In case you missed them, over at the main site Creephouse Comics, I posted my favorite metal and non metal albums of the year. Over here the list making continues!
This is the time for indie creators. Even though we seem to be getting washed away in the frantic fervor of the nerd storm surrounding these licensed properties, indie creators are really pushing the bounds of comics and doing their best to push the industry in a new direction. The rise of digital comics and content has been one of my favorite things in the comic industry this year and I hope that it gains more ground in 2014.
Most of these books are available on the awesome Comixology app. Click the titles to go to where you can purchase them. If you want the traditional printed versions, well you know how to find them.
Here’s to 2014 and more awesome comics!
Edison Rex
The creators behind Edison Rex get what is fun about superhero comics. Great story, great art, tons of well designed and fun characters. It isn’t bogged down with continuity garbage, nobody is sulking around, there isn’t any pretentious metaphor going on or some sort of comment on society and none of the heroes are being “re-imagined” for modern audiences. It’s all ages friendly, the stories are for the most part self contained, it’s high on action and intrigue and it’s intelligently written and handled. It puts everything done by the Big 2 to shame and proves that superhero comics can still be amazing.
Hellboy/BPRD Universe
As long as the Mignola-verse is in publication it’s going to be on my year end list. BPRD is consistently amazing even through all the reformatting of the series and constant tie-ins. Mignola and crew know how to keep a large universe together without letting it spiral out of control and require a relaunch of the thing periodically. It’s a prime example of how to grow a universe, treat characters and get top notch talent to work on the books. This year also saw Mignola’s return to art duties on Hellboy so that alone is enough to make it on the year end list. Not to mention another new original Hellboy graphic novel The Midnight Circus and the awesome Itty Bitty Hellboy title. Everything Hellboy continues to be great
Batman: Lil’ Gotham
I was heartbroken when I read the last issue of Lil’ Gotham to find out the series was ending in December. Lil’ Gotham has been so much fun and exactly what the Batman comics needed, a fresh infusion of fun. Damian is the star of this book to me and it’s nice to see him continue to shine even though the higher ups at DC decided they needed to violently kill him in the regular Bat books. The art is incredible and really helps spotlight the characters they featured each issue. Awesome, stand alone stories with some of the best, all ages takes on the classic Batman family and rogues gallery. It will be sorely missed in 2014.
Prophet
Prophet continued its weird Moebius, Dune like sci-fi mind trip this year with some amazing issues. I love this Prophet series and how it defies conventional comic story telling and just drops you in this world with no explanation. The use of made up words like they are common place, the grand, epically long time line and the crazy art that makes the whole thing feel like a weird dream. There hasn’t been a reinventing of characters like this since Alan Moore’s run on Swamp Thing and that is high praise indeed for the Prophet creative team. It’s slated to end in 2014 and that is a crying shame.
Barbarian Lord
Barbarian Lord is my new favorite comic. We got one new issue this year and it was amazing like always. Matt Smith’s art is has that classic Jeff Smith quality to it and works amazing in stark black and white. The story is steeped in Medieval literature and heavy metal with Matt adding in characters that look awfully familiar to the members of Darkthrone (and his upcoming graphic novel has a character based on the mighty Quarthon!) so how could this book not be right up my alley. To the best of my knowledge Barbarian Lord in not on Comixology but you can learn all about it and buy some of the books over here.
Princeless
Princeless is what all, all-ages comics should strive to be. It’s fun, energetic, smart, well drawn and written and actually has a great take on it’s female lead that isn’t vapid, for looks or a Disney princess cliche. It doesn’t have to shove it in your face that it has a great, empowering female lead because it’s just a well written story that actually treats it’s lead with respect, like any great story should.
Six Gun Gorilla
Six Gun Gorilla is the sort of comic that grabbed my attention right from the title. A gorilla with guns? Count me in. What I got was not at all what I expected. A futuristic story where people volunteer to die fighting a war on another planet so it can be transmitted back to earth for peoples entertainment. Incredible artwork, great concept and wonderful characters make this a bizarre treat and some of the most fun I had reading comics all year.
Black Beetle
The Black Beetle is pure pulp comic gloriousness. Francesco Francavilla’s art is amazing and as a story teller, very few are coming close to what he is doing. The color scheme, the way the panels interact with each other, the mystery, the intrigue. Comics should be this good all the time. I can’t wait for more Beetle in 2014. On a side note, Francesco Francavilla is rocking it on Life After Archie, the zombie Archie comic out now.
The Wake
I was ready to dismiss The Wake after reading the first six issues as just another Alien rip off. Of course the art is amazing as all of Sean Murphy’s work is and there is some cool background info going on, but then I got to the end of the 5th issue. Oh wow, I won’t spoil it but I think The Wake is going to be a strong contender for the best of list for 2014 when the series picks back up. Also if you haven’t yet, check out Murphy’s Punk Rock Jesus.
Batman 66
Batman 66 was a revelations this year. The first couple issues were so much comic fun and a shining example of how great digital comics can be. The guided motion effect wasn’t overdone and helped to move the story logically while helping to keep that old 66 TV show feel and humor. The issues where the motion guide isn’t present suffer severely for it. Comics should be fun and this is the example to follow.
