My Top 12 Comics For November 2013

12. Alex + Ada #1 (Image)
Writer: Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn * Artist: Johnathan Luna
This futuristic tale about a guy stuck in a rut, who receives a female android as a birthday gift. Luna & Vaughn's storytelling employs a decompressed minimalism, but with purpose: There’s a detached sterility here, and a tangible sense of our protagonists mundane existence.

11. Batman ’66 Chapter 22 (DC Digital First)
Writer: Jeff Parker * Artist: Ruben Procopio
Jeff Parker makes his welcome return after taking last week off. This winning chapter employs the DC2 format nicely. Animator, designer Ruben Procopio (Little Mermaid, The Incredibles) provides the art. And he gives us several clever shots. One shows us Batman & Robin side by side in separate panels, which next splits in the middle to reveal the full Batmobile. Another where Tut's gang is gathered together -- there's no background, it's all in white, then in the next panel shift, the shadow of the bat envelops them. Visuals like that are the reasons why I prefer this series in digital rather than paper 

10. Revival #15 (Image)
Writer: Tim Seeley * Artist:Mike Norton
Dana furthers her investigation into the murder of her (back from the dead) sister. Writer Tim Seeley also gives us glimpses into other subplots among this diverse ensemble -- the most heartbreaking and creepy concerns the little girl, Jordan. I loved the line her assigns her, “Eyelids are kind of silly aren't they? They just keep you from seeing everything” (a great quote on its own, and one which carries a horrifying weight when read in context to the story). On art, Mike Norton is like a master cinematographer and director in the way he composes a scene, and brings out the very best performances from his cast. I appreciate the detail these two put into even the smallest moments (ala, the guy who arrives at the strip club a half hour before it opens, and longingly looks through the window. We’ve never met this guy before, but the act is so pathetic… and icky, we feel like we do know him, a little)

9. Red Sonja #5 (Dynamite) 
Writer: Gail Simone * Artist: Walter Geovani
Man, Sonja’s like a Batman, Ninja in the way she comes out of nowhere when she attacks! But for all the bad-ass swordplay that thrills, the thing that has impressed me most in this first arc is the interactions, relationships (with the twins and the king) and Red’s well-rounded personality.

8. Uncanny X-Men #14 (Marvel) 
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis * Artist: Brian Bachelo
This is your basic -mopey and confused teenager trying to figure out his place in this world- story. Of course when you’re a member of Cyclops rebel X-Men - that introduces all kinds of unique challenges. This was a well-written issue, rather sweet and warmhearted, with strong character development.

7. FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #5 (Vertigo) 
Writer: Simon Oliver * Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
Oliver writes sharp dialog and stirs up the plot with a reveal on who’s behind all the murderous shenanigans of late. While there are freaky aspects (which provides the issues lone disappointment. As the Quantum Cyclone isn’t drawn as strange or as jaw dropping scary, as it should be) the story is primarily a reflective one, as Adam learns details about his father’s fate. 

6. Rocket Girl #2 (Image)

Writer: Brandon Montclare * Artist: Amy Reeder

Charming and humorous time traveling adventure: Amy Reeder’s art sells the comic’s playful spirit through body language and expression. But among the lightness, there’s also an undercurrent of danger. Brandon Montclare’s story takes a different tack than I expected, as I was so focused on the actions of those in the past, that I never saw that the true architects of villainy are in the heroine’s present (our future).

5. Zero #3 (Image)

Writer: Ales Kot * Artist: Mateus Santolouco
There's plenty of strange spy stuff here, but why it works is because Kot reached in and pulled my heart out at the end. In just 2 short issues he really got me invested in Edward and Mina's relationship.

4. Wonder Woman #25 (DC) 

Writer: Brian Azzarello * Artist: Goran Sudzuka

The character work continues to be the series hallmark. I like Strife here, the way she smiles as she slowly twists the knife… speaking of which, First Born? Ick, Gods are warped! Sudzuka fills in for Chiang nicely. He draws clean, crisp pictures and has a good handle on capturing small character beats that compliment Azz’s story.

3. Trillium #4 (Vertigo) 

Writer and Artist: Jeff Lemire

Lemire is whipping up something truly special and unique with this time spanning, sci-fi romance. In this issue, worlds collide, realities shift, and the bond between our leads is slowly and naturally building. This is a pulse pounding mind bender, and for all it reveals, many questions remain to be answered.

2. Pretty Deadly #2 (Image) 

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick * Arist: Emma Rios

Usually you get a little more clarity in a second issue, but if anything, the story gets even more strange and difficult. While reading the thought struck me, “If Fellini made a western it might look like this.” It wont suit all tastes, but I love this beautiful/frightful and baffling poem.

1. Rat Queens #3 (Image) 
Writer: Kurtiz J. Wiebe * Artist: Roc Upchurch

My #1 didn’t crack the top 10 last month, but returns to form with the series best issue to date. This D&D based adventure offered less brawling and boozing and more back-story and heart this time out -- which was welcome (and needed if we are to have a sustainable story). That’s not to say that there aren’t laughs to be had, there are. As well as a reveal as to who is behind the Queens recent misfortunes. While it might not have the spark of genius found in Trillium or the enigmatic poetry of Pretty Deadly, RQ is clever, and it was the most purely entertaining story I read all month.

Honorable Mentions: 
Harley Quinn #0 (DC), Strange Nation #2 (Monkeybrain), Umbral #1 (Image)

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