Welcome to the Multiversity Year in Review for 2022! We’ve got over 25 categories to get through, so make sure you’re checking out all of the articles by using our 2022 Year in Review tag.
There are lots of people out there who love comics, but have a lot to learn about everything an inker or letterer does. Writers tend not to need an introduction. But that doesn’t mean that comic book writing is the same as other kinds of writing! Sometimes the writer is the one coming up with ideas, sure, but lots of times that’s done in collaboration with the creative team. A comic writer is unique in that they have to put together a script- the document that guides the whole team through the comic creation process. Some of our favorite writers work on very imaginative books, some of them are brilliant with a turn of phrase, but one thing the best comic writers have in common is that they are good at writing a script that lets every member of the team tell the story. That’s something all of our picks have in common, but you will find a lot of different talents represented on our list of the best comic writers of 2022.
10. Jed Mackay
2022 is the year that Jed MacKay found his niche, exploring the mystical and magical realms of the Marvel universe. While his run on “Moon Knight” and his excellent event “The Death of Dr. Strange” began in 2021, 2022 was when they both hit their stride and provided some of the most fun dark fantasy comics coming out right now. In fact, both “Moon Knight” and “Strange” have become two can’t-miss comics, finding ways to add exciting new elements to the mystical world of Marvel. It’s a joy to watch Clea’s more or less fish out of water story in “Strange” as she navigates being the Sorcerer Supreme in a world that frowns upon mystical warlords. Likewise, it’s exciting to watch Mark Spector get reacquainted with Steven Grant and Jake Lockley in “Moon Knight.” And in both cases, it’s been a delight watching him build up fun supporting casts of characters that complement the story well.
While most of MacKay’s work has been for Marvel, he’s also bringing his fantastical sensibilities to Boom! Studio’s “Magic” comic has also been consistently entertaining. It is clear that MacKay finds joy in giving the fantastical a darker edge. Here’s hoping we will see some creator-owned stories in the future, but MacKay’s spot on this list is well-earned with two can’t-miss comics. -Joe Skonce
9. Ram V
With his history as a chemical engineer, it’s hard not to look at Ram V’s meteoric rise as a product of grand design. After creating some of the most critically acclaimed creator owned titles of the last three years, Ram V used 2022 to build recognition, and longevity in some of his first ongoing titles, to great success.
Probably the most notable work was Ram V’s second season, and the finale (for now), of his “Swamp Thing” run, a story that really injected Levi Kamei into a wider DCU, while using that scope and contrast to prove how confidently singular his story is, with an origin as thematically nuanced as the original Alec Holland. It’s also somehow V’s most personal story in years.
Meanwhile, “Venom” is arguably V’s most high profile book to date. It’s a think tank disguised as a comic. The combination of dense structure, generational storytelling, and a high concept dissection of legacy/chronology bolstered by the creative team here makes this title feel like the only natural direction the character could take after the inarguably redefining run from Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman. V’s “Carnage” book also carries that legacy while going in an entirely different stylistic direction, making a great backing track to the main series.
Speaking of Ram V’s knack for collaborative writing, his fledgling run on “Detective Comics” feels like a great companion piece to Zdarsky and Jimenez’s “Batman,” carving out a great, more subtle ‘Old Man Batman’ era, while being beautifully irreverent to Grant Morrison’s run. That said, it feels like there’s proper intention and direction to this book, something “Detective Comics” has struggled with since the end of Tynion’s run years back, with so many recent stories acting as supplementary to the main “Batman” title and its events. It’s a truly memorable beginning.
Continued belowMoving away from the longer series on the writer’s plate, “Aquaman: Andromeda” has been a beautiful and expansive title, bolstering a year where DC Black Label has proven exactly what kind of titles it’s made to publish.
Ram V has used 2022 to carve out lengthy stories, multifaceted collaborations, and the blueprint for what will surely be a monumental 2023. – James Dowling
8. Ryan North
When “Fantastic Four” #1 hit shelves, it made an impact that few single issues did this year. North’s timelooping tale was anchored with relatable characters and grounded emotions, all while tipping its hand at the massive scale the FF typically work in. Not to mention a few cool page and panel tricks that use the medium to tell the story. I may have thought comiXology was broken after the first couple pages. And I do mean that in the best way.
But that’s been North’s entire career. He’s always been able to find the core of a character or a concept, and extrapolate upon it in interesting ways. It was true with “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,” which took what was basically an amusing anecdote about an obscure character, and turned it into an Eisner winning series. It certainly was true this year as well, with the entire history of Star Trek. IDW’s unfortunately short lived “Lower Decks” series gave us a classic crew vs. The Holodeck plothook that quickly turned into a Star Trek vs. Space Dracula story. He even included the space hippies from “The Way to Eden.”
North also made us care about still pictures of dinosaurs back at the start of his career. That’s skill.
It can be argued that he’s an unconventional choice for Marvel’s first family. But the FF has always been an unconventional comic at its best. Plus at its core, it’s oft repeated that the FF aren’t so much a superhero team as, from what their nickname implies, a family unit. With North, you have someone who can capture characters at their most basic emotional level, and someone who’s willing to think outside the box to tell their story. Giving him the reins such a high profile relaunch makes me excited to see what we’ll get in 2023. – Chris Cole
7. Mark Waid
Mark Waid has now been back at DC for a little more than a year and, in that time, has been slowly re-establishing himself as an indispensable member of the fabric of DC. This should come as no surprise, as Waid is one of the five or six creators in DC’s long history that is most perfectly suited for the publisher. Sure, Waid has done great work at Marvel, BOOM!, and elsewhere, but he is DC through to the bones, and his work at the publisher in 2022 is proof positive of that.
Over in “Batman/Superman World’s Finest,” Waid is able to tell new stories in a bygone era and do so in ways that are not only laying the foundation for future stories, but also making connections to past stories that add further depth and nuance. And through all of it, Waid is tasked with doing thing that at one time seemed impossible. The most impressive element? You’d almost want to spend time with his Bruce Wayne. I know, right?
In “Dark Crisis: The Big Bang,” Waid does the heavy lifting to re-establish the infinite multiverse, identifying many ‘new’ Earths that are set in the arena of classic stories and not make the whole thing seem like a giant wank-fest. Waid is using the groundwork that others, mainly Grant Morrison, laid out, and building on it. This is what Waid does, he continues to build and improve what is already there. – Brian Salvatore
6. Zeb Wells
Author Zeb Wells had an incredible year over at Marvel in 2022. Wells started off the year writing the end of “The Amazing Spider-Man’s” ‘The Beyond’ storyline with artists Mark Bagley, Patrick Gleason and Sara Pichelli. Wells concluded this storyline with a strong sense of emotional characterization on the part of Peter Parker and Ben Reilly. In fact, Wells weaved in so many plot threads with this storyline that made recent issues of “The Amazing Spider-Man” a brisk read. The storylines on the most recent run of “The Amazing Spider-Man” also written by Wells have gotten better with time. The opening Hammerhead arc on the series was solid with art from John Romita Jr. but the series really broke out with plotting on issue #6 of the title. The sixth issue of “The Amazing Spider-Man” was a great moment where Ed McGuinness and Wells reintroduced countless plot threads to the series from previous issues. “The Amazing Spider-Man” #6 featured tense battles with The Sinister Seven and Sinister Adaptoid villains.
Continued belowWells continued the hits with “The Amazing Spider-Man” #7 illustrated by John Romita Jr.. Romita Jr. and Wells returned to a storyline centered around the Goblin characters menacing Spider-Man’s world. Returning Spider-Man cast member Norman Osborn has been shifted to a hero in this series. Watching the reluctant bond between Norman and Peter throughout “The Amazing Spider-Man” has been a turbulent delight that rocketed this series back to greatness. However, “The Amazing Spider-Man” took yet another shift when Wells introduced Reilly back to the series after being gone for months. Wells reintroduced the villainous members of the cast and finally followed-up on so many of the threads from ‘The Beyond’ era of Spidey in “The Amazing Spider-Man” #14. After so much build-up to a confrontation with these characters, I’m now incredibly invested in the plotting of the main Spider-Man comic book series. The careful scripting on new issues of “The Amazing Spider-Man” make me feel excited about the future of the property. After so many writers and artists look behind on what makes “Spider-Man” exciting, Wells utilizes both the past and present to tell new stories with Marvel’s flagship character. – Alexander Jones
5. Josie Campbell
In an era of comics publishing that seems hopelessly betrothed to the decompressed “6-issue story arc” format, Josie Campbell came crashing in and delivered 3 jam-packed issues of “The New Champion of Shazam” so crackling with energy, humor, emotion, and clever characterization that it likely wouldn’t feel like it overstayed its welcome even if it were a dozen issues long. A talented writer with a background in television, the transition to the comics medium came off seamlessly. Campbell avoided overwriting (a seemingly tough task for even the most seasoned comics writers), stayed faithful to a cast of well-established characters, and subtly weaved layers of meaning into what could have easily been just another young adult coming of age cape story. After what feels like a decade of false starts with the “Shazam” property, Campbell crafted a fresh start for Mary Bromfield, fully embracing the brightness of the property while cutting it with the bittersweet and anxious feelings that come with leaving home for adulthood.
Campbell never shies away from the things that make “Shazam” a timeless property (even if Billy Batson has yet to make an appearance), giving Mary’s extended family clever roles along the way, helping Mary gain insight into herself and her responsibilities as a hero. Speaking of the superhero stuff, Campbell is great at that too. One of the year’s cleverest comics villains beats Mary down, quite literally, with harmful words (with the help of the incomparable Evan ‘Doc’ Shaner on art, this sequence is one of cape comics’ most memorable moments this year). Just think, a mere 3 issues of a DC comic made enough of an impression on us to make Campbell one of the year’s top comics writers. That’s unheard of. But it goes to show how strongly the work spoke to us. It is the sort of refreshing and timeless work that, in a just world, would be a lodestone for any sane publisher to look at when wanting to re-establish a dormant property. In 2022, to paraphrase an old axiom: Josie Campbell left us wanting more. Hopefully, in 2023, there’s plenty more to come. – Vince Ostrowski
4. Kieron Gillen
If there was ever a year that let Kieron Gillen really show off his talents, it’s… every year, actually, but this one is no different. This year, Kieron wrapped up “Once & Future” with an epic but very appropriate conclusion, bringing together Arthurian mythos and horror, then expanding it to encompass even more tales, throw in some shocking twists, and explore the very nature of narrative.
At the same time, he’s been expanding the Marvel universe with incredible runs on both “Eternals” and “Immortal X-Men,” leading up to one of the best event comics Marvel’s had since “Secret Wars:” “A.X.E.: Judgment Day.”
Yes, this year, Kieron had the chance to lead a Marvel event, and it was excellent. The stakes felt real, the characters had emotional challenges to face as well as physical ones, and it even made us as readers wonder how we’d be judged. And of course, there was still no limit to the wittiness or action. And the way it came about from the two converging storylines with the X-Men and Eternals just felt natural.
Continued belowSpeaking of, “Immortal X-Men” has turned the focus to some of the longest-lived mutants and members of the quiet council, and it is glorious. Every line he writes for Mr. Sinister is pure gold, and following past versions of Sinister, Mystique, and Destiny has been nothing short of fantastic.
And did I mention how his run on “Eternals” is perhaps the best the characters have ever been? He’s managed to make immortal beings who inspired mythologies around the world feel more relatable and given them actual struggles, dilemmas, and political machinations. Then he brought in Thanos, and things got even bigger.
Oh, and even though “DIE” ended last year, he’s still finished writing up the DIE TTRPG, so that’s another comic-related accomplishment. (I know my weekly role-playing game group is looking forward to trying it out.)
Next year, we’re getting to see more machinations play off as Kieron kicks off “Sins of Sinister.” So there’s already plenty more for us to look forward to. But there’s no doubt that Kieron Gillen earned a spot on this year’s list of best writers. – Robbie Pleasant
3. Tom Taylor
Tom Taylor has a mission, and he’s not going to rest until he accomplishes it: he’s building a new Mythos for the DC universe, one focused on the core of their characters. He questioned the status quo with the medieval fantasy Dark Knights of Steel and the conclusion of the best elseworld that we have seen in years, with DCeased: War of the Undead Gods, where reality itself is at risk.
Then we got to see the first villain of Jon Kent, Bendix, defeated at least in Superman: Son of Kal-El, where he’s still questioning international politics and the “big picture” mission of an all-powerful superhero.
In Nightwing he continues with his epic about police corruption, rich people and what they do with their money and the heart of Dick Grayson, now poised to be a bigger figure for DC next year. Taylor jokingly argues that Batman is the best sidekick ever, and in this book, we get to truly see why Nightwing is the best superhero there is.
Taylor concluded his brief comeback to Marvel with Dark Ages, that, although it was not big on the news, delivered a satisfactory story about the end of the world and the future for the people. He also finished his creator-owned book Seven Secrets filled with his ideas of building a better world and the role of gods in it. And just the cherry on the top, his book Neverlanders was published at Penguin, an alternative story of the Peter Pan mythology that seems poised to be a blockbuster series with teenagers.
There’s nothing that Taylor does wrong, and his work this year was spectacular, one can only wonder what’s next in the future, and with a new volume of Superman and the future of Nightwing teased recently, I can’t wait for Tom Taylor’s 2023. – Ramon Piña
2. Al Ewing
There is a moment in “X-Men: Red” issue 6 that had X-fans jumping for joy, even as their hearts were sinking deep into their stomachs and nerves dangerously frayed. In the midst of Uranos’ assault on Arakko/Mars during the “A.X.E.: Judgment Day” crossover, the Eternal having decimated the Otherworld mutants of Mars, Storm has just rejoined Magneto and the rest of the “Great Ring” – or what is left of them, only to discover that Magneto is on borrowed time. In a previous issue, Uranos made quick work of the Master of Magnetism, literally ripping his heart out. In true melodramatic comic book fashion, Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto survived by manipulating the iron in his blood to keep his circulatory system going – but the solution is only temporary, and having given up his chance at Mutant Resurrection, readers are left to look upon the final acts of Magneto – one of the most complex and rewarding characters at the House of Ideas. In a gripping moment that embraced decades old continuity, Al Ewing reminded readers that Storm’s ability to control electricity could be used to enhance Magneto’s own abilities, at the cost of her life force. Standing behind Erik, Ororo’s hands on his chest in an embrace both intimate and awe-inspiring, she feeds Magneto the necessary electricity to help the Arakki mutants push back the Eternals’ lethal incursion.
Continued belowThis moment is but one of many to help describe Al Ewing’s masterful blend of character development, continuity-weaving, and go-for-broke drama that has endeared him to superhero fans these past few years, and especially with us here at Multiversity! Ewing seems to keenly recognize the ingredients to make a good comic involve not only the ideas he brings to the table to push the subject material forward – be it the rich socio-political drama of “X-Men: Red” or the insightful and confounding philosophical arguments to be found in “Defenders: Beyond” – but also the prudent use of continuity. Ewing isn’t here to play softball and get easy nostalgia pulls for blending in continuity – he often knows precisely which elements of the now decades worth of material help inform where the characters are in the current moment. Add to that a superb flair for dramatic or “cool” comic moments that leap off the page in the hands of the many great artists, letterers, and colorists he’s worked with this year, and you begin to understand why we here at Multiversity love Ewing’s work. Ewing’s quiet, unmatched consistency coupled with a love of big concepts and how they inform character’s he clearly knows and loves are enough to make the likes of Lee, Kirby, and Starlin proud. Honestly, it’s enough to many anyone a True Believer! – Johnny Hall
1. Chip Zdarsky
Let’s get one thing straight, Chip Zdarsky has always been an immense talent. At the same time, looking back on his career arc can be a bit of a trip. I don’t know if anyone thought that the man largely known for writing comedies like “Howard the Duck” and “Jughead” would become the scribe behind some of the most riveting comics being released today. Zdarsky has a love for this medium that shines through his work. He doesn’t just know what makes a good story work, he knows what it looks like to build a strong comic book series. He gets how to write issues as compelling stories in their own right that add up to one bigger compelling arc. He gets what strong short and long term pacing and story construction look like. And most importantly, Chip Zdarksy is a writer who gets that story is about character. This is a guy who seems to have a better grasp on some of the most iconic characters in all of media than almost anyone working in the industry today. When he approaches a character, you know that they’re in great hands.
Maybe the most impressive thing about Zdarsky is the way he breathes new life into character who are already deeply mined. Just look at his work on “Daredevil.” Gang wars, the Kingpin seeking power, Daredevil going to jail, and exploring Matt’s past with Electra are far from unheard of in the history of this run has felt nothing short of revelatory. Zdarsky has found new depths for each of the characters that populates this run and in the process built a truly epic story for Matt Murdock.
Then there’s “Batman,” which, like “Daredevil” takes a familiar idea (Batman creating a failsafe plan that goes awry) and turns it on its head. Here, the failsafe (literally called Failsafe) was created by a version of Batman that exists deep within Bruce’s subconscious. This isn’t just another story about Batman being untrusting and that impacting everyone; he actually relies on his friends and the Batfamily alike. While it’s still early days of Zdarsky on “Batman,” what we’ve seen so far has been an absolute blockbuster of a story, traveling the world, showing off characters from all over the DC universe, and delivering intense, exciting action. It’s also seen Batman in a genuinely vulnerable, frantic state as a character, something readers have gotten relatively little exposure to over the years.
And of course there’s his work over at Image, “Stillwater,” an excellent, nearly-finished horror/conspiracy series about a town where no one dies. An exploration of time, faith, and mortality, the series impeccably combines big questions with a tense, thrilling story. His other series, “Public Domain” is different from anything he’s working on; it tells the story of Syd Dallas, the creator of a popular superhero called The Domain, who’s seen his creation farmed by big studios while he and his sons have been hung out to dry. The series follows the Dallases as they navigate reclaiming rights to the character but really this is a story about ownership, creativity, and family. And like everything else Zdarsky writes, it’s about people.
This is Chip Zdarsky’s first time at the top of Multiversity’s Best Writer list but if he keeps moving the way he has been, it won’t come as a shock if we find him back up here again sometime. A thoughtful, funny, wildly talented storyteller and a master of the craft, he’s more than deserving of this ranking. – Quinn Tassin
