What a strange and uneven year in the comic book industry. 2012 featured many milestones of excellence. The Big Two tallied huge hits on the silver screen. DC continued to refine it's non-reboot, The New 52, with crossovers and cancelations. While across town Marvel's attempted non-reboot, Marvel NOW! delivered mixed results. The Watchmen universe returned albeit without the blessing of Alan Moore. Scott Snyder treated us to a chilling reintroduction of The Joker, Jason Aaron had us bid farewell to Frank Castle and we all were introduced to the revelation that is Saga.
However...it wasn't all rainbows and puppy dog tails this year. It became clear to even the most loyal Superman fans that DC still has no idea how to present The Man of Steel to today's comic buying public. Marvel spent the better part of the year delivering excellent Spider-Man stories by way of Avenging and Spider-Men, only to completely compromise everything about our favorite wall crawler by years end. And both companies featured lines saturated with crossovers much to my wallets chagrin. But enough about the bad stuff, here are the best and brightest of 2012!
The best moment in comics didn't happen in the shops or on the pages of your favorite book. It happened everywhere else. Comic culture is officially mainstream. Comic book properties have been in film and mass media for years but this year truly reflected how powerful these properties are. Even if the books themselves are not.
The massive box office success of Marvel's Avengers not only proved that moviegoers would buy into a film jam packed with heroes but also that the public would love a film that played out just like a comic book. Every super hero film doesn't have to be Law and Order with capes. At least that is what the record setting box office numbers say.
While hit tv shows and blockbuster movies didn't boost sales in the shops there is no denying the culture of comic books is now a permanent staple of daily life. But enough about TV show's and movies, it's time to salute the actually people that made this year in comics great.
At this rate I'm going to have to rename the Best Writer Award the "Scott Snyder". The dude is just that damn good. Over the past year he gave us two instant classics in The Court of Owls and The Death of The Family as well as providing half of the Swamp Thing/ Animal Man crossover.
I guess we will see you next year Mr. Snyder when you make me believe a man can fly...and actually be a cool comic to read.
Runners-up
Zeb Wells (Avenging Spider-Man)
Darwyn Cooke (Before Watchmen: Minutemen)
Jeff Lemire (Animal Man, Sweet Tooth )
Jason Aaron (AXV, Punisher MAX, The Mighty Thor)
Fiona Staples is one of the breakout stars of this past year. How she handles the pencils, inks and colors on Saga is beyond me. That book is a true masterpiece. Her talent shines on every page from bizarre space battles to the touching intimate moments between Alanna and Marko. Romeo and Juliet in space never looked so good.
Runners-up
David Aja (Hawkeye)
John Cassady (Uncanny Avengers)
Stuart Immonen (All-New X-Men)
John Romita Jr.(Kick Ass 2, AVX, Captain American)
Steve Pugh (Animal Man)
Amanda Conner (Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre)
Greg Capullo (Batman)
Mr. Mounts delivered warm vibrant work all year. His collaboration with Amanda Conner on Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre helped make that book one of the best looking titles of the year.
Runner-up
Phil Noto (Before Watchmen: Minutemen)
After the events of Amazing Spider-Man #700 it appears that Marvel has ruined the character of Spider-Man for the foreseeable future. At least 2012 delivered one last great web-slinger story.
Spider-Men introduced the 616 Spider-Man to the Ultimate Universe Spider-Man. At first it sounded like a goofy gimmick but in the capable hands of Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli this story reached all of its potential. The conversation between grown up Peter Parker and an Aunt May who just lost her teenage nephew was one of the most emotional moments of the year.
Runners-up:
Hawkeye
Avenging Spider-Man
All-New X-Men
This one wasn't even close. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's work on Night of the Owls would have won this award easily. Clearly not content to rest on their success DC's creative dynamic duo followed up with the return of comic's most notorious villain, The Joker. Who knew that the already horrifying Clown Prince of Crime could have been made even more unsettling. Tearing the face of someone and reattaching it with a belt will do that though.
Runners-up:
Justice League/Shazam
Swamp Thing/Animal Man
Before Watchmen: Minutemen
Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples brought us a simple story about two parents trying to protect their new born daughter from the dangers of the world. Dangers including top-less spider-like bounty hunters, an evil prince with a tv for a head, a rocket ship forest and a cat who can tell when you are fibbing. I guess it's not that simple.
Saga mixes high brow sci-fi with the soul of a tale about family. Vaughn's storytelling is excellent and surpasses his classic works on Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina. While these events take place in a galaxy far away the characters remain grounded and relatable. And gain Fiona Staples puts in WORK on this book.
Runners-up:
Rachel Rising (Icon)
Prophet (Image)
This book will literally twist you around. Batman is trapped in The Court of Owls labyrinth. Sick and confused he searches for a way out, only to spiral further into the trap. This was one of the most innovative page layouts I've seen in a long time. -Soss
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