Darth Sabre
12/10/2005, 17:06
Comics 2005: Year n Review!
Well, another year of comics is drawing to a close, and now seems like a good time to reflect and grade our reads.
I really feel that Marvel and DC, both had excellent years overall. For me Marvel bounced back, after I experienced many mini-series disappointments last year. I found more minis that were good and picked up some great ongoings. HOM was a little lackluster at first, but finished VERY strong. After re-reading the entire series, I enjoyed it significantly more than the first time. I didn't read all of the spin-offs, but really liked the Hulk and Wolverine stories. Looks like the post HoM Marvel U is poised for some great things...and I've regained my love for the X-men. I feel now about them as I did, back when I was reading them in the 80's and early 90’s.
DC's Infinite Crisis pretty much dominated my DC reads for the year. Lots of nail biting, page turning action; week in and week out. I was introduced to so many characters that I had never read before, that I was pleasantly overwhelmed.
I've gone through my comic boxes, and have attempted to fish out all of my reads for this year and grade them. Hopefully, this will be a civil discussion on the year in comics, and not turn into another Marvel/DC flame war.
So without further ado, my year in comics review. I'll grade this like a school report card-for simplicity's sake. Feel free to use your own method, should you choose to do the same. Also, I hope that I remembered correctly that all of these titles were published in 2005. When you read 60+ titles in the course of a year, it’s easy to get them confused. :nervous:
1602: A New World (Marvel): What can I say? Greg Pak is a terrible writer, IMHO. I loved the first series, until the end, when I felt a little let down by the revelation that Cap was misplaced in time. I was excited at the prospects of what this might bring, as a continuation of the first. I was let down. This series, however, went beyond disappointment, and was just plain bad. The story was miserably painful. The story introduced Iron Man (as a Spaniard), Norman Osborne, JJ Jameson, gave us Spider-man and the Hulk. But in the end, Pak's writing and terrible art just didn't get the job done. Rated an F
Action Comics (DC): After Austen, we had Finn, then Winnick did the Superman/Shazam Crisis story, which lead into Gail Simone. The book had some serious ups and downs. But Gail was able to hit a stride for awhile and kept the book interesting. It was my sincerest hope that she would remain on the book, but DC has decided to use a stable of revolving creative teams-Bad DC! Her Crisis stuff and Winnick's run made it a pretty good read. Rated a B-
Adventures of Superman (DC): Rucka has been DC's Bendis for me. Either I absolutely love his stuff, or I hate it; and overall, I don't care for him as a writer. But he writes my favorite character, so I'm stuck with him. His Crisis stuff has been great to excellent. His non-Crisis stuff has been mediocre to terrible. And what is his weird obsession with Myxlplyx (sp?) about. It's maddening! Rated a C
Spider-Man: The Other (Marvel): This series runs through MK Spider-man, Amazing, and the brand new Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man, and is a collaboration between Peter David, Reginald Hundlin, and JMS. The series has each writer doing one book in each title one month at a time, before they all go back to their respective books for the grand finale. Overall, I have enjoyed the story. Peter David kicked it off with some good writing, and introducing a new Spidey foe. Reginald Hundlin's first two issues were up and down. But his final issue was jaw-dropping. JMS' first issue built on that, and the series has me caring about Spider-Man again. With 5 issues to go, it's been pretty good. Rated a B+
Age of Apocalypse: 10th Anniversary (Marvel): I didn't read the first one, and I probably should've because this was a disjointed read, that seemed to get flat quick, and go no where fast. The art was interesting. Rated a D
Astonishing X-Men (Marvel): God bless Joss Whedon! He did a fantastic job with the muties, and I can't wait till he comes back in Feb. Cassady and him work sooo well together, that they created a beautiful book. The X-Men were back to what made them special, and I really feel that we are witnessing a revival of the muties thanks to Joss! Rated an A+
Batman (DC): Winick had a hard act to follow, after Hush. He has managed to do a solid job overall. But some of his stories were real yawners, and he seems stuck with the Red Hood angle. Not that I mind, as I find the Jason Todd angle intriguing, but he seems to go back to the well a little too much. Rated a C+
Batman (DC): Could we have gotten a sneak preview at the next Batman movie? Perhaps! This book was that good, and to me was the best Batman story of the year. If Brubaker is doing this kind of job on Captain America, I can see why the Cap fans are raving about the book. Rated A+
Batman: The Dark Detective (DC): This is a retro story, and I've only managed to read the first 4 issues. The first 2 issues were pretty good, while the second 2 issues were solid.Rated C+
All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder (DC): Well this hasn’t done much for me so far, but I find the reinventing of the Batman characters somewhat interesting. I’ll try it through the first arc, but Miller had better blow my mind before it’s over. Otherwise, this will be dropped. Rated a D
All-Star Superman (DC): The first issue was good. It had that wholesome Superman feel to it, and the Clark Kent panels reminded me of Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of the character in the movies. Rated an A
Batman/ Ra’s Al Ghul (DC): Released to coincide with Batman Begins, this was an interesting look at the dynamic between Batman, and Ra’s. Rated a B
Blood of the Demon (DC): Well, I took this book on, knowing that John Byrne was going to be on a short leash. The series started in an interesting fashion, but it has quickly grown stale. Byrne, once a master in the field of comics, shows that his time as a prominent creator in the field may have passed him by. He seems more interested in showing lots of blood and gore, than actually plotting a story with some substance, and developing either Jason Blood or Etrigan into the interesting characters that they are capable of being. The current arc ends, in 2 issues; as does my reading of this book. I suspect that it will be dropped by DC before 2006 is over. Rated a D-
Conan (Dark Horse): This series started out awesome, but as it went on, it seemed to grow old. Then it just plateaued from there never really hitting a high or low with me. So I dropped it. I think for Conan’s hard core fans, it is a great read, but it just didn’t capture the magic that the Marvel big books did for me. Rated a B
Countdown to Infinite Crisis (DC): This one-shot bridged the gap between Identity Crisis and the 4 Countdown minis. It was extremely well done, and a breath taking issue, with one of the most heart wrenching endings that I’ve ever read. I wasn’t much of a Blue Beetle fan, but even I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the guy. In one issue, he went from being a nobody on my list, to someone I cared about. Rated an A+
The Darkness Vol. 2 (Image/Top Cow): I can’t wait till Paul Jenkins returns, and the title for that matter. This has been the steadiest read of all the books that I’ve read this year. The book is not great in terms of writing or art, but for me combines both elements very well. It helps that it’s mafia related, which is one of my favorite genres. Jackie is a great anti-hero. Rated a B
The Darkness/Superman (DC/Top Cow): After reading some disappointing Darkness cross-overs, this one was a well done mini, with 2 of my favorite characters.Rated a B
Day of Vengeance (DC): This book introduced me to a host of DC second and third stringers, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cataclysmic ending was awe-inspiring, the story was well told, and the Shadowpact ruled! Rated a B
DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy (DC): Donna’s death started the current Crisis, and it’s great to have her back. She is a key component to the events that are unfolding in the DCU. But this series was a bit convoluted to me. It had some great stuff, but the story was almost too 80’s for me. Rated a C
The Defenders (Marvel): Funniest read of the year! I have really gotten more laughs out of this book than I have any other book this year. The interaction between Hulk and Namor has been gold. But it would have been cool if the title had been a bit more serious, and an attempt to relaunch a team book. Rated a B
Excalibur (Marvel): I liked where this series started, but as it wore on, so did Claremont’s writing, In the end, Marvel had no option but to end it. It just got lackluster quickly, and never recovered. Even the issue that was supposed to launch HoM did everything but achieve what it was supposed to. And there was only so much that a person could take, of seeing Callisto with her tentacled arms. Rated a D-
Fantastic Four (Marvel): I read the Rising Storm story arc, and I really enjoyed it! It was well written and illustrated, and was a very fun look at Galactus. Rated an A
Fantastic Four: HoM (Marvel): This was a fairly good spin off of the main story. Poor Doom, is betrayed by his mother, and outsmarted by Magneto. Rated C+
Firestorm (DC): I dropped this book after Jolley left, because I wasn’t ready to see Ronnie return. I like Jason, and I liked what Jolley did with him. I‘ve since read some issues, and it seems that the quality is still there, but I’m not a big enough Firestorm fan to keep picking it up. Rated a B-
Flash (DC): Johns did a spectacular job with Wally, on his entire run, and I think that the Rogues War was a fitting end to his run. Unfortunately something is going to happen to Wally, which causes this book to end, and later be relaunched. The last few issues have been OK, but you can certainly tell that Geoff is gone. Rated an A
Ghost Rider (Marvel): I’ve never been a Ghost Rider fan, so to speak, but I have really enjoyed this series. The story is good, and the art is AMAZING! You Blaze fans should be reading this, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Rated an A
Green Arrow (DC): I’ve only picked this up for the current Dr. Light arc. It has been good, IMHO. However, money’s tight, and when the final issue of the arc comes out next week, I won’t be picking it up any more. Rated a B
Green Lantern: Rebirth (DC): One of the biggest events of 2005-Hal Jordan’s return. I thought that it was really good, but the end dropped off a little for me. Nontheless, it’s great to see the GL that I grew up knowing, return. Rated a B
Green Lantern (DC): It just goes to show you, that following a writer that you really enjoy isn’t always a guarantee that you’ll enjoy all of his work. For some reason, I just couldn’t get past the first arc of the relaunch, and dropped this book. Whatever gold Johns was able to muster up in Flash, Teen Titans, and JSA, just didn’t manifest itself for me here. At least not enough to keep me reading the title. Rated a C
House of M (Marvel): I still think that Bendis could’ve told this story in about 2 less issues. But after initially feeling that this was a fairly good story, I gained a different perspective after rereading it. We’ll see just how good this story was; after we see all of the events that spin out of it unfold. But it was a very good story! Rated an A
House of M: The Day After (Marvel): An issue that bridges the gap between HoM and the current events, going on in the X-Men titles. I made the mistake of reading it after New Excalibur #1. But it was sill a great read. If you haven’t read it, and are reading any of the post HoM X-Titles, you may want to go pick it up. Rated an A
Hulk: HoM (Marvel): This was told in the regular Hulk title, and I thought it was done pretty well. Hulk ROCKED as an aborigine! It was great seeing him wreck Balck King’s Shield agents! Rated a B+
Hulk/Thing: Hard Knocks (Marvel) WTF? This was AWFUL in all aspects. First of all Jae Lee should join Austen in the ranks of the comic talent(less), unemployment line. The guy CAN’T do pencils. Add to that a terribly written book, and this was a waste of money and time. How do you ruin a story that has Hulk and Thing trying to fight one another? You spend 1/2 of the story recounting their first fight, 1/4 of the story having them take pop shots at one another while recounting said story with bad dialogue, and 1/4 of the story having them have a full on fight that isn’t much of the battle that you were expecting. Rated an F
Infinite Crisis (DC): So far this is only two issues in, and it’s just one rung on a long ladder being hoisted by DC. But so far, I don’t feel that it has disappointed. Its building very well to what appears to be a great crescendo, and each issue has me eagerly awaiting the next. Rated an A
JLA (DC): I liked the Syndicate Rules story arc and the Crisis of Conscience arc as well. But for some reason, DC decided to break up the JLA and this title (which I have worked hard to get all the issues for) will be a Crisis casualty. The current stuff is going well so far. But this year featured some of the best story telling in this title since Trial by Fire story line. Rated a B
JLA: Classified (DC): This series had a great start, but the first arc quickly went down hill. I dropped it after that. I probably should have stayed on a little longer, for the Giffen JLA arc, but I couldn’t. Honestly, I never really planned on reading past the first arc anyway. But I will probably pick up arcs that grab my interest. Rated a D
JSA(DC): Even when Johns takes a break, this title rolls along. Though New Avengers, Ultimates 2, and Astonishing X-Men have gained ground on this book, to me it is still the standard! Johns and Champagne juggle the team with comics’ biggest roster extremely well. I can’t think of one issue or arc that was disappointing. Rated an A+
JSA:Classified (DC): I only picked this up for the Power Girl origin, which was pretty good. Unlike JLA: Classified, this story stayed entertaining from issue 1 until issue 4. Like JLA: Classified, I will only be picking up arcs that grab my attention. rated a B
JSA: Strange Adventures (DC): No true JSA fan should go without reading this mini. It was a throwback to the 30’s and was told in a contemporary fashion. It even had the cheesy villain! Good read! Rated a B+
Justice (DC): Super-Friends fans should enjoy this read, as Alex Ross brings us the JLA vs. the Legion of Doom, in the second of DC’s All-Star titles. The first issue was intense, the second was pretty good. We get a dark look at the longest running superhero cartoon ever. The only knock so far, is the bi-monthly release schedule. Rated an A
Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (DC): In retrospect, this was a really good look into the feelings that Lex has towards Superman, and his attempt to plant the seeds of mistrust. What I don’t like about it, is not knowing whether or not it’s in continuity. But it was well written, the art was just sub-par. Rated a B-
New Avengers (Marvel): I picked this up solely for the Sentry arc, and liked it. I then picked up the TPB of the Breakout arc, and was immediately hooked. The witty banter, the well told stories, and the great art make this a phenomenal read. I’ve knocked Bendis a lot, and gave him a wrath of #### for his terrible Disassembled story line. But this is GOLD! No Avengers fan should disregard this, because of any feelings you harbor for his blatant disregard for continuity and how he finished off the Avengers. If you do, you are missing out on one of the best books out there right now. Rated an A+
New Excalibur (Marvel): I’ve been reacquainting myself with Claremont’s early X-Men run, by reading the Essential X-Men Vol. 1 & 2 over the last month. Through the first 2 issues, New Excalibur has that magical feel to it. While the team has yet to be defined, the characters are some of the best X-related characters ever. We’ll see where it goes, as it moves farther from the post HoM events. Rated an A
New Thunderbolts (Marvel): I only picked it up for the fight vs. The New Avengers, as the characters on New Thunderbolts don’t interest me that much, as a whole. But it was a fun read. Rated a B
Nightwing: Year One (DC): This was a fun read, but not good enough to hook me into the book. I only picked it up for the Year One story, and enjoyed it. But it was missing something that I just can’t seem to point out. Rated a C+
The OMAC Project (DC): People mention that this was the Countdown series that they enjoyed the least, but to me, it was the most riveting. It centered on DC’s big three, and set up the dismantling of the trust that the DC heroes shared. It was my second favorite Countdown mini. What I didn’t like is that if you didn’t read Wonder Woman or Superman, you missed some key parts. This made it difficult for people, as the Wonder Woman issue sold out FAST. Rated a B+
Outsiders (DC): I am sooo on the verge of dumping this book, but every time I decide it’s time, there’s a story that grabs my interest and then seems to draw me in, only to leave me feeling like I’m ready to drop it. The Titans cross over, where Indigo and Superboy tear up both teams was AWESOME. The problem is that as a direct result of that arc, 2 of my 3 favorite team members are no longer on the team (Nightwing & Indigo). So the series is on borrowed time, and I suspect that after the IC-related issues are done, I will indeed dump the book. Rated a C
Rann/Thanagar War (DC): This, to me was the lowest of the Countdown series. Not saying it was bad, just kicking myself for not reading the Adam Strange mini (Planet Heist) that preceded it. It was well drawn and well written, but I was sort of lost. Rated B-
Secret War (Marvel): This is a great series. It is well written, the painted art is beautiful, and the story has a great flow to it. The problem is that it has taken 2 years to get a 5 issue mini finished that was supposed to be done in 15 months. The issues are so spread out, that you forget what’s happened before, and you have to go back and re-read the previous issues to get caught up. Frankly, I’ve grown a bit tired of that, and it has soured me on the series. But for the series:Rated an A
The Sentry (Marvel): 3 issues in, and I’m left wondering-WHAT THE HELL CAN HE REALLY DO? I thought that this was supposed to help answer all of that. While this series still has 5 issues to go, if we don’t start seeing something more in the way of his powers and abilities, I’m not sure this is going to live up to the hype. We get that he’s crazy, now let’s see what he can do. Rated a C
7 Soldiers: Zatanna (DC): Grant Morrison is one of my favorite writers. But this was a tad bit confusing and hard to follow-particularly the second issue. After that, the rest of the series seemed lame to me. Rated a D-
Space Ghost (DC): If you think Space Ghost is a coast-to-coast joke, read Joe Kelly’s reinvention of the classic TV hero. Well told, good art, and a moving story, So much in fact, that they are doing a part 2. Rated a B+
Supergirl (DC): This has been fairly good IMHO. Nothing mind-blowing, which is to be expected, when you find out that Loeb’s son passed away earlier. But the book has been entertaining, and the end of the last issue certainly raised the level of interest some. However, I don’t plan on sticking with this book, past the first arc. Rated a C+
Superman (DC): This year finished the year-long Brain Azzarello and Jim Lee run, which I thought was really, really good. It was one of those stories that the Superman haters should read, because it throws everything that they say about Superman in the garbage. Then after the Superman/Shazam story, by Winnick, we got Mark Vanheiden. I think he has done a pretty good job, with the exception of his most recent issue. The good thing is that his run has been pretty well connected to the Crisis events. Rated a B-
Superman/Batman (DC): I know a lot of people haven’t liked this book for awhile, and that sentiment hasn’t been lost on me. But to me, the title went south after the Super girl story. The time traveling story was confusing, and not very good. The current Maximums story line has been hard to read, because it has too much Batzarro and Bizarro speak. I also have to wonder what kind of impact Loeb’s son’s death, has had on his ability to focus on this title and the release schedule. I was going to drop this title when Loeb left, but Vanheiden is picking the book up, and since I like how he writes Superman, I’m going to give him a shot.Rated a D
Superman/Shazam! First Thunder (DC): The first two issues have been OK, but for some reason, this is another book that seems to have a hit and miss release schedule. Rated a C
Superman: Strength (DC): Talk about terrible, this series was supposed to be something else entirely, I’m just not sure what. Rated an F
Supreme Power: Hyperion (Marvel): Issue 3 is behind schedule, but the first two were so awesome, I was compelled to go back and get the Supreme Power trades. Rated an A+
Supreme Power(Marvel): A great reinvention of the otherwise lame Squadron Supreme. Trust me when I tell you that it is one of the best things that you could read. Hyperion is a really great character in this format. The rest of the characters are extremely well-written. Forget the JLA Rip-Off (or Homage) comments. The Squadron really is Supreme. Scheduled to be re-released as a Marvel Knights title in 2006. Rated an A+
Teen Titans (DC): Johns’ handling of this title is A+. Gail Simone’s writing kind of dropped off of that, and then there’s Liefield’s art, which was not bad-as long as you don’t look at the characters’ feet. Rated a B-
Thor: Blood Oath (Marvel): This series doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of attention, on this site, and I’m not sure why. It’s got action, adventure, great humor, and Thor vs. Hercules. It’s a well told story about Thor and the Warriors Three, and it has been enjoyable. Rated an B+
Ultimates 2 (Marvel): No title was more riveting, than U2! Every issue left me wanting, and anxiously anticipating the next. I think Millar’s run on this book, blows the first Ultimates series out of the water with little effort. It has everything a reader could want-action, good story telling, great characterizations, good art, and a story that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Rated A+
Ultimate Fantastic Four (Marvel): The only arc that I didn’t enjoy, was the Mad Thinker/Awesome Andy arc. Other than that, it was great, and the current arc (with Namor) has been fun. Aside from Ultimates 2, this is the best Ultimate title that I read.Rated an A-
Ultimate Nightmare/Ultimate Secret (Marvel): Since they are 2 parts of one story, I felt it best to look at them together. Ultimate Nightmare moved pretty slow, but was told well making it a B. Ultimate secret was all action and really picked up the pace. Plus we have been introduced to some cool Ultimate characters along the way. Can’t wait to see Ultimate Gah Lak Tus and Silver Surfer. Rated a B+
Ultimate X-Men (Marvel): You know, BKV gets a bum wrap for his work on this title, and I’m not sure why. His writing hasn’t been mind-blowing, but I don’t think it’s been as terrible as people make it out to be. It’s been average at worst and good at best. His run is over, and I believe that Kirkman is taking over, until Singer starts his run. The last arc, was pretty cool, and now we have Ultimate Longshot-who is one of my favorite X-Men of all time. Rated a B-
Villains United (DC): Easily the best of the Countdown titles, IMHO. Simone really outdid herself here. In the midst of the chaotic events going on in DC, two teams of villains are played against one another, and the small group steals the show. We all knew that Mockingbird was Lex…we were just blown away when we found out how which Lex it was. Rated an A+
Wolverine (Marvel): I picked this up because of the HoM events, and to me, this was the best spin-offs. I am now in the process of going back and picking up the previous issues, and have added it to my pulls list. Unfortunately, just as Millar’s run winds down. Wolvie done right! Rated an B+
X-4 (Marvel): Easily the worst title of the year! So bad, in fact that it makes 1602: A New World, Hulk/Thing: Hard Knocks and Superman: Strength all look like Eisner award winners. Bad writing, and Pat Lee’s art was disgusting. Rated an F
X-Men (Marvel): Milligan was supposed to save us from Austen. While his writing was significantly better, it hasn’t lived up to the hype. I do think that HoM has provided him with a spark, as his last two issues have been good. Rated a C
X-Men: The End (Marvel): It’s stories like this that have people questioning CC’s ability to put out good stories now. Whatever he is trying to capture is lost in a convoluted and poorly told story, that gets worse with each passing issue. Like Ultimate Nightmare/Secret, this is a three part story with the final part due soon. Rated a D
X-Men: Deadly Genesis (Marvel): One issue in, and it was captivating. If this is what Joey Q, by “getting the genie back in the bottle,” with regards to the mutant universe, then this is a great start. It’s also written by Brubaker, who is quickly gaining recognition in my eyes, as a great writer. Rated an A
X-Men: Phoenix End Song (Marvel): If Greg Pak didn’t have Greg Land do the art in this book, it would’ve went from first issue awesomeness to a resounding F, with little effort. Pak, just can’t seem to write a good story. Land is one of the best artists in comics, having done a fantastic job, not only on this series, but on Sojourn as well. Based on the first issue and Land’s art-Rated a D+
So, what were the best and worse?
Marvel’s Best in 2005:
Title: Ultimates 2
Mini-Series: Ghost Rider
Writer: Mark Millar (Ultimates 2, Ultimate FF, Wolverine)
Artist: Clayton Crain (Ghost Rider)
Character: Spider-Woman
Marvel’s Worst in 2005:
Title: X-4
Mini-Series: X-4
Writer: Greg Pak (1602: A New World, Phoenix End Song)
Artist: Jae Lee (Hulk/Thing Hard Knocks, Ultimate FF)
Character: Tie-Mad Thinker/Ultimate Awesome Andy (Ultimate FF)
DC’s Best in 2005:
Title: Flash
Mini-Series: Villains United
Writer: Geoff Johns (JSA, JLA, Teen Titans, Infinite Crisis, JSA: Classified, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Green Lantern)
Artist: Ivan Reis (Rann/Thanagar War)
Character: Catman
DC’s Worst in 2005:
Title: Superman: Strength
Mini-Series: Superman: Strength
Writer: John Byrne (Blood of the Demon)
Artist: Lee Bermejo (Lex Luthor: Man of Steel)
Character: Repo Man
Overall Best in 2005:
Title: Ultimates 2
Writer: Mark Millar (Ultimates 2, Ultimate FF, Wolverine)
Artist: Clayton Crain (Ghost Rider)
Mini-Series: Villains United
Biggest Surprise: The Return of Earth-2 Superman
Biggest Shocker: The Death of Blue Beetle
My Top 10 Comics in 2005:
Ultimates 2
Supreme Power
JSA
Astonishing X-Men
New Avengers
The Flash
Villains United
Ghost Rider
Secret War
House of M
Well, another year of comics is drawing to a close, and now seems like a good time to reflect and grade our reads.
I really feel that Marvel and DC, both had excellent years overall. For me Marvel bounced back, after I experienced many mini-series disappointments last year. I found more minis that were good and picked up some great ongoings. HOM was a little lackluster at first, but finished VERY strong. After re-reading the entire series, I enjoyed it significantly more than the first time. I didn't read all of the spin-offs, but really liked the Hulk and Wolverine stories. Looks like the post HoM Marvel U is poised for some great things...and I've regained my love for the X-men. I feel now about them as I did, back when I was reading them in the 80's and early 90’s.
DC's Infinite Crisis pretty much dominated my DC reads for the year. Lots of nail biting, page turning action; week in and week out. I was introduced to so many characters that I had never read before, that I was pleasantly overwhelmed.
I've gone through my comic boxes, and have attempted to fish out all of my reads for this year and grade them. Hopefully, this will be a civil discussion on the year in comics, and not turn into another Marvel/DC flame war.
So without further ado, my year in comics review. I'll grade this like a school report card-for simplicity's sake. Feel free to use your own method, should you choose to do the same. Also, I hope that I remembered correctly that all of these titles were published in 2005. When you read 60+ titles in the course of a year, it’s easy to get them confused. :nervous:
1602: A New World (Marvel): What can I say? Greg Pak is a terrible writer, IMHO. I loved the first series, until the end, when I felt a little let down by the revelation that Cap was misplaced in time. I was excited at the prospects of what this might bring, as a continuation of the first. I was let down. This series, however, went beyond disappointment, and was just plain bad. The story was miserably painful. The story introduced Iron Man (as a Spaniard), Norman Osborne, JJ Jameson, gave us Spider-man and the Hulk. But in the end, Pak's writing and terrible art just didn't get the job done. Rated an F
Action Comics (DC): After Austen, we had Finn, then Winnick did the Superman/Shazam Crisis story, which lead into Gail Simone. The book had some serious ups and downs. But Gail was able to hit a stride for awhile and kept the book interesting. It was my sincerest hope that she would remain on the book, but DC has decided to use a stable of revolving creative teams-Bad DC! Her Crisis stuff and Winnick's run made it a pretty good read. Rated a B-
Adventures of Superman (DC): Rucka has been DC's Bendis for me. Either I absolutely love his stuff, or I hate it; and overall, I don't care for him as a writer. But he writes my favorite character, so I'm stuck with him. His Crisis stuff has been great to excellent. His non-Crisis stuff has been mediocre to terrible. And what is his weird obsession with Myxlplyx (sp?) about. It's maddening! Rated a C
Spider-Man: The Other (Marvel): This series runs through MK Spider-man, Amazing, and the brand new Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man, and is a collaboration between Peter David, Reginald Hundlin, and JMS. The series has each writer doing one book in each title one month at a time, before they all go back to their respective books for the grand finale. Overall, I have enjoyed the story. Peter David kicked it off with some good writing, and introducing a new Spidey foe. Reginald Hundlin's first two issues were up and down. But his final issue was jaw-dropping. JMS' first issue built on that, and the series has me caring about Spider-Man again. With 5 issues to go, it's been pretty good. Rated a B+
Age of Apocalypse: 10th Anniversary (Marvel): I didn't read the first one, and I probably should've because this was a disjointed read, that seemed to get flat quick, and go no where fast. The art was interesting. Rated a D
Astonishing X-Men (Marvel): God bless Joss Whedon! He did a fantastic job with the muties, and I can't wait till he comes back in Feb. Cassady and him work sooo well together, that they created a beautiful book. The X-Men were back to what made them special, and I really feel that we are witnessing a revival of the muties thanks to Joss! Rated an A+
Batman (DC): Winick had a hard act to follow, after Hush. He has managed to do a solid job overall. But some of his stories were real yawners, and he seems stuck with the Red Hood angle. Not that I mind, as I find the Jason Todd angle intriguing, but he seems to go back to the well a little too much. Rated a C+
Batman (DC): Could we have gotten a sneak preview at the next Batman movie? Perhaps! This book was that good, and to me was the best Batman story of the year. If Brubaker is doing this kind of job on Captain America, I can see why the Cap fans are raving about the book. Rated A+
Batman: The Dark Detective (DC): This is a retro story, and I've only managed to read the first 4 issues. The first 2 issues were pretty good, while the second 2 issues were solid.Rated C+
All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder (DC): Well this hasn’t done much for me so far, but I find the reinventing of the Batman characters somewhat interesting. I’ll try it through the first arc, but Miller had better blow my mind before it’s over. Otherwise, this will be dropped. Rated a D
All-Star Superman (DC): The first issue was good. It had that wholesome Superman feel to it, and the Clark Kent panels reminded me of Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of the character in the movies. Rated an A
Batman/ Ra’s Al Ghul (DC): Released to coincide with Batman Begins, this was an interesting look at the dynamic between Batman, and Ra’s. Rated a B
Blood of the Demon (DC): Well, I took this book on, knowing that John Byrne was going to be on a short leash. The series started in an interesting fashion, but it has quickly grown stale. Byrne, once a master in the field of comics, shows that his time as a prominent creator in the field may have passed him by. He seems more interested in showing lots of blood and gore, than actually plotting a story with some substance, and developing either Jason Blood or Etrigan into the interesting characters that they are capable of being. The current arc ends, in 2 issues; as does my reading of this book. I suspect that it will be dropped by DC before 2006 is over. Rated a D-
Conan (Dark Horse): This series started out awesome, but as it went on, it seemed to grow old. Then it just plateaued from there never really hitting a high or low with me. So I dropped it. I think for Conan’s hard core fans, it is a great read, but it just didn’t capture the magic that the Marvel big books did for me. Rated a B
Countdown to Infinite Crisis (DC): This one-shot bridged the gap between Identity Crisis and the 4 Countdown minis. It was extremely well done, and a breath taking issue, with one of the most heart wrenching endings that I’ve ever read. I wasn’t much of a Blue Beetle fan, but even I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the guy. In one issue, he went from being a nobody on my list, to someone I cared about. Rated an A+
The Darkness Vol. 2 (Image/Top Cow): I can’t wait till Paul Jenkins returns, and the title for that matter. This has been the steadiest read of all the books that I’ve read this year. The book is not great in terms of writing or art, but for me combines both elements very well. It helps that it’s mafia related, which is one of my favorite genres. Jackie is a great anti-hero. Rated a B
The Darkness/Superman (DC/Top Cow): After reading some disappointing Darkness cross-overs, this one was a well done mini, with 2 of my favorite characters.Rated a B
Day of Vengeance (DC): This book introduced me to a host of DC second and third stringers, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cataclysmic ending was awe-inspiring, the story was well told, and the Shadowpact ruled! Rated a B
DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy (DC): Donna’s death started the current Crisis, and it’s great to have her back. She is a key component to the events that are unfolding in the DCU. But this series was a bit convoluted to me. It had some great stuff, but the story was almost too 80’s for me. Rated a C
The Defenders (Marvel): Funniest read of the year! I have really gotten more laughs out of this book than I have any other book this year. The interaction between Hulk and Namor has been gold. But it would have been cool if the title had been a bit more serious, and an attempt to relaunch a team book. Rated a B
Excalibur (Marvel): I liked where this series started, but as it wore on, so did Claremont’s writing, In the end, Marvel had no option but to end it. It just got lackluster quickly, and never recovered. Even the issue that was supposed to launch HoM did everything but achieve what it was supposed to. And there was only so much that a person could take, of seeing Callisto with her tentacled arms. Rated a D-
Fantastic Four (Marvel): I read the Rising Storm story arc, and I really enjoyed it! It was well written and illustrated, and was a very fun look at Galactus. Rated an A
Fantastic Four: HoM (Marvel): This was a fairly good spin off of the main story. Poor Doom, is betrayed by his mother, and outsmarted by Magneto. Rated C+
Firestorm (DC): I dropped this book after Jolley left, because I wasn’t ready to see Ronnie return. I like Jason, and I liked what Jolley did with him. I‘ve since read some issues, and it seems that the quality is still there, but I’m not a big enough Firestorm fan to keep picking it up. Rated a B-
Flash (DC): Johns did a spectacular job with Wally, on his entire run, and I think that the Rogues War was a fitting end to his run. Unfortunately something is going to happen to Wally, which causes this book to end, and later be relaunched. The last few issues have been OK, but you can certainly tell that Geoff is gone. Rated an A
Ghost Rider (Marvel): I’ve never been a Ghost Rider fan, so to speak, but I have really enjoyed this series. The story is good, and the art is AMAZING! You Blaze fans should be reading this, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Rated an A
Green Arrow (DC): I’ve only picked this up for the current Dr. Light arc. It has been good, IMHO. However, money’s tight, and when the final issue of the arc comes out next week, I won’t be picking it up any more. Rated a B
Green Lantern: Rebirth (DC): One of the biggest events of 2005-Hal Jordan’s return. I thought that it was really good, but the end dropped off a little for me. Nontheless, it’s great to see the GL that I grew up knowing, return. Rated a B
Green Lantern (DC): It just goes to show you, that following a writer that you really enjoy isn’t always a guarantee that you’ll enjoy all of his work. For some reason, I just couldn’t get past the first arc of the relaunch, and dropped this book. Whatever gold Johns was able to muster up in Flash, Teen Titans, and JSA, just didn’t manifest itself for me here. At least not enough to keep me reading the title. Rated a C
House of M (Marvel): I still think that Bendis could’ve told this story in about 2 less issues. But after initially feeling that this was a fairly good story, I gained a different perspective after rereading it. We’ll see just how good this story was; after we see all of the events that spin out of it unfold. But it was a very good story! Rated an A
House of M: The Day After (Marvel): An issue that bridges the gap between HoM and the current events, going on in the X-Men titles. I made the mistake of reading it after New Excalibur #1. But it was sill a great read. If you haven’t read it, and are reading any of the post HoM X-Titles, you may want to go pick it up. Rated an A
Hulk: HoM (Marvel): This was told in the regular Hulk title, and I thought it was done pretty well. Hulk ROCKED as an aborigine! It was great seeing him wreck Balck King’s Shield agents! Rated a B+
Hulk/Thing: Hard Knocks (Marvel) WTF? This was AWFUL in all aspects. First of all Jae Lee should join Austen in the ranks of the comic talent(less), unemployment line. The guy CAN’T do pencils. Add to that a terribly written book, and this was a waste of money and time. How do you ruin a story that has Hulk and Thing trying to fight one another? You spend 1/2 of the story recounting their first fight, 1/4 of the story having them take pop shots at one another while recounting said story with bad dialogue, and 1/4 of the story having them have a full on fight that isn’t much of the battle that you were expecting. Rated an F
Infinite Crisis (DC): So far this is only two issues in, and it’s just one rung on a long ladder being hoisted by DC. But so far, I don’t feel that it has disappointed. Its building very well to what appears to be a great crescendo, and each issue has me eagerly awaiting the next. Rated an A
JLA (DC): I liked the Syndicate Rules story arc and the Crisis of Conscience arc as well. But for some reason, DC decided to break up the JLA and this title (which I have worked hard to get all the issues for) will be a Crisis casualty. The current stuff is going well so far. But this year featured some of the best story telling in this title since Trial by Fire story line. Rated a B
JLA: Classified (DC): This series had a great start, but the first arc quickly went down hill. I dropped it after that. I probably should have stayed on a little longer, for the Giffen JLA arc, but I couldn’t. Honestly, I never really planned on reading past the first arc anyway. But I will probably pick up arcs that grab my interest. Rated a D
JSA(DC): Even when Johns takes a break, this title rolls along. Though New Avengers, Ultimates 2, and Astonishing X-Men have gained ground on this book, to me it is still the standard! Johns and Champagne juggle the team with comics’ biggest roster extremely well. I can’t think of one issue or arc that was disappointing. Rated an A+
JSA:Classified (DC): I only picked this up for the Power Girl origin, which was pretty good. Unlike JLA: Classified, this story stayed entertaining from issue 1 until issue 4. Like JLA: Classified, I will only be picking up arcs that grab my attention. rated a B
JSA: Strange Adventures (DC): No true JSA fan should go without reading this mini. It was a throwback to the 30’s and was told in a contemporary fashion. It even had the cheesy villain! Good read! Rated a B+
Justice (DC): Super-Friends fans should enjoy this read, as Alex Ross brings us the JLA vs. the Legion of Doom, in the second of DC’s All-Star titles. The first issue was intense, the second was pretty good. We get a dark look at the longest running superhero cartoon ever. The only knock so far, is the bi-monthly release schedule. Rated an A
Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (DC): In retrospect, this was a really good look into the feelings that Lex has towards Superman, and his attempt to plant the seeds of mistrust. What I don’t like about it, is not knowing whether or not it’s in continuity. But it was well written, the art was just sub-par. Rated a B-
New Avengers (Marvel): I picked this up solely for the Sentry arc, and liked it. I then picked up the TPB of the Breakout arc, and was immediately hooked. The witty banter, the well told stories, and the great art make this a phenomenal read. I’ve knocked Bendis a lot, and gave him a wrath of #### for his terrible Disassembled story line. But this is GOLD! No Avengers fan should disregard this, because of any feelings you harbor for his blatant disregard for continuity and how he finished off the Avengers. If you do, you are missing out on one of the best books out there right now. Rated an A+
New Excalibur (Marvel): I’ve been reacquainting myself with Claremont’s early X-Men run, by reading the Essential X-Men Vol. 1 & 2 over the last month. Through the first 2 issues, New Excalibur has that magical feel to it. While the team has yet to be defined, the characters are some of the best X-related characters ever. We’ll see where it goes, as it moves farther from the post HoM events. Rated an A
New Thunderbolts (Marvel): I only picked it up for the fight vs. The New Avengers, as the characters on New Thunderbolts don’t interest me that much, as a whole. But it was a fun read. Rated a B
Nightwing: Year One (DC): This was a fun read, but not good enough to hook me into the book. I only picked it up for the Year One story, and enjoyed it. But it was missing something that I just can’t seem to point out. Rated a C+
The OMAC Project (DC): People mention that this was the Countdown series that they enjoyed the least, but to me, it was the most riveting. It centered on DC’s big three, and set up the dismantling of the trust that the DC heroes shared. It was my second favorite Countdown mini. What I didn’t like is that if you didn’t read Wonder Woman or Superman, you missed some key parts. This made it difficult for people, as the Wonder Woman issue sold out FAST. Rated a B+
Outsiders (DC): I am sooo on the verge of dumping this book, but every time I decide it’s time, there’s a story that grabs my interest and then seems to draw me in, only to leave me feeling like I’m ready to drop it. The Titans cross over, where Indigo and Superboy tear up both teams was AWESOME. The problem is that as a direct result of that arc, 2 of my 3 favorite team members are no longer on the team (Nightwing & Indigo). So the series is on borrowed time, and I suspect that after the IC-related issues are done, I will indeed dump the book. Rated a C
Rann/Thanagar War (DC): This, to me was the lowest of the Countdown series. Not saying it was bad, just kicking myself for not reading the Adam Strange mini (Planet Heist) that preceded it. It was well drawn and well written, but I was sort of lost. Rated B-
Secret War (Marvel): This is a great series. It is well written, the painted art is beautiful, and the story has a great flow to it. The problem is that it has taken 2 years to get a 5 issue mini finished that was supposed to be done in 15 months. The issues are so spread out, that you forget what’s happened before, and you have to go back and re-read the previous issues to get caught up. Frankly, I’ve grown a bit tired of that, and it has soured me on the series. But for the series:Rated an A
The Sentry (Marvel): 3 issues in, and I’m left wondering-WHAT THE HELL CAN HE REALLY DO? I thought that this was supposed to help answer all of that. While this series still has 5 issues to go, if we don’t start seeing something more in the way of his powers and abilities, I’m not sure this is going to live up to the hype. We get that he’s crazy, now let’s see what he can do. Rated a C
7 Soldiers: Zatanna (DC): Grant Morrison is one of my favorite writers. But this was a tad bit confusing and hard to follow-particularly the second issue. After that, the rest of the series seemed lame to me. Rated a D-
Space Ghost (DC): If you think Space Ghost is a coast-to-coast joke, read Joe Kelly’s reinvention of the classic TV hero. Well told, good art, and a moving story, So much in fact, that they are doing a part 2. Rated a B+
Supergirl (DC): This has been fairly good IMHO. Nothing mind-blowing, which is to be expected, when you find out that Loeb’s son passed away earlier. But the book has been entertaining, and the end of the last issue certainly raised the level of interest some. However, I don’t plan on sticking with this book, past the first arc. Rated a C+
Superman (DC): This year finished the year-long Brain Azzarello and Jim Lee run, which I thought was really, really good. It was one of those stories that the Superman haters should read, because it throws everything that they say about Superman in the garbage. Then after the Superman/Shazam story, by Winnick, we got Mark Vanheiden. I think he has done a pretty good job, with the exception of his most recent issue. The good thing is that his run has been pretty well connected to the Crisis events. Rated a B-
Superman/Batman (DC): I know a lot of people haven’t liked this book for awhile, and that sentiment hasn’t been lost on me. But to me, the title went south after the Super girl story. The time traveling story was confusing, and not very good. The current Maximums story line has been hard to read, because it has too much Batzarro and Bizarro speak. I also have to wonder what kind of impact Loeb’s son’s death, has had on his ability to focus on this title and the release schedule. I was going to drop this title when Loeb left, but Vanheiden is picking the book up, and since I like how he writes Superman, I’m going to give him a shot.Rated a D
Superman/Shazam! First Thunder (DC): The first two issues have been OK, but for some reason, this is another book that seems to have a hit and miss release schedule. Rated a C
Superman: Strength (DC): Talk about terrible, this series was supposed to be something else entirely, I’m just not sure what. Rated an F
Supreme Power: Hyperion (Marvel): Issue 3 is behind schedule, but the first two were so awesome, I was compelled to go back and get the Supreme Power trades. Rated an A+
Supreme Power(Marvel): A great reinvention of the otherwise lame Squadron Supreme. Trust me when I tell you that it is one of the best things that you could read. Hyperion is a really great character in this format. The rest of the characters are extremely well-written. Forget the JLA Rip-Off (or Homage) comments. The Squadron really is Supreme. Scheduled to be re-released as a Marvel Knights title in 2006. Rated an A+
Teen Titans (DC): Johns’ handling of this title is A+. Gail Simone’s writing kind of dropped off of that, and then there’s Liefield’s art, which was not bad-as long as you don’t look at the characters’ feet. Rated a B-
Thor: Blood Oath (Marvel): This series doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of attention, on this site, and I’m not sure why. It’s got action, adventure, great humor, and Thor vs. Hercules. It’s a well told story about Thor and the Warriors Three, and it has been enjoyable. Rated an B+
Ultimates 2 (Marvel): No title was more riveting, than U2! Every issue left me wanting, and anxiously anticipating the next. I think Millar’s run on this book, blows the first Ultimates series out of the water with little effort. It has everything a reader could want-action, good story telling, great characterizations, good art, and a story that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Rated A+
Ultimate Fantastic Four (Marvel): The only arc that I didn’t enjoy, was the Mad Thinker/Awesome Andy arc. Other than that, it was great, and the current arc (with Namor) has been fun. Aside from Ultimates 2, this is the best Ultimate title that I read.Rated an A-
Ultimate Nightmare/Ultimate Secret (Marvel): Since they are 2 parts of one story, I felt it best to look at them together. Ultimate Nightmare moved pretty slow, but was told well making it a B. Ultimate secret was all action and really picked up the pace. Plus we have been introduced to some cool Ultimate characters along the way. Can’t wait to see Ultimate Gah Lak Tus and Silver Surfer. Rated a B+
Ultimate X-Men (Marvel): You know, BKV gets a bum wrap for his work on this title, and I’m not sure why. His writing hasn’t been mind-blowing, but I don’t think it’s been as terrible as people make it out to be. It’s been average at worst and good at best. His run is over, and I believe that Kirkman is taking over, until Singer starts his run. The last arc, was pretty cool, and now we have Ultimate Longshot-who is one of my favorite X-Men of all time. Rated a B-
Villains United (DC): Easily the best of the Countdown titles, IMHO. Simone really outdid herself here. In the midst of the chaotic events going on in DC, two teams of villains are played against one another, and the small group steals the show. We all knew that Mockingbird was Lex…we were just blown away when we found out how which Lex it was. Rated an A+
Wolverine (Marvel): I picked this up because of the HoM events, and to me, this was the best spin-offs. I am now in the process of going back and picking up the previous issues, and have added it to my pulls list. Unfortunately, just as Millar’s run winds down. Wolvie done right! Rated an B+
X-4 (Marvel): Easily the worst title of the year! So bad, in fact that it makes 1602: A New World, Hulk/Thing: Hard Knocks and Superman: Strength all look like Eisner award winners. Bad writing, and Pat Lee’s art was disgusting. Rated an F
X-Men (Marvel): Milligan was supposed to save us from Austen. While his writing was significantly better, it hasn’t lived up to the hype. I do think that HoM has provided him with a spark, as his last two issues have been good. Rated a C
X-Men: The End (Marvel): It’s stories like this that have people questioning CC’s ability to put out good stories now. Whatever he is trying to capture is lost in a convoluted and poorly told story, that gets worse with each passing issue. Like Ultimate Nightmare/Secret, this is a three part story with the final part due soon. Rated a D
X-Men: Deadly Genesis (Marvel): One issue in, and it was captivating. If this is what Joey Q, by “getting the genie back in the bottle,” with regards to the mutant universe, then this is a great start. It’s also written by Brubaker, who is quickly gaining recognition in my eyes, as a great writer. Rated an A
X-Men: Phoenix End Song (Marvel): If Greg Pak didn’t have Greg Land do the art in this book, it would’ve went from first issue awesomeness to a resounding F, with little effort. Pak, just can’t seem to write a good story. Land is one of the best artists in comics, having done a fantastic job, not only on this series, but on Sojourn as well. Based on the first issue and Land’s art-Rated a D+
So, what were the best and worse?
Marvel’s Best in 2005:
Title: Ultimates 2
Mini-Series: Ghost Rider
Writer: Mark Millar (Ultimates 2, Ultimate FF, Wolverine)
Artist: Clayton Crain (Ghost Rider)
Character: Spider-Woman
Marvel’s Worst in 2005:
Title: X-4
Mini-Series: X-4
Writer: Greg Pak (1602: A New World, Phoenix End Song)
Artist: Jae Lee (Hulk/Thing Hard Knocks, Ultimate FF)
Character: Tie-Mad Thinker/Ultimate Awesome Andy (Ultimate FF)
DC’s Best in 2005:
Title: Flash
Mini-Series: Villains United
Writer: Geoff Johns (JSA, JLA, Teen Titans, Infinite Crisis, JSA: Classified, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Green Lantern)
Artist: Ivan Reis (Rann/Thanagar War)
Character: Catman
DC’s Worst in 2005:
Title: Superman: Strength
Mini-Series: Superman: Strength
Writer: John Byrne (Blood of the Demon)
Artist: Lee Bermejo (Lex Luthor: Man of Steel)
Character: Repo Man
Overall Best in 2005:
Title: Ultimates 2
Writer: Mark Millar (Ultimates 2, Ultimate FF, Wolverine)
Artist: Clayton Crain (Ghost Rider)
Mini-Series: Villains United
Biggest Surprise: The Return of Earth-2 Superman
Biggest Shocker: The Death of Blue Beetle
My Top 10 Comics in 2005:
Ultimates 2
Supreme Power
JSA
Astonishing X-Men
New Avengers
The Flash
Villains United
Ghost Rider
Secret War
House of M