Originally published on Set The Tape
Writing about best comics at the end of the year can be a difficult topic for a variety of reasons. In the past I’ve had people criticise my choices for being skewed more towards one publisher over others (I’ve been trying to read more Marvel, I promise I have), I’ve been told certain picks aren’t good because they didn’t start that year but ended in it, or that they started in that year but didn’t end then. Everyone has an opposing opinion on comics, and it seems that everyone wants their opinion to be the right one. I just want to share some comics that I enjoyed, series that were either just consistently strong throughout, or did something that I’d never seen before, or were just that ridiculous that I couldn’t help but love it.
This last year has had some great comics released, and whilst I’ve tried to read as many as I could there just isn’t enough time to get to them all. So, if your favourite isn’t on this list it doesn’t mean that I think it’s bad, just that I either didn’t get the chance to read it, or it didn’t quite connect with me as much as these ten did. Some books that came close to making the list but didn’t include the consistently good Nightwing, the absolutely phenomenal Birds of Prey (if I’d have read issue four when I wrote the rest of this article it probably would have bumped something to be fair), the new Wonder Woman run by Tom King, and the new Captain America series that takes a look at America’s history of home-grown fascism.
I hope that this list might help some of you find a fun new series or two to try out, and I can’t wait to see what all of the amazing creators in the industry have to offer in 2024.
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons
Godzilla is a character and franchise that can easily be fit into any kind of setting.
We’ve had horror stories, post-apocalypse, and sci-fi in abundance. But this series does something new, and gives us Godzilla in a historical setting. Taking place during the Age of Piracy, this story reveals an ancient society of Kaiju worshippers who shape the world, and the secret final voyage of explorer Sir Francis Drake that took him to Monster Island.
Possibly one of the most creative Godzilla stories put to the page, it not only deserves more attention, but it’s a formula that we absolutely need to see more of. I can’t wait to see Godzilla pop up in another historical setting sometime soon.
Werewolf By Night
A one-shot comic that was surprisingly not released alongside the Disney+ special, it does in some ways feel very similar.
Telling the story of Jack Russel, the titular wolf-man, as he infiltrates a remote monster filled castle to try and save a young woman, the book is presented in creepy black and white and drips atmosphere. But what makes it special is the inclusion of monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, who’s just too awesome to have her colour held back.
Whenever she’s on the page bright colour bleeds through, leading to moments of wonderfully clashing art styles. Written by Derek Landy, the relationship between the two leads is full of banter and sarcasm that will feel right at home for fans of his Skulduggery Pleasant book series.
Green Lantern: War Journal
Jon Stewart stars in this new Green Lantern series that puts his relationship with his mother and desire to be with her as her health deteriorates in the centre of things.
One of the Lanterns stuck on Earth since some space political shifts, he thinks he’s going to have a quiet life, until a evil undead cosmic being from another dimension breaks through into Earth-0, and decides that she’s going after this world’s version of her greatest enemy, John Stewart.
With some amazing writing that’s full of heart and emotion, stunning art, and a story that feels grand in scope and captures the magic of what a Green Lantern book is like when dealing with otherworldly concepts, it far outshines the Hal Jordan led series.
Jay Garrick: The Flash
Jay Garrick is my favourite Flash.
There’s something about him I just love, and the Justice Society are my favourite team too. Golden Age heroes are just fun. And now he’s getting something of a revamp. Thanks to time-travel shenanigans it was recently discovered that Jay had a daughter, Judy, who was pulled from time decades ago, with time folding around the event to make it so everyone forgot her. Now, Judy is back, still a young teen, whilst her parents are old enough to be her great-grandparents.
The series follows Jay and his wife Joan as they try to reconnect with Judy, who’s having to discover a whole new world from the one she left. Full of intrigue, action, and a ton of heart, this might be the most exciting thing to happen to Jay in several decades.
Predator vs. Wolverine
When Disney bought Fox it was only a while until Aliens and Predator would cross over with the Marvel universe, and Wolverine might be the best choice to kick off a Predator cross-over.
The series follows Logan as a Predator hunts him across the Canadian wilderness. Each issue reveals, however, that this isn’t their first encounter, and that this hunter has been coming for Logan for decades. With flashbacks set at different points in his life, the series isn’t just one Predator vs Wolverine story, but several wrapped up into one.
With some cool interactions with Logan’s history, and an interesting retcon or two, it makes for a great read that begs the question; which character could a Predator hunt next?
Alan Scott: Green Lantern
Another member of the JSA with a new solo series.
This story delves into the secret history of Alan Scott, and shows readers the true story of his early years. Having came out as gay recently, this story depicts how Alan tried to navigate a world of homophobia and hate, and doesn’t hold back. The second issue in the series features queer people being put through conversion therapy, and even lobotomies to ‘cure’ them of their queerness.
All of this is mixed in with a new villain, the Red Lantern, who, like Judy Garrick, was removed from history. Whilst this series is only two issues in, it’s already feeling like it might end up as the most important queer comic that DC has ever produced.
Shazam!
Shazam, or Captain Marvel for older fans, has had a tough time finding a place in recent years, with some writers trying hard to distance him from his more goofy Silver Age stuff.
Mark Waid, however, says to hell with that, and makes a delightfully silly and weird series that embraces that era. Tawny Tiger is back as a housekeeper for Billy’s family, and he’s not the only weird thing, as we get talking gorillas, space dinosaurs, and other throwbacks that just end up making the whole thing delightful.
Waid has managed to make the Silver Age silliness feel fresh, new, and modern in a lot of ways too. Add onto that some absolutely phenomenal art by Dan Mora, and this is also one of the best looking books on the shelf.
The Hunger and the Dusk
This new fantasy series has been a genuine highlight each month.
Telling the story of a world where the human and orc kingdoms have been at war for generations, with a deep hatred and distrust between them, it introduces a new threat that must unite them.
With a vicious, monster-like race of killers threatening both, an alliance is formed and sets the stage for both some amazing action, and a potential romance. Blessed with brilliant writing and some absolutely gorgeous art, The Hunger and the Dusk is a series that fantasy fans need to be reading.
Green Arrow
Oliver Queen vanished during the recent Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event, swept away by mysterious forces.
Now, lost in a strange world, Oliver sets out to find a way home, whilst his extended family search for a way to bring him back at the same time. However, Oliver will uncover a conspiracy designed to keep his family apart, one that includes some surprising powerful people, including the villain Parallax.
This series was announced as a six issue mini-series, but was extended to twelve thanks to the sales and popularity; and just this morning the writer revealed that DC had made this an ongoing series, which just goes to show the popularity of the Emerald Archer.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest
A second entry from the creative team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora, this series is set during the past, when Batman and Superman were younger, and Dick Grayson was still Robin.
Following the two titular characters across several adventures, it features appearances by other characters, including some lesser known and weird ones. It brings the Silver Age to life in brilliant ways, and establishes a wonderful history of friendship between Batman and Superman.
Most excitingly, in the current story, Waid uses the book to revisit his hugely popular Kingdom Come story in surprising developments. A series you don’t want to miss out on.
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