Every year, we send out a survey to a wide variety of creators and ask them questions about the year in comics. We had an incredible response this year, and got creators from all corners of the comics world to weigh in one what they loved about comics in 2021. Every day this week, we will be sharing a different question from our questionnaire.
Hopefully these inspire you to check out some new books, and to give some other books a second look.
Thank you to all the folks who took the time during this busy holiday season to reply.
Question #3: in 2021, what older comics did you revisit this year?
Matt Smith (“Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.,” “Folkslords”): I reread a bunch of the late 70’s “Star Wars” titles. I was just discussing with someone how much fun those stories are. Relatively free from having to tie in to a bigger continuity I suppose. Like those old Han Solo novels—those early days of a wide-open universe. I generally reread Simonson’s “Ragnarok” regularly because they are fun and awesome. It’s like putting a favorite record on. Just makes me happy.
Liana Kangas (“Black AF: She Said Destroy,” “Star Wars Adventures”): I actually for the first time was able to secure a copy of “Dylan Dog Case Files” and I’m obsessed.
Daniel Warren Johnson (“Beta Ray Bill,” “Murder Falcon”): I’ve been diving into old “Love and Rockets” comics, especially Jamie’s wrestling story, “Whoah Nellie.”
Sebastian Girner (Editor, TKO Studios): I reread a lot of “Berserk” to mourn the passing of Kentaro Miura, a cartoonist the likes of which we’ll not see again. I skipped all the parts with Puck though because Puck sucks.
Hayden Sherman (“Chicken Devil,” “Wasted Space”): I don’t think I revisited much, but I finally read books like “Weapon X,” ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt,’ Geoff Johns’s “Green Lantern” run, a significant amount of 70’s “Batman,” and a good deal of “Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt.”
Steve Orlando (“Commanders in Crisis,” “Maruaders”): I’ve been rereading a lot of (Marvel) 2099, which shouldn’t surprise people who’ve seen my social media feed! I also just went back to the Teixeira “Sabretooth” miniseries and the solo “X-Man” title. Oh, and “Captain America” Annual #4 – for Misters One and Two! And Rutu Modan’s “Tunnels” from 2020 too! I can’t stop, apologies.
Vera Greentea (“Grimoire Noir,” “Nenetl of the Forgotten Spirits”): This year, the year of being tired while not being able to do anything, I spent most of my time looking for books that bring peace and compelling characters. One of my favorite easy-to-get-lost-in stories is “Our Dining Table” by mangaka Mita Ori. I found this book in 2020 and returned to it in 2021, happy to re-live the warm story of the struggling Yutaka, who has resigned himself to a life of loneliness because he has too much anxiety to eat around other people. When he meets the struggling Minoru who is left to fend for his much younger brother Tane, he is compelled to help by cooking for them. This gentle and cozy book is about finding ways to cherish the little things in your life and learning to move past loss.
Alex Segura (Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, ONI Press, Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall):A lot! Rereading older comics is comfort food to many, including me. I read tons of older X-Men – basically filling gaps I’d never read, like the Gillen, Fraction, and Brubaker runs, and rereading Claremont stuff I missed on my epic reread a few years back. Tons of Spider-Man – Peter David’s original “Spider-Man 2099” run with Rick Leonardi, early 300s “Amazing Spider-Man,” ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt,’ and more. Roger Stern/Buscema’s “Avengers,” the Waid/Johns “The Flash” runs, lots of Silver Age stuff with my son – like the early Barry Allen Flash. Also read Byrne’s “Alpha Flight” for the first time, plus revisiting “Kingdom Come” and Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway’s work on “All-Star Squadron” and “Infinity Inc”. Lots of Batman stuff – like Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen’s underrated run on “Detective Comics” and “Streets of Gotham,” and the D.G. Chichester and Lee Weeks run on “Daredevil.” Lots of older superhero stuff, I know, but sometimes you just need to disconnect with the stuff (or like the stuff) that got you into the game.
Continued belowBlue Delliquanti (“O Human Star,” “Across a Field of Starlight”): I’ve been slowly working my way through Naoki Urasawa’s body of work, and this year I started on “Master Keaton,” his detective series from the late eighties. It’s fun looking over his earlier work and noticing what themes or aesthetics he returns to later in “Monster” and “Pluto.”
Kay Davault (“Oddity Woods,” “Star Knights”): “Through the Woods” by Emily Carroll was one of the first graphic novels I read, and had a big impact on me while writing my own horror series. I recently managed to pick up a copy of my own, and Carroll’s short stories are still just as chilling and thrilling as they were in 2014.
Shobo (“Buckhead,” “Under a Jovian Sun”): “Goldie Vance” Vol 1., by Hope Larson, Brittney Williams, Sarah Stern, and Jim Campbell. It accomplishes the difficult trick of feeling timeless. It’s gorgeously drawn, witty, smart, and doesn’t talk down to its audience. It’s always a powerful tonic when I feel a little blue.
Tim Sheridan (“Teen Titans Academy,” “Shazam”): For personal reasons, “Batman: The Long Halloween.” It had been a few years. And we all got to revisit it with the special Jeph and Tim put out last fall!
For professional reasons, “New Teen Titans.” Marv Wolfman and George Perez set the bar high and I’ve tried to stay true to what they built.
For fun, Kieron Gillen’s “Young Avengers” and Abnett/Lanning’s “Nova.”
Coni Yovaniniz (“Walking to Do,” “The Do Over”): As I prepared for the release of “My Alcoholic Escape from Reality,” I re read all of Nagata Kabi’s previous books. I’m a big fan of her work, how vulnerable and emotional it is. Certainly more than a lot of us would dare to show in autobio! It’s also really interesting to see how much she can do with such a simple 4-panel layout.
Laurence Campbell (“Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.,” “Punisher MAX”): Unsure if it’s the pandemic but I’ve been revisiting a lot of comics this year. I’m about three quarters of the way through “Sandman Mystery Theatre.” I’ve never read this before but heard it was good so unsure if it fits this category. The series is frankly amazing and should be reprinted. Great character development, wonderful mysteries. The art mainly by Guy Davis takes you totally into the period. Highly recommended.
I’ve also been picking up issues drawn by Gray Morrow of “The Spectre” and “Lois Lane.” Love the line work and storytelling here, lots to learn from.
Old issues of 2000 AD featuring Nemesis. As a child Kev O’Neill’s artwork used to creep me out and I didn’t fully connect with it but now I’m totally into it. Incredible imagination here done on a big scale, good subversive fun. I got rid of my 2000ad comics years ago due to the space they take up but I’m having a blast buying cheap copies now. Such a gold mine of talent, Mick McMahon, Brian Bolland, Cam Kennedy, Dave Gibbons and more in a weekly comic. Insane.
Walt Simonson’s “Ragnarok” is a joy. I’m a big fan of myths and legends and very happy Walter is doing this book. Big, bold and dynamic.
“Daredevil” by Lee Weeks. Growing up I read “Daredevil” runs by John Romita JR and David Mazzucchelli but missed the Lee Weeks run. Really enjoy Lee’s art and his storytelling telling is really strong so not only am I enjoying it but it’s also an education.
Joe Kubert, never really picked up any of his comics growing up but I’ve made up for that this year. Incredible artist and storyteller. I absolutely love his work, it looks so natural and confident. So pleased I’ve picked up “Sgt Rock,” “Abraham Stone,” and more.
Nicole Goux (“Everyone is Tulip,” “Bhadow of the Batgirl”): I don’t think this is a unique or groundbreaking answer, but I’ve been making my way through Miyazaki’s “Nausicaa.” It’s such a rich, dense comic, both in the actual art and in the story. I had read a volume or two in the past and of course already loved Miyazaki’s work, but seeing it all together, and how much more there is to the story than in the film has been a really inspiring experience.
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Tom Scioli (“Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics,” “Transformers Vs G.I. Joe”): Jack Kirby’s “New Gods,” “Mister Miracle,” “The Forever People,” and “The Eternals.” Michael Golden’s “Micronauts.” “Spider-Man” by various. “Shang-Chi” by Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy and Gene Day. Bernie Wrightson’s “Swamp Thing.”
Rodrigo Vargas (“Walking to Do,” “The Do Over”): I’ve always wanted to read “Octopus Pie” in one go, and this year I finally did it (thanks, COVID…). The comic is really good, and it’s been very interesting to revisit it after reading some of it back when it was first published. Amazing cartoonist.
Jeremy Holt (“Made in Korea,” “Virtually Yours”): “Y: The Last Man.”
Dean Haspiel (“The Red Hook,” “Keyhole”):“The Defenders” and “Captain America” written by Steve Englehart, “E-Man” by Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton, “Captain Victory” by Jack Kirby, and “Fantastic Four” by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.
Joe Henderson (“Stagecraft,” “Skyward”): Not a revisit, but I’d never read “Once And Future” before, and just devoured it.
Tina Horn (“SFSX,” “Theater of Terror”): Swamp Thing ‘Rite of Spring,’ “No Straight Lines”, edited by Justin Hall, “Yes, Roya” by C. Spike Trotman and Emilee Denich, Grant Morrison’s “Doom Patrol,” “Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper” by Mindy Newell and J.J. Birch.
Wes Craig: (“Deadly Class,” “The Gravediggers Union”): A lot! Some stand outs are “Love and Rockets,” and “The Spirit,” but I’d say “Daredevil: Born Again” really stood out as a great, timeless read.
