The end of the year means it’s time for the obligatory “Best of the Year” lists. Why? Because apparently everyone loves lists! 2012 was one hell of a year for comics. Like it or not, comics and “geek culture” (or whatever we’re calling it this month) continues to worm its tendrils into the masses and become the mainstream. The genie is out of the bottle and shows no signs of going back anytime soon. Besides not missing a single new comic book day throughout 2012, I also wrote over 150 articles, reviews, interviews, and reports as an editor or contributor for four different websites covering a multitude of pop culture topics. I am currently waiting for a new project to come together, but in the meantime I didn’t want to miss out on the “Best of 2012” fun. At least by publishing this on my blog you can rest assured that I’m not making these picks in an effort to suck up to advertisers. Without further pomp and ceremony, I present you with my “Best of 2012” picks.
Best Development in Comics
Creator-owned comics have been around for decades, but 2012 saw an explosion of amazing new creator-owned titles, making the creator-owned revolution the Best Development in Comics this year. More and more creators seem to have chosen 2012 as the year to strike out on their own and proudly offer us their unique creations—with publishers and fans welcoming them with open arms. What has sparked this revolution? Many creators just seem tired of the uncertainty, monotony, and editorial constraints that come with working on properties whose artistic directions are largely shaped in corporate boardrooms or by the interest of stockholders. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with many of these beloved characters and titles, but what creator wouldn’t enjoy the creative freedom and want to take a stab at creating something which is truly theirs? This infusion of fresh new ideas and perspectives is good for comics, readers, and creators. Be sure to show them your support in 2013 by preordering, helping to spread the word, and buying their titles.
Best Publisher
My pick for Best Publisher of 2012 is Image Comics, who celebrated their 20th anniversary this year while quietly publishing some of the most exciting and dynamic comics in the entire industry. Image was founded by creators as a company for creators, and 20 years later their vision is stronger than ever. They even held their own convention, the Image Expo, in Oakland. Image really innovated and pushed the envelope this year with old and new titles alike, including: Saga, Fatale, The Walking Dead, Thief of Thieves, The Manhattan Projects, Creator-Owned Heroes, Prophet, Multiple Warheads, Happy, and many, MANY others. Their lineup of talent and titles is incredibly deep. Image Comics is definitely the publisher to keep an eye on in 2013 and beyond.
Best New Series
The Best New Series of 2012 is without a doubt, Saga. Written by Brian K. Vaughn, with art by Fiona Staples, and published by Image Comics, Saga took the comic world by storm in 2012. Blending together elements of science fiction and fantasy, Saga instantly hooked me from the first sold-out issue with its brilliant plot, inspired art, strong characters, wicked humor, and sharp dialogue. Saga works on every level. I just can’t say enough good things about this series, and fans and critics can’t either.
Best Ongoing Series
I’m not really a fan of superheroes or big publishers so much these days, but when a creative team puts out great work I don’t care who publishes it or which character it is. That’s why it might come as a shock to you (and me to be honest) that my pick for Best Ongoing Series is Batman from Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and DC Comics. From the unique art and storytelling in “The Court of Owls,” to the current savagery of Joker in “Death of the Family,” Batman has been really good this year. Snyder paces everything quite well and creates great tension. I have been a fan of Capullo’s art for years, and it just keeps getting stronger as this series advances.
Best Graphic Novel
This is a tough call because there were some excellent contenders this year. My pick for Best Graphic Novel is The Hive from Charles Burns and Fantagraphics Books. The Hive is the second volume in a trilogy which started in X’ed Out. Books by Charles Burns defy simple explanations or synopsis. They are a surreal mindfuck of the highest order and something everyone should experience. His art is bold, clean, and instantly recognizable. I loved this graphic novel.
Honorary Mention
The Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire, published by Top Shelf Productions, is so haunting and superb that I would feel remiss if I didn’t award it an honorary mention.
Best Webcomic
My pick for Best Webcomic goes to Gutters. Gutters might not tell an ongoing sequential story like some of the other webcomics out there, but they do deliver no-holds-barred critiques of the comic book industry with rapier wit and style. No topic, no matter how sacred, is safe from their scathing humor and satire. Gutters is scheduled to return to multiple installments a week in 2013, and we can all be thankful for that.
Honorary Mention
Though the subject matter and gore might not be for everyone, Crossed: Wish You Were Here from Si Spurrier and Javier Barreno deserves an honorary mention for the high quality and sheer volume of work which they put out every week—FREE and for our enjoyment.
Best Horror/Supernatural Comic
About this time last year when I was voting on this category for a comic book news website, I didn’t vote for this title because only one issue had been released. After reading the next few issues I regretted that choice, and I have ever since. I intend to correct this oversight right now. This year’s Best Horror/Supernatural Comic is Monocyte from Menton3, Kasra Ghanbari, and IDW Publishing. Monocyte is one of those titles which elevate the entire medium of comics. It’s a stunning, dark, and beautiful work which I find myself returning to read over and over.
Honorable Mention
Frankenstein Alive, Alive! written by Steve Niles, with art by Bernie Wrightson, and published by IDW Publishing is a special treat everyone should be picking up. Niles treats Mary Shelly’s seminal creation with the respect it deserves while crafting a completely new tale where she left off. Wrightson’s art is packed with detail and some of the best black and gray work I have ever seen–showing us all he is a master of his craft who just keeps getting better with age.
Best Anthology
Dark Horse Presents wins the award for best anthology. Dark Horse Comics offers readers a wonderful opportunity to sample various styles and genres through ongoing and one-shot stories. Some of the highlights include Michael Oeming’s powerful Wild Rover and Francesco Francavilla‘s The Black Beetle. If you can’t find something new and unique to love in this title, you’re doing comics wrong. Look for more of Michael Oeming’s excellent series, The Victories, to appear in Dark Horse Presents in 2013.
Best Experiment
The pick for this category is bittersweet for me. Best Experiment this year goes to Creator-Owned Heroes,published by Image Comics. Creator-Owned Heroes is a split-title magazine, usually featuring two ongoing comic stories per issue (written by Steve Niles and Jimmy Palmiotti, respectively), as well as various interviews, tips, rants, and articles. This title was praised by critics (myself included), but in the end failed to find a sufficient audience and was cancelled after just eight issues. The final issue is due out in January 2013. Oh well, I guess that means more space on the shelves for contrived, spandex-clad, multi-title, cash-grab events. In the meantime I’ll be over here mourning Creator-Owned Heroes. Thanks for trying, guys.
Best Collection
2012 was another great year for collected editions of past work, but my pick goes to the absolutely gorgeous Wally Wood EC Stories Artist’s Edition from IDW Publishing. This oversized book is printed the same size as Wood’s original art, and lets readers appreciate the late master’s work the way it should be seen. IDW has really outdone themselves on this one. Try not to get drool on the pages.
Best Self-Published Comic
Like zines, I love self-published comics. They feel so intimate and crafted with care. This year’s Best Self-Published Comic would have to be The Mire by Becky Cloonan. Most people know Becky Cloonan’s beautiful (and prolific) art from such work as Demo, Conan the Barbarian, and many other comics, but she also self-publishes little comics like Wolves and The Mire as well. In addition to her wonderful art, The Mire is also a well-written story, smoothly shifting perspectives, playing with time, and slowly peeling back the layers of a brilliant story which feels much bigger than 22 pages. Order a physical copy of The Mire while you can, or check out the digital version for $0.99.
Best Book About Comics
Comics have a very interesting, colorful, and often sordid history which all fans should take the time to explore. Thankfully, Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe, is a wonderful book to delve into that rich history. This is a must-read for any fan, and one of the best books to be published on this topic to date.
Best Crowdfunded Project(s)
2012 was the year of the flood—44Flood. Creators Kasra Ghanbari, Ben Templesmith, Menton3, and Nick Idell joined forces to exercise their common beliefs in art, music, and beauty. Their first Kickstarter project was an anthology titled TOME, which brought together a staggering array of talented artist to explore a single theme using the mediums of comics, painting, and music. Within hours the project surpassed its goal of $18,400, and went on to raise a total of $132,538—with more and more artists being added. The members of 44Flood seemed genuinely shocked by the overwhelming response. 44Flood ran another successful Kickstarter campaign a few months later for a project titled LUST, featuring Ben Templesmith and Menton3 collaborating with Steve Niles. These are some of the most exiting projects in the entire industry, and proof that quality work can find independent support outside of the traditional publishing methods. I can’t wait to see what 44Flood has planned for the new year.
Best Comic Book Adaptation
So many big adaptations of comics came out in 2012, and even more are on the way for 2013. Even though The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises movies were quite enjoyable and raked in more than the GNP of many countries, both films have massive flaws and plot holes. “What about The Amazing Spider-Man?” I hear you ask. You must be joking, right? This year’s Best Comic Book Adaptation goes to [drumroll] AMC’s The Walking Dead. Season 3 of The Walking Dead has been the high point of the TV series so far. The actors are great, the pacing has been much better, and this season covers one of the best parts of the comic book series. No other TV show blows up my social network feeds quite like The Walking Dead–and for good reason. If you live on the east coast and insist on posting tons of spoilers before the show airs here on the west coast, I will unfollow you. The TV series changes just enough to surprise fans of the comics, while staying fairly true to the source material. The Walking Dead is generating more interest in comics than anything else out there, and I think we can all approve of that.
Best Comic Book Moment
While many thought, “about damned time,” some fans cried “gaysploitation,” while others boycotted or spoke out about it, but in the end Jean-Paul Beaubier (aka Northstar) married his boyfriend, Kyle Jinadu, in the pages of Marvel’s Astonishing X-Men#51. Yes, there have been other gay comic characters and even gay marriages before, but for a powerhouse company like Marvel to make an editorial decision which mirrored a shifting (but still divided) public opinion on a controversial topic was commendable. Granted, they got tons of free press and the honeymoon wouldn’t last long, but we won’t get into all of that. In the end I still think this was the Best Comic Book Moment of 2012.
Best Artist
This is another tough call, but I have to give Best Artist of 2012 to Yanick Paquette for his mesmerizing work in DC Comics’ Swamp Thing. Even after I started to enjoy the story less, I still picked up Swamp Thing for the art. Paquette’s innovative and stunning layouts, lush detail, and unique perspectives are just jaw-dropping. I honestly don’t know if I have ever seen an artist arrange their panels in a more dynamic manner. Swamp Thing is just a clinic on creating incredible comic art, and Paquette has secured his place as one of the best artists in the entire industry. I can’t wait to see his work after Swamp Thing.
Best Writer
Jeff Lemire gets the nod as Best Writer of 2012. DC/Vertigo’s Animal Man and Sweet Tooth are pretty amazing, but what really put Mr. Lemire over the top was The Underwater Welder graphic novel from Top Shelf Productions. It would be quite easy to make a strong case that The Underwater Welder is the best graphic novel of the year. All combined, that’s just too large a body of superior work to deny him the honor. The fact that the Mr. Lemire also finds the time to create art as well is mind-blowing. I’m not sure if or when the man ever sleeps, but one thing is certain–he created spectacular work in 2012.
These picks are just the tip of the iceberg of what was an outstanding year in comics. There are literally dozens of other titles and creators I would have liked to mention. If the momentum generated this year carries into 2013 the New Year has the potential to be even better. Congratulations to all the winners. Your “No-Prize” is in the mail and I will continue to be an advocate and supporter of your work. Feel free to share your picks in the comments below. Thank you for reading, and please keep supporting creators and your local comic shops.
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