Top 10 2008: Comics

10. SECRET INVASIONIssues #1-8 / Written by Brian Bendis, Art by Leinil Yu

You'll note that this is the only Skrull-related comic in the top ten, mostly because I was absolutely green in the face (PUNZ) after about two months of all the wrinkly-chinned hullabaloo. It got old, Marvel. And yeah, as the flagship series this series weighed way too heavily on slow-paced action and not enough on big reveals or characterization...or plot really. But okay, the art was amazing, the entire creative team was A-list (Mark Morales and Laura Martin rounded out the team, and they're the biggest inker and colorist working today) and the kick-off issue was downright paranoid glee. Good stuff and, as a whole, a bit more sturdy than Civil War. So that's it, no more Skrulls on this list. For the most part.

9. UNCANNY X-MEN
Issues #494-505 / Written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, Art by Mike Choi, Greg Land and Terry Dodson

A lot of Uncanny's 2008 was spent with its wheels furiously spinning around with the car parked in neutral (that car metaphor works, right?). The great "Messiah Complex" storyline of 2007 ended and, well, led into five months of farting around until the fancy and multiple-covered 500th issue. Since then things have been slowly improving, with Fraction (and a bit of Brubaker) bringing in a bunch of slow-burning plots that all seem to be destined to dovetail together in a big ol' Claremont-ian event of awesomeness. Along with having a downright retro feel, the book is also breaking new ground with the current San Francisco locale change which has made a huge impact on the line as a whole. It's not great yet, and Fraction can do great things, so I'm looking forward to 2009.

8. ASTONISHING X-MEN
Issues #24-27 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 / Written by Joss Whedon and Warren Ellis, Art by John Cassaday and Simone Bianchi

The stellar Whedon and Cassaday run came to an end with a truly epic moment and probably the biggest sacrifice the X-Men have endured since...well, the first death of Phoenix. There's not much more I can say about that part of Astonishing's run that I haven't said before. Whedon ruled, Cassaday did the best art any x-book has seen in a long time, the only problem was with the book's scheduling and the fact that the big climax was ruined in the other titles a month before said issue hit. Following that team's run was going to be hard, but Ellis and Bianchi haven't done...horribly. Okay, Bianchi's art is...odd...but I always appreciate Ellis' insane take on tradition and his seeming respect for continuity. This is no longer the flagship title but under Ellis, it's an okay one.

7. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON EIGHT
Issues #10-20 / Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, Art by Georges Jeanty and Karl Moline

2008 was split between two storylines, one stellar and one fun, and a couple one-off issues that were all enjoyable. Drew Goddard's "Wolves at the Gate" really nailed the humor, conflict and bloody death that made the best episodes of Buffy memorable. The more recent "Time of Your Life" crossed over with Fray, a series that I just read. This was plagued by a bit of a delay, a fact that hurt the story a lot since I had no clue what Fray was all about. I now do. The storyline was better in retrospect. Big things are coming in Buffy, and I'm stoked.

6. CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI: 13
Issues #1-8 / Written by Paul Cornell, Art by Leonard Kirk

If you had told me a year ago that a series starring Captain Britain and a bunch of D-List English heroes would be in my top ten list of 2008, above two X-Books, I would have said something ridiculously sarcastic, rolled my eyes and walked away asking myself why you even bothered talking to me. And now, here we are, stepping into 2009 and Captain Britain is one of my most-anticipated books each month. Solid art, intricate and careful characterization and some big ol' action with a shot of the UK added in. It's a pretty great read month in and month out and MI: 13 is becoming a ragtag group of heroes up there with the old school X-Factor team. Good stuff.

5. RUNAWAYS
Volume 2 Issues #29-30, Volume 3 Issues #1-5 / Written by Joss Whedon and Terry Moore, Art by Michael Ryan and Humberto Ramos

This book spent most of 2007...um...not coming out, so it was nice to have seven months of Runaways in 2008. Both of the creative teams lacked what the other had and vice versa. Michael Ryan has the strong storytelling that Humberto Ramos lacks, but Ramos makes up for it with tons of attitude and charisma. And while Terry Moore is crafting a story that feels much more like Runaways than Whedon's time travel story, there's no denying that Whedon's run was much funnier and snappier. So, you know, good and bad. Overall I'm ecstatic about where this book is going, especially because it's coming out regularly again. Moore may not be as flashy or buzzworthy as Whedon, but he really appreciates these characters and knows how to craft stories with them. The future is bright.

4. X-FACTORIssues #27-38, Layla Miller and Quick & The Dead one-shots / Written by Peter David, Art by Pablo Raimondi, Valentine De Landro and Larry Stroman

The first half of 2008, X-Factor was experiencing a creative rebirth. Wolfsbane's departure yielded one of the series' best issues and led into one of its best storylines with "The Only Game in Town." That arc was aptly named as it was the only X-Book to really kick the events of "Messiah Complex" into high gear instead of sitting around for five months. The two one-shots spotlighting Quicksilver and the time-displaced Layla Miller were real highlights, especially Layla Miller. And then...well, the team moved to Detroit and lost a lot of its appeal. This coincided with the awkward return of Larry Stroman, a move that was highly anticipated and ended up disappointing. With 2008's close, Stroman has departed and Peter David has acknowledged the series' slide. He promises that things are going to pick up and with Madrox and Siryn's baby being born right now, well, I believe him.

3. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Issues #118-129 / Written by Brian Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen

Yeah, this is probably the best this book has ever been. Stuart Immonen's art is perfectly suited for the title and the fresh energy he has brought to Spidey has completely rejuvenated Bendis' writing. Venom, Gwen Stacy, last month's arrest of Aunt May...everything is illustrated with a detailed urgency unlike any this series has ever seen. Bagley was great, yeah, but this title really needed an offbeat artist to make it stand out. The teenage angst has never been this palpable. This is the only "Ultimate" book that matters.

2. X-MEN/X-MEN: LEGACY
Issues #207-219 / Written by Mike Carey, Art by Scot Eaton

This is also the title everyone either loved or hated in 2008. I, obviously, fell on the "love it" side. Of course I'm obsessed with continuity, so Mike Carey going back and fixing past wrongs and making every bit of mutant minutiae make sense had me in giggle fits every month. We saw Hazard again this year, people! Hazard! He appeared like, once! Fifteen years ago! Awesome! But seriously, Carey's doing all this while telling a smart story and making Professor X a relatable and complex character. Plus, you know, Gambit came back and didn't suck. So, that was cool. The Legacy setup is ending soon I think, and Carey said the book is going to change into something else that has never been seen in this corner of the Marvel Universe. I'm excited to see where this book goes.

1. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issues #546-581 / Written by Dan Slott, Bob Gale, Zeb Wells, Marc Guggenheim, Joe Kelly and Mark Waid, Art by Steve McNiven, Salvador Larroca, Phil Jimenez, Chris Bachalo, Barry Kitson, Marcos Martin, Mike McKone and John Romita Jr.

Thirty-six issues. This one comic alone shipped three times the amount it normally does in a year and somehow managed to make every one of them (of the twenty I read) the most worthy additions to the legendary Spider-Man mythos that I've read in my long tenure reading comics. The writers and artists listed up there are not only among the best in the industry, they're among my personal favorites. Slott and Romita Jr.'s "New Ways to Die" arc was a thrilling read every week, an arc that successfully re-purposed Eddie Brock and brought him back from obscurity. Marcos Martin's page layouts during his two storylines ("Peter Parker, Paparazzi" and "Unscheduled Stop") were divine, his completely unparalleled and unique vision of the webhead surely inspiring artists all over the country to give it a try. And of course, I can't say enough about all of Chris Bachalo's work on the title, especially his arc with writer Joe Kelly. Their two-part "Family Ties" arc was simply, well, amazing. Spider-Man's one-liners had never been so hilarious and his look had never been so abstractly exhilirating. In all of Marvel Comics, there really is none better when you look at the monumental goal they set for themselves by deciding to publish thirty-six issues in a year and see how they succeeded. And no, "One More Day" did NOT need to happen and Peter Parker SHOULD still be with Mary Jane, but "Brand New Day" is the best thing that could have happened to Spider-Man. Things are only going to get better.

Comics: 2-20-08

CABLE & DEADPOOL #50
"Symbiosis Mitosis"
Scripter: Fabian Nicieza
Plotter & Penciler: Reilly Brown
Inkers: Jeremy Freeman with Bob Almono
Colorists: Gotham and Sotocolor
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Skottie Young
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editors: Jon-Michael Ennis and Lauren Sankovitch
Editor: Nicole Boose
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Cable & Deadpool has not only done something that no one expected it to do, it has also done something that most titles nowadays find it hard to do: reach the fiftieth issue. Just like the surprising amount of supplements at the end of this book point out, no one thought that a comic starring two disparate characters whose sole point in common was being created during the darkest days of comic history would last this long. Yeah, I jumped ship with issue #29, but reading this issue makes me wish I hadn't stopped. Marvel needs a book like this. With She-Hulk currently doing a straightforward drama/thriller story, there's no other book that brings the funny and shines the spotlight on how messed up Marvel really is. Deadpool's jarringly informed commentary is not as distracting as it should be. How does Deadpool know about Spider-Man's deal with Mephisto? Doesn't matter, because the tone of the book is right on and Deadpool's speaking for every disenfranchised reader. This issue also deals with the main theme that's been attached to the only titular hero appearing in this issue. Deadpool fighting alongside the Mighty Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man is a fitting send off for the title, even if he does call Ares "Guy I don't know" and has to resist the urge to hit on Black Widow. Him turning down playing poker with "Mr. Thing" to watch TV with his supporting cast (which has, surprisingly, been the most solid one in the Marvel Universe since Joe Kelly's run) is a sweet little ending that rings true and doesn't feel saccharine. The Cable cameo is another wink to the audience and a nice touch after editorial decided to make half of the title irrelevant.

As a final issue, I would say this is a very satisfying one. Granted I've only read "Fractured" since I quit reading a while ago, but this issue is strong enough to make me want to go back and see what I missed. I know both Cable and Deadpool are getting solo series again, but I hope the tone and stories of this little book that could don't get forgotten.

MY SCORE: 8.7/10


THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #9
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Danny Miki & Crime Lab Studios' Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba
Artist p. 2-4: Marko Djurdjevic
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Artmonkeys' Dave Lanphear
Production: Paul Acerios
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

As I'm sure I've noted countless times before, I'm still a relative neophyte to the Marvel Universe as a whole. My interest in the Avengers started when, it appears, the rest of the comic buying public became interested. Bendis' reinvention of the formula with New Avengers has been consistently popular and launched the careers of many artists into the stratosphere (Marvel hype didn't hurt either). Now we have Bendis tackling what feels like a classic title from what I can gather based on all the back issues I've bought. Iron Man versus Doctor Doom, does it get any more classic than that? This issue is much better than the last one because it's not telling the other half of a story we've already read (with inconsistencies to boot). Big sprawling action isn't seen very often in comics lately, and I'm glad that Mighty Avengers is bringing it with style. Three double-page spreads of intricately detailed and exhilarating action may seem like overkill, but I appreciated the determination and skill it depicts all the Avengers having. These guys are pros and, honestly, I like seeing them all go to town on some robots. The issue is definitely light on plot (we still don't know how Doom's symbiote virus crashed to Earth) but a fascinating prologue featuring painted artwork and Morgan Le Fey and an unexpected twist ending colored like 1961 make this issue above average.

MY SCORE: 8.5/10


THE ORDER #8
"8: Holly --or-- Search And Destroy"
Writer: Matt Fraction
Breakdowns: Barry Kitson
Finishes: Barry Kitson, Stefano Gaudiano, Paul Neary & Jon Sibal
Colorist: Sotocolor's J. Roberts
Letterer: Artmonkeys Studios
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

This is another fine installment in what is shaping up to be a pretty great series. It's such a shame that there are only two more issues left, because Fraction is creating such a rich world with some very nice characters. This issue focuses on Mulholland Black, or Holly, and gives her a very Francis Bean background. Unlike the current New Warriors series that features blank slate characters that have been around for the better part of a decade, The Order has delivered defining character moments and fully formed personas from almost the get-go. I really hope these characters survive this book's cancellation. Much of the M.A.N. from S.H.A.D.O.W. mystery is cleared up, probably a lot quicker than Fraction had intended. The characters figure things out using logic and never do the usual "Oops, forgot to tell you!" crap that plagues a lot of storytelling. Everything is moving forward and I actually think a lot of the plots will get wrapped up by issue ten. That's about it. This is one of the best team books on the stands and the best crop of totally new characters Marvel has introduced since Runaways years ago. Let's hope it gets a second chance like that title did.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10


RUNAWAYS v.2 #29
"Dead-End Kids 5 of 6"
Writer: Joss Whedon
Penciler: Michael Ryan
Inkers: Rick Ketcham with Andrew Hennessy
Colorist: Christina Strain
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Jo Chen
Assistatn Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Editor: Nick Lowe
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Joss Whedon's run on Runaways has taught me that infrequent publishing is most definitely not the friend of dense plotting and a dozen new characters. I had to re-read issue #28 just to remember what was going on in this issue, and I had to read several parts of #28 multiple times just to follow the plot. It doesn't help that every pair of characters was going off to follow different paths all involving similarly dressed people to try and figure out the best way home. After sorting out exactly what was going on, this issue reads a lot better. Whedon has truly made the characters runaways again and has even managed to find new situations and foils for them to highlight their independence. Molly telling Klara that she's an adult really accentuates Whedon's reason for stranding the kids in 1907 other than the fact that Michael Ryan's detailed pencils really lend themselves to the period. Whedon sent them to this year because there really were no teenagers at this point in time. It's a nice turn of events and it actually does work rather nicely with the series. I still wish we could have gotten six stand alone issues working directly off of where Brian K. Vaughan left us, but instead we're getting a thematically sound and densely plotted action story. The deaths of two of the Street Arabs, and possibly a third, are quite grisly and well done, making up for the fact that Whedon expects us to remember the powers of a character barely seen last issue and this issue without any hint other than Vic's sudden outburst.

Runaways is good this month and this is another Joss Whedon story that's going to read a lot better in the trades.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10

DigsyDoodles I

I've been drawing for as long as I can remember (since I was 2, according to my Mom) and I've maybe thrown 5% of it away. I have it all. My dresser drawers at home were (are?) filled with stacks of drawings and character designs, mostly done in school during all the boring stuff. Here are some from my work notebook, some done during meetings, some done during sketch class.

GAMBIT redesign
(from Marvel Comics' X-Men comics)

KAROLINA DEAN
(from Marvel Comics' Runaways)

MULTIPLE MAN
(from Marvel Comics' X-Factor)

JET character design
(original character)

FORECAST & WOLF character designs
(original characters)

Hype Machine: August 2007

Time to take a look at Marvel's comic book solicitations for August. I'm definitely not buying many of these books, but I can still gripe about them!

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #112
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STUART IMMONEN & RICHARD ISANOVE
There is a huge explosion in the side of the Triskelion—the side housing superhuman criminals. And from the acrid smoke emerges a man seething with vengeance—a man who wants Peter Parker dead! That man is Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin! And for the web-spinner, things are about to get out of control. All this and the Shocker, too! Ya can’t miss it!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know what, I can miss it, but the promise of More Money August (still searching for a better name) means I will be there for this, the return of the Ultimate Green Goblin. Here's hoping he comes back as many times as his Marvel Universe counterpart...which I think is only one time. Okay, I'm a little fuzzy on my Spidey facts. I'm more interested in seeing how Stuart Immonen handles the drawing chores. He's a phenomenal penciler and designer, I just don't know how he's going to fit in with this all ages apeal book.

ULTIMATE X-MEN #85
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils and Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
The X-Men have only been reformed for mere days, and they’re already in the middle of a national crisis. The Sentinels have been reactivated—mutants are once again hunted and killed like animals. But who's controlling them this time—and what does it have to do with the newly-formed Mutant Liberation Front?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

For Pete's sake, Ultimate Universe! Grow an original idea! I'm sure the M.L.F. are going to actually be time-traveling gnomes from Nightcrawler's home dimension, all with Wolverine hairdos in an attempt to seem edgy (like Kirkman turning Cable into a future version of Wolverine). But for reals, why must everything be rehashed? Did no one get super powers in this universe that doesn't already have them in the main Marvel one? But seriously, if Kirkman does Ultimate versions of Wild Side, Reaper, Tempo and Forearm, I'm way so there. I have a soft spot for that league of buffoons.

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #11
Written by TOM DEFALCO
Pencils and Cover by RON FRENZ
Not only has Carnage captured her father and baby brother, but Spider-Girl realizes that its new host is someone she knows! Guest-starring Kaine and Darkdevil!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know how you always walk into conversations just as someone is talking about sucking on their mother's pig feet? You know the wrong time? Out of context? That's what this is to me. Kaine? Darkdevil? Is Halloween Jack far behind?

BLACK PANTHER #30
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN
Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
"GOOD EATIN" Part 3
After taking a wrong turn on the dimensional super highway, the New Fantastic Four have just become the daily special in the Zombie Universe! Seated at table one: Zombie Galacti! At table two: Zombie Skrulls! And at table three: a Zombie Monster from the Negative Zone! Well the Black Panther, Storm, the Human Torch and the Thing better come up with a perfect escape plan…or are they destined to be zombified.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Marvel's done it! They know what sells more than Wolverine and his new sidekick, Topless Chick With Big Guns (And By Guns We Mean Boobs That Shoot Bullets); zombies. And more specifically, zombies of super heroes. And now that they've started popping up in the main Marvel universe (away from poorly constructed crossovers with other companies), there's no stopping them. "Zombies: The Initiative," "Civil War X: Zombie Battalion," "Marvel Adventures starring General Zombie," "Astonishing X-Corpse," "World War Z," the list goes on and on. And that last one was stolen. I'm just looking forward to the Power Pack/Zombie crossover. It's about time Mass Master got what was coming to him.

HEROES FOR HIRE #13
Written by ZEB WELLS & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by CLAY MANN & JOHN BOSCO
Cover by SANA TAKEDA
The Heroes for Hire find themselves in the middle of World War Hulk when their mission to Hulk's stoneship leaves them on the Warbound's death list! It's divide-and-conquer as each hero is hunted by a member of the Jade Giant's band of alien soldiers.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

This is the cover that's causing a big ol' roar, mainly due to it's allusion to tentacle rape. That's a link to Wikipedia, by the way. I don't go anywhere dirty while at work. Bets are off at home. Oh yeah... What am I doing...? Next.

MS. MARVEL #18
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by GREG HORN
A new story arc begins as Ms. Marvel drafts two recruits from the Initiative…Machine Man and Sleepwalker?! When Araña is kidnapped, it's time for Carol Danvers to use her newly expanded strike force to squash an evil that's hit too close to home! The ongoing team of writer Brian Reed and artist Aaron Lopresti kicks off the three-part "Puppets" with a last-page reveal that'll have fans of female heroes buzzing!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Sleepwalker! Ha! I love that Marvel is starting to embrace the f***ing insanity that was the early 90s. Anyone remember Slapstick? Or Death's Head? Or Dark Angel? The Darkhold Redeemers? Vengeance? Motormouth and Killpower? Everything 2099? Bring them on, Marvel!

NEW WARRIORS #3
Written by KEVIN GREVIOUX
Pencils by PACO MEDINA
Cover by NIC KLEIN
Sofia and Wondra face off as the New Warriors respond to Tony Stark’s offer of amnesty. But will they accept or reject it? Meanwhile, Detectives Sykes and Givens uncover a shocking mystery about the death of the original New Warriors, and a former member may hold the key. Plus, Wolverine shows up…and he ain’t happy!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

So M-Day happens and all the mutants on Earth, save 198ish, are left powerless. Except for Iceman, who got his powers back immediately. And Polaris, who lasted a couple more months. And Professor X, who just got his back. Chamber, who was repowered by Apocalypse. Feral, Wild Child, and Thorn. Oh, and Layla Miller says she lost her real powers, but now she has new ones. And Quicksilver is going around repowering people too, now that he has his powers back, sorta. Sticking in the grand tradition of making things stick, here's the new New Warriors series starring Night Thrasher whose death led to the Civil War. That big thing that Marvel shoved down our throats for a year. And. Here. He. Is. Again. Alive. In the fourth series to bear the name New Warriors. At least Bucky is still dead. Oh, wait...

And, lastly, a special section dedicated to the two Joss Whedon solicits.

RUNAWAYS #28
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Penciled by MICHAEL RYAN
Cover by JO CHEN
“DEAD END KIDS”
Super-star JOSS WHEDON (Astonishing X-Men, Buffy) and rising star MICHAEL RYAN (New Excalibur, New X-Men) continue their landmark run. Pun intended. Love is in the air as the Runaways try and run back from 1907.
Part 4 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN #23
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Pencils and 50/50 Covers by JOHN CASSADAY
“UNSTOPPABLE”
The end is near. The situation is dire. The outlook is bleak. But Cyclops has a plan.
Part 5 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Wow, Marvel is really trusting on his name to sell those issues. After reading those summaries, you can only be certain of this: stuff happens and it will be awesome. My favorite is Astonishing's which is comparable to the Rambo tagline "The first was for himself. The second for his country. This time it's for his friend." Things are near, dire, and bleak, but Cyclops has a plan. Woo wee, I'm first in line for that one! Actually, I am. The solicit could be "JOSSWHEDONLOLZ!!!11" and I would buy it.

August is going to be the most awesome month.