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| Uncanny X-Force #18 |
December’s Over, and you know that that means! Yes, it’s time for another recap covering the best (and worst) in comics! Join me as I take a look at my favorite books along with the not-so-favorites. Check out the cut for a list of the best of the best!
Best Book of the Month — Uncanny X-Force #18
This book is a beast. Remender is quickly becoming one of the best writers in the industry, let alone Marvel. Fun fact: the only reason this book didn’t make our end of year list is because it was due before the book came out. If it had come out in time, It would have gotten #1, easily. It had gorgeous art and a heartbreaking script, plus the ascension of one of my favorite characters to that of an Omega Level Mutant. GREAT Stuff.
Runners-Up: Aquaman #4, Avengers Academy #23
Most Disappointing Book — X-Club #1
It’s not that the book was intrinsically terrible, I even gave it a semi-decent score in my review a couple weeks back, but in the end, it just didn’t leave me begging for more, when for all intents and purposes, I should have loved it. I’m not going to pick up any more issues save a trade; providing I hear good things.
Runner-Up: Superman #4
Best Writer — Christos Gage
Christos Gage penned two of my favorite books this month. The absolutely lovely Avengers Academy, which was a runner-up for the Book of the Month, and he also wrote Angel & Faith, which was a solid one-off book coming from their little corner of the Whedonverse. I imagine that Remender might get a shot at it next month with his taking over the reins of Secret Avengers, but until then, Gage is all the rage (BOO HISS, BAD PUN!)
Runners Up: Rick Remender, Geoff Johns
Best Artist — Ivan Reis
Aquaman is a really good book. Geoff Johns has been killing it on the book by acknowledging the past, but not trapping Arthur Curry in the same bubble (sorry…) as other characters with such a long history. It’s everything a book starring Aquaman needed, short of a Conan the Barbarian adventure. But one of the crowning jewels of the book is the art from Superstar Artist Ivan Reis. I don’t know WHY or HOW Johns gets to work with the best artists (all three of them are either at the top or near the top of my list this month), but if I were a comic writer, I’d be incredibly jealous.
Runners-Up: JH Williams III, Marcus To, Doug Mahnke, Jim Lee, Francis Manapul
Most Disappointing Artist — Ardian Syaf
I actually kind of like Syaf from his time working on the Dresden Files book a few years ago, but his work hadn’t really translated to the superhero books as well as it should have. His work is so static, that what should be a hugely kinetic and even trippy issue of Batgirl just reads as bull and lifeless. But the worst part is that there was a moment of brilliance. That one singular moment made me wish the rest of the book were as good. I hope you can do more like that punch. I want to see some impact!
Runners-Up: Juan Bobillo
The Book You Should Be Reading If You Aren’t — Witch Doctor: The Resuscitation
It seems like a book that should have happened years ago: a Medical Doctor who does Haunted House Calls. Witch Doctor is a book that really should have happened years ago. The book is billed as House meets The Exorcist, and with a description like that, why AREN’T you picking this book up? It works as a one-shot in between minis, and the previous books aren’t even necessary to understand what’s going on beyond “this guy diagnoses monsters and is a dick.” Go pick this book up!
