The Best of Comics in 2011: Best New Title, Artist, Writer & More

I don’t think at the beginning of this year anyone knew how significant it was going to be to the world of comics. Sure, Marvel had announced Fear Itself and DC Comics had talked about Flashpoint, and we all knew that there was a large number of comic book related movies in the pipeline, some of which looked to be monster hits. But now that it’s almost 365 days later, so much has changed; it’s hard to put into words.

DC has renumbered all their titles with new first issues, including the venerable Action and Detective Comics. Not only that, but they rebooted the entire line with tweaked or completely changed origins. Marvel has seen its plans of an interconnected movie universe come to fruition only to loose its long held lead in sales to DC. Almost all companies have made their books available the same day and date digitally as they appear in print, leading many to bemoan the death of the comic book.

With that in mind, I give to you my Best of Comics for the year 2011. It’s been a hell of an exciting year in comics, and here are a few of the highlights.

Best Reason To Go Into Debt Buying a Comic: The Mighty Thor by Walter Simonson [Omnibus]

Clocking in at almost 1200 pages, this is Simonson’s entire run on the God of Thunder, plus almost 50 pages of additional material, including sketches and promotional material. Considered by many to be not only some of the best Thor stories of all time, but some of the best comics ever, this book is easily worth every penny of the $125 it costs.

Best Reason Late is Always Better Than Never: The New Teen Titans – Games [Graphic Novel]

First mentioned as far back as 1989, Games was for a long time one of the most high profile “lost” projects in comics. Approximately 80 pages of artwork had been finished and were sitting in a drawer and while there had been many attempts to revive the project over the years, nothing came of it.

Until this year, that is, when at long last, Games was finished, published and released to an eagerly awaiting fanbase. In many ways Games served as the perfect capstone to an era that started with The New Teen Titans #1 and ended with Flashpoint. Plus it was a great story to boot.

Best Comic Book Movie: The Avengers

I know what you’re thinking: “Um, dude? This movie doesn’t come out till next year.” Be that as it may, as good as Thor and X-Men: First Class might have been nothing got the comic book crowd as excited as when the Avengers trailer made its debut on the web.

The internet exploded, the trailer was downloaded millions of times and fanboys everywhere has a collective nerdgasm. You can count me among the many fans counting down the days till May of 2012.

Best Event: DC Comics New 52

When the news broke about what DC was going to do after their Flashpoint event ended, most fans were in shock. Renumber Action Comics? Restart everything with new first issues? Reboot and change the whole universe? Fans were waiting for September with dread and curiosity.

But once things calmed down and the books started showing up in comic shops, a funny thing happened. Sales went up, the quality of the comics improved and there was actual excitement about comic books again. Everyone I talked to was pumped up about the New 52, more than they ever were about any “event” comic from the past 10 years. Just goes to show that good comics beat event comics any day.

Best Trade Paperback: IDW’s Dungeons & Dragons Vol. 1 – Shadowplague

The stories might have been just a hair above average, but the trade packaging is all kinds of awesome. Not only do they look and feel just like Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks, but you get the story plus all the stats and information so that you can add the characters and situations to your campaign. Such a simple idea, I can’t believe someone didn’t think of this before.

Best Moment: Spider-Man Saves Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #672)

Manhattan had been turned into Spider-Island. A virus had turned the entire population into spiders intent on infecting the rest of the world.

While a group of heroes, including the Avengers, tried to hold the line, Spider-Man came up with a plan to not only cure the people of New York, but stop the villainous Spider Queen that was responsible. It was a moment that not only showed everyone what made Spider-Man so cool, but why Peter Parker may be the greatest superhero ever.

Best New Title: Fly

Raven Gregory has long been Zenescope Entertainment’s go to guy for a good, scary story. He was the writer of their recently launched Myths & Legends title and wrote the entire Dream Eater Saga this past summer. But he saved his best work for the creator owned title Fly.

The story of a drug that gives people the power of flight and the repercussions of taking it was easily the best new book I read this year. Teamed with artist Eric J, the two created a comic that pulled no punches and made you look at superhero comics in a new light. Fly is a book that should be in everyone’s collection.

Best Writer: Scott Snyder

Snyder was already well known to comic fans thanks to his hit Vertigo series American Vampire, but this year he took it to the next level when he became the new writer of Detective Comics. Working with Jock and Francesco Francavilla, he wrote the incredible Black Mirror storyline and helped close the doors on the original numbering of that title. But he was far from done.

For DC’s New 52, Snyder moved over to the main Batman book and has quickly turned it into the biggest hit of the year. Working with Greg Capullo, he is giving us a Batman that is less Dark Knight and more human than we have seen before. Just three issues in, Batman is already my favorite book DC is putting out and that is in no small part thanks to Scott Snyder.

Best Artist: Stuart Immomen

Almost all artists say they get better as they get older, but it is rare to actually see that growth. Stuart Immomen proved that wrong with Marvel’s Fear Itself event.

Not only did he draw some of the best looking comics to come from Marvel this year, but he managed to produce all 7 issues of the miniseries on time and not a single issue shipped late. That is unfortunately a real rarity in today’s comic landscape and worthy of a Best of award all by itself.

Best Character: Batman

Say what you want about Green Lantern or Thor or the Avengers; the last year belonged to the Batman. Whether it was Grant Morrison beginning to wind up his massive Batman epic or Tony Daniel coming into his own as a writer or Scott Snyder giving us the best first issue of the New 52, Batman was firing on all cylinders.

From Batman Incorporated to Batgirl, no matter which book you read, you got a great story paired with great artwork. Next year looks to be just as good and I can’t wait to see what will happen to the Batman next.