So, I'm just gonna tell you my personal favorites of the year. I'm gonna skip the "WORST OF" as well. I don't want to bring negativity to this blog.
Favorite Marvel Comics of 2014
I can't help it. I default to Marvel Comics no matter what. As I've said in previous posts, I grew up on Marvel, but branched out into DC later in life. I love them both, but here's where I'll start.
Ms. Marvel
There was a bit of controversy surrounding this book at the beginning; a Muslim super hero!? HOW DARE THEY!?
Well, they dared. And it worked. Author G. Willow Wilson has brought an entirely new and original character to Marvel that's both a positive view of Muslims (in a political climate that's often anything but) and a positive, not trashy female hero.
There's been a noticeable glut of new characters with staying power. Hell, old characters have a hard time keeping a solo book, but the new kid on the block? That's rare for a company like Marvel. But Wilson's created a funny, often heartwarming character that's an everyman... woman... person.
Also, dig that cover. It's an homage to Peter David's awesome 90's Supergirl book.
Captain Marvel
There isn't anything good I can say here that hasn't been said somewhere else. Kelly Sue DeConnick is amazing. There's action, there's comedy and there's badass: Carol Danvers. There are quite a few great standout female Marvel characters (Ms. Marvel above, being one), but if I were to make a comparison for just a second...
Captain Marvel is Marvel Comics' Wonder Woman.
There... I said it. Tell me I'm wrong.
With a movie on the horizon, the Carol Corps is about to get even bigger!
Daredevil
Mark Waid and Chris Samnee (and Javier Rodriguez during the Original Sin tie-in) have done an amazing, bang-up job on my favorite Marvel character. Yeah, my favorite. I'm biased here... it's my blog.
As was the last volume, this is a considerable step away from the darkness of the Marvel Knights version of the book. I hate to compare it to the relatively uneven quality of the 70's material, but the swashbuckling, fun hero is central. If this tells you anything: if he shared the title with Black Widow, I'd be okay with that.
Sadly, Waid and Samnee's run is coming to an end soon.
She-Hulk
Charles Soule has become Marvel's go-to guy for the big stuff recently. Inhuman and Death of Wolverine immediately coming to mind.
BUT, this was his book I most enjoyed. It was an underdog in the world of X-Men, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man titles, of course, but wow it was a consistent, funny and smart title. I suppose people that wanted nothing more than to see Jennifer Walters smash things probably didn't get what they wanted, but in the history of this character, comedy has almost always been the focus.
That's what it was here, with a few extras: character development, a little action here and there, and lots of lawyering. She is a lawyer, after all. So is Charles Soule, so the legal element was interesting when applied to the world of superheroes. Compelling, almost. But not compelling enough, it seems.
I'd say it was on the chopping block, but Marvel's already chopped it. Cancelled. Done.
For now, at least.
Favorite DC Comics of 2014
Without bringing negativity to this post, I'll just say that DC's New 52 hasn't been my bag. Much like, I'm sure, the post-Crisis DCU wasn't the DC those pre-Crisis people loved. It is what it is. I find much of my DC reading comes from the past and, wow, there's plenty of great stuff out there.
However, there have been a couple of books I've been enjoying lately.
Justice League 3000
Very new to my "read pile" is this book. I'm a huge fan of the "Bwa-ha-ha" era of the Justice League, so once I heard the pre-New 52 Blue Beetle and Booster Gold were making their way here, I began picking it up. Definitely confusing at first, but I've snagged the entire run and have thus far enjoyed it immensely.
J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen are helming the book, so the "Bwa-ha-ha" style pioneered by them is still there. Looking forward to where it's going!
Green Arrow
Also new to my "read pile" is Green Arrow. I absolutely love Arrow, so when I heard two of the show's writers, Andrew Kreisberg and Ben Sokolowski, were taking over the title, I was immediately in. I'm a fan of Mike Grell's Green Arrow run from the late 80's and the show takes a lot of inspiration from that, so I'm hoping that will influence the title. It's weird, I hope the show that's based on a book, re-influences the book. Yeah...
I'm only a couple of issues in, but I'm digging the style, which is slick like Arrow, but within the confines of the comic book world that's been established for him.
Other Favorites
Instead of breaking down the rest into companies, we'll just roll with this.
Tooth & Claw
Definitely new to the pile, but holy crap wow... that was a first issue!! The second issue? Also great!
The book's artist, Benjamin Dewey, is absolutely amazing! He has crafted a living, breathing world of anthropomorphic animals of all species. This guy is so talented, his work makes my eyes bleed with joy!
And then there's the writer, some new guy by the name of Kurt Busiek. I'm not sure what, if anything, he's done before, but he seems okay.
(Busiek's always been a favorite of mine and I'd be hard pressed to tell you anything of his I didn't love!)
Rasputin
When I heard Riley Rossmo and Alex Grecian, the creative team of one of my all-time favorite books, Proof, were reuniting for a new project, I pooped my pants. And yours.
If spinning a tale about the infamous Grigori Rasputin wasn't enough to catch my interest, their involvement was. But, obviously, it was the other way around.
We're early in the run, but so far, so good.
Honorable Mentions
Other stuff I'm loving!
- Southern Bastards (Image Comics)
- Silver Surfer (Marvel Comics)
- Thor (Marvel Comics)
- Black Science (Image Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
- Spider-Man 2099 (Marvel Comics)
- All-New X-Factor (RIP) (Marvel Comics)
Old Stuff That's New to Me!
Obviously I'm running out of headings here. Much of my comic book reading is going back and rediscovering old runs or titles that either I skipped when it came out or haven't previously had an interest in.
- Legion of Super-Heroes - This is the big one for me this year. Like I attempted to describe in a previous blog post, in my feeble handle of the English language, I have been intrigued with LOSH for a long time, but ultimately intimidated by the plethora of continuity and characters. But I made the plunge this year and haven't looked back. Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen's work on this title in the early 80's is fantastic. The way in which they handle all these characters is masterful.
And those covers. Damn, I love those covers...
I've definitely loved 2014. Lots of excellent books, many of which I'm sure I've forgotten I've read, but I'm optimistic about what 2015 might bring!
Happy New Year!
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