Comics

Batman #28
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Penciler: Dustin Nguyen


Scott Snyder takes a break from his year long epic look back at Batman's origins to deliver a hint of what's to come when his title returns to the present day narrative and is joined by the weekly Batman: Eternal. And while I have no desire for the immensely enjoyable Zero Year storyline to end anytime soon, this primer has me very, very excited for what the next phase of Snyder's stor...

She-Hulk #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciler: Javier Pulido


The courtroom drama is a genre that has thrived on television and in the movies, so it only makes sense that comic publishers would try to put their own spin on it from time to time. While such books have met with varying critical success over the years, they never seem to last very long in the admittedly fickle comics market. However if the last year has taught us anything, it's that comics fans (s...

One of the main reasons 2013 was such a great year for comics was the incredible slate of exciting new series that launched this year. This list highlights 10 of the strongest debuts of 2013, books that might just give long time Best Of list favorites like Saga and Batman, a run for their money in 2014.

#10 Action Comics
DC Comics
-Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder

Ok, ok, so technically this is not a new series, but Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder's new direction for Action Comics is such a we...

2013 was a banner year for comics. Marvel Comics continued the rollout of their Marvel Now books, Brian Michael Bendis reinvigorated the X-Men franchise with his decision to bring the original five teenage X-Men to the present, and Jonathan Hickman delivered a big summer event that exceeded the hype in Infinity. Over at DC Comics, the villains defeated the Justice League and inherited the earth, Scott Snyder & Jim Lee teamed up to launch the highly anticipated Superman Unchained, and Charles...

The year 2013 was a great one for comics, with the continued rise of Image Comics and the creator-owned wonders they produce counter-balanced by a particularly strong year for Marvel with the Marvel Now soft re-launch and DC continuing to do some interesting things in the New 52. Without further ado, here are my picks for the ten best books of 2013.

10. Wolverine and the X-Men

Over the course of this year, the diverse denizens of the Jean Grey School fought Frankenstein, braved the S...

Comics are a cyclical medium, and in order to keep books fresh, characters will fall in and out of the spotlight from year to year. This was a great year for comics with many characters stepping into new roles or reminding readers why we loved them in the first place. Whether through major status quo changes, amazing acts of heroism, horrifying acts of villainy, or quiet moments of vulnerability, these were the characters who left the biggest mark on 2013.

#10) Captain America:

Arguably the...

Let’s kick off Review To Be Named Best Comics of 2013 coverage with a look back at our favorite covers of this past year. With so many new and existing titles vying for your attention and money, often times a comic book’s cover is the creative team’s first, best, and final argument for why you should give their book a chance. The covers chosen for this list showcase the artistic talents and storytelling prowess of some of the best artists working in comics today. But since there is no bette...

Forever Evil #3
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: David Finch
Inker: Richard Friend
Colorist Sonia Oback
Letterer: Carlos M Mangual

I think Marvel's accelerated shipping schedule has ruined my patience for "normal" event pacing. Forever Evil #2 is a very mixed bag issue, and I think I would have focused in more on the aspects of the story I liked had I been secure in the knowledge that another chapter was just two weeks away not a whole month. As it stands, Forever Evil is an entertain...

Wolverine and the X-Men #36
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Jason Aaron
Penciler: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Finisher: Andrew Currie
Colorist: Matt Milla with Edgar Delgado
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Sometimes, in comics, you’re going to have a psychic battle. By its very nature, a psychic battle is going to look, from the outside, pretty boring. It’s probably going to mostly be a bunch of people standing around with their eyes closed. Internally, however, the psychic battle provides a hu...

Thor: God of Thunder #13
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ron Garney
Color Artist: Ive Svorcina
Letterer: VC's Joe Sabino
Part of what worked so well about the God Butcher was the timeless quality that story possessed. Stripped of Asgard, and his usual supporting cast, we were treated to a quintessential Thor story that really delved into what makes the character endure For Aaron's second arc, he begins to ground the title much more firmly in the character's current status quo.

With a movi...

Infinity #3
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artists: Jerome Opena and Dustin Weaver
Color Artist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos

HERE THERE BE SPOILERS

Before discussing the individual merits of this issue, I want to take a moment to comment on just how skilled Marvel has become at executing big summer event titles. Everything about the way this series is constructed is informed by lessons learned from past events.

Marvel's choice to ship Infinity biweekly keeps the exciteme...

Batman: The Dark Knight #23.2
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Jason Masters
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Mr. Freeze #1

To me, the unquestionable definitive take on Mr. Freeze is the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Heart of Ice.” It looks at a character who has often been a series of puns and takes seriously the psychological and physical toll that has made him who he is, a villain by circumstance if not by choice. Freeze...

X-Men #5
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: David Lopez
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: VC’S Joe Caramagna

The Battle of the Atom cross-over is in full swing, and X-Men #5 represents the first issue not written by Brian Michael Bendis. One of the dangers of having multiple writers on an event like this is a lack of consistency in the way the characters are written throughout. Brian Wood is a great, smart writer who has been turning in good X-Men stories for a while no...

This month, DC Comics is doing a line-wide event, called “Villain’s Month” in which various rogues step up and become the star of a title for an issue. Though we here at the Review To Be Named Comics section look on the event with a mixture of shoulder shrugs and hair tugs (“Which villain is…oh, who cares?” and “They’re interrupting what ongoing arc I care about for a stupid tie in by a fill-in writer?!?!?!?”), and will likely be doing our best to ignore it for the most part, I have a problem. T...

X-Men: Battle of the Atom #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Frank Cho with Stuart Immonen and Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’S Joe Caramagna

The current X-men status quo, in place since 2011’s cross-over event Schism, has the X-men divided into two factions. One, lead by Cyclops, is the more militant of the two, dedicated to protecting and preserving the mutant race at any cost. The other, lead by Wolverine, runs the Jean Grey schoo...

East of West #1
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Rus Wooton


You have to admire the meticulous crafting that goes into each new Jonathan Hickman comic. From the theme that will govern the cover layouts throughout the book's life, right down to the texture of the paper stock, you can tell that each element was a conscious choice made between Hickman and his artists as to how best to create a holistic product that would enhance ...

Uncanny Avengers #05
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Olvier Coipel
Inker: Mark Morales
Colors: Laura Martin and Larry Molinar
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos

After a first arc that stumbled in the third and fourth installments, Rick Remender delivers an issue that clearly and concisely sums up the exciting potential of an Avengers/X-Men hybrid team book. Finally having time to take a breath following the Red Skull's assault on New York last issue, the team moves into their new h...

Justice League of America #1
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: David Finch
Colorist: Sonia Oback with Jeromy Cox
Letterer: Rob Leigh

With the Justice League beyond the control of conventional authorities, the new relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman unsettling those in power, and shadowy forces gathering to form a Secret Society, Amanda Waller thinks the time is right for the U.S. government to form its very own Justice League of America. Steve Trevor doesn't agree with ...

Indestructible Hulk #4
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Inker: Gerry Alanguilan
Colorist: Sunny Gho
Letterer: Chris Elipouls

Bruce Banner meets his new lab staff (and has a bit of fun at their expense) before being whisked away to deal with a threat from Marvel's go-to aquatic bad guy Attuma. Bruce Banner is introduced to the Chinese equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who incite a Hulkout with far less finesse than even Maria Hill. Hulk easily smashes through Attuma'...

Green Arrow #17
Publisher: DC Comics
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Andrea Sorrentino
Letters: Rob Leigh

For the first year and a half of the New 52, Green Arrow held the unfortunate distinction of being the poster child for everything the initiative did wrong: a stripping away of the history and characterization that made its lead unique, a whip lash inducing revolving door of creative team changes, and a seemingly perpetual identity crisis. However, better late than never, this month DC made a course...