With an art assist from Goran Sudzuka: MVPs for the wonderful way they tied up their run on Wonder Woman - The gave us thrills and chills, fun and silly word play, thought provoking drama, incisive character studies and interactions, and in the end they defined who Diana is and what she represented not only over the past 3 years, but throughout the decades.
Wonder Woman has been my favorite book, and it closed on a high, exploring the nature of identity with humor, thrills, horror and a lot of bonding between charcaters I came to love.
Epting, Chiang, Doc Shaner (to name 3) impressed me as draftsmen, storytellers and designers. Lotay however, tested my notions on what sequential art is capable of; she changed the visual vocabulary for me. Tula hit me on two fronts, so that what her art made me “feel” was as equally important as what it expressed. She articulated Ellis’ script and ideas in a way that was lyrical and cerebral, and what she put on paper was malleable and alive. She and writer Warren Ellis challenged me to be both passenger and participant on this journey. And transcended the comic book status quo.
Her soft pastels, unique blending and shading technique have been a staple in Brubaker's Noir classics.
Hon mentions: Charles Burns, Bryan O’Malley, Inio Asano
This lady can write! She made her comics debut on Catwoman and has constructed a story that has guts and intelligence. I admire Valentine’s command of language, and her sophisticated plotting; the structure of it all. If DC doesn’t extend her contract on this title then they need to have their heads examined.
Best Dialog: Warren Ellis (Supreme: Blue Rose, Trees, Moon Knight)
No one weaves language the way Ellis does. Though Azzarello, Valentine, Bunn and Soule also wowed me with the way they turned a phrase.
Honorable Mentions: Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman) and Jamie McKelvie (The Wicked + The Divine)
I was torn between Lee and Cliff Chiang, and I couldn’t have gone wrong with either. The thing that tipped the scales was Catwoman; I love how Jae draws Catwoman. He captures all her elegance and strength. Even without trying hard, just calmly standing there, you can see that lithe figure, able to spring into action at a moments notice. You see her confidence, and even in a business suit she’s sexy as hell. Starting with his work on Batman/Superman and now as the cover artist on her solo title, Jae’s my man. Hon Mention: Chiang, Frison, Del Mundo, Epting
Batman/Superman #14 by Jae Lee * Revival #20 by Jenny Frison * Velvet #6 by Steve Epting
There are a lot of other goodies: Catwoman #35 & 36, Trees #7, Batgirl #35 and Chiang’s work on Wonder Woman.
Just about everything in Wonder Woman this year. But focusing on that stellar final issue, #35 - these two standouts say everything about who Wonder Woman is, what her core beliefs are and what she represents. Beautifully and powerfully expressed in Azzarello’s words and Chiang’s drawings.
East of West #15 – Balloon has just shown Babylon a world in ruin, to inspire and set him a quest against those who caused it… only in that final page we see Balloon has lied and manipulated his young friend, Dragotta shows us how things really look, and they look beautiful. Hon Mention: Final page of Wonder Woman #35
Best Look Hero: Wonder Woman by Cliff Chiang
Best Look Villain: Machine Queen (Swamp Thing) by Jesus Saiz
Links
Head Writer, wide awake nightmare... bids you salutations citizens of Earth!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment