Tederick Tumbles

Best Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Bit of an easy win, given that the comic was off-publication for the middle of the year, and yet the calendar year contains both Season 8’s issue #40 and Season 9’s issue #1, both of which are Joss-scripted and generally exceptional. But really, in spite of whatever highs and lows might have taken place during the 40-issue Season 8 run, Buffy is pretty much unassailable at this point. It is a beautifully crafted comic, from the writing and art (i.e. the usual stuff) right on down to the care Dark Horse takes in printing and paper and all the tactile things that make comics good to have and hold and read. It feels precisely like a part of both the Dark Horse universe, and the Buffy TV universe, and that’s a high compliment on either score.

Best Single Issue: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2

A lot of noise was made over the death of Peter Parker and subsequent arrival of Miles Morales, and I am behind the story 100%. But it was in the second, quieter issue of the new series - when Miles’ father sat him down on a park bench to talk about life, responsibility, and (inadvertently) prejudice - that the new Spider-Man took to the skies. I’ve said this before, but… how on earth can this series be ten years old, and feel like it’s only now coming into its prime?

Best limited series: Fear Itself

Yep, I’m on team Fear Itself. It was so much more interesting to me than Flashpoint or War of the Lanterns that it barely bears comparison. Fear Itself didn’t stick the landing, unfortunately (issues 5-7 are muddy and rushed), but I’d call the first four issues of the run among the best work Fraction has ever done, and the death of Bucky-Cap (and later Thor) were brought off with balls and finesse by my favourite artist working, Stuart Immonen.

Best “thing”: The DC Relaunch

I’m more than willing to admit when I’m wrong. The DC Relaunch, which seemed like categorical insanity when it was announced, turned out to be a brilliant creative move and a brilliant marketing move. Mamo approves. I’ve yet to pick up a single title in the “New 52” that I didn’t see as a wholesale improvement at least, and a complete creative rejuvenation at best. Special hat tips to Swamp Thing, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and yes, even Supergirl.

Best “thing” in that “thing”: Justice League #1

Well there’s no way around it. The new Justice League #1 is the only comic, since my childhood, that I read six times in a single week. I don’t know if it’s actually the best single piece of writing of the relaunch, but it sure sticks out.

Honourable mentions:

Fraction’s Invincible Iron Man is certainly, month-to-month, the most readable comic on the stands. Bendis’ side-projects, Powers and Scarlet, were both excellent, in the rare instances in which they actually appeared in stores (2 issues apiece, I think, for the calendar year?). Faith Erin Hicks’ Superhero Girl is fucking gorgeous. Jeff Jenson’s true crime graphic novel, Green River Killer, is beautifully executed. Extreme Steve will return in 2012.

I miss you:

Runaways.