Another month come and gone, and with that, a lot of comics. There were a LOT of memorable moments this month, for better or for worse. Much like David was last month, I love that February came to me.
Check my thoughts behind the cut.
Best Book of the month: Blackest Night #7
Did you see that ending coming? I mean really. I was actually hoping I’d be able to give book of the month to something else, then Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke went and killed it more than Nekron.
Runners Up: Ultimate Comics X #1, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7, Incredible Hercules #141, Green Lantern Corps #45, Green Lantern #51
Worst Book: Hulk #20
The culmination of a lot of little messes into one giant mess. Part of it was the poor characterizations by Loeb and shockingly bad art by Ed McGuinness (of which both both creators I can say I like, for better or worse). all in all, an absolute mess.
Runners Up: Psylocke #4
Best Scene of the month: Sinestro Ascendant. (Blackest Night #7)
One of the biggest scenes in the history of the Green Lantern mythos. Hal’s greatest enemy is our best hope for life? Sure it was for purely selfish reasons, but still, it’s one HELL of a scene.
Runners Up: Guy Gardner is torn between the Red and Green Rings (Green Lantern Corps #45), the death of Hercules (Incredible Hercules #141)
Worst Scene of the Month: Red Hulk Battles The X-Men for no apparent reason
I mean really! I will admit I’m probably one of the few people who still thinks Jeph Loeb is talented, and just going through a dry spell, but he either didn’t bother trying to make Cyclops sound like Cyclops, and somehow one of the best strategists in the Marvel Universe this side of Captain America got his butt handed to him by Red Hulk. Red Hulk may not be dumb, but he’s not that smart!
Runners Up: The X-Men fight the…whoever they are…in Uncanny X-Men #521
Best Writer: Jonathan Hickman
This is really his title to lose. His espionage is top shelf, and his concepts on Fantastic Four are some of the most challenging and entertaining FF stories in a long time.
Runners up: Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi
Worst Writer: Chris Yost
I love Psylocke. I like Yost. Which is why it pains me to say this. But the reason Loeb didn’t get this dubious honor? Ultimate X was quite good.
Runners Up: Jeph Loeb (Hulk), Matt Fraction (Uncanny X-Men)
Best Artist: Patrick Gleason
Patrick Gleason is one of the most loved artists on the site, and he deserves his time to shine. I’ve really loved his work ever since I first picked up Green Lantern Corps. He turned a massive team book into something that is incredibly detailed and just plain gorgeous to look at.
Runners Up: Doug Mahnke, Sean Murphy, Dale Eaglesham
Worst Artist: Ed McGuinness
Continued belowReally, I hate to say it, but it was THAT bad. I’m sorely disappointed in the usually outstanding talents of McGuinness. He tried to make Storm look sexy. He failed. He couldn’t put together a fight between Red Hulk and the X-Men, and he didn’t even give Cyclops the courtesy of having a decent character design. Freaking eh…
Runners Up: Greg Land
Best Cover: Green Lantern Corps #45
Stealing a bit out of Burpee’s playbook, but why shouldn’t I? It’s Guy Gardner with a chainsaw. Need I say more?
Runner Up: Amazing Spider-Man 621
Best New Book: Ultimate Comics X
There you go Loeb! Show everyone that you still know what writing is. While I had some issues with it, like his ability to grow adamantium from nowhere, it was a solid, entertaining, emotional book. I knew you had it in you Jeph.
