This Month in Comics was a mixed bag. Some truly great books were delivered to us and some absolute duds were dropped on us like turds from birds. So what was the most abysmal and what was the grandest? Well let’s take a look.
Best Book of the Month: Blackest Night #5
Awesome book that finally made some movement in the plot. It also focused more on Green Lantern stuff than Flash and the DCU stuff. We got to see the ring slingers of the light brigade duke it out with the corrupt Guardian as well. Plus, the great return of a character’s carcass even if for a short time was entertaining. The writing is great and the art is amazing. This title absolutely hit it’s stride in this issue.
Runner Up: Green Lantern Corps #42
Worst Book of the Month: Strange #1
When I bought this book I was amped. I loved the cover and expected the interior to be dark and excellent much like it. I was beyond wrong. It was as opposite as it could be. Not only was the art too cartoonish the title itself was like a terrible cartoon episode. Strange playing baseball and for the life of the fans and team nonetheless? Absolute rubbish and a terrible way to repackage Dr. Strange and send him back into the masses.
Runner Up: Image United #1
Best Scene of the Month: Tony Stark tells it like it is in
Invincible Iron Man #20
I loved this scene. LOVED IT! Matt Fraction just kills it with this scene. In it Tony explains his actions from Civil War on in a way that shows his remorse but also doesn’t give us the cop out of an apology and withdrawal from his beliefs. Instead we get Tony resolute in his choices and role in registration. It is done though in a way that makes the heroes reconciling believable. Great scene from a great writer in a great comic.
Runner Up: Kyle’s death in Green Lantern Corps #42. Not because he died but because he went out like a champ.
Worst Scene of the Month: Vibes return in
Justice League of America #39
Not much to say other than the scene where he appears to the JLame and calls them babies made me wince and then smash my head against a wall.
Runner Up: Does Strange #1 count as a prolonged scene?
Best Writer of the Month: Geoff Johns
The guy is killing it. While I was a critic of Blackest Night’s slow pace and reluctance to be a Green Lantern title instead of a DCU title much has changed in a month. All of Geoff Johns work on titles involving Blackest Night has been fantastic this month including his Adventure Comics with Superboy Prime. Let’s also not forget Flash: Rebirth that, no pun intended, also picked up the pace and made a turn for the better and Superman: Secret Origins. Overall, Johns was a tough writer to top in quality and quantity in the month of November.
Runner Up: Geoff Johns
Worst Writer of the Month: James Robinson
While I do enjoy James Robinson it just happened that Mr. Robinson put some of my least favorite stuff out this month. His Justice League stuff has not been my cup of tea in the slightest and his Cry for Justice was something I was extremely looking forward to but now am just bored with. The last issue’s big event seemed like a waste and also seemed like it will be no time before it’s reversed. I could be wrong but I doubt it. His Justice League of D-Listers was even worse. Justice League Detroit? Really? Vibe? Nope, I sure as hell am not vibing with this arc.
Runner Up: Mark Waid for his role in the debauchery that was Strange
#1. He was saved though thanks to his electric Electro arc in Amazing Spider-Man.
Best Artist of the Month: Ivan Reis
His work on Blackest Night #5 was awesome! Perfect for a zombie superhero blockbuster title. This man draws some EPIC heroes and villains and provides us with one beautiful ass book. It’s one of those titles you show to your friends who don’t read comics so they can see what they’re missing out on. It’s gorgeous work that has been consistently good since the beginning of the event and shows no sign of worsening in the near future.
Runner Up: Gary Frank for his work on Superman: Secret Origins #3.Worst Artist of the Month: Everyone involved with
Image United #1
I thought the art in this issue was the weakest of the month. While I wont say it was terrible or bad art, cause I can’t draw at all, I will say as a combined effort it was my least favorite of the month. It was too many styles on the same page. Cool idea but not my favorite way to execute it. Of the group my least favorite was Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon contributions, which I thought looked extremely rushed.
Runner Up: Depends on the order in which you place the artists on Image United #1.
Most Overlooked Book of the Month: Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural
This is a great book that I don’t think people are picking up. The character is on a new path that
was established in Bendis’ run on New Avengers and it’s a pretty damn
cool one. Seeing this new Sorcerer Supreme in action is a visual beauty. Plus, if you’re like me and hated Strange #1 than this will surely wash that putrid taste from your mouth.
Runner Up: R.E.B.E.L.S. mostly for the awesome Sinestro Corps Brainiac.
