Another year has ended,
and it’s time to recommend some comic books. As I
mentioned in previous years, I tend to primarily focus my recommendations on
creator-owned titles, these will mostly be graphic novels/trade paperbacks, and
they may not all have been released this year.
As always, I’ve
provided links where I can. Links to Amazon will be affiliate links. Anywhere
else is not. Even so, if you’re intrigued by these books, try to buy them from
your local comic shop or book store. You can find previous years’
recommendation by clicking on the corresponding year : 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
A Guest in the
House, E.M. Carrol
A woman marries the recently widowed town dentist and
moves to a new house with him and his daughter, and she begins to question what
really happened to his former wife. I’ve read a decent amount of scary comics,
and this was one of the best I’ve read recently that used art and pacing to
establish an eerie mood.
Local Man, vol.
3, Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs
A washed up superhero heads back to his Wisconsin home,
and trouble follows. I’ve been reading, and enjoying, this series since it
started. The only reason it is now making the list is because I had to buy the
final issues in trade form. The base of the series is almost small town noir, with
a splash of superhero. It also frequently comments on and pokes fan at the
excesses of ’90s-era Image Comics storytelling.
Drawing Blood,
vol. 1, Kevin Eastman, David Avallone, Troy Little, and Ben Bishop
I finally read
this one after backing the Kickstarter ages ago. Drawing inspiration from
Eastman’s life after co-creating a hit pop culture property (Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles), it tells the tale of a comic book creator’s life after creating
a global sensation – the Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls. An amusing, depressing,
wild story that most comic book fans will enjoy.
Trve Kvlt,
Scott Bryan Wilson and Liana Kangas
An amusing story about a slacker fast food employee who finds
himself caught up in a situation involving cults, corporate greed, and…the
devil? Well worth reading for the great art and offbeat storytelling.
Radiant Black,
vol. 1, Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa
A superhero-style book involving a mysterious super suit
that may be from outerspace. I read the first issue when it originally came
out, and I thought it was interesting. I finally picked up the trade, and I can
see why this has become a popular ongoing series. Fascinating concept from the
start.
Full Tilt,
Jason Copland
Set in a dystopian future where criminal families fight
over the control of New York, a loyal consigliore tries to make things right
after he’s accused of killing the heads of each family. The art is black-and-white, and at times, a
bit loose, but it adds to the look and feel of the book.
