Ah, This Month in Comics. A column that, due to its monthly nature, doesn’t really have a specific format. Personally, I’m glad we’ve more or less ditched the worst/most disappointing categories — I don’t read many comics I don’t love, so I always hate picking one as worst, even though I’m sure there could be much more awful comics out there. That’s neither here nor there, though. February was a short month stuffed with great comics, but a few stood high above the rest. Some of my choices are sure to be controversial — okay, maybe one — so be sure to call me an idiot with terrible taste in the comments.
Or we could have a pleasant discussion on what you agree and disagree on, but come on, this is the internet. That never happens!
Best Issue: Scarlet #6
If I may paraphrase something I said on Twitter after reading this issue, all my doubts about the Occupy movement’s possible effect on this series were whiped clean with this single issue. In a single — well, double — page, in fact. One of the problems with the serial nature of mainstream comics is that sometimes the present can catch up with the events you are making up, causing your previously anticipatory story to become out-of-date. “Scarlet” creators Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev were able to just shrug it off, though, and quickly made their comic relevant again without a hitch — perhaps, even, made it more relevant. On top of that, this was a dynamite issue that was well worth the year plus wait, a true tour de force of one of the most talented creative teams working in the business. I can’t imagine anyone who wasn’t a fan of the first arc not loving the hell out of this returning issue, but hey, there are always exceptions.
Runner Up: Saga #10
Best Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
You heard me. I would be lying if I said I was a major critic of Bendis’s post-Civil War Avengers work, and while it is a mean thing to say, I was relieved upon hearing it was reaching its close last year. Upon hearing he would become, essentially, the head X-Men writer, I was a bit hesitant, but since then he has proven to be a good fit for the series. This month’s “All-New X-Men” was a captivating look at the conflicted young Cyclops, and the first two issues of the new “Uncanny X-Men” volume were exactly what I wanted them to be (though I still don’t like paying $3.99 for a comic I can read in two minutes). Scott Summers is my favorite X-Man, and Bendis has demonstrated that he has a great grip on both where he was in the past and where he is now that should have some major ramifications on where both books are going. Brian is back, baby.
Of course, X-Men comics are still just X-Men comics. The real reason is the previously mentioned “Scarlet.” I’m also behind on “Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man,” but still.
Runner Up: Brian Wood
Best Artist: David Aja
I’m sorry everyone else. If it is a month with a David Aja comic, you can’t really compare. Like every issue of “Hawkeye” he has done prior to this one, #8 was a visual spectacle that blew everything else on the shelf out of the water. His dynamic sense of motion, his technically precise figure drawing, his stellar panel layouts, his easily-read storytelling — no offense, but how can anyone compete with all of that combined? Particularly striking in this issue, though, was the lighting in the last two pages, paricularly the panel pictured above. And then, of course, there’s the fantastic one-page story that opens the issue. Every issue, Aja brings something new to the table, another reason to call him the best artist working in mainstream comics today. With this issue, he did not disappoint.
Runner Up: Alex Maleev
Best Scene: Hawkeye’s Lady Friends Meet
Probably the most anticipated moment since “Cherry” and Clint knocked boots finally happened in issue #8. Fidelity has never been Clint’s thing, and anyone with a basic knowledge of Hawkeye probably had warning signals once Bendis paired him up with Jessica Drew — note: I’m not one of those people, I just know that through Wikipedia research. This single page is an excellent example of how the Marvel method has honed Fraction’s scripting. Sure, there’s a good deal of dialogue on the page, but it is paired so well with Aja’s expressions and generally conveys so much character for every character involved. In a series with a lot of great pages of dialogue, this one is one of the best (so far).
Continued belowRunner Up: The last page of “Saga” #10… though that could also be the worst scene.
Best “New” Series: Uncanny Skullkickers
I have been vocal about how much I enjoy Jim Zub and Edwin Huang’s terrific fantasy comedy, and unlike some more mainstream titles, a relaunch didn’t hurt that enjoyment. This was a great example of how to do a jumping-on point for a new story arc: make it readable enough for new readers, but not so much that the need for reading the first few arcs is invalidated. Of course, this approach relies on selling your new readers enough on the concept that they’ll go back and buy multiple paperbacks between this issue in the next. Luckily, “Uncanny Skullkickers” #1 was excellent, so that isn’t an issue. If I may quote myself once more: “Marvel and DC, take note: if you must relaunch a book mid-run, this is how you do it.”
Runner Up: Uncanny X-Men
