This post reprints a post that first appeared in 2010, without revision.
Runners Up: Some great classic reprints! Like NEXTWAVE: Agents of Hate: Ultimate Collection (say what you want about Transmetro or The Authority, NEXTWAVE is Ellis’ greatest work); the complete Alan Moore Swamp Thing volumes; and Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? by Neil Gaiman–I know lots of Batfans hated it for not fitting in with Bat-chronology, but I found this story tremendously interesting.
I couldn’t keep it to a top 10. This list goes to 11.
11. Amazing Spider-Man: Fever. Brendan McCarthy’s psychedelic take on the webslinger wasn’t extremely well written, but what the story lacked in linear sense, it more than made up for with incredible art and originality. Simply put: You have never read a Spider-Man story like it before, and you probably never will again.
10. Power Girl. So she’s basically invulnerable, can fly, is super strong, etc. Why can’t Superman be anywhere this fun? Two reasons. Say it with me now: Boobs!
9. PunisherMax. The question has always been, will anyone ever be able to write a grittier, tougher, better Punisher than Garth Ennis? The answer is still no, but as if he knew that, Aaron didn’t even try. Rather than have his Punisher occupy the same space as Ennis’, Jason Aaron blended his Frank Castle into the Marvel Universe (sort of) by presenting an alternative history for Kingpin and Bullseye. If you didn’t know where (or whether) PunisherMax fit into the Marvel continuity before, you won’t now, either, but you also won’t care because this is so fucking amazing. Words so good, I can even tolerate the Steve Dillon art.
8. Kiema’s Castle (Amazing Spider-Man #615-616). The story of Sandman, Spider-Man, and Sandy’s little girl. Excellent.
7. Sweet Tooth. Rich, haunting, beautiful and desolate. A fantasy about a poor little deer-faced boy in a world full of hostile, punishing hunters.
6. Thor and the Warriors Four. Who says kids comics can’t be fun for adults as well?
5. Criminal. Brubaker and Phillips continue to astound.
4. The Walking Dead. Yes. That’s it, just yes.
3. The Unknown Soldier. This harrowing, meticulously researched book is essentially the story of what would happen if a man with the bloodlust of Wolverine and the impassionate strategic skills of Nick Fury were dropped into an African civil war. Extraordinarily well written and illustrated, this is a most unusual, moving comic book. It’s as brutal as Ennis’ Punisher, but it has a conscience. It doesn’t revel in violence, or pander, or condescend.
2. Shed (Amazing Spider-Man 630-33). Reinventing the one-note villain The Lizard for a new audience, with artwork that was simply astounding. A masterpiece.
1. Batman and Robin. When Marvel tried to force Bucky Cap down people’s throats, it took about a year before the whining stopped. Morrison threw a cowl on Nightwing and everyone shut up right away. Right there, that should let you know how great this book is. Follow it up with a very solid–and understandable(!)–start to Batman, Inc., and Batman is the man of the year.
AND SOME MISCELLANEOUS AWARDS . . . After the next break.
Most Overrated Comic Series: American Vampire. Seriously, what’s the deal? Is all the hubbub just about Stephen King writing an original comic book? Yes, I think it is.
Runner up: Chew. Yes, the first story arc was brilliant, but since then it’s kind of . . . Sucked.
Most consistently great superbook: Irredeemable. The gift that just keeps on giving–amazing series. And Mark Waid is a hell of a guy.
Best reboot: Fantastic Four by Hickman and Eaglesham. The F4 have been dull and drab for decades, and suddenly I give a shit about them.
Stupidest reboot: Grounded Superman.
Silliest Money Grab That Was A Lot Better Than It Should Have Been: Deadpool Corps.
Runner up: Prelude to Deadpool Corps.
Worst Event: Shadowland. Way to kill off 10-years of character progression and development, guys.
Best Result of the Worst Event: The new Power Man miniseries. Way, way better than it should have been.
Best Result of another underwhelming event: Secret Warriors by Jonathan Hickman, telling the tale of post-Shield Nick Fury and his ragtag band of unusuals.
The “enough is enough” awards: Deadpool [Prelude to DP Corps; Corps; Wade Wilson’s War; Secret Origin]; Blackest Night (ho-hum); all the Hulks; and way too many Avengers books and spinoffs. I know Joe Quesada doesn’t like to leave money on the table, but at some point it just gets ridiculous.
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