“Action Comics” tops 2008′s best comic books
WORD BALLOONS
Periodical comic books are still staples of comic-book stores, and the origination point for many great storylines. While Marvel and DC Comics dominate the sales charts for comic books, they aren’t the only ones publishing great material. The following are the top 10 periodical comic book series of 2008.
1. Action Comics
Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank took Superman to new heights in 2008. First, Superman visits the far-flung future of the Legion of Superheroes, where he is powerless, then he returns home to face the menace of Brainiac invading Earth. As the year ends, Superman is faced with 100,000 Kryptonians who now want to call Earth home.
“Action Comics” lived up to its title, yet also brought character development to the forefront. Frank’s dynamic artwork enhanced Johns’ writing.
2. Criminal
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ noir drama continues to impress. “Bad Night” stars insomniac cartoonist Jacob, who gets in over his head in as his past as a forger comes back to haunt him.
3. Captain America
Another Ed Brubaker title, with art by Steve Epting, Luke Ross and others. Captain America’s former sidekick, James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, now wears the garb of Captain America. This reluctant hero knows how to fight like the original Captain America, but he’s still learning to inspire people. The new Captain America’s journey is Marvel Comics’ best ongoing superhero narrative.
4. The comics of Kevin Huizenga
Indy comics creator Kevin Huizenga created three different comic books in 2008 that have to be considered among the best. “Ganges” No. 2, from Fantagraphics’ Ignatz line, parallels the dot-com era to a first-person shooter video game. Huizenga’s everyman, Glenn Ganges, is one of the most remarkably real characters in comics, regardless of the strange situations he encounters. Huizenga also released the fifth issue of his pocket-sized comic “Or Else” in 2008 through Drawn and Quarterly. Among the stories in this issue are an adaptation of a Giorgio Manganelli story and story about wasps and spiders making their way into Glenn’s home. From Buenaventura, Huizenga released “Fight or Run,” an exploration of the “fight or flight” complex in comic-book form. It’s more of an exercise than a story, but under the direction of Huizenga, worth the time.
5. All-Star Superman
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely finished their 12-issue run on what will surely be an enduring classic for the Man of Steel. 2008 marks a great year for the Superman titles, with two titles starring Superman on the top 10, and a third related title also on the list.
6. Echo
Terry Moore, best-known for “Strangers in Paradise,” is the writer and artist of “Echo.” Photographer Julie Martin sees a strange explosion in the desert sky, which covers her in a mysterious metal.
7. Nova
Richard Ryder, the last of the intergalactic police force known as the Nova Corps, helped fight off the Secret Invasion that ran throughout the Marvel titles. This “Nova” series, which launched in 2007 and is written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, remains one of the best science fiction comics on the stands.
8. RASL
Jeff Smith made a major change-of-pace from his all-ages fantasy epic “Bone” with RASL, a mature readers title that features an interdimensional thief. Smith proved he’s more than “Bone,” and one of the best writer-artists making comics today.
9. Northlanders
Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice concluded “Sven the Returned” in the pages of “Northlanders” in 2008. The return of the prodigal son is a theme that’s been covered from the Bible to Shakespeare, and if Wood isn’t quite in that league, he’s still writing a must-read comic that’s the best remaining in the Vertigo lineup after the end of “Y: The Last Man.” Two more story arcs took place in “Northlanders” this year, each with a different setting and characters, a brave move in the periodical comic book format.
10. Supergirl
In just three issues, the new creative team of Sterling Gates (originally from Oklahoma, now living in Los Angeles) and artist Jamal Igle have transformed the Girl of Steel. With six different creative teams on the book in the past three years, Supergirl was in search of a direction and an identity. Gates and Igle have provided both, and made “Supergirl” the most improved title of 2008.
See the list of best graphic novels of 2008 here.
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Only “The comics of Kevin Huizenga” and “Nova” are the only books on your list I have not read. I will try the Kevin book, but I have never really been a fan of Nova. Very good list of stuff in 2008. Looking forward to 2009.