2009 Top Comics (Lex’s Picks)
December 30, 2009, filed under: Epics, by LexI keep coming across “best of lists” on my morning blog patrol, so I thought I would add to the cacophony and throw up my personal favorites from 2009. Bear in mind, some of these books may have had different publication dates (I think one or two are from 2008), but I found and read them this year so that’s what counts. And of all the graphic novels and comics I read this year, these are the ones I remember most fondly, or go back to to see what I can learn from. So, without further ado, I present Lex Picks 2009 (these aren’t in any particular order either)…
First up: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe (vol. 5)
If there is one word to describe Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series it would be “cool.” It’s a comic about a lazy, twenty-something Canadian named Scott Pilgrim; he’s in a lackluster indie rock band, he’s got a crew of droll and hip friends who tolerate his self-important malaise and he falls for a girl named Ramona Flowers. To win Ramona’s heart however, Scott must battle her 7 evil ex-boyfriends in crazy, video-game inspired duels. O’Malley’s style is a hybrid of comic strips and manga, he uses bold, crisp lines and his writing is smart, funny, and hipster cool. O’Malley’s character design sometimes makes it difficult to tell which characters are which (his casts are sometimes as big as mine), but he’s got a great handle on his key characters and that’s what’s important. The books are available most anywhere, now that a movie based on them is about to come out (with Michael Cera as Scott–which doesn’t quite fit if you ask me). If the movie can capture the same infectious cool that O’Malley writes and draws with then it’ll be worth watching. Read the books first though (and an earlier blog about the series)!
The Hunter, by Richard Stark & Darwyn Cooke
The Hunter is a graphic novel by Darwyn Cooke. It’s based on a crime novel of the same name by Richard Stark (aka Donald Westlake). I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions what a big fan I am of Cooke’s work, so when he announced he was tackling the Parker novels–a series I was introduced to by my father years ago–I was excited to see what he’d do with it. The book is set in the 60’s and the tone and themes fit perfectly with Cooke’s retro cartooning style. His drawings of New York City and its sights and sounds makes you feel like you’ve walked into the underbelly of Mad Men. Cooke is a master visual storyteller, so being paired with another one like Stark is a perfect match! You can read another Parker post here.
Thor (vols 1 & 2) by Michael J. Straczynski and Olivier Coipel
I always thought Marvel’s Thor was a little incongruous to the comic book world. It never made sense to me what the Norse gods were doing in the Marvel Universe, so I never read any Thor growing up. I liked what Straczynski did with Spider-man though (at least the work he did with Romita Jr.) so I was curious about his Thor, and the dazzling illustrations by Olivier Coipel didn’t hurt the cause either. JMS does a great job handling the Norse tradition and places it in the Marvel Universe so it actually makes some sense. Coipel’s Thor is one of the best I’ve ever seen and I wish both he and JMS were still on the book.
Northlanders (vol. 1) by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice
Northlanders is quite a departure from the glitzy world of Thor. Brian Wood has a grisly, historical take on Vikings that isn’t starchy at all and Gianfelice’s art is top-notch and compliments Wood’s words perfectly. This one is a great pick-up for the cold winter months ahead. The second volume just came out and although Gianfelice is not the artist on that trade (and he’s the real selling point for me), I may pick it up all the same. Wood and Gianfelice will reteam for the third volume!
Crogan’s Vengeance by Chris Schweizer
The first book in a purported 16 book series (Schweizer is crazier than me!), Crogan’s Vengeance is the tale of Catfoot Crogan, an unlucky sailor thrust into the company of pirates on the high seas of the 1700’s! It’s a swashbuckler in the vein of Rafael Sabatini (one of my favorites) but drawn in a wiry, lively, cartoony style that’s reminicent of EC Segar. Schwiezer’s use of B&W is as good as Jeff Smith’s and his linework really pops (though his word balloons are sometimes overpowering). His second book in the Crogan family tree, Crogan’s March, just came out and I look forward to reading it!
Kirby King of Comics by Mark Evanier
An oversize art book/biography, Kirby King of Comics traces Jack Kirby’s career by someone who knew him best, his assistant and comics historian, Mark Evanier. The book is filled with full page illustrations and reproductions, as well as some original comic book pages never before printed (the penciled pages are really interesting to see). Evanier does a terrific job charting Kirby’s work across the changing field of comics (one he spearheaded), depicting his highs and lows. Kirby never stopped working, thinking, creating or drawing–he was incredibly prolific! This is a must read for anyone who loves mainstream American comics and the man who created them.
So do you agree with my picks? If you’ve got your own favorites let me know what they are–I’ve got room on my shelf for more good books!
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