The end is near folks. Our 2012 in Review segment is winding down, with just one more category remaining after today. This edition finds us breaking down the Best Minis of 2012, of which there were a considerable amount, but one book towered over the rest when it came to our voting. What was it? What did we miss? Share your thoughts in the comments, and come back tomorrow for the big enchilada – best ongoing series of 2012.
10. B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death
Why it ranks (David Harper): Recently, I placed this in my top five B.P.R.D. minis of all-time, and there are a few reasons why.
1. It wraps up Ben Daimio’s story, a character who is one extremely mysterious and misunderstood, and it wraps in truly tragic fashion.
2. It has a litany of callbacks to B.P.R.D. callbacks including, most importantly, Daryl the Wendigo.
3. It introduces Giarocco – a character who has quickly become one of the most important in the book – and continues the very dark path Johann has been on since his body was destroyed in Killing Ground.
4. Most importantly, James Harren absolutely destroyed the world with his awesomeness in this mini-series. Harren took the top spot on our breakout artists lists and #8 in our Best Artist list, and this book? It’s the reason why.
So yeah, if a B.P.R.D. mini has all that going for it, it’s going to make my favorite B.P.R.D. minis list, and it’s going to make my favorite minis of 2012 list for sure.
9. B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Exorcism
Why it ranks (Brian Salvatore): Because of the (until recently) inconsistent nature of B.P.R.D. releases, certain minis seemed to slip through the cracks, especially those viewed as “inessential” for whatever reason. “Exorcism,” by Mike Mignola and Cameron Stewart, could have been seen as an inessential story because, really, a minor character spun off into a two-issue mini not featuring any of the main creative team players besides “architect” Mignola? That sounds less than necessary to me.
However, you’d be dead wrong, as this was one of the finest minis in B.P.R.D. history, not just this year. Stewart absolutely killed it, both on pencils and in terms of writing, crafting Ashley Strode into an exciting, powerful force for the B.P.R.D. to explore for years to come. There is not a wasted panel or word in this two issue mini, and I am waiting with bated breath for the next Stewart/Strode project.
7 (tie). The Shade
Why it ranks (Vince Ostrowski): They say you can’t go home again, but that happens to be just what James Robinson did with his “Starman” spinoff miniseries. Though it had the DC banner on it and the “new” Deathstroke was in it, whether it was in the “New 52” or not just didn’t seem to matter. Instead, it was a beautiful example of how great stories can be told regardless of what “rules” you have in place as a company and without editorial interference. “The Shade”, Richard Swift, discovered his true self through 12 issues packed with introspection, tons of wry humor, and mystical badassery. He traveled all over the world and across the drawing tables of a bevy of different, mega-talented artists like Cully Hamner, Frazer Irving, Jill Thompson, Javier Pulido, DARWYN COOKE, and Gene Ha. Oh my word, I’m starting to get all hot and bothered, there’s so much great art here! Not only was it a beautiful book to look at no matter who was drawing it, but it was so nice to see James Robinson back in his comfort zone, writing his best work since “Starman” itself. If you take the New 52 as a whole, “The Shade” looks like an improbable little oddity that we were all very lucky to get this year.
7 (tie). AVX Consequences
Why it ranks (Brandon Burpee): I personally did not love Kieron Gillen’s Uncanny X-Men. I didn’t out and out hate it but I didn’t love it. So when Marvel announced Consequences I was not sold to say the least. It was an x-book though so the first issue of the series was coming home at the very least. Little did I know that this would be one of my favorite minis of the year and one of my favorite X-Men stories of the year. Kieron Gillen and his various collaborators really turned in solid work on this series and perfectly bridged the gap between the Utopia era and the Marvel Now! era. It’s one of those series that just goes to show you that when you assume you know something you’re eventually bound to be humbled.
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5 (tie). Resident Alien
Why it ranks (Matt Meylikhov): You know how every now and then you read a comic that just surprises you in every way, shape and form? “Resident Alien” is very much one of those comics. Originally a short in “Dark Horse Presents,” Pete Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s story of an alien masquerading as a doctor while solving a murder mystery is easily one of the most well-crafted debuts of the year. Following the Dark Horse method of releasing ongoings in shorter minis, “Resident Alien” is an easily digestible and incredibly fun comic for fans of Alfred Hitchcock, which it takes a lot of cues from, but is unfortunately one of those “blink and you miss it” sort of comics. Still, it making it to the list of Best Minis here should hopefully illustrate how worthwhile the book was, and if volume two comes out next year as planned you can be sure we’ll be singing the praises of the series from the rooftops once again. Plus, the upcoming collection of it comes with a recommendation from Alan Moore, and we all know what he generally thinks of comics these days, right? If that’s not enough reason to take a look at the series, I don’t know what is.
5 (tie). Happy!
Why it ranks (David Henderson): Grant Morrison is largely known for creator owned work that defies the structures of its medium, mind-bending plot work and superhero stories that really dig deep into the heart of humanity. What he isn’t known for is an ex-cop hitman that’s being followed by a tiny blue horse who needs to go save a little girl from a paedophilic Santa Claus.
Okay, so no-one outside of Garth Ennis is really known for anything like that, but it’s the fact that Morrison not only makes it work (the card game scene in #2 is the stuff of legends), but makes it his own that makes “Happy” truly magnificent. Even with only two issues out so far.
4. Godzilla: Half Century War
Why it ranks (Mike Romeo): I love Godzilla. The idea of giant monsters with weird powers slugging it out in the middle of a city is awesome. There’s something about kaiju that will always appeal to the kid in me. But I’m a grown up, right? How can childlike wonder sustain genuine adult interest month after month? That part can be a little tricky, but Godzilla: The Half Century War nails it. Masterfully illustrated by James Stokoe, this series follows Lieutenant Ota Murakami and his team of military monster hunters as they wage a five decade long battle against Godzilla. A battle that our giant lizard friend may not even know he’s involved in, as most any human proves to be little more than a nuisance to him. Ten years pass between each issue, taking Ota and company from post WWII Japan, to Vietnam, to modern day, all the while fighting a seemingly unstoppable force of nature. Ota’s odds get even worse once some of Godzilla’s most iconic rivals start to pop up. This series is a ton of fun, with lots of big action and incredible art. A must read for anyone who’s ever enjoyed anything.
3. Reset
Why it ranks (Nathanial Perkins): There’s really not much I can say here that I didn’t say in “Most Overlooked” and “Off the Cape.” I feel like I keep having to live the same moment over and over again, almost like I’m strapped to a machine, pressing the “Reset” button over and over again until I finally get it right…which is EXACTLY what happens in this idiosyncratic miniseries by the man who brought you such greats as “Apocalypse Nerd,” “Hate,” and “Neat Stuff”: Peter Bagge. What would you do if you could live your life all over again in a virtual reality machine? Tell off those bullies from high school? Try to seduce your first crush, the one who never seemed to notice you? Save your parents’ marriage? Or run around “inventing” devices that are supposed to come out later, using the money to fund some James Bond-style adventures and sleeping with as many women as possible? If you’re failed comedian Guy Krause, it just might be all of the above.
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2. Debris
Why it ranks (David Henderson): I love dystopian fiction. I mentioned it way back in CSBC when I recommended “BlackAcre” and I’m mentioning it again because “Debris” is probably one of the best dystopian stories I’ve read all year.
Set in a village starved of water, “Debris” follows Maya, the village’s Guardian, as she sets out into the wilderness to find water. What follows is an interesting, captivating mystery with great characters and gorgeous visuals from Riley Rossmo, who I already talked about as one of my breakout artists of the year.
1. Punk Rock Jesus
Why it ranks (Michelle White): What would Jesus do — if by “Jesus” you mean the boy who may or may not be his clone, and who has been brought up within the confines of an exploitative reality show? Sean Murphy’s “Punk Rock Jesus” is one intricately put together answer to that question, and with one more issue to go, this miniseries has already completely blown us away. Portraying a vivid and believable near-future America — etched out in sharp and edgy black and white — and slowly working up toward the inevitable rebellion of Jesus’ clone, both the pacing and the character development in this series has been just right, going far beyond the central concept and extrapolating a whole political landscape for us to explore. And, with Murphy acting as both writer and artist on this project — and excelling on both fronts — the whole has felt unified and uncompromising, like the most faithful possible interpretation of a truly inspired vision. We can’t wait for the last chapter of a series that has been both detailed and nuanced, and thoroughly punk rock.
