’ll see no signs of slowing for these guys. So sit down and strap in, I’m pretty sure this ride is catapulting us headlong into the end of the world!
Editor’s Note: Mike and his podcast The Next Issue interview B.P.R.D. writer John Arcudi. Check his interview out here.
6. Batman (Vol. 2)
Why it made the list (Ryan Closs): Some of you may be saying “Hey Ryan, Batman’s only been running for a few issues at this point, it’s too early to say Best Ongoing” to you I say “Shut up loser!” I’m basing this vote on Snyder’s overall work in the Batman universe. His work in Detective Comics and Gates of Gotham are a big part of the reason I voted for it without reservation.
While it’s true his previous run focused on Dick Grayson as Batman and not Bruce, he’s shown that he has an exceedingly good grasp on Gotham and the general concept of Batman in general. I’m an admitted virgin when it comes to Batman, I’ve read Morrison’s stuff and some of Miller and very little else but Snyder is writing such an amazing Batman right now that it’s making everyone else look worse in comparison. Tomasi is writing a VERY solid run right now but when I read Batman it pales. Morrison’s amazing Batman Inc is even looking a little worse because of it.
Having never read any Spawn, Greg Capullo is pretty much brand new to me and he’s a revelation. I don’t know how it compares to his Spawn or Haunt stuff but his Batman is ASTOUNDING. I was very concerned about Jock/Francavilla leaving Snyder’s bat-run since they’re two of my favourite artists working today but Greg Capullo is drawing a very different Batman for a tonally very different story. It’s much more kinetic, there’s a lot more movement and action so Capullo is much more well suited to tell the story than the darker Detective Comics run that Jock and Francavilla just wrapped up. Batman isn’t just one of my favourite books of the new 52, it’s one of my favourite books coming out right now. I’m pretty sure everyone reading this has already checked it out, but if not, what the hell is wrong with you?
5. Chew
Why it made the list (Gil Short): Chew is a very special series to me. It’s number one of my list, for starters. But it did something when it came out that books weren’t really doing at the time. It was having FUN, and I along with it. I was largely becoming less enthusiastic about comics at the time because every comic, even Spider-Man was feeling very self-serious at the time. But this book is a shining beacon of comedy in a melodramatic world.
The lovely thing about Chew is that it’s not even classified explicitly as a comedy, but it’s funny because it’s fun. Tony and company all live in their larger than life world with some rather terrifying aspects. Tony can read the histories of anything he eats, up to and including dead bodies. You’d think this would be too disgusting to be funny, but the amazing creative team adds levity to some a…gruesome ability by doing what any red-blooded American person would do: make poop jokes.
That’s not to say it’s entirely a comedy, however. But even when it’s at its most serious, Chew’s self-aware-tongue-firmly-in-cheek attitude makes for one of the best reads in comics, bar none. If you’re not already reading this, I really don’t know why you’re not.
Editor’s Note: Bonus points for giving MC writers David Harper and Brandon Burpee cameos!
4. Morning Glories
Why it made the list (Josh Mocle): I’m going to pull back the curtain completely right now and admit that the primary reason Morning Glories ended up at the top of my list is that for the last eight months I have had to fight my girlfriend away from the new issues I buy or the advances I get and, lately, have had to wait for her to read it first before I even get a chance. While this may not seem like any great shakes to some of you, this is a monumental occurence for me as prior to me forcing the first Morning Glories trade into her delirious, post-operation hands back in March she could not be considered a fan of comics. Like, at all. And now she has become completely hooked by an ongoing series in a way that is very genuine and us being able to share comic-related moments together each month has only strengthened our relationship. However, more importantly, it illustrates the monstrous quality of every bit of the Morning Glories story and accentuates just how accessible of a book it is. It transcends the definition of a comic and reaches audiences other books could only dream of reaching, and on top of that it’s a damn good story too.
Created in late 2010 by current comics wunderkind Nick Spencer and artist Joe Eisma, Morning Glories follows the ongoing tale of six new students at Morning Glory Academy, an elite private school known throughout the world. However, that is only the cover and as the series has progressed we’ve learned that the pristine grounds of the school are hiding something much most sinster and mysterious and the slow burn reveal of what that mystery entails is what makes this book so damn good. However, the subtle, underplayed character moments are also a huge part of this book’s appeal, even if you have to look way past the “holy crap!” moments to see them. When combined, all the disparate elements of this book bring it to the very top of my “to read” pile each month, and that does not look to be changing any time soon.
Editor’s note: Bonus points to Team Morning Glories for giving MC writers Brandon Burpee, David Harper and Matt Meylikhov cameos as well!
3. The Walking Dead
Why it made the list (Gil Short): The Walking Dead is a monster series. I mean that literally, this book is a monster. 2010 was definitely the year of The Walking Dead, with its premiere on Television Powerhouse AMC. The reason a small indie became such a 4 color power house, despite being a black and white book is simple. The emotional violence this book wrecks on readers on a monthly basis is something every reader hates to love, but can’t help themselves one bit. Kirkman makes you CARE about these characters. He makes you care, and then he rips their heart out and shows it to you.
Everyone knows that while The Walking Dead is about a zombie apocalypse, it’s not about killing zombies. It’s about living in a world that has for all intents and purposes died, and dealing with others living in such a world. It’s a world brimming with potential for death and violence, both physical and emotional. Kirkman and Adlard have been two of the most sadistic people in the world for nearly 8 years. They are sick, disgusting, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This book rocks.
2. Detective Comics (Vol. 1)
Why it made the list (Brian Salvatore): As someone who has been reading Batman stories for over 20 years, i find that they tend to fall into two categories: mind-numbingly repetitive or prohibitively expansive. For instance, I have long been interested in re-reading the Knightfall and its aftermath, however the entire saga spans almost two years over 9 series. On the other hand, we have a countless number of arcs which simply retread the same two or three plot points over and over again, usually in a way that has been done better in the past. Which is why Detective Comics in 2011 was such an amazing series. Scott Snyder managed to tell a self-contained, unique story that made even the most staunch of Batman haters take notice and, most importantly, brought the book back to its title – we get to see Batman being a detective here, solving crimes using more than just his gadgets and fists. A lot of that was due to the amazing art of Snyder’s two partners: Jock and Francesco Francavilla.
Continued belowJock, the primary artist on the series, helped place Dick Grayson in a world that, as Batman, looked quite different than it did when he was Nightwing, or Robin. Just as home drawing the pristine Wayne Tower Crime Lab or a grimy alley, Jock’s art showed the duality of Gotham: the needy and the needlessly wealthy, and how both were criminals in their own ways. Francavilla, on the other hand, creates a dream-like Gotham, where old faces re-emerge, memories spill into reality, and nothing looks quite as you would expect it to – and to say his world is dream-like isn’t to say that the dream is a particularly good one.
Between the exceptional art and the twin stories that dovetail together at the end, the last arc of Volume 1 of Detective Comics will stand as one of the best Batman stories of all time. Volume 2 isn’t exactly off to a stellar start, but who knows, perhaps the next Black Mirror/Hungry City/Skeleton Key storyline is just an issue away. Or, so we can hope.
1. Uncanny X-Force
Why it made the list (David Harper): Let’s start with playing the sheer numbers game: Rick Remender and friends (namely, artists Jerome Opena, Esad Ribic, Billy Tan, Rafael Albuquerque, Dean White and others) have released 16 issues this year. 16 issues in 12 months of 2011. That in itself is a hell of a thing, and deserves praise in its own right.
The reason why this book finished as my – and Multiversity’s – top book for the year though is because all 16 of those issues were of a consistently superb quality, telling stories that were steeped in the book’s own continuity as well as the X-Men’s continuity, while giving X-Men fans a set roster that, by this week’s issue #18, managed to develop into what amounts to the world’s most screwed up and interesting family of superhero warriors.
In particular, the Dark Angel Saga that played through the past half of a year was without a doubt the best arc of the year for any book. This week’s closing issue so perfectly finished that arc off that it’s immediately on the short-list for my all-time favorite X-Men stories, managing to make the issue triumphant, funny and emotionally resonant in a truly marvelous way. Even with this being the finale though, one of my favorite things this book does is no matter where we are in the series, it feels like every issue has a fluidity to it that connects it forwards and backwards to everything around it. It’s a remarkably simple idea, but one that is handled well all too rarely.
Also, come on now: this book has an incredible art team. Jerome Opena was our fourth ranked artist of the year, and he was the king of the list that featured other top notch creators like the aforementioned Ribic and Tan. This book is one of the most beautiful ones on the market. That’s an absolute fact. But I do have to say that I believe Dean White’s colors could make even my awful art skills look great. The guy is an underrated cog for the book, and man, he deserves all of the credit in the world.
At the end of last year, I said this was the best new series of 2010 and I said I thought it would be a strong contender for Best Ongoing for me in 2011. Sure enough, it absolutely met my expectations, and I can’t wait to see where Remender and the art team take us next.
David’s Picks
1. Uncanny X-Force
2. Scalped
3. Locke & Key
4. The Walking Dead
5. Chew
6. Detective Comics Vol. 1
7. The Unwritten
8. Casanova
9. American Vampire
10. Avengers Academy
Matt’s Picks
1. Casanova
2. Locke & Key
3. Fantastic Four
4. DMZ
5. Scalped
6. The Unwritten
7. Morning Glories
8. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
9. Secret Avengers
10. The Walking Dead
Gil’s Picks
1. Chew
2. Morning Glories
3. The Walking Dead
4. Uncanny X-Force
5. Justice League: Generation Lost
6. Batman Vol. 2
7. Action Comics
8. Secret Six
9. The Sixth Gun
10. Herc
Brandon’s Picks
1. Uncanny X-Force
2. X-Men Legacy
3. Sweet Tooth
4. X-Factor
5. Wolverine
6. Detective Comics Vol. 1
7. Batman Vol. 2
8. Superboy (Lemire)
9. Booster Gold
10. Avengers Academy
Josh’s Picks
1. Morning Glories
2. The Sixth Gun
3. Detective Comics Vol. 1
4. Journey into Mystery
5. Sweet Tooth
6. FF
7. Animal Man
8. Casanova
9. Wolverine
10. The Walking Dead
Walt’s Picks
1. Detective Comics Vol. 1
2. Hellboy
3. The Unwritten
4. Secret Warriors
5. Journey into Mystery
6. Batman, Incorporated
7. Daredevil
8. FF
9. Moon Knight
10. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
Patrick’s Picks
1. Amazing Spider-Man
2. Batman, Incorporated
3. Daredevil (Waid)
4. Thunderbolts
5. Butcher Baker, the Righteous Maker
6. Batwoman
7. Justice League Dark
8. Moon Knight
9. Captain America
10. Avengers Academy
Brian’s Picks
1. Detective Comics Vol. 1
2. The Flash (Manapul/Buccellato)
3. B.P.R.D.
4. The Walking Dead
5. Animal Man
6. Green Lantern
7. Nightwing
8. Action Comics Vol. 1
9. Action Comics Vol. 2
10. Hellboy
Ryan’s Picks
1. Uncanny X-Force
2. Batman Vol. 2
3. Punisher Max
4. Atomic Robo
5. Skullkickers
6. Chew
7. The Flash
8. OMAC
9. Wonder Woman (Azzarello)
10. Sweet Tooth
Chad’s Picks
1. Uncanny X-Force
Mike’s Picks
1. B.P.R.D.
2. Elephantmen
3. X-Factor
4. Fear Agent
5. Skullkickers
6. Uncanny X-Force
7. Sweet Tooth
8. Butcher Baker, the Righteous Maker
9. Batman Vol. 2
10. Daredevil (Waid)
