The Homies 2025
Jingle bells, Batman smells… or DOES he? Does he actually smell of GOOD THINGS, in an unexpected twist? How does he smell… compared to other comics? There’s only one way to find out – let’s have an end of year awards season! It’s time for the 2025 Homies!
As always, we want to hear from you about what you dug this year. As with last year, rather than give you a long list of categories, we’re concentrating on the comics we read that really did it for us. We simply want you to tell us:
What was the best comic you read all year, and why?
It could be a new release, it could be a relaunch, it could be another great year for a reliable ongoing. It could be a majestic miniseries or a great graphic novel, an incredible indie or a brilliant Big Two book. We’ll be reading them out on the show, so let us know what you dug and what about it made it so special for you.
Give us your pick, and may 100% of your Christmases be white.
Technically it’s been available as a web comic for a few years, but Spectators by Brian K. Vaughn and Niko Henrichon came out in print this year, so I’ll say that. Fascinating exploration of sex and violence, with great art.
I also read all of the available collections of the Kelly & Lansing/Christopher Cantwell-written Star Trek, which is quite fan service-y, but a lot of fun.
Craig Thompson’s Ginseng Roots was collected and released this year and it was my first time reading it and it blew me away. It may be his best book. It had the ambition of Habbi with the emotional power of Blankets.
And it should go without saying it was beautifully drawn
I think the best thing I read this year was the Nam Omnibus that Marvel released. Absolutely tremendous series, taking a real time view of the Vietnam War following one unit. It has a real level of authenticity from writer Doug Murray, who served in the war, and main artists Michael Golden and Wayne Vansant.
Unfortunately, Murray was forced off the book by its terrible replacement editor who handed it over to armchair warrior Chuck Dixon to make sub-Commando schlock. Wisely, Marvel mapped this omnibus to contain all of Murray’s real time run, so if they do bother with a second, it can be neatly ignored.
Oh and I almost forgot! DC finally released the back end of Sandman Mystery Theatre in a collected edition. That surely has to be worthy of an award, even if it did have another Patton Oswalt foreword.
It’s an easy choice this year. Assorted Crisis Events, written by Deniz Camp. Nothing else comes close, for mine. Many of the stories give me an emotional response, make me feel personally connected with them, which is something I would often feel from many comic series when I was younger, but has become exceedingly rare in recent years.
The closest I can think of as to a comparison with the stories is Daytripper (by Ba and Moon).
Easy answer. I reread all of Animal Man (and Multiveristy) when Morrison did our podcast back in April.
Honorable mention to reading all versions of the Marvel Handbook and Who’s Who (even the loose leaf binder ones) when Al was on the podcast early in 2025. (A delayed plug since I don’t think Al even mentioned it on HTA. )
Honestly, it just started up but I’d say Fraction’s Batman has been my favorite thing I’ve read this year. I really am enjoying it so far.
@Martin Smith- Doug Murray left because the new editor. Don Daley. wanted to include superheroes. This caused continuity problems because the earlier issues were clearly not part of the Marvel Universe- superheroes were depicted as fictional. But the later issues featured the Punisher and a chapter from the later issues appears in the Punisher.
I vote for Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez. It’s social commentary wrapped in an inspired reimagining of the main character(s), all beautifully drawn and colored. And with fun art gimmicks, too! AMM really walks that fine line between heavy subject matter and fun police work/superheroics.
The One World Under Doom Runaways mini was a phenomenal revisit and continuation of Rainbow Rowell’s cancelled Runaways run. Those characters make me so happy, still kids 20 years after their debut.
Forgot about Waid’s New History of the DC Universe.
Kieron Gillen’s “The Power Fantasy” continues to be my monthly must-read.
I continue to be mildly obsessed with The Power Fantasy. Gillen’s character work has gotten me invested, and Wijngaard’s art and design wow me. (I mentioned last year that I might start buying it in both floppies and trades: I have in fact done this, which puts the book in company with titles like Sandman and Astro City.) The current arc is full of incredible tension, and I am desperately hoping that they don’t decide to end the book at #16.
For the entirely of this year, my favorite series has been THE POWER FANTASY by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard. The series began at the end of 2024, and its first (maybe only, Gillen hasn’t committed to more) 16-issue arc will likely conclude in January.
For me, the book has it all: interesting new characters I’m happy to learn more about, a plot that never drags and frequently surprises, big themes——and it’s illustrated with distinctive, beautiful art.
Better yet, Gillen, Wijngaard, & Co. are professionals who respect their readers enough not to leave them wondering when further issues will be coming. There are a number of other creators that could learn from this.
Whenever I’m asked what I’m reading right now, this is the title I’m effusive about.
Ha. I opened up this post, started writing my comment, got distracted, then finished and submitted the comment… only to find that two more people have since posted about the book, too.
Well, good. It deserves the love.