The western is a tough story to tell. Comics and movies both drove the genre into the ground in the past 30 years and any lasting interest in those kind of stories has all but dissipated. But every so often, we get another western with a compelling story.
Kingsway West is written by Greg Pak, a writer who overall had a strong 2016. In order to find his wife, a reluctant Chinese gunslinger is pulled back into a war that ended 5 years earlier. Aside from compelling writing and gorgeous art, this series also benefits from having fantasy and sci-fi elements within it.
What really makes this comic stand out is the world itself. Even with all of the supernatural and scientific rules that are still being established, the world feels lived in. Finding that balance in any new comic is key and Kingsway West pulls it off expertly.
This series is only 3 issues in so far and will continue to come out in 2017. If you haven't picked it up yet make sure you add it to your list.
7. Batman/TMNT
While this series started in 2015, the majority of the issues came out in 2016, so it earns its place here. Simply put, this book is fun. And sometimes fun is everything you need from a comic.
For those who grew up in the 80s and 90s, combining these two franchises makes perfect sense. It was like finally seeing all of your favorite toys come together. The story itself is standard crossover fare: the characters meet, fight because of a misunderstanding, and then come together to stop an enemy. We've seen this before.
But what makes this crossover great is the characters in it. The interactions feel exactly as they should which is what really sells the story. Michelangelo is excited that Batman has a robot dinosaur in the Batcave because of course that's exactly how he would react.
The art from Freddie Williams II also deserves to be praised. He brings everything together seamlessly and the fight scene between Batman and Shredder is an artistic highlight.
With a second mini-series already happening with Batman the Animated Series and the TMNT, hopefully we can see a follow up to the first series as well.
6. Black Panther
Marvel has recently been getting some writers from other fields to come and work for them. 2017 will bring R.L. Stine to Man-Thing, but 2016 brought Ta-Nehisi Coates to Black Panther.
Coates gets deep into the politics and workings of Wakanda, which is something that has desperately been missing from many Black Panther titles. We're always told that Wakanda is the most advanced society in the world, but rarely is this effectively shown.
Aside from the political side of this book, Coates is clearly a massive fan of comics. He seems to enjoy getting Black Panther and other characters into ridiculous situations while making obscure references to old Marvel comics at the same time.
This isn't the kind of comic you read through in 10 minutes and never come back to. The writing makes you take your time with the material and really consider what is being presented. This continues to be one of the strongest books Marvel is putting out and already has become the definative Black Panther story.
5. All-Star Batman
Scott Synder is already a well established Batman writer. But historically there have been mixed results when a successful Batman writer goes and does another Bat title. Even the title All-Star Batman made some readers a little uneasy, given how close in name it was to a different book that received mixed reactions.
I was sold on this book with the first panel and I can't give another example of when that has ever happened before. Showing us that Batman has so many miles to cover, and that he hasn't accomplished any of them yet, was genius. Immediately you know this is going to be a road trip book and not one that'll be easily traveled.
The title All-Star means the creative teams. DC will be bringing in the best they have to make the most engaging book possible. John Romita Jr. did art on the first arc and will be followed up by artists like Jock and Sean Gordon Murphy. You can't go wrong with this book - go pick it up.
4. Saga
Saga continues to be one of the best ongoing series in comics. It's a wonderful, sprawling universe that anyone can pick up and read, but is impossible to sum up in just a few sentences. You love the characters, fear for them, and want to know where this story is going.
After over 40 issues, Saga has not lost any of its quality. Those familiar with Brian K. Vaughan's work know that he can tell a long continuous story and wrap it up at the exact right moment.
Looking at Saga in terms of 2016, #38 stands out as possibly the best single issue of the series so far. Without spoiling it for those who only read this series in graphic novel form, it opens with the funniest splash page of the year and will have you in tears by the end of the issue.
Not enough good can be said about Saga, it's exciting to see what it it will bring in 2017.
3. Vision
This is a series that came out of nowhere, and unfortunately only lasted 12 issues. The premise is fairly simple, the Vision makes a wife and twins and decides to live the suburban lifestyle along with being an Avenger. The concept doesn't sound thrilling, but this is easily one of the best comics to come out this year that ends with one hell of a tearjerker.
Vision is expertly written, tying the very beginning of the series into the end. Certain phrases are repeated throughout the issues, taking on new meaning as they go along. Excerpts from The Merchant of Venice are also used to reflect the humanity of the Vision and his family and also the neighborhood around them.
Written by Tom King (also check out his current run on Batman) he analyzes emotion, common interactions, family dynamics, consequences, xenophobia and so much more. This series is an instant classic and stands as the best Vision story ever told. Currently the whole series is collected in paperback form, but deserves to have the entire run collected in hardcover form.
2. DC Rebirth Special
"I love this world...but there's something missing." That's what we first hear the long absent Wally West say as this book opens, and he's right.
While Rebirth partially reads like a preview magazine, showing what's to come, it primarily acts as a promise to readers. The New 52 came about to streamline the DC Universe and help untangle some of the ever growing convoluted continuity, but in that process also took away some of what fans love about DC. Rebirth promised to bring back the lost elements and to make something new at the same time.
And then there's Wally. The Flash for over 20 years and for many of us, the defining Flash. Wally's return and embrace with Barry stands out as the most emotional moment in comics this year.
Rebirth also set up what is said to be a 2 year long story, bringing Watchmen into the DC Universe. The untouchable story will be interacting with the primary DC characters, and I can't wait to see how that unfolds.
1. Reborn
Written by Mark Millar and art by Greg Capullo, this series stands out as the best comic of 2016. Since the series is still ongoing, there won't be any major spoilers here on what's been going on so far.
In a nutshell, the main character, Bonnie, dies after a full life and is reborn. She is in a new world that has some familiar faces from her past, although not everyone she knew has been revealed. Some of these characters have been waiting for her to be some kind of messiah, while others are looking to immediately tear her down.
Millar and Capullo launch you into a new world that works so well. Bonnie learns about the rules of the universe in a very organic way that isn't weighed down by dull exposition and everything flows smoothly. The character motivations are all very clear, some being heartbreaking while other motivations are hilarious.
This is some of the best art Capullo has ever done. He's building an entire universe that comes off as something fresh and new. His creature designs are amazing and his emotional moments really help draw you into this world and make you care about the characters.
It's an adventure story with a new universe that feels fully realized. This book is everything comics should be. It made a huge impact on the end of 2016 and gives something to look forward to in 2017.
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