The only new comic out this week is Blackest Night #6. So I thought I'd take some time to talk about my favorite titles of 2009. I highly recommend heading out and picking up some collections to support your local comic shop on this off week.
After the events of Final Crisis the Batman books were faced with the challenge of a world without Bruce Wayne. Greg Rucka & JH Williams took over Detective Comics and put the focus on the recently created Batwoman. They've created one of the most dynamic residents of Gotham in years. We've gotten to see this openly gay character take on the insane Alice as well as her unconventional origin story. It was just annouced the character will receiving her own solo series in 2010 with the same creative team. The first collection of Rucka & Williams' run will be released next summer.
I've always been a fan of offbeat superhero tales and Peter David's X-Factor has been delivering that since 2005. In the past year the title regained a lot of it's initial momentum with the shocking birth of Siryn's baby, the return of Layla Miller and an epic time traveling adventure which allowed this large cast all moments to shine. This month with issue #200 the title relaunced with a new focus of being the resident detectives of the Marvel Universe. It's also one of the only mainstream superhero books to feature a openly gay couple. The most recent epic storyline is collected in Time and a Half & Overtime, both available now.
Check out the rest of my pick's for Best Comics of 2009 after the jump...
Gail Simone's Secret Six is in a lot of ways DC's offbeat answer to Marvel's X-Factor. This series focuses on a team of villians who attempt to work together for their own gain. Anything can happen in the book where the characters try to be a family despite their evil natures. It's in this series that Simone introduced my favorite new character of 2009, the Victorian badass psycopath Jeannette. The first seven issues of the current series are collected in Unhinged.
Writer Matt Fraction has been the breath of fresh air the X-Men have been waiting for since Grant Morrison left the series years ago. Fraction has been able to juggle a supersized cast while creating great moments of characterization. This year we saw the return of Psylocke and Magneto, fights with both the Dark Avengers & the Dark X-Men and a new status quo on Utopia. I'd love to see the Uncanny X-Men flagship title move to a bi-weekly shipping schedule with the talented Terry Dodson continuing as one of the rotating artists. Check out the paperbacks Lovelorn, Sisterhood and the collected Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia.
Brian Bendis' New Avengers series has consistently been one of my favorites since it's launch in 2005. Post-Secret Invasion the team gained new members and tangled with both The Hood and Norman Osbourne's Dark Avengers. Title also celebrated it's 50th issue was a great artists jam. The addition of penciler Stuart Immonen has reenergized the series and the current "Powerloss" storyline has been a great adventure. Two post-Secret Invasion collections are available: Power & Search for the Sorcerer Supreme.
In 2009 My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way completed his second series of The Umbrella Academy. "Dallas" continued this post-modern tale of a dysfunctional superhero family. Cassanova artist Gabriel Ba again delivered some of the most incredible stylized art in comics today. The first two volumes of The Umbrella Academy are in stores now.
Writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely have produced amazing work on New X-Men, All-Star Superman, We3 and JLA: Earth 2. In 2009 they paired for a fresh take on Batman & Robin starring former Robin/Nightwing Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne's long lost bratty son Damian. The first three issues of this series were near perfection presenting a mix of David Lunch and the pop 60's Batman TV series. The first Batman & Robin collection will be available in April of 2010.
Comments (3)
I agree with all your choices. X-factor has really stepped up its game lately and Batman & Robin by Morrison was incredibly surreal. the pigman and doll faced girl, so creepy!
Posted by Danny | December 31, 2009 3:33 AM
Posted on December 31, 2009 03:33
I got the Umbrella Academy graphic novels (Apocalypse Suite and Dallas) for Christmas, and read them both today. Good LORD they were stunning! Witty, funny, touching, action-packed, all at once. I am eagerly awaiting their next installment.
Posted by Matt | December 31, 2009 3:16 AM
Posted on December 31, 2009 03:16
I absolutely love the Dodsons' art on the X-Men. Such a gorgeous mix of style and storytelling. Great pick, Matt.
Posted by j.bone | December 30, 2009 10:28 AM
Posted on December 30, 2009 10:28