The Homies 2013
We’re one day off the end of 2013, and our next episode (coming this weekend) feature our review of 2013. Those of you who heard last year’s Christmas special (which is all of you who’ve ever heard an episode of the show, I imagine, as it’s still our most-downloaded episode) will know that this means that we’re going to be awarding House to Astonish’s own awards – the Homies – in a variety of categories. As with last year, we want YOU to help – Paul and I are each going to select our winners in the following categories, but we’re also going to read out what our listeners think on the next episode. So check out the categories below, and let us know who or what you think deserves to take home each gong!
BEST NEW SERIES
This one’s pretty self-explanatory – any comic whose first issue was published between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 is eligible. What new series got your attention the most this year?
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
This one’s a little less self-explanatory – what series, again first published between 1 January and date of broadcast, did you think was best, with the proviso that it has to be something where the property wasn’t in existence prior to the start of 2013. We’re counting re-use of titles as well as concepts, so Hellboy in Hell, Young Avengers or Batman ’66 wouldn’t be eligible, but (for example) Sex Criminals would.
MOST WANTED
This is for the comic, series or graphic novel that saw print this year which you’d want to see more of, whether that be a book that was cancelled before its time, a one-shot or mini that just begs for a follow-up, or an OGN that you’d love to see a sequel to.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
It may have seemed unappealing when you read about it online, and those preview pages may have looked unremarkable, but when you finally got the winner of this category in your hands you were ready to eat your words. What comic, series or graphic novel did you find yourself enjoying much more than you thought you would?
STIFF DRINK AWARD
This award will go to the comic or graphic novel that most made us gasp with surprise – an unexpected plot twist, a daring cliffhanger or a shocking denouement will stand a book in good stead here.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Here we’re looking for the comics creator whom you think is the one we should all be observing closely in 2014 – they may have had a good year in 2013, but they’re someone whom you believe is only going to go from strength to strength.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
What move did a comics company or creator make this calendar year that made you glad you didn’t have to work with them? Wonky management edicts, prima donna creators and tales of publisher woes are what we’re looking for here.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
This is exactly what it says – which creator, creative team or publisher really knocked it out of the park this year?
Let us have your picks in the comments thread below, before midnight (your local time) on 3 January. Only ONE NOMINATION per category, please – any that say “oh, I just couldn’t decide, so here are two, or three, or five suggestions” will be disregarded in relation to that category. Please also let us have a bit of info on your thinking on each one – we’ll read out a range of the responses on our big end-of-year show. Happy nominating!
A stiff drink award to the unexpected death of Gabrielle Haller in x-Men Legacy 15.
Really shocking and moving moment.
Most Wanted – Where is Jake Ellis: the series wasn’t cancelled, wasn:t put on hiatus, but Image stopped releasing new issues. That said, Nonplayer #2 has the lifetime achievement award
Best actually new series: Rat Queens – like Saga, but in a medieval rather than space fantasy setting.
Most pleasant surprise: Rocket Girl
Stiff Drink award – the return of the Stalk in Saga. Or when Slave Girl stabbed The Will in Saga. Or when Warren Ellis was stabbed in the eye in Saga.
Longtime lurker, but I’ll chime in here:
Best New Series: G.I. Joe by Fred Van Lente. This is the first time I’ve ever read a G.I. Joe comic, but I’m loving this. It compelled me to pull up the old cartoons on youtube
Best Actually New Series: Three by Kieron Gillen
Most Wanted: Cable and X-Force (soon to be cancelled), This series was consistently FUN, there are so few books I feel that way about
Most Pleasant Surprise: X-men: Children of the Atom exceeded expectations
Stiff Drink Award: Iron Man, I totally fell for Gillen’s plot and then was floored when he swerved back. Perfectly executed
Emerging Talent: Dennis Hopeless. I looked forward to every issue of Cable & X-Force as well as Avengers Arena
Employee Relations: (You want us to say DC, don’t you?) I’ll go with “Male comics professionals who sexually harass women”
Outstanding Achievement: Kieron Gillen, his comics alone would get him this, and his podcasts and writer’s notes online make it an easier choice
“Employee Relations: (You want us to say DC, don’t you?) I’ll go with “Male comics professionals who sexually harass women”
^Seconded.
@newrulesnewlife “Stiff Drink award – the return of the Stalk in Saga. Or when Slave Girl stabbed The Will in Saga. Or when Warren Ellis was stabbed in the eye in Saga.”
These are all good nominations. Pick one?
@Jay: when you say “X-Men: Children of the Atom”, what do you mean? The book of that name was a Steve Rude thing from 1999…
BEST NEW SERIES
East of West
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
East of West
MOST WANTED
Locke & Key
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Sex Criminals
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Trillium
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Ken Kristensen
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
DC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Matt Kindt
Best new series — CHANGE by Ales Kot & Morgan Jeske. Almost a year later I still barely understand it.
Best actual new series — SEX CRIMINALS by Fraction & Zdarsky. Hilarious & cute.
Most wanted — a sequel to COLDER, the Paul Tobin & Juan Ferreyra mini-series from Dark Horse. There’s so much more potential here, yet nothing has been announced so far (has there?).
Pleasant surprise — PRETTY DEADLY, by DeConnick & Rios. I’m not big on westerns, so I was a little hesistant but I’m glad I took this plunge.
Stiff drink plz — SAGA #15, when [SPOILER!] The Will gets stabbed by Sophie. And he’s still not been saved!!! THE SUSPENSE!!!
Emerging talent — EMILY CARROLL, only noticed her work this year in Vertigo’s anthology The Witching Hour. Haunting stuff that gets under the skin, I’d like an ongoing drawn by her yesterday!
Employee relations — Agreeing with Jay, sexual harassment is way more damaging than publishers who can’t decide whether a Green Lantern needs to die or not.
Outstanding achievement — Going to give an encouraging nod to BOOM! COMICS here. Sure their licensed stuff like Adventure Time is consistently mathematical and I’ve heard praise for Six Gun Gorilla. But now they’re expanding with more original material like The Midas Flesh? I’m listening.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Sex Criminals
MOST WANTED
I’d read another Longshot mini-series. Not an ongoing, I doubt the character can hold that up, but another mini in the right hands would be great.
I’m delivering a pitch to Marvel for an entire story based on Longshot having a job as a research analyst, and all he does is go to Google and click “I’m feeling lucky” (not really).
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Sex Criminals again. I was hesitant because the story seemed like an infantile set of dirty jokes. And it is. But it’s also so much more.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Saga, when little Sophie stabbed her dad in the neck and then stomped on it. But a close second would have to be newrulesnewlife revealing that the old cyclops Heist is Warren Ellis in this very comments section.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
The whole damn industry. I mean I love my comics but what kind of psychopath would actually work for one of these companies?
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Hmmm, I think Jimmie Robinson for Five Weapons. He’s got a great art style and the story was intriguing for me and my kids (and it’s nothing like Harry Potter! Boarding schools existed before Rowling you know!). We’re all looking forward to the new story.
Oh crap, I posted spoilers didn’t I? Well, I wasn’t the first I suppose. Sorry anyway.
BEST NEW SERIES
Young Avengers. Great reinvention of the series, and a nice contained run.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
East of West. Had no idea what to expect from this, but I loved it. Looking forward to Vol 2.
MOST WANTED
A sequel to Dan Abnett’s The New Deadwardians. Probably not going to happen, but I liked the mini a lot, and would love to see more of that world.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
X-Men by Bendis. Technically it started in November 2012, but most of the issues came out in 2012, so I’m counting it. Didn’t thing I’d like it, as the concept sounded silly and Bendis’ Avengers was mostly boring and stretched out for far too long, but I’ve been enjoying both books a lot. The great art helps, especially Immonen.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Ales Kot. The first issues of Zero are very good, looking forward to seeing what else he has coming up.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
DC forcing all it’s editors to move to California or give up their jobs.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Stephen Wacker. Put out so many of the best Marvel series of recent years.
Bah, typo: *DC forcing all its editors. And not just editors of course, all their other staff too.
Long time listener first comment
Best actually new series – I’m plumping for Velvet here. Only two issues in but this is first class. Like their Captain America run it really harks back to British war and boys-own comics like Commando in a great way. Plus, Steve Epting draws awesome faces – not enough good faces in comics… I’ll stop there.
Pleasant surprise – All-New X-men. Shouldn’t work but does. I read it all in one go which definitely helps. Art fab too.
Stiff drink – that bit in daredevil 26 (or was it 27?) with the reversal of the threat to Murdock’s nearest and dearest. Edge of the seat.
Most wanted – more Planetoid from Ken Garing. Bracing stuff and a fine addition to Image comics growing line of hard sci-fi (Prophet, Nowhere Men etc)
Emerging talent (new to me anyway) – Ulises Farina. Really looking forward to his art on the upcoming Mega-city two mini. Preview images breathtaking.
Outstanding acheivement – Charles Soule. Someone hand that man a cigar. A safe pair of hands (Swamp Thing is the definition of solid) and a man with a plan (Letter 44). Also acheives quantity without seemingly dipping on quality (although i have read far from all his 2013 output). His She-Hulk is among my 2 or 3 most anticipated books of next year.
Oops, I meant “Battle of the Atom”
BEST NEW SERIES
The digital Dandy. A seventy-five year-old comic, neglected by civilians and cognoscenti alike, perishes on the vine of the newsstand only to rise from the ashes like a…Blitz flower on the Web. A combination of refreshed styles and limited multimedia gave strips such as Desperate Dan, Keyhole Kate and Bananaman a modern, boisterous energy that, for the money, made the digital Dandy the best value for money in Comics. AND NONE OF YE READ IT. THANKS.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Superior Foes Of Spider-Man. One of those books that restores the Marvel Comics promise of believable characters in fantastic situations…like a bar…and the back of a van…wait.
Sup’Foes is a classic supercrime comic in the vein of Joe Casey’s Codeflesh, Nixon’s Pals, etc., etc.. Grounded in a kind of diffuse frustration, mutual antagonism and reluctant fraternity, it is, perhaps, the only Spider-Man comic that still holds fast to the classic schlubby working class hero…er…framework. These kind of books come around every few years, and in a sea of wack events and shared universe dreck, they are as precious driftwood, scarcely big enough to support all but the most Winsletty of dreams.
Or something.
MOST WANTED
More Dandy. Ding ding ding. Thirteen issues of the best kids’ comic of them all is not enough. I mean, they even had some truly adaptetic strips in there. Keyhole Kate: Schoolgirl Detective? ‘mon. APOSTROPHE-MON.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Tom Fowler and Jordie Bellaire and James Asmus’ Quantum & Woody. God forgive me – I wouldn’t have bought it except for a combination of cheap on the digi and “Gnuh, why not buy it and then complain?” (it’s 69p a pop alongside Origial Q&W right now on the ‘Ology, btw), and yeah. It’s funny. Hh. And the art…the art is great. I was expecting good arts, but the previews had the boys as brothers and the original series was such an idiosyncratic piece of Comics that passing it on to another creative team seemed troubling at best.
But it was gooood.
I’M SORRY, PRIEST & DOC.
I’m sorry.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
I’ve been teetotal for twenty years, and so am disqualified from this category. Were I to fall off the wagon into a vat of wine…
Look. I don’t want to put Spider-Man for every answer(LIES). But Ultimate Spider-Man. Jaysis. JAYSIS. The best and worst and worst and best comic I read this year. So rich in character, so polished and vibrant in art that I have to stop myself honking the books out the window into people’s faces. But at the same time, so meandering, so weak of purpose, so lacking in confidence in both its characters and the original premise from which it sprang that I have to stop myself honking the book out the window into people’s bins. Thirty three issues. Thirty three issues for Miles Morales to become Spider-Man. One hundred pounds, two crossovers, leading into a third. I don’t see him ending up in the main Marvel Universe after Cataclysm, but then I have an optimistic, gloom-free outlook on life that OH WAIT NO I DON’T LET’S ALL SHIP MILES AND RIKKI BARNES THE SHIP SHALL BE CALLED MILKI.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
The British comics landscape is replete with quality ink-slingers and typeonauts – so much so that I feel I should just post a photo from Thought Bubble and have done with it. But I didn’t go because £££££££, so…
Sammy Borras. Sammy’s art was brilliant two years ago when I read her band-dessinée novellas Giant Rhinos In Space and Best Day Ever, and she has come along in beeps and lounds ever since. She captures a youth and modernity that other artists would probably literally kill for. Her characters have personality and energy in spades, and no two are alike. While you can probably guess her influences, both classical and modern, she’s more than the sum of them, rising above them in the tradition of all the best comics artists. I dunno. I like the way she draws hair and sound effects. http://sammyborras.tumblr.com/
THE GLENGARRY GLEN TALBOT AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Anyone who values people from outside comics more than the people who spend thousands of man-hours learning the medium. The self-loathing bias can be quite disheartening.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Brian K. Vaughan & Marcos Martin’s Private Eye. A Pay What You Want DRM-free digicomic that didn’t flame out by issue two. That’s the dream, right there: comics on your own terms that still, inexplicably, make you some honk-damn scratch. I think Saga makes more for BKV- you know what? Cancel that.
Comixology Submit. There’s yer outreach, right there. All the comics you could ever want, all in one place. You’re still at the mercy of selection bias, signal to noise, the overwhelming marketing power of the Establishment, etc., etc.. But it’s a “publisher” that has the potential to reach more readers than any other web effort, simply by being in the same place as everybody else. One might prefer DRM-free – like you’d get at Comicsy, for example (ahem) – but…there they all are, at the end of a click. That’s gotta be something to be happy about, right?
//\Oo/\\
Cross Posted from CSBG:
Question:
COPRA: first issue November 2012 with a print run of 400 copies (I got one :-D). However, thousands of people were introduced to the series through the first compendium, published in 2013, which collects the first three singles. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe most people who read COPRA are reading it in the compendiums. So does it count as new?
Relatedly: When you say “with the proviso that it has to be something where the property wasn’t in existence prior to the start of 2012,” do you actually mean 2012 or were you copy pasting from last year? Also, what counts as “existence”? A published comic? Certainly, the character of Battling Boy (for example) has existed for decades. Sorry for all the niggling questions, I just don’t want my votes to be disqualified.
2013 is the year that I stopped buying monthlies. So I’m a bit out of sync with what is currently published. But here we go:
Best new series + best actual new series: LAZARUS
Stiff drink – Grant Morrison really killed Damian in Batman Inc. Did not see that coming.
Most wanted – I wished they let Hellblazer at Vertigo
Employee relations – DC… it’s too obvious, isn’t it?
Outstanding achievement – IMAGE. Who could believe in the 90’s that the best comics in 2013 would be coming from a company started up by Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen & Jim Valentino?
Happy 2014 everyone!
BEST NEW SERIES
Young Avengers: Kieron Gillen’s ideas for changing up the traditional reading experience (suggested soundtracks, diagrammed fight sequences, etc.) along with real-sounding teenage characters and McKelvie’s clear, expressive artwork and inventive storytelling made this my fave new book. I’m sad to see it’s ending soon.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Five Weapons: I enjoyed this book’s debut because it immediately showed that Jimmie Robinson had put a lot of forethought into the mysteries surrounding his diverse crew of brand new characters. While things sort of fell apart towards the end of the mini-series when all the characters seemed to all become best friends overnight, I’m interested to see how Robinson will flesh out the larger world surrounding these wacky juvenile assassins. The artwork was strong and consistent as well.
MOST WANTED
Esad Ribic doing more Thor: God of Thunder: I know he’s moved on to bigger Avengery stuff but Ribic’s vision for and stylistic realization of Thor’s fantasy universe was masterful and unique. In less than a year’s worth of issues Ribic proved there is no more appropriate artist for Thor out there. If he never returns to this book it will be a damn shame.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
X-Men Battle of the Atom: I was not looking forward to yet another X-Crossover simply for the sake of boosting sales around an anniversary and the Art Adams covers did not impress. However, once I realized we were getting a grown-up Molly from Runaways, a grown-up All-New Jean Grey in a Xorn mask and Ice-Hulk showing up out of the blue like Doc Brown at the end of Back to the Future, I was on-board. The weekly release of each chapter kept a steady momentum and the reasonably tight continuity across the different writers rewarded readers each week. Ultimately, the story said something very true about the X-Men comic reading experience: we don’t have fun with these these books because there’s some happy ending or resolution on the horizon. The X-Men will never “win” and if they did we’d be sad because there wouldn’t be anything else to read about them. What we love about the X-Universe is its near infinite possibilities for intriguing character developments, fun clashes of personalities and powers and unexpected reversals of fortune (like old Jean and Beast leading the Brotherhood while Ice-Gandalf is the elder statesman of the X-Men and Quentin Quire wields the Phoenix like a boss). Things may get better and they may get worse, but there’ll always be a school with angsty X-Men ready to save the day and get into more trouble while doing it; what better way to start off the next 50 years?
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Giles actually getting resurrected (albeit as a tween) in Angel & Faith: As a devoted Whedon-verse fan, I have learned to expect the worst to come of well-intentioned but sketchy plans, especially those involving the dead. Despite the fact that bringing back Giles was the stated mission statement of the first issue, I never expected anything but disaster to come from Angel’s doomed mission. Instead, while it cost them a lot along the way, Angel’s plan succeeded nearly perfectly by the end (Giles’ second go-round with puberty notwithstanding) and no major characters had to die or sacrifice their characters to achieve it. The resolution still felt earned but the fact that Whedon’s other shoe never really dropped amazes me.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Christos Gage: Christos Gage’s work on Angel & Faith blew me away and definitely blew away the work of his peers on Buffy Season 9 and its associated minis. The characters’ voices were spot-on and the careful plotting paid huge dividends in the long and short term. Here’s hoping that now that he’s in the driver’s seat for Buffy Season Ten we’ll get a comic that rivals the best of the TV series.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Villans Month made me so glad I don’t read DC comics. It reminds me of arbitrary line-wide nonsense events out of the blue that Marvel used to do in the 90’s like Flashback Month or the all-encompassing Onslaught mess. It’s almost as if the same decision-makers responsible for the lowest point in Marvel Comics history are now in charge of DC ……… wait a minute!
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Jason Aaron: His Wolverine and the X-Men was pretty good and it’s a shame it’s ending. However, Aaron’s God-Killer story in Thor: God of Thunder is instantly at the top of my list of Best Thor story lines ever. The depth and pathos he brought to the universe of gods that Thor inhabits made me feel for these characters and the worlds they reign over. The three Thors fleshed out a character I thought I knew in unexpected yet totally consistent ways. The tragedy of the God-Killer took a repugnant yet poignant and identifiable character through an amazing journey that I thought could’t be topped. And then, just for a victory lap, Aaron gave us issue #12, which explored Thor’s efforts to live up to the impossible task of being a god in a world of men. It was a tremendous summation of how this character is different and special and I truly hope that the writer of Thor 3 cribs from it shamelessly. What a year for a talented creator!
@Cass: Good catch on the date thing, that was my copypasta going awry. For Copra, you’re right in saying that the first issue was 2012, so I think in all fairness we would probably have to exclude it from the Best New or Best Actually New categories. That said, given how good it is, please feel free to nominate it in Most Wanted, Outstanding Achievement and anywhere else it can fit.
As far as pre-existing properties goes, the character of Battling Boy was concocted years ago, as you say, but this year’s GN was the first published iteration, so it counts as a 2013 original.
I have no answers for many of these. There was no one-shot or canceled series of which I want to see more. Everything I liked has more stuff in the works. I can’t recall many true surprises. I mostly bought things I thought I’d like and usually did wind up liking. Nothing like Prophet/Glory in years past where I thought something would be odious and turned out the opposite. So that really leaves me with just two…
best new series – Vaughan and Martin’s The Private Eye
outstanding achievement – Image. Still publishing an impressive slate of new stories by the very best creators. The DRM-free digital initiative is 100% wonderful.
BEST NEW SERIES
Superior Foes of Spider-Man just edges out Sex Criminals, The Private Eye and East of West for me
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
As above
MOST WANTED
I want a new PAD X-Factor, but it looks like I have my wish – so I’ll wish for a premature cancellation of Dark Cybertron so that MTMTE returns to it’s pre-crossover brilliance.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Longshot saves the Marvel Universe may not have been the best structured story, but I read it with a big shit-eating grin on my face, and felt ten years old again. Result.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Gaby Haller snuffing it in Legacy
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Och – I dunno.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
The harassment stories. Unsavoury all round.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Matt Fraction I reckon.
BEST NEW SERIES
Young Avengers, for all of the reasons that others have already listed.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Avengers Arena. What was foolishly marketed as an empty, derivative bloodbath turned out to contain terrific character work and an engaging plot. I never would have guessed this a year ago.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
How can this be anyone but DC? Did they do anything at all right this year?
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Valiant knocked it out of the park again this year. The line keeps growing and yet there still hasn’t been a single stinker in the bunch.
BEST NEW SERIES: The Private Eye. A comic for the digital age about the digital age, few comics manage to grasp a world in manner that is so captivating, that every time a new unannounced issue makes its way to my hard drive I’m completely immersed in its pages (or files, I guess?).
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES: Dream Thief. Guy wakes up in medias res during gruesome murders in a story about (amongst other things) australian aboriginal artifacts, ex-military porn stars, the kkk, high stakes poker games and some rather peculiar daddy issues, what’s not to like? (I’m also quite sad that I had to change my original choice for this category from Six Gun Gorilla due to the fact that it’s a public domain character from the 1930’s).
MOST WANTED: More End Times of Bram & Ben please. If you have a sense of humor about your religion (or lack thereof), than this book is for you. A collected edition of this would also be nice.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE: Avengers Arena. As many others did, I initially dismissed this as a shameless cash grab to capitalize on as many unused teenage characters as possible, and was shocked to find that 18 issues later, not only was I still on board, but completely invested in the story and characters. Can’t wait for Hopeless and Walker’s follow-up next year.
STIFF DRINK AWARD: SPOILERS for Hawkeye******************************************************Grills’ demise in Hawkeye #10. Quite the shocking moment for the lovable character, his death marks point of significant change in the story so far.
AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT: Simon Spurrier has been around for a while, but 2013 was the year I fully grasped his potential, Six Gun Gorilla and X-Men Legacy are both amongst my favorite titles for this year, and I will without hesitation pick up any book he puts out in the future.
AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: DC, for every single decision made in 2013.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Matt Fraction. By volume, the guy accounts for about 20% of my comic book intake for 2013. Hawkeye, FF, Satellite Sam, Sex Criminals, it’s a no brainer for me. Aside from a couple of misfires (I’m looking at you Fantastic Four) this guy just had a pretty solid year.
Best New Series: Batman 66. This year I FINALLY got myself a smart phone, and with it, I began the switch to digital. One of the absolute greatest pleasures of that transition was reading Jeff Parker and, in particular, Jonathan Case’s issues of Batman 66. Here’s a little secret of mine: I never laugh at superhero comics. NextWAVE – nothing. Bwahahaha Justice League – couple smiles. But Batman 66 – pure crackup. I actually yell at the screen when I read Batman 66, “Oh crap, get out of there!” “No way! NO WAY!!” This comic is a pure joy to read, and at 99 cents per installment, they can’t put them out fast enough.
Best Actually New Series: Zero. Not too much to say about this one, I haven’t even picked up the fourth issue yet, but so far I love Kot’s selection of artists and just his overall approach to the depiction of violence. It reminds me a lot of old Frank Miller comics, where the main characters use incredibly brutal violence to solve all their problems, but by eschewing standard action-movie stylization, the work at the same time condemns that violence. It also reminds me of the short-lived “Electric Ghost” Winter Soldier arc, back when Jason Latour and Nic Klein were handed that poisoned chalice. Zero: It reminds me of comics I like. Good enough for the win!
Most Pleasant Surprise: Al Ewing and (mostly) Kewber Baal on Jennifer Blood. It’s a Dynamite big breasts comic based on a tossed-off Ennis concept. How could this possibly be good? And yet, it’s riveting and tragic and brutal and hilarious. Ewing really kills it on this one.
Outstanding Achievement: COPRA by Michel Fiffe. This is the best monthly comic currently published (well it’s on hiatus for a bit now, but was published monthly in 2013). And here’s the thing for me: I don’t care much for the dialogue in this comic. If I didn’t care much for the dialogue in a corporate comic, it wouldn’t show up on this list. But with COPRA, since Fiffe controls every aspect of the production, you get in all other ways a vastly superior product, with better paper, beautiful hand lettering (which often reflects the character or situation), and coloring too wonderful for my poor artistic vocabulary to describe. Add to that Fiffe’s inventive page layouts, uncanny character designs, and Miller-meets-Ditko fight choreography, and you have an artful but unpretentious, totally satisfying read month after month. I had some other categories in mind for Fiffe’s work, but no, this is where it belongs. COPRA – Outstanding Achievement.
Best Actually New Series: Zero. Not too much to say about this one, I haven’t even picked up the fourth issue yet, but so far I love Kot’s selection of artists and just his overall approach to the depiction of violence. It reminds me a lot of old Frank Miller comics, where the main characters use incredibly brutal violence to solve all their problems, but by eschewing standard action-movie stylization, the work at the same time condemns that violence. It also reminds me of the short-lived “Electric Ghost” Winter Soldier arc, back when Jason Latour and Nic Klein were handed that poisoned chalice. Zero: It reminds me of comics I like. Good enough for the win!
Oh yeah, Grills. I want to officially change my vote for Stiff Drink award to Grills.
BEST NEW SERIES:
“Afterlife With Archie”: It could have been a one-note joke, but Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Francesco Francavilla’s tale of a zombie-fied Riverdale is a legit horror story that also adds depth to some of the long-standing Archie-verse characters.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES:
Dean Trippe’s “Something Terrible”, which is not a new series per se, but it’s a powerfully moving story about the importance of super-heroes — and how they can “save” us from real-world traumas in unexpected ways.
MOST WANTED:
More of the characters of “Avengers Arena”, especially the Braddock Academy students. I grew to love them in just a few issues!
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE:
“Avengers Arena”, which was unfortunately promoted as a teen splatterfest “Marvel Royale” spectacle. In truth, it was a moving, character-driven story that was the biggest surprise of the year.
STIFF DRINK AWARD:
DC’s “Five Years Later” Announcement: Where to begin? They can’t keep their current jumbled continuity straight… so of course they are planning on locking themselves into some 5-year jump plan to keep TWO continuities straight. Because also, that work so well when it was called “One Year Later.” No wait, it didn’t. And didn’t they de-age the characters in New52 to appear younger? Go home, DC, you’re drunk!
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT:
I’m going to give this to Jamie McKelvie for his style and creative draftsmanship on “Young Avengers.” He really upped his game on this one, and his ability to draw realistic-looking young people makes him the perfect fit for the series. (Honorary mention goes to Chris Samnee, the unsung hero of Marvel’s “Daredevil”)
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS:
The easy answer is DC Comics. Let’s see… in the year of our Lord 2013, DC has done the following: Fired and re-hired Gail Simone of “Batgirl”; Dissed legendary (under contract) artist Jerry Ordway; compelled Paul Jenkins to publicly lambaste their editorial practices in an interview; forced J.H. Williams III off “Batwoman” in a move that made the company look anti-gay marriage; prompted Nick Spencer to make a public announcement on their shoddy treatment of freelancers; fired Kevin Maguire from “Justice League 3000”; and angered retailers with the disastrous allotments of 3D cover orders.
But then, I look at the bigger picture…. Like the critically-divided “Man of Steel” movie. The loss of Bruce Timm felt on Warner Bros. Animation. Cartoon Network’s canceling of “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” and “Young Justice.” But it’s ok, it’s replaced by a new show called “Beware The Batman.” No, wait, that’s canceled, too.
So my award this year goes to Warner Bros., cuz those guys don’t make it easy to be a fan of DC Comics characters.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT:
I’m awarding this one to Monkeybrain Comics, who have organized an impressive output after softly launching in summer of 2012. In 2013, mainly through the efforts of writer Chris Roberson and film producer Allison Baker, the line boasts more than 40 titles and a number of talented creators. That’s pretty darn impressive!
BEST NEW SERIES
The Shaolin Cowboy reboot: It was the end of the second issue when I realized that this is the real deal- a comics which is pure, unabashed, id; a series that is a pure artistic expression of what’s happening in Geoff Darrow’s mind. This comic doesn’t care if like it or not – which makes me love it even more
Sure – it’s violent and stupid.
But, on the other hand – IT’S VIOLENT AND STUPID!
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
SEX by Casey and Kowalski: after a disappointing 1st issue this series really got into a proper grove – an interesting mix of street crime, corporate politics and super heroes.
… oh, and there’s lots of nudity and sex in it; for some reason.
MOST WANTED
Multiply Warheads: sure, prophet is very fun and all that… but I’d really want to see some more Brandon Graham art.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
SEX again – didn’t think I’d like it (I’ve grown a little weary of Casey recently) but after reading the 1st collection I’ve changed my mind.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Saga: just for being Saga really…
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Chip Zedarsky on Sex Criminals – dude just knocks it off the park issue after issue: he’s got a personal style, a great sense of page design, good “acting” of his characters and the ability to pull of such “uncomics” scenes like the Musical Number in issue #3.
Much like Gilroy on Chew I sort of want his first series to end just to see what he does next.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
DC seem to have this lock and stock…. but we’ll keep an eye out for Archie next year what with the sexual harassment lawsuit and all.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Al Ewing – Zombo, Mars Attacks Judge Dredd, The Fictional Man and Mighty Avengers (making a good book with Greg Land art… guy’s writing with a handycap).
I accept that Sex or Sex Criminals will probably sweep your annual awards, and probably rightly so, but I am far too bashful to buy either of these as a monthly book. With those notable exceptions in mind, here are my submissions for the 2013 Homies.
Best New Series
Cryptoizoic Man.
Works well as a homage to the Alan Moore era Swamp Thing / Jamie Delano Animal Man run and really communicates a thrilling level of fanlove for comics. I know that it’s a tie-in for a reality TV show that a lot of people have a thing about, but it deserves publication for it’s indie spirit alone. Tell ’em Steve-Dave.
Best Actually New Series
Letter 44
I did pick this one up based on the first issue entry point and I’m enjoying how the story is unfolding. This is a solid sci-fi concept with involving characters and nice artwork.
Most Pleasant Surprise
Wonder Woman
Each month WW is delivering on the promise of the New 52 with great storytelling minus the continuity baggage. Terrific to read as a trade or even as a monthly. This is a Marvel Now book trapped in the DCU.
Bill Oddie Award
Kickstarter
I’m not sure whether Kickstarter offers an exciting new channel for comics creators of if its just a way for mugs to pay too much for their comics. Probably a little of both. I backed a number of comics projects in 2013, including the very Dark Horesy looking Spider King by Josh Vann. I’m looking forward to that one. I was too slow and/or cheap to pick up the deluxe books that Fantagraphics offered.
Outstanding Achievement
Marvel simply because they didn’t make the same mistakes that DC did.
For example: How was Battle for the Atom superior to Forever Evil? Let me count the ways. Does your cross over drag on for months after the ‘event month’ its meant to promote? Is the inevitable reset button still months away? Can someone please just spoil FE and put us out of our collective misery?
BEST NEW SERIES: Young Avengers
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES: Lazarus
MOST WANTED: Phonogram
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE: Cable and X-Force
STIFF DRINK AWARD: The return of Arno Stark in Iron Man
AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT: Dennis Hopeless
AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: Sexual harassment in the industry for all the reasons already stated
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Stephen Wacker. It has been a long time since an editor has had such a positive impact on the industry.
BEST NEW SERIES
Injustice: Gods Among Us. A digital-first comic tied into the storyline of a beat-’em-up game. This should have been an absolute stinker, right? Instead, Tom Taylor and a phalanx of artists created a compelling ‘what if’ scenario where, a bit like Breaking Bad, the characters move slowly and believably to some very dark and different places. Along the way, he gave us some great moments, like Green Arrow and Harley Quinn, and some shocking deaths. And then Taylor gave us his take on Superman in a one-part story that laid claim to being the best Superman story of the year.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
As Storm Dogs snuck its first issue out at the back end of 2013, I guess I’ll have to go for
MOST WANTED
More Storm Dogs. This superb SF series flew under a lot of people’s radar, but it was the best thing being published by Image that wasn’t Saga. David Hine started small, focusing on a team of space CSIs on a low-tech backwater world where everything they thought they knew about the native population turned out to be completely wrong. Doug Braithwaite’s art was the best he’d done in years – not a slight on his other work, either. Issue 6 had events that moved me to tears, and left on a superb cliffhanger. Now, if people would pop out and buy the trade, we might get to see the next part of the story.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Superior Foes of Spider-Man. Nick Spencer writes a Marvel book and it’s one of the best things they put out? Well, it took him long enough…
STIFF DRINK AWARD
I’ll go with the death of Cliff Baker in Animal Man. It’s was pretty clear that victory in Rotworld would come with a cost, but I didn’t see his death coming. It finished the occasionally misfiring crossover on a high, and Lemire ensured that the death would resonate through the rest of his volume.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Charles Soule, who should surely start receiving his own market share figures… He wrote Swamp Thing better than Scott Snyder, he made Superman and Wonder Woman work as a power couple, he rescued Thunderbolts from the depths of Daniel Way, he’s replacing Matt Fraction on Inhuman, he wrote some of the best Villains Month issues, and he had one of the most successful launches from Oni Press ever. And a year ago, pretty much nobody had ever heard of him.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Remember in 2003 when the entire Chorus of Jerry Springer: The Opera won the Best Supporting Artist award at the Oliviers, so superb was their work as a unit that no single person could be singled out? Step forward DC’s management team. Then throw out Harras and Chase, give DiDio a Tumblr, let the editors communicate directly with the fans in the way that Brevoort and Wacker have done, and stop fucking around with creators.
Note: I love DC, and still buy more titles from them than anyone else.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Jim Steranko, despite putting very little out this year. Why? His twitter account, a astonishing mixture of anecdote and advice, with no punches pulled. Following everything he said was no easy task, but he managed to be respectful and inspirational to everyone who mentioned him. And with Marvel finally collecting his SHIELD stories, and IDW working on an Artists Edition of his Marvel work, Steranko is finally connecting with a modern audience again.
As a trade-waiter and someone who’s terrible at remembering when things happened, I’ll have to pass o most categories, but I will nominate this:
Outstanding Achievement:
Roberts and Milne on Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. Best comic being published currently, bar none. The world building, the characters, the ideas, the comedy, the visual style – it’s near flawless. I could live without Padilla’s art fill-ins though.
BEST NEW SERIES – Shaolin Cowboy – This is an art book, and WHAT an art book it is. A book with almost no words that takes me just as long to read as a Claremont X-Men book is outstanding.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES – Lazarus – Innovative, smart, stylistic, and compelling. I’m actually afraid this is the future of the world. Glad it’s fiction, for now.
MOST WANTED – Planetary – There are more stories to tell in this world. Many a one-shot could fill in some of the space. What REALLY happened on the Nautilus? Where did Sherlock take Snow during his training?
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE – Manifest Destiny – A comic about Lewis and Clark? And it works well? Fantastic.
STIFF DRINK AWARD – Shaolin Cowboy, I mean how long could the zombie sequence go on? The answer is at least two issues, and it isn’t even over. I can image the pitch Darrow had to make, “It’s a zombie book.”
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT – Aaron Kuder – I found myself buying anything he drew. Imagine if Quitely or Darrow had a monthly output.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS – JMS firing Ben Templesmith off of 10k for being late. This is enough for me to never buy a JMS book again, no matter what.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT – Image Comics. This is the year my pull list saw a dramatic shift to outside of the Big 2, and Image published such a diversity of books that there is something for every genre. Image is the reason my long boxes are overflowing; otherwise I’m buying less than 8 titles a month.
Best new series- SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-
MAN. I love this book. It sits number two behind Saga as the comic I look forward to reading most. This book really is poised to replace Hawkeye as the industry darling. This is a book with creators at the top of their game making the book that will be the measure for everything else they do.
Best actually new- HIGH CRIMES from monkeybrain by Christopher Sebela and Ibrahim Moustafa. I really enjoyed this series what many will write off as a whiteout clone is very good. If you’ve got time and $5 download it and I think you’ll be surprised. Crisp dialogue and strong artwork.
Pleasant surprise- JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY. I got this series because I forgot to take it off my pull and am glad I did. Sif’s tale was a wild adventure with young in cheek dialogue plus it had the best of the Superior Spidey appearances in the early stages of that character development.
Most Wanted- STUMPTOWN- I need more of this because I just don’t think I’ll see more Criminal anytime soon. (I like Fatale but it’s keeping me from criminal do it has to end, please!)
Stiff drink- there is a page before the death of Damian Wayne where he and Dick are under fire and in the middle of it Damian looks at Dick Grayson and tells him that Dick was his favorite Batman and Dick replies that they should never let anyone forget that they were the best. Great moment.
Emerging Talent- CHRISTOPHER SEBELA AND IBRAHIM MOUSTAFA. I was really impressed and want to put names out there that haven’t been said.
Coffee is for closers award- I’m going to go with Sexual harassment also. I know you guys can’t go into specifics and all that but it’s embarrassing. Seriously why do you put a straight man on a panel about alternative lifestyle creators? Is it because he writes those characters well? C’mon admit it people that booked that panel you. Dropped the ball there too.
Outstanding achievement- Dan Slott and everyone involved in making Superior Spider-man great. This was a bold move and it worked. It helps define what Peter was as someone lives his life. The appearances in Avengers and other books all did well to show this was a different person not just generic Spidey appearance.
Have a safe holiday and let’s hope for great things everywhere in the new year everyone.
I only read occasional comics these days, so I have no nominations because I have little to compare to. (Hawkeye was very good, though).
On the other hand, why not some “worst of” categories? Bendis on X-Men is absolute dreck.
BEST NEW SERIES
Young Avengers – Considering how intimately this title was associated with it’s original creative team, what Gillen and McKelvie have accomplished is all the more impressive. This is comics as they should be: Funny, heart-wrenching, and innovative.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Umbral – I haven’t read a lot of actually new series, but of those that I have, this was the one that impressed me most.
MOST WANTED
Gambit – It was a refreshing take on the title character this time around. The book deserved better.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Fearless Defenders – I picked it up just because I wanted to try out a book with the concept of pushing female characters (which it was one of the early ones in doing this year), but I didn’t expect much. These stunts tend to result in a lot of GIRL POWER kind of stuff, but this one didn’t. It was actually quite good, and I was sad to see it go (it was my runner-up for Most Wanted, personally).
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Daredevil – The revelation that Foggy has cancer. (I think that was this year, but if I’m mistaken and it was actually late last year, just disregard.)
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Kieron Gillen – Almost everything he touches seems to be gold (though I admittedly don’t read his Iron Man), and his stock in Marvel seems to be on the rise. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before he’s dubbed one of their so-called “Architects.”
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
DC – A lot of their stuff, but specifically the creative changes that come so fast and furious they’ve, at times, been changed before first issues are even released.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Jason Aaron – Wolverine & the X-men has continued to be a fairly consistent book, and his Thor has been nothing short of phenomenal. He seems like he’s an old-school kind of writer like Peter David in that he can write any and every kind of book and write it well.
BEST NEW SERIES
Young Avengers #1. Gillen, McKelvie and friends did something great this year, remixing the superhero comic and doing something new with it. The writing was smart, the art was fantastic and the characters were just so damn charming.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Sex Criminals. It’s only 3 issues in but Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky are doing something special. It’s hilarious, thoughtful and has me wanting more.
MOST WANTED
I’d also like to see Gambit come bac.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
I’m going to have to join the rest and say Avengers Arena. I love all those young superheroes so the idea of a comic where they all die left a bad taste in my mouth. Dennis Hopeless proved that he’s a great new writer for Marvel by not only making us eat our words, but care about the new characters he’d added to the Marvel tapestry.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Can’t think of any.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Kris Anka is going to have a huge 2014. He’s already done great work doing impressive redesigns of characters for Marvel and his sequential work is going to take it so much more.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Can we just say DC Comics?
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Image Comics. This has been their year. They’ve published some of the best comics of the year and they aren’t content to rest on that. They released their digital comics DRM-free and now they’ve partnered with Dropbox to make it that much easier to get them on your tablet or smartphone. I think it’s just going to get better next year.
BEST NEW SERIES
Superior Spider-Man. Sounded like a terrible concept, and I wasn’t too hot on Slott’s Amazing anyway, but this turned out to be one of my all-time favourite Spidey runs.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Prophet was the big one I got into this year, but I know it’s not new, and I guess it wasn’t even “actually new” back when it was new.
MOST WANTED
Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs’ Buffy Season 10. Their Angel & Faith run was the first time any of these comics felt remotely close to the show for me, and I’m properly excited to see them take on Buffy.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Felt no connection to Fraction’s Fantastic Four, but FF was pure fun (and some of the Lang stuff surprisingly moving). I’m really glad the Future Foundation didn’t disappear with Hickman.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Pizza Dog walking out on Hawkeye…
EMERGING TALENT
Well this is based on a single issue, but I really liked it: Annie Wu on the Bishop issues of Hawkeye, looks to be a great counterpart to Aja.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker for Avengers Arena. Another terrible-sounding concept, another great book, writing and art.
Best new series: Young Avengers
Best actual new series: this is close between Lazarus and Sex Criminals, but I’ll go Sex Criminals. But Lazarus deserves a mention.
Stiff drink: Uber #8. The sequence with Stalon running the numbers on whether using the catalyst on his prisoners was worth it.
Most wanted: that “Feel Better Now” OGN Hickmans been mentioning forever now.
Most pleasant surprise: Superior Spider-Man
Creator to watch: Jerome Opena. He’s awesome.
“Stalon” = Stalin.
Best new series: Afterlife With Archie – Because it succeeds at being both perfectly natural in concept and utterly surprising in execution.
Best actually new series: Lazarus
Most Wanted: Fearless Defenders – Under another team, because I really like the characters involved and feel the book’s creative team didn’t really do them justice.
Most pleasant surprise: Afterlife With Archie – Because it didn’t need to introduce (or rather, reinterpret) established characters as gay, and yet did. And if it doesn’t kill any of them off, it’ll be even more pleasantly surprising.
Stiff Drink Award: The resolution to the latest volume of Empowered and Sistah Spooky and Mind****’s relationship.
The Bill Oddie Springwatch Award for Emerging Talent Artist Ben Bates, who complemented his fantastic work on the Archie videogame adaptations with work on IDW’s Ninja Turtles books, and has proven to be far more versatile than I initially thought he’d be. His cover to that series’ Bebop & Rocksteady one-shot remains my favorite piece of art for the year.
The Glengarry Glen Ross Award for Employee Relations While it’d really be a tie between Brian Wood and Scott Lobdell, the fact that I enjoyed Wood’s work more is enough to give him the nod.
Outstanding Achievement: Between Superior Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Daredevil and Hawkeye, and Young Avengers, I’m going to give it to Marvel.
Best actually new series: The Private Eye Interesting story, very interesting format and the eye popping skills of Marcos Martin
Most pleasant surprise: Sex Criminals. After Satellite Sam I figured the bad Matt Fraction had showed up for work at Image. Glad to be wrong.
The Glengarry Glen Ross Award for Employee Relations: A lot of ugly stories about some comics professionals doing the rounds this year. Hoping most of it is Rich Johnston hyperbole.
Outstanding Achievement: With Lazarus, Velvet and Sex Criminals Image have had another very good year.
Actually scratch my Outstanding Achievement award for Image I want to give it to you guys for 5 years of stellar pod-casting. Well done, long may you continue.
Most pleasant Surprise: Superior Spider-Man. I was not one of the people threatening to burn down Marvel, since we all know Peter will be back, but Slott (and now Gage) have told a really good story so far.
Most Wanted: Usagi Yojimbo. I hope with all the issues for Stan, he has the time and inclination to do more issues when he can.
BEST NEW SERIES/BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Sex Criminals. Funny, smart, utterly different and immediately engaging. Also, my favourite covers on any book this year. Beautiful.
MOST WANTED
I’m tempted to ask for more Gillen and McKelvie on Young Avengers, as it feels like a run that’s been curtailed before all the good stuff is out on the page, but that disappearing leaves space for Phonogram 3. So I’ll say a good, long run from Brubaker and Epting on Velvet, please.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Umbral. Had never heard of it before a recommendation from my local store and an otherwise quiet week on the pull list prompted me to give it a whirl. I’ve hacked away at my mainly superhero pull list to make room for more new books about cancerous environmentalists chasing sonar ghosts and the like all year, and Umbral was the latest in a long line of comics that reminded me why I’m reading these damn things in the first place.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Cyclops Ellis getting stabbed through the eye in SAGA was a bit of a shocker.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Kelly Sue DeConnick. I’m tempted to give it to Fraction or Gillen or somebody who’s had a really good year, but they’ve been on or are currently on flagship books from the big two for years, so it feels like a swiz to pin ’emerging’ on them. DeConnick had a decent year that ended very well with Pretty Deadly, and it feels like she’s only going to gain in strength and stature in 2014.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
DC, for repeatedly either firing or driving away creative teams by changing their minds about a book’s direction mid-stream. JH Williams jumping ship is probably the most high profile example, but you’re spoilt for choice. An appalling year that has torn their reputation (such as they had) of editorial competency to shreds.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Tempting to give it to Image again this year, but since he’s off to pastures new it feels appropriate to give it to Stephen Wacker. Marvel’s most consistent deliverer of fine, interesting, fresh comics. And an object lesson for DC in how to run a stable of comics well.
Best New Series
“Storm Dogs” by David Hine and Doug Braithwaite. An excellently paced sci-fi murder mystery backed by stunning art, strong world-building, and Hine’s willingness to risk letting the reader hang themselves if they pay more heed to genre convention than what is (or isn’t) on the page. Major bonus points for having a competent, diverse, intriguingly flawed cast. Eagerly awaiting the next series.
Best Actually New Series
“Lazarus” by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. Even putting aside the fact that this is smart sci-fi that’s just plausible enough to be scary as hell, the fact that this team is able to get so much mileage out of a character as difficult to relate to (and occasionally unsympathetic) as Forever is just great storytelling.
Most Wanted
More Gillen and McKelvie “Young Avengers”, please. Hell, just Gillen on McKelvie on another teen hero title. Even if I stopped caring about the entire cast of YA tomorrow, I’d still be reading their take just for the creativity and sense of fearless fun on display. I can’t really blame the creative team for dropping the series after all the crap they’ve gotten from the more rabid sections of the fanbase, but I’ll still miss it terribly.
Most Pleasant Surprise
I picked up Vertigo’s “Hinterkind” expecting lightweight whimsy and was pleasantly floored to find that it’s actually a post-apocalyptic/high-fantasy revenge-tale with a sprinkling of futuristic elements and court intrigue. Three issues in and this series is already baring its teeth so far as the stakes for humanity in general and the focus characters in specific are concerned, so I’m quite happily along for the ride.
Stiff Drink Award
The last few issues of Saga, hands down. BKV’s not pulling punches. He continues to give the impression that he’s quite willing to kill off his darlings, the reader’s darlings, and anyone else someone might dare form an attachment too if it amps up the emotional stakes. Makes for a hell of a read.
The Bill Oddie Springwatch
Still keeping an eye on Christos Gage. I think he falters a bit when he tries to go too heavy (see his work on Absolution: Rubicon), but he’s quite good at bringing out the likable human aspects of characters I otherwise wouldn’t give half a flip over at the Big Two and Dark Horse.
The Glengarry Glen Ross
Goes to Scott Lobdell for proving that you can be an largely ignored writer on a couple of mid-list books and still come away with defenders after sexually harassing and belittling the orientation of a fellow professional in front of a room full of peers and readers. So long as you issue an apology to her husband and a general non-apology once you’re found out, you’ll still have sycophants giving you the benefit of the doubt. Runner up to Brian Wood for putting more effort into defending fictional heroines being denigrated by message board trolls than in apologizing to actual women when called out for his past inappropriate behavior.
Outstanding Achievement
Giving it to Image for the sheer number of winners they’ve manage to pack into their 2013 line-up. 2014 is looking just as good so far. My heart rejoices, but my wallet weeps.
Oh, hell, the first issue of “Storm Dogs” was November 2013. Fiiiiine. Tie it with YA for series I want more of.
Best New Series
“Rat Queens” by Kurtis Wiebe and John Upchurch. Raucous, bloody, foul-mouthed and so much damn fun. The focus is on a quartet of female mercs who both embody and defy the standard Dungeons & Dragons tropes. It would be so easy for this book to have become a one-note gag aimed at the tabletop RPG/LARP fans, but there are some truly sweet and solemn moments that bring the characters beyond the fantasy archetypes.
2012, not 2013. quizlacey’s typo is infectious. 😉
Best New series. Uber kireon gillen
Best actual new series. Uber kireon gillen
Most wanted. Young avengers, it really doesn’t feel like this story has come to an end and gillen has such great lines for these characters its a shame it comes to an end.
Most surpising. That the valiant universe as far as monthly comicbook quality is by far outstripping everyone. Quantum and woody best comedy book out there and harbinger is tearing the house down. So those two books.
Stiff drink. Damian actually dying and then the batman and robin comic after. It made me sad.
emerging talent….well kieron gillen doesn’t really count as emerging does he? He is the big name simmering below the surface of marvels main books.
Employee relations…dc moved, like moved. Employees may not have been too happy about that.
Oustanding creator..Kieron gillen, Uber is really awesome and more people should read it. Young avengers too was great, although does feel like its ending too soon.
Runner-up brian Vaughan for private eye and saga.
BEST NEW SERIES
Superior Spider-Man – The level of craft isn’t up there with Daredevil, for instance, but this is hands-down the first thing I want to read any week it comes out. It’s fun and I have no idea where it’s going, and that’s more rare than it ought to be.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
The Private Eye – It’s no surprise that the best writer and the best artist working in comics would make a quality product. They say it’s “pay what you want”, but I can’t afford to pay them a million bucks per issue, so for me it’s “pay what you’re paying for print books that aren’t nearly as great as this.”
MOST WANTED
The Private Eye – When the first issue was released, they said it’d be a monthly book, and I really, really wish that had been true.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
The return of Astro City with no loss whatsoever of quality. Still as great as it was when it was the best comic book in the world.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Death of Grills. Superhero deaths are meaningless, because the nature of their job ensures they’ll be brought back to life at some point. But Grills was an everyman, and I can’t imagine we’ll get to see him again.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Al Ewing. I’d never heard of him a year ago, and now his name is enough to get me to pay money for a comic book, despite its proximity to Greg Land’s name in the solicits. THAT’S CRAZY.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
I don’t understand how DC Comics is still in business.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Steve Wacker. His name was on Superior Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Hawkeye. That’s a hall of fame resumé. Comics will be weaker for his absence.
BEST NEW SERIES
East of West – Jonathan Hickman keeps busy, no doubt, though his work is often hit or miss. Still, I respect his ambition, and when a series works, it really works. His take on Avengers and New Avengers drew me in, having never really enjoyed the franchise, but over the course of the year it couldn’t maintain the momentum. The Manhattan Projects has continued to be one of the best books out there, period, but it’s really a slow burner and took a while to fully reveal its greatness. (Though the ART has been groundbreaking all along). So I was surprised when his sci-fi/Western with Nick Dragotta grabbed me from the very first.
BEST ACTUALLY NEW SERIES
Private Eye – BKV and Marcos Martin dropped a bomb on the comics buying public this year with no warning, and we will be feeling the fallout for years, if no decades, to come. Just so, so good.
MOST WANTED
Young Avengers – I’m sure I could think of a limited series or one shot more deserving, but I’m still reeling from the announcement that we won’t be seeing anymore of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s take on the Young Avengers. The Phonogram duos reunion lived up to expectations (in as much as that is possible) and I’m truly sorry to see it go. Thanks to Kieron we got more of the Kid Loki and Leah tale, and Noh-Var and Prodigy got some much needed character development. And of course Jamie left us with some of the best spreads of the year. Noh-Var taking down the henchmen in the warehouse and Billy going Demiurge over the comics panels stand out as especially praise worthy.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE
Pretty Deadly – I haven’t read any of Kelly Sue Deconnick’s other work, and the description of this project didn’t tell me much. If anything it seemed too close of what was going on in East of West, but after the House to Astonish interview I went and checked it out, and by the end of the third issue I was sold. Poetic, lucid writing and stunning art and colours. Lovely.
STIFF DRINK AWARD
Fatale – The attempted rape scene ending in drowning the aggressor in the toilet from a few issues ago. Wow. Though much of the one-issue stories from earlier this year have really stuck with me as well.
THE BILL ODDIE SPRINGWATCH AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
Ales Kot – Wild Children and Change were exceptionally strong work, and though I haven’t read it, I hear great things about Zero. His two issues of Secret Avengers have been really promising as well. But still, as good as Change is, I get the impression that Kot’s best work is still ahead of him.
THE GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Can’t say I follow the Distinguished Competition closely enough to remember the details of their business dealings, so I’ll have to go with Marvel’s fumbling of Inhumanity.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Matt Fraction Matt Fraction Matt Fraction. I mean, come on. Hawkeye continued to be the absolute best superhero book out there, pretty much by not being a superhero book. The Hurricane Sandy issue alone was an achievement. His F4 fell flat, but his run on FF with Mike Allred was amazing (if totally under appreciated. Can we talk about the Heroes and Villains colours? Or anything featuring Adolph the Impossible Boy? But then on top of all this, he launches Satellite Sam, which didn’t seem interesting at all in the pitch but totally hooked me. And, of course, Sex Criminals. I don’t know how he does it.