With the end of 2018, it’s time for a recap of the best comics of the year. (I think this is a legal requirement for all comic book-based blogs. Who am I to buck tradition?)
A caveat: this is my (Chuck’s) list of the best comics of the year, and I didn’t read everything by a wide, wide margin. So your mileage will almost certainly vary.
But of the hundreds of comics I read this year, these are my favorites.
If you disagree, feel free to send in your own list or nominees that should have been in the top 10 - you can either comment at the link below or email it to us at Chuckscomicoftheday@gmail.com.
First, though - the worst comic of the year. There were several contenders, but two of the big "events" of the year led the way. Over at DC, there was the impenetrable Dark Nights Metal, which tried to revive those glorious grim and gritty days of yore. At Marvel, the Infinity Wars tried to capitalize on the Avengers movie and only managed to be incomprehensible with some character assassination thrown in for fun. I'm calling it a tie.
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Back to the good. Honorable mentions (which means they could easily have been in the Top 10) go to some of 2018’s best comics (listed in alphabetical order): Beatles Yellow Submarine; The Champions; Elfquest; Justice League; Lovecraft’s The Curse; League of Extraordinary Gentlemen The Tempest; Mage The Hero Denied; The Prisoner; Right Ho, Jeeves; Secret Weapons and Usagi Yojimbo - The Hidden.
And now, the Top Ten for 2018:
This issue of The Mighty Thor wraps up that story with the death of Jane / Thor (or is it?), and it's a touching, powerful tale of life and love and purpose.
The art is by Russell Dauterman, who has created powerful visuals in service to this story, ranging from idyllic pastures to raging storms of anger and power.
Look, I'm glad to see the real Thor return (his appearances in the recent films Ragnarok and Infinity War show the true potential of the hero), but I've enjoyed Jane's run in the title a lot more than I ever expected I would.
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(Man, is that a terrific cover or what?)
Sad to see this powerful series come to an end, as Bane: Conquest wraps up with this issue.
(Twelve issues in a year - you have to appreciate professionals at work.)
This series has been a reunion between writer Chuck Dixon and artist Graham Nolan, two of the co-creators of Bane, Batman's most fearsome foe.
(He's also the only villain to physically defeat the Dark Knight.)
This series has presented a battle between Bane, his hired guns, and the deadly forces of Kobra - all over a baby, born to be the new leader of the cult. Bane knows that whoever possesses the baby has control over all of Kobra, and will become a nearly unstoppable force in the process.
This final issue is an action-packed, slobber knocking feast, as the two armies shoot it out - and a certain hero turns up to join in the fun.
(Dixon and Nolan do a fantastic job with the Dark Knight, which only makes sense, since they've crafted so many amazing Bat-stories.)
With lots of twists and turns, terrific art and fight scenes galore, this series is ending on a strong note. Highly recommended!
(And here's hoping that DC has the good sense to keep this creative team hard at work on more Batman-related stories!)
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8. Batman #54
Like a blast of fresh air, this issue of Batman is a love letter to fans of the Batman and Robin team.
It's a "done in one" issue by writer Tom King and guest artist Matt Wagner, and it offers a fresh look at the two heroes and what they mean to each other.
We see glimpses of Dick Grayson's earliest days at Wayne Manor, struggling to adjust to a new way of life.
We also see some modern interaction between the now-grown Nightwing and a much more surly Dark Knight.
It's a nice glimpse into happier days, and has some fun with the Dynamic Duo's rogues gallery as well (or at least its fringe elements).
An entertaining issue that's a nice counterpoint to the usual grim doings here.
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Writer Mark Waid generally has a really good grasp of "what makes a hero work."
He's demonstrated it time and again on characters like Daredevil, Captain America and the Fantastic Four, to name just a few (Marvel division).
I was a little leery of him taking over Doctor Strange's comic, because he did a mini-series about the Doc several years back and it didn't quite work.
Happily, we can now see that his work there was the exception.
Under Waid's guidance, working with the (quite excellent) artist Jesus Saiz, Strange is exploring the mystery of why his magic went away - and he's traveling across the universe to rediscover the power he's lost.
He's also learning more about why he became the Sorcerer Supreme - and why he lost his way.
It's a powerful story unfolding, and thanks to the alien setting, it's loaded with surprise twists and turns.
Glad to see Doctor Strange - and Mark Waid - getting along so well!
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6. Hawkman #1
I've been a fan of Hawkman for a long, long time.
I'm not old enough to have read the Golden Age adventures of the hero, but I was just the right age to enjoy the Silver Age version of Katar Hol, the policeman from the planet Thanagar who came to Earth with his wife and partner Shayera to learn from Earth police methods, all while fighting menaces in their Hawk-gear.
After that the story gets a bit muddled by the various Crisis and reboots, but eventually Hawkman became Carter Hall, a hero from Earth who has been reincarnated along with his lover Shayera through many incarnations.
We'll skip over the "New 52's" Savage Hawkman, who was "killed" by Despero in a recent mini-series (which was something of a mercy), and now Carter (the archeologist and superhero) is back for new adventures in a new series.
Happily, writer Robert Venditti has taken the character back to his Golden Age roots, has incorporated the best aspects of his modern incarnation, and thrown in some really interesting hints around his ties to other worlds.
The art is by Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie, with color art by Alex Sinclair, and it's terrific. Hitch has given the hero's wings a new, natural look, making them behave more like actual wings, instead of the traditional, stiff look that's been the norm.
Hitch, of course, is the master of Cinemascope splash pages, and you get those here in spades. But we also get a very human Carter, who has friends (gasp!) and acts like a good person (although he's a bit cavalier about the destruction of ancient objects).
There are still lots of questions to be answered (like where is Hawkwoman?), but this is a very promising start to the series.
The comic has made this long-time fan happy about a Hawkman comic for the first time in a long time.
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I suppose it would be wrong to file a review that just said, "What the hell?"
So I'll resist the urge.
This Mister Miracle limited series has been strange mix of nightmare scenarios, real-world struggles, throwback bluster and superheroics.
All have been presented without a clue as to which is real and which is not. Is it all a nightmare inflicted on Scott Free and his wife Big Barda? Is it a plot by Darkseid? Or Metron? Is there another explanation?
If you're looking for pat answers, you won't find them in this series. Instead, it offers some tantalizing clues and leaves it to you, dear reader, to decide what to believe.
It's been interesting and compelling throughout, and certainly walks a different path from most stories based in Jack Kirby's Fourth World.
(I often smile when I think, "What would Kirby think of this series?" I suspect he'd be happy his characters continue to entertain, and he'd be happy for the royalty check - but he might scratch his head at the storyline.)
If you're looking for a funny, challenging and unique story, this is your Huckleberry.
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4. Saga #54
The great thing about Saga is that you never know what's going to happen next - and of course, that also makes it difficult to review any issue, because to give away the surprises would be to spoil the joys of reading this terrific series.
What I can do is give you my reaction to reading this issue, which was something along the lines of: DAMN IT ALL TO HELL YOU SUM BITCHES!!!
Ahem. (Please excuse my profanity - you'll see lots more vulgar things in this series.)
Let me just add that writer Brian K. Vaughn and artist Fiona Staples are masters of this amazing, heartfelt science fiction adventure / slash / love story.
Sadly, this is the last issue for a year (ish) as the team takes a needed break - but for those mature enough to cope with the twists and turns (and the resultant whiplash that can set in for the unsuspecting), they're telling an amazing (and sometimes heartbreaking) story here.
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3. Superman #1
So there's this new hero - Superman!
If you rush, you can pick up copies of his first issue, which are bound to be a collector's item!
OK, lame humor aside, this is the starting point for writer Brian Michael Bendis' run on the regular title with artists Ivan Reis and Joe Prado - and it's a strong start!
There's no wasted effort here, as we are brought up to speed on the new status quo for the Man of Steel - he's adjusting to life without Lois and Jon (who are off world on a surprising journey), working as a reporter at The Daily Planet, interacting with other heroes and saving the lives of the innocent.
With terrific art, a fresh, inspired take on the classic hero, and a story that sets lots of wheels in motion (including a shocking final page), it's an impressive start for the new creative team.
I'm looking forward to the next issue - and yes, this title is back on my "pull" list at the comics shop!
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That's because he's trapped in the future - one in which America has suffered under a tyrant's rule.
Cap led a group of freedom fighters (including a few familiar faces) to bring liberty back to the country - but keeping the country free is proving to be a huge challenge.
What happens next - and the ultimate resolution of the story - takes Cap to some interesting places, forced to make the kind of decisions he's never had to face before.
It's the story of a hero and a role model, and a darned good one. This issue, sadly, wraps up Chris Samnee's amazing run on the art, after a long and fruitful run with writer Mark Waid on this, Daredevil and Black Widow.
In a backup feature, Waid also teams up - sort of - with another artist famous for his work on Captain America - namely, Jack Kirby! It's an offbeat story Waid managed to reverse-engineer - it's a bit silly but lots of fun!
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1. Barrier #4
I owe you an apology, readers.
While I credited Barrier as one of the best of the comics offered on Free Comic Book Day, I haven't reviewed the five-issue limited series which is being printed weekly by Image Comics (this was in May 2018).
Which means the final issue is being published next Wednesday!
I feel bad because... it's a terrific series! The topic seems well-worn - a man and a woman are abducted by aliens. But there's so much more going on here!
The series is set on the U.S. / Mexican border, and focuses on a rancher named Liddy, who encounters a man named Oscar sneaking across the border.
One of the interesting things about the book is that she speaks only English - and Oscar only Spanish, and the comic makes no effort to translate his side of the story (the same for the snippets of his history we see).
They both find themselves in a strange alien environment, unlike anything I've ever seen before.
The credits on the book are minimal, but I presume the book is written by Brian K. Vaughn, drawn by Marcos Martin with color art by Muntsa Vicente (just their names are listed in the credits), and their work is amazing, creating a world and a story that's unique, unpredictable and absolutely riveting.
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