My Top 12 Comics For December 2014

At DC Darwyn Cooke whipped up a collection of classic variant covers this month. One of my favorites featured the old School Teen Titans as rock star

I picked up the first TPB for Batman Eternal and really enjoyed it.

Marvel launched their Angela title And celebrated Captain Marvel’s 100th solo adventure with a super-sized story that addressed the ways she's impacted her friend's lives.

Image saw the highly touted début of DeConnick’s Bitch Planet, which I liked but didn’t feel lived up to the hype. Better than that was the first issue of Eric Stephenson’s They’re Not Like Us. But the most fun came from the publishers annual Christmas sale. I picked up goodies from creators like Justin Jordan (Dead Body Road), Hickman (Red Mass for Mars), Aaron (Southern Bastards) and Remender (Black Science)

12. They’re Not Like Us #1 (Image)

Written by Eric Stephenson

Art by Simon Gane * Colors by Jordie Bellaire

It’s the X-Men for the “Generation Me” crowd. I was a fan of writer Stephenson’s “Nowhere Men” and he doesn’t let me down with the first chapter of his new series. I like the art: Gane’s style is often described as post-punk and Bellaire’s colors are bold, simple, offering little shading or gradation. It looks good and is intelligently written. Overall a promising start, with caveats… these kids could become unbearable pricks and spoil the brew.

11. RoboCop #6 (Boom)

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art by Carlos Magno * Colors by Marissa Louise

Making its first appearance on the “best of” list: In this ish we get a character defining moment for Lewis -- and as for Murphy? While Ed-209 has become Super-Ed and seems unstoppable- it looks like Robo will also be getting an upgrade that will make him, better, faster, stronger…

10. Magneto #13 (Marvel)

Written by Cullen Bunn

Art by Javier Fernandez * Colors by Dan Brown

Erik is present mostly in memories and fables in this issue. The story is set at a shabby Con/Flea Market for super-villain fanboys and girls. And Bunn's purpose is to delve into the psychology of this subculture. Though the writer is still not telling us whether Briar is a fan or foe to Magneto, she is a fascinating puzzle, and the ideas he presents here in total are thought provoking.

9. Gotham Academy #3 (DC)

Written by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher

Art by Karl Kerchl * Colors by Geyser, Msassyk, Serge LaPointe

Another wonderful issue.... this one reminds me of a mix of Trixie Beldon with Harry Potter, you know, with a group of teens exploring mysteries around their School. Greg at CBR wrote a rock solid review that says is well... http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=8044. I too like the details in the story. We get some clarity on what happened with Olive, though there are still things left to discover. Maps continues to crack me up, I like how she's fascinated with Colton and all his gadgets and tools.

8. Supreme: Blue Rose #5 (Image)

Written by Warren Ellis

Art and Colors by Tula Lotay

Trying to understand this enigmatic book is exhausting. Mind blowing and delightful, but exhausting. For example: In the opening, wordless sequences we see a Cathedral in one panel, become the Tower of Babel in another. We see warriors with glowing blue faces transform into the blue glow of TV screens. What does it mean? In addition, Diana’s Investigation yields some answers about Ethan and what happened the day he disappeared. But here to we find ourselves enveloped in shadows and fog.

7. Alex + Ada #11 (Image)

Written by Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn

Art and Colors by Jonathan Luna

This wise, dreamy mediation on love and humanity continues with an issue that zeroes in on humankinds prejudices and builds upon the ever-growing sense of danger that surrounds our couple (closing on a cliff hanger that had me yelling at the panel, “You leave her alone Jacob!”) Sure, Ada’s a little too perfect; I’d like to see her act like an ass sometime just to strike a balance. But that’s a small quibble for such a wonderful and well-told story.

6. Coffin Hill #13 (Vertigo)

Written by Catlin Kittredge

Art by Ryan Kelly * Colors by Eva De La Cruz

IMHO this is the best thing Kittredge has written in this series. It's another one of those stand-alone tales, set in the past (1970), which readies us for the next arc and the baddie Eve is to face. It's freaky as hell, and tells of a home invasion gone sideways. Catlin penned some of her best, most poetic dialog here, coming from the character of Lorelei. Guest artist Ryan Kelly does fantastic work. It’s more raw and visceral than the usual dreamy atmospherics that has marked the series in past issues.

5. The Wicked + The Divine #6 (Image)

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Jamie McKelvie * Colors by Matthew Wilson

The series jumps ahead one month after last issues tragic turn. There’s solid character work here – I like how Gillen gets into Laura’s mind, and how this is represented in some delightfully expressive and detailed art. In addition, a new rock God (and ally for Laura) is introduced in all his purple glory.

4. Superior Iron Man #3 (Marvel)

Written by Tom Taylor

Art by Yildiray Çinar * Colors by Guru-eFX

Stark’s superiority complex is downright frightening as Taylor places some telling dialog darts in Tony's mouth in this issue ("You are so beneath me" he tells Matt. "I can use you" to the Teen Abomination) and Cinar does some interesting work, using zooms on Tony to illustrate his state of scary megalomania, and POV shots with Matt that carry the sad tint of longing for things lost. The only negative is that the artist draws everyone too young (in one panel, Murdock looked about 14 years old!) However he shines when it comes to that armor.

3. Uncanny and All-New X-Men Annual's #1 (Marvel)

Written by Brian Michael Bendis

Art by Andrea Sorrentino * Colors by Marcelo Maiolo.

Rich characterization is Bendis’ strength as a writer and that’s put on display in this memorable two-parter that focuses on Eva and what happened to her in those “missing years”. I like how people react to her (and she with them) in her travels through time; I like the attention to details in the script (like, how a cowboy from 1875 wouldn’t understand our colloquialisms). As the story unfolded I came to care about Eva and I was heart broken to see what she gained, and then lost. On art, Sorrentino (making his Marvel début) is a wonder. From the grit of the past to the surreal characteristics of the future, it all comes alive in ways that are breathtaking.

2. Catwoman #37 (DC)

Written by Genevieve Valentine

Art by Gary Brown * Colors by Lee Loughridge

The story takes a shocking -and heartbreaking- turn, which proves what a smart, surprising and gutsy comic this has become (I never though Selina would allow it to happen). At this point the war between Black Mask and Selina is a test of will and intellect and strategy. But the whole book is a chess match for our anti-heroine, from managing the family to dealing with the cops. I can’t help but admire the quality of the writing in this issue: the structure, the language and the plotting are flawless. The art continues to be gritty and street level, while still offering elegance when Selina is front and center.

1. East of West #16 (Image)

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Nick Dragotta * Colors by Frank Martin

The last new comic I read in 2014 was also one of the finest. EoW returns with a new chapter and the world on the brink of apocalypse. In addition to being exciting, it’s quintessential socio-political Hickman. The ideas presented here, the plans of nations and the philosophies of each are precisely and intelligently presented. The plotting and dialog as well as the art and color, stagger the mind and eye. Look carefully at Dragotta’s expressions and the way he directs his actors - his design work, from clothing to weaponry, which gives a distinct personality to each section of the world. It’s damned impressive. 2014 was a sweet season in comics, and this; this was the cherry atop the Sundae.

Honorable Mentions

Image: Revival #26

Marvel: Elektra #9 * Captain Marvel #10 * She-Hulk #11

DC: Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman (digital firsts)

Monkeybrain: Amelia Cole #19 * The Double Life of Miranda Turner #4

Dynamite: Alice Cooper #4 * Magnus Robot Fighter #9

My All-Star Writer and Artist of the Month

Jonathan Hickman for his stellar work on East of West #16 

Andrea Sorrentino for making a Marvel splash on the All-New & Uncanny X-Men Annuals

Art Panel of the Month 

A warm embrace from Batman and Robin #37

To Jan 2015

Back to Nov 2014