M I C R O N A U T S
Artists Edition
Shortcut links:
• Best Comics
•• WATCHMEN = Creators Rights
• ★ All-Ages Comics!
• Best Graphic Novels
• Best Collections + Reissues
•• MICRONAUTS
• Where We Come From, Dept.
• Best Magazines
• Best Movies + TV
• Best Webcomics
• Rest In Power
B E S T
C O M I C S :
2 0 2 0
I M A G E
• A MAN AMONG YE, by Stephanie Phillips and Craig Cermak _______ ⇧
When women are the pirates, things actually get interesting.
• BIG GIRLS, by Jason Howard _______ ⇧
Who needs Kaiju when you have giant women?
• X-RAY ROBOT, by Mike Allred _______ ⇧
Robots + Allred = Yes.
• SEX CRIMINALS, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky ⇧_______
The acclaimed erotic satire ended with #25 (2018). But now Fraction and Zdarsky return unexpectedly with issue #26 through #30, before jumping into the future for the ultimate finale issue, #69 (naturally).
• ASCENDER, by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen _______
The sequel to Descender navigates Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
• GIDEON FALLS, by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino _______ ⇧
Lemire, an avowed fan of TWIN PEAKS, continues to explore the madness wrought by the Black Barn.
• MONSTRESS, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda _______ ⇧
Best-selling author Marjorie Liu's Gothic Fantasy, with stunning art by Sana Takeda.
• BITTER ROOT, by David Walker and Chuck Brown (w) and Sanford Green (a) _______ ⇧
Monster-hunters during the Harlem Renaissance.
• HEDRA, by Jesse Lonergan _______ ⇧
A one-shot art epic challenging the conventions of classic Science Fiction, panel arrangements, and perception.
M A R V E L
• VALKYRIE JANE FOSTER, by Jason Aaron and Torunn Gronbekk (w), and Ramon Rosanas (a) _______ ⇧
She was Thor, and now she is more.
• THE MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL, by Saladin Ahmed and Minkyu Jung _______ ⇧
A relaunch title of everyone's favorite, Kamala Khan, continued by a new creative team.
• BLACK PANTHER, by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuna _______ ⇧
Bestselling author Ta-Nehisi Coates wraps up his celebrated run revitalizing T'Challa.
• DAREDEVIL, by Chip ZDarsky and Marco Checchetto _______ ⇧
Chip Zdarsky is known as much for his writing (Howard The Duck) as his art (Sex Criminals). Now he's earning accolades with his hardboiled renovation of The Man Without Fear.
W A R S
Marvel is doing a splendid job making movies between the movies.
• STAR WARS, Vol. II by Charles Soule and Jesus Saiz _______ ⇧
For 75 issues, Volume I of this series did excellent arcs filling in the mysteries between A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.
Now it has relaunched from #1, unveiling dream movies between THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI.
• DARTH VADER, Vol. II by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco _______ ⇧
In complete parallel with these new stories of the rebels is a relaunch telling the Dark Lord's side of the same events, and how they overlap.
• STAR WARS: Doctor Aphra, Vol. II by Alyssa Wong and Marika Cresta _______ ⇧
Not to be undone, everyone's favorite anti-hero and smartass returns, navigating from EMPIRE to RETURN in her own pinball fashion.
• STAR WARS: The Rise Of Kylo Ren, by Charles Soule and Will Sliney _______
A mini-series exploring the backstory of the Sequel Trilogy's villain.
D C
Fight The Real Enemy
DC Comics began when its mob-connected owners swindled two comics creators out of Superman.>
Siegel and Shuster only received proper credit and some compensation 35 years later when other brave creators like Neal Adams started championing creators rights and embarrassed the company through the press into giving it. In the '80s, as creator-owned indie comics ignited a mature comics renaissance, DC often paid lip service to now honoring creators rights. This was easier to say, now that their financial fortunes had just turned from near bankruptcy to critical darlings through the revolutionary works of one writer, Alan Moore. Living off his legacy ever since, they now repay him by consistently betraying him.
Let's be clear. DC has many great accomplishments in its tenure, all of which were achieved by smart creators and supportive editors. But, that creativity has often been overridden by the exploitative machinations of the larger corporations (a.k.a., legal mafias) that have owned them.
>
Writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons ⇧ were promised the permanent rights to WATCHMEN, after a first printing; in 1986, the new 'graphic novels' of the time had one printing and were done. Instead, WATCHMEN and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and MAUS established graphic novels as a new literature in the mainstream. Exploiting the irony of its lucrative success, DC has withheld copyright ever since through endless printings. And now they franchise the stolen property through phony prequels and sequels by others to convince the public that they own it.
While the WATCHMEN TV series (Like DC, HBO is also owned by Warner Bros.) earned critical and fan acclaim, I'm boycotting it and here's why.
It doesn't matter about the quality of a swipe, because it's still a swipe. The only purpose for the "Before WATCHMEN" and "Doomsday Clock" comics and the TV series sequel is to deny copyright to the original creators. To support any of them is to support the criminal. Any denial of this is just a flimsy rationalization for Gimmes to consume without conscience.
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created WATCHMEN and it's theirs alone. They innovated everything that helps you enjoy all the titles on this Best Comics post. Be Woke by actually being aware. Stand up for real justice and support creators rights.
D C
Forget the corporation, support the creators.
• FAR SECTOR, by N.K. Jemison and Jamal Campbell _______ (Young Animal)
Gerard Way's imprint Young Animal, a variant on classic Vertigo Comics, does a unique take on the Green Lantern Corps written by noted Afrofuturist author N.K. Jemison.
• THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, by John Ridley and Alex Dos Dias _______
Oscar-winning writer/director John Ridley (12 Years A Slave; TV's American Crime) reviews historic moments in DC's history as experienced by heroes pushed to the margins.
• Superman’s Pal, JIMMY OLSON, by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber _______
A postmodern twist on Silver Age fun.
D A R K
H O R S E
• BLACK HAMMER / JUSTICE LEAGUE, by Jeff Lemire and Michael Walsh _______ ⇧
Like Astro City and Planetary, the BLACK HAMMER series has been an alternate universe of postmodern superhero deconstruction. Here they meet the originals.
In a just universe, Karen Berger would be the one running DC Comics instead of the Corps. She helmed the original/actual Vertigo Comics, the standard which all current Indie companies are imitating, and now she has her own imprint of creator-owned titles.
• TOMORROW, by Peter Milligan and Jesus Hervas _______ ⇧
When a computer virus morphs into a devestating human pandemic, the youth must stave off dystopia.
I D W
• STAR TREK: Year Five, by various teams (IDW) _______ ⇧
Imagining the final missions of the Original Series.
• STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine - Too Long A Sacrifice, by Scott and David Tipton (w) and Greg Scott (a) (IDW) _______ ⇧
A 4-issue miniseries spotlighting Odo solving a Noir mystery.
B O O M
• FIREFLY, by Greg Pak and Lalit Kumar Sharma _______ ⇩
Revitalized at its new comics company, FIREFLY burns bright in all-new stories by noted writer Greg Pak (Star Wars).
T I T A N
• DOCTOR WHO: The Thirteenth Doctor, by Jody Houser and Roberta Ingranata _______ ⇧
Whittaker meets Tennant!
'The Thirteenth Doctor' goes Mod with 'The Tenth Doctor' in mid-'60s Swinging London.
• BLADE RUNNER 2019, by Michael Green, Mike Johnson, and Andres Guinaldo _______
The first canon comic sequel, by Michael Green (the co-writer of the film sequel Blade Runner 2049), opens up new vistas in the raining city.
(The series continued forward in 2021 under the title BLADE RUNNER 2029.)
A F T E R S H O C K
• WE LIVE, by Inaki and Roy Miranda _______
A battle for destiny between monsters, aliens, and children who can redeem the future.
D Y N A M I T E
• VAMPIRELLA Facsimile Edition, by Various Creators _______ ⇧
Exact reprint facsimiles of classic magazine issues #1 (Sep 1969), #3 (Jan 1970), and #30 (Jan 1974). Come for the full Warren Magazine experience, stay for the eternal art by Jose Gonzalez.
A H O Y
• BILLIONAIRE ISLAND, by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh _______ ⇧
Russell and Pugh keep writing the book for the times.
Criminally shorted by the abrupt cancellation of their brave political satire PREZ, Russell and Pugh channeled it into the success of The Flintstones. Now they press onward into their hilarious creator-owned salvo against the greedy, the stupid, and the cruel.
★ A L L - A G E S
C O M I C S :
2 0 2 0
From the '30s to the '80s, comics unified all of the kids in the world.
Comics spinner racks were omnipresent in every grocery, newstand, and drugstore, a world of dreams in color for small change. But after 50 years, this changed.
As the fans grew older, comics grew more mature (and gradually more expensive). In the early-'80s, comics disappeared from common spaces to be sold only in individual comic stores. This was the best and worst thing that could have happened: the select stores became a lab for the medium to grow up with adult fans, but this Comics Renaissance left all the kids behind with no entry point. Now that three decades have passed, the young have moved on to games and streaming, seeing superheroes nowadays only in films that are meant for those longtime adult readers.
Roy Thomas once said, "The Golden Age of Comics is 8."
Comics should still be a fun spark for kids. Now, with the spectacular success of Raina Telgemeier's books, various publishers are finally figuring this out. A wide movement to provide more all-ages comics has risen. From single comics to trade paperbacks, there are many new entry points for young readers to join in and open up their imaginations.
C O M I C S
• MARVEL ACTION, by various teams _______ ⇧
Marvel and IDW collaborate in creating an all-ages series of Marvel Action titles which include The Avengers, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and Spider-Man.
• STAR WARS ADVENTURES, by various creators _______ ⇧
All-ages adventures of the film and TV animated characters in new stories.
Rey!
D A R K
H O R S E
• STRANGER THINGS, by Various Creators _______ ⇩
Naturally our arcane argonauts would have their own comic.
A M E R I C A N
M Y T H O L O G Y
• CASPER Spotlight: Hot Stuff Sizzlers, by various _______ ⇧
A 2-issue reprint of the classic Harvey Comics characters.
• CASPER’s Spookville, by various _______ ⇧
A 4-issue reprint of the classic Harvey Comics characters.
• ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE As Seen On TV, by various creators (IDW) _______
Reprints of the '60s comics from their heyday.
G R A P H I C
N O V E L S :
H O U S E
The publishing giant partnered with DC Comics for the Step Into Reading series, with entry level books for new readers. (4-6)
• DC: Wonder Woman Saves The Trees by Christy Webster and Eric Doescher _______ ⇧
• DC Superhero Girls: Fierce Competition, by Erica David (w) and Franceso Legramandi and Gabriella Matta (a) _______
• DC: My Dad Is A Superhero, by Dennis R. Shealy and Red Central LTD. (DC) _______
• DC: My Mom Is A Superhero, by Rachel Chlebowski and Red Central LTD. (DC) _______ ⇧
They also publish Screen Comix, books which combine film stills with word balloons to make comic adaptations of entire films. (8-12)
• STAR WARS: The Empire Strikes Back _______ ⇧
"Luminous beings are we."
• STAR WARS: The Rise Of Skywalker _______ ⇧
"Nothing is impossible."
Rey!
• STAR WARS: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Vol. 1_______
This adapts the first half of the finale season of the animated series.
* see also, The Mandalorian (March 2021)
• Raina Telgemeier BOX SET: Five Book Collection, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic/Graphix) _______ ⇧
Raina Telgemeier is the JK Rowling of comics, bringing more young readers in with her wildly popular and fun confessional books than anyone in the industry. This set collects her books Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts.
• TWINS, by Shannon Wright and Varian Johnson _______ ⇧
How will twin sisters deal with growing apart and becoming themselves?
A N D
Q U A R T E R L Y
• LITTLE LULU, Vol. 2: The Fuzzythingus Poopi, by John Stanley _______ ⇩
A collection of classic reprints.
S T U D I O S
• ADVENTURE TIME: Princess Bubblegum _______
New adventures for the adorable scientist.
• ADVENTURE TIME: Fionna And Cake _______ ⇧
All-new tales of everyone's favorite alternate heroes.
• STEAM, by Drew Ford and Duane Leslie _______ ⇩
A steampunk adventure for young readers, with a hearty ecological messsage.
H O R S E
• Disney MULAN’s Adventure Journal: The Palace Of Secrets, by Rhona Cleary and Agnesse Innocente _______ ⇧
This should have been MULAN's year.
Although the pandemic scuttled the release of the new film, this book carries kids into her exciting world.
• SPACE BOY #6, #7, and #8, by Stephen McCranie _______
The ongoing graphic novels of the spacetrotter.
The “No Fear Shakespeare” series matches the Bard’s words to comics panels for entry readers.
• MACBETH, illustrated by Ken Hoshine _______
• HAMLET, illustrated by Neil Babra _______ ⇧
• ROMEO AND JULIET, illustrated by Matt Wiegle _______ ⇧
S E C O N D
• ONE YEAR AT ELLSMERE, by Faith Eric Hicks _______ ⇧
Faith Eric Hicks excels at fantastic adventure with strong stories and vivid characters.
• SCIENCE COMICS: Rocks And Minerals _______
• HISTORY COMICS: The Great Chicago Fire -Rising From The Ashes, by Kay Melchisedech Olson _______
• POESY, The Monster Slayer, by Cory Doctorow and Matt Rockefeller _______
• NICO BRAVO vol. 2, by Mike Cavallero _______ ⇧
P R E S S
With the smash success of the HILDA Netflix cartoon based Luke Pearson’s books, Nobrow has adapted first season episodes into entry books.
• HILDA And The Hidden People ____ (#1)
• HILDA And The Great Parade ____ (#2)
• HILDA And The Nowhere Space ___ (#3)
• HILDA And The Time Worm ____ (#4)
• HILDA And The Ghost Ship ____ (#5)
• HILDA And The White Woff ____ (#6)
• AKISSI: Even More Tales Of Mischief (Book 3), by Marguerite Abouet and Mathieu Sapin _______
Everyone's favorite troublemaker from the Ivory Coast stirs up more manic fun.
A R C H
B O O K S
• MR. KAZARIAN, Alien Librarian, by Steve Foxe and Gary Boller _______
The alien archivist shows kids a whole new slant on things.
B R O W N
and C o .
• GOLDIE VANCE: The Hotel Whodunit (Book 3), by Lilliam Rivera and Elle Power _______ ⇩
More mysteries for our stealthy sleuth.
M A G A Z I N E
• NOISEMAKERS: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices And Changed The World, Edited by Erin Bried _______ ⇧
Bring the noise, raise awareness.
Resources:
• Comic Shop Locator
• BookShop.org
• Kidscomics.com
• School Library Journal: Good Comics For Kids
• 50 Best Comics + Graphic Novels For Kids
• The Big Blog Of Kids' Comics!
• European Comics For Children
• 13 Great Webcomics For Kids and Teens
B E S T
G R A P H I C
N O V E L S :
2 0 2 0
• LEONARDO 2, Vol. 1 by Stephane Levallois (NBM) _______ ⇧
A Metal Hurlant-style epic of Da Vinci's clone reconciling a galactic war, illustrated in his pen, wash, and painting styles.
• I, RENE TARDI, PRISONER OF WAR AT STALAG IIB, Vol. 3:
After The War, by Rene Tardi (Fantagraphics) _______
The aftermath of the French cartoonist's internment in a German WWII prison camp.
• SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE:
The Graphic Novel, by Kurt Vonnegut; Ryan North (w) and Albert Monteys (a) (Archaia) _______ ⇧
The expressive cartoonist adapts the timeless and time-rending novel.
• ANIMAL FARM, by George Orwell, illustrated by Odyr (Mariner Books) _______ ⇧
A painted version of the fable meant for all adults.
• YEAR OF THE RABBIT, by Tian Veasna (Drawn And Quarterly) _______ ⇧
The true story of a family's struggle to survive and escape the Khmer Rouge.
• UNDER-EARTH, by Chris Gooch (IDW) _______ ⇧
An allegory set in a landfill prison, where duos dig through the past trying to find love, hope, and release.
• THE MAGIC FISH, by Trung Le Nguyen and Patrick Crotty (Random House) _______ ⇧
A beautiful all-ages identity story told with great heart, lyrical art, and complex grace.
• ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL:
An Illustrated Memoir, by Robin Ha (Balzer + Bray) _______ ⇧
Dislocated from Korea to Alabama, a teen girl processes her turmoil through making comics.
• WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD, by Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan (Bloomsbury) _______ ⇧
A collection of the New York Times strips; escaping Syria, a family's dreams of the American ideal are thrashed trying to survive the Trump era.
• THE WOLF OF BAGHDAD, by Carol Isaacs (Myriad) _______ ⇧
After WWII, the Jewish population of Iraq was decimated. This visual psalm tries to reconcile what was lost from the vantage of a survivor.
• PHOOLAN DEVI, Rebel Queen, by Claire Fauvel (Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing) _______ ⇧
Devi was like the Robin Hood or the Che Quevara of India, threading the rigid caste system to become a crucial political voice.
• REDBONE:
The True Story Of A Native American Rock Band, by Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni (w), and Thibault Balahy (a) (IDW) _______ ⇧
Many know Redbone for their hit song, "Come And Get Your Love" (used in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY). But the first Native American rock band on a major label were also proud activists and musical pioneers.
• KENT STATE:
Four Dead In Ohio, by Derf Backderf (Abrams Comicarts) _______ ⇧
In 1970, the government murdered protest.
Backderf (My Friend Dahmer), with canny timing, traces the events that led to the National Guard killing peaceful student dissenters, chilling the movement and setting the current Police State suppression machine in motion.
• WE SERVED THE PEOPLE:
My Mother’s Stories, by Emei Burell (Archaia) _______ ⇧
A memoir of her mother's struggles under Maost doctrine in the '70s.
• TIANANMEN 1989:
Our Shattered Hopes, by Lun Zhang and Adrien Gombeaud (w), and Améziane (a) (IDW) _______ ⇧
Kent State reincarnated.
The true story of a wave of youth activists standing up to Communist authority before the eyes of the world, and the irredeemable horror brought to bear on them.
• THOREAU AND ME, by Cedric Taling (SelfMadeHero) _______ ⇧
Recognizing that our climate crisis mirrors the greedy carnage of the Industrial Revolution on nature, a young artist communes with Thoreau's spirit to find a better path..
> SelfMadeHero.com
• THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH, by James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds, and Aditya Bidikar (Image) _______
If all conspiracies are actually true, who do you trust and what do you do?
• THE LEAGUE OF SUPER FEMINISTS, by Mirion Malle (Drawn And Quarterly) _______ ⇧
A primer of the basic concepts of Feminism, in everyday terms.
• CONSTITUTION ILLUSTRATED, by R. Sikoryak (Drawn And Quarterly) _______ ⇧
Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics, Terms And Conditions) scores again, demystifying the U.S. Constitution with vignettes starring a century of comics and cartoon characters, drawn in their signature styles.
• UNRIG:
How To Fix Our Broken Democracy, by Daniel G. Newman and George O’Connor (First Second) _______ ⇧
This expose of the Big Money that corrupts the American political system also provides solutions that can empower its true owners, the People.
• PLUTOCRACY:
Chronicles Of A Global Monopoly, by Abraham Martinez (NBM) _______ ⇧
In 2051, The Company rules the world. Can one person investigating the roots of this capitalist dystopia bring down the rich who oppress us all?
• DRAGMAN, by Steven Appleby (Cape) _______
A wry tale of a superman in womens clothing, taking on a jaded era of literal soul-selling greed.
• THE WIZERD!
And The Potion Of Dreams!, by Michael Sweater and Rachel Dukes (Oni Press) _______ ⇧
A free-wheeling spoof on Fantasy where turning traditions inside out is all the fun.
• A GIFT FOR A GHOST, by Borja Gonzalez (Abrams) _______
Mary Shelley meets Riot Grrrl. An intersecting tale of a 19th Century goth and her macrabre poetry mashed-up with a modern punk trio who are all razz and no chops.
• WITCH HAT ATELIER, by Kamome Shirhama (Kodansha) _______ ⇧
The ongoing manga about the aspiring mage and the byzantine plot to empower/disempower her.
• A MAP TO THE SUN, by Sloane Leong (First Second) _______ ⇧
A YA character drama about a girls basketball team and their struggles with personal trust and shifting futures.
• APSARA ENGINE, by Bishakh Som (Feminist Press) _______ ⇧
A conceptual atlas of eight stories which challenge the social borders of gender, explore for the more, and open up personal vistas.
• MADI:
Once Upon A Time In The Future, by Duncan Jones and Alex Di Campi (Z2 Comics) _______ ⇧
Duncan Jones debuted to rave reviews writing and directing his movie MOON (2009), an homage to timeless '70s SciFi films. He expanded that storyline to Earth with the Netflix film, MUTE (2018), homaging '80s Tech Noir films. This original graphic novel rounds the 'MOONiverse trilogy' to completion.
• STREETS OF PARIS, STREETS OF MURDER, Vol. 1 by Jacques Tardi and Jean-Patrick Manchette (Fantagraphics) _______
Beginning a two-volume collection of all of Tardi's crime noir stories.
• DON’T GO WITHOUT ME, by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (Shortbox) _______
A speculative fiction troika, each story a poetic meditation on ardor and yearning.
• DAIRY RESTAURANT, by Ben Katchor (Schocken Books) _______ ⇧
Ben Katchor is the Charles Bukowski of cartoonists, the Studs Terkel of graphic novels. Here, his blocky skritches array an engaging tapestry of restaurant history, social insight, and puckish trivia into a master thesis.
• THE WINTER OF THE CARTOONIST, by Paco Roca (Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
Under 1957 Spanish Fascism, five brave cartoonists dare to take on the corrupt system in this true story.
• THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG-DISTANCE CARTOONIST, by Adrian Tomine (Drawn And Quarterly) _______ ⇧
Designed like a sketchbook, this memoir by the acclaimed cartoonist Tomine questions his life path and career choice with startling sensitivity and genuine revelation.
• THE BOOK TOUR, by Andi Watson (Top Shelf) _______ ⇧
A very Kafka mystery, in which a minor author threads weirdness with pithy aplomb.
• WENDY, MASTER OF ART, by Walter Scott (Drawn And Quarterly) _______
Told in loose Indie style, this art college satire careens through polyamory, sexual politics, semiotics, and personal graduation along its tumble.
• TINDERELLA, by M.S. Harkness (Uncivilized Books) _______ ⇧
Smarts about stupidity. Online dating, power lifting, bone-poverty, rotten behaviour, and rude lessons ensue.
• DESPERATE PLEASURES, by M.S. Harkness (Uncivilized Books) _______ ⇧
Following up the noted TINDERELLA, Harkness channels Daniel Clowes insight with Dori Seda bluntness in this party/hangover.
• DRAWN TO SEX:
Our Bodies and Health, by Matthew Nolan and Erika Moen (Oni Press) _______ ⇧
This second volume, after the intro Drawn To Sex: The Basics (2018), continues a Sex Positive tour of healthy sensuality, all fun and no judgements.
> Oh Joy Sex Toy
• HEY AMATEUR!, Edited by Shelly Bond (IDW) _______ ⇧
100 famous creators show you how to do most anything in single-page, nine-panel courses. Join Mike Allred, Kelly Sue Deconnick, Becky Cloonan, Paul Pope, Gail Simone, Gene Ha, Gilbert Hernandez, Leah Moore, and more in blowing up your mind.
B E S T
C O L L E C T I O N S :
2 0 2 0
• EC ARCHIVES:
Impact
Psychoanalysis
War Against Crime, Vol. 2
by Multiple Creators (Dark Horse) _______ ⇧
EC Comics invented comics for adults in the early-'50s, and were crucified for it.>
After the censorship kicked in, EC bowed out with these final comics titles, retrenching into the smash success of Mad Magazine.
Stories by Feldstein, Crandell, Krigstein, Davis, Orlando, Kamen, Craig, and more.
• TERROR TRAIN
And Other Stories , by Al Feldstein (Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
All of writer/artist Feldstein's crime and horror classics in one black/white volume.
• ACCIDENTS AND OLD LACE
And Other Stories, by Graham Ingels and Al Feldstein (Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
An overview of illustrator Ingels' work on crime and horror perennials in one black/white volume.
• SKY MASTERS Of The Space Force:
The Complete Dailies 1958-1961, by Dave and Dick Wood (w), Jack Kirby, Wallace Wood, and Dick Ayers (a) (Hermes Press) _______
The space-faring strip collected, most notable for the all-too-brief stint where Jack Kirby's pencils were inked by Wallace Wood (of EC Comics fame).
• Jack Kirby: FANTASTIC FOUR Artisan Edition, by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott (IDW) _______ ⇧
The real page art, photographed and printed in actual size. This compilation catches the series and its creators at their peak, with five important tales from 1968 and 1969.
• THE ETERNALS:
The Complete Collection Remastered, by Jack Kirby (Marvel) _______ ⇧
Upon his return to Marvel in the latter-'70s, Kirby rethought his New Gods concepts as The Eternals, templating the Marvel Films epic ETERNALS (2021), directed by Chloé Zhao.
• SUPERMAN Vs. WONDER WOMAN Tabloid Edition, by Gerry Conway and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC) _______ ⇧
A full-size reproduction of the 1978 tabloid-format tome, in which the two powerhouses wrestle over the nuclear future.
• SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN , by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru (DC) _______ ⇧
In 1946, the wildly popular Superman radio show bravely called out bigotry, with our hero busting the Klan. In this modern 3-issue series, Yang (American Born Chinese) reinterprets that historic tale through a deeper personal lens.
• YOU BROUGHT ME THE OCEAN, by Ales Sanchez and Julie Maroh (DC) _______
Coming-of-age and coming-out. Award-winning author Sanchez and bestselling writer/artist Maroh (BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR) turn traumatic aquaphobia into a wellspring of love.
• SHADOW OF THE BATGIRL, by Sarah Kuhn, Nicole Goux, Cris Peter, and Janice Chiang (DC) _______ ⇧
Cassandra Cain was a beautiful concept which was brutally maimed.
In the early-'00s, the Asian-American hero inheriting the mantle of Batgirl suffered every atrocity a hack male creator could throw at a female character (see also: X-23) before fading away. This rethink, by an all-female team, restores and revitalizes the eeriest, edgiest Bat-hero of all.
• Michael Golden’s
MICRONAUTS Artist’s Edition,
by Bill Mantlo (w) and Michael Golden (p),
with Josef Rubenstein and Al Milgrom (i) (IDW) _______ ⇧
The first 12 issues of THE MICRONAUTS (1978-'79) were the STAR WARS of comics.
The seismic success of that 1977 film rewrote the film industry, Science Fiction in the mainstream, SFX production, and creative potential overnight. While many scrambled to answer that challenge across the next decade, maybe none succceeded more spectacularly than the most unlikely and overlooked of sources.
(see also: STARSTRUCK)
While Marvel Comics was being saved from bankruptcy by their fortunate licensing of STAR WARS, Takara's Microman toyline was doing solid success in the USA as The Micronaut line by Mego. Shrewdly, Marvel licensed the action figures with the mandate of a Lucas-esque space opera. They got more than they could have hoped for.
Veteran writer Bill Mantlo and upcoming artist Michael Golden went for glory, turning toys into arthouse through a complex stellar saga with intricate world-building, overarched by wonder and underlined by mystery. The heady brew cauldroned elements of Flash Gordon, THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, NASA, The New Wave Of Science Fiction, Herbert's "Dune", Zelazny's "Lord Of Light", von Däniken's "Chariots Of The Gods", Lee and Kirby's FANTASTIC FOUR, Gerber's MAN-THING, Ditko's DOCTOR STRANGE, Starlin's CAPTAIN MARVEL, DIAL "H" FOR HERO, Steranko's NICK FURY, and -subliminally- 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, along with cyborgs, dystopia, revolution, spirituality, and family drama.
Mantlo (like Lee) fired off the sprawling scope, ricochet plotting, and stentorian melodrama. Golden (like Kirby and Ditko) built the impossible worlds, micro and macro: Homeworld, the molecular chain wrapped in cities; their sanscrit alphabet; the consistent, blueprinted architecture of the Body Banks and H.E.L.L; the quiet visual clues leading to the climactic big reveal. Along the way, Golden found his signature style (issue #8) and cult status. The brave experiment crescendoed with the stunning MICRONAUTS #11, one of the greatest comics ever made.
In retrospect, THE MICRONAUTS should have been a 12-issue maxi-series and stopped. After Golden left, everything diminished. The Marvel series devolved through declining follow-ups, and -after the loss of the franchise rights- into pale imitations by later comics companies. But the innovations and impact of Mantlo and Golden's MICRONAUTS resonate to this day, from the continuous comics stories of the polymorphous Captain Universe, to the subatomic Microverse (as the Quantum Realm) seen in ANT-MAN and AVENGERS films, to Mantlo's sidebar character Rocket Raccoon in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.
Because of legal rights issues, this huge compendium is the first reprinting of any of the material since 1983. IDW's Artist Editions carefully photograph original comic art at full size; this reverential tome reprints all of issues #3, #7, #8, #9, #11, and #12, plus key pages from all other issues, the covers, and rare pin-ups. For fandom, it is a long-held dream come true.
And, hopefully, it opens the door for a fully remastered reprinting by Marvel of the original 12 issues.
• Walter Simonson’s THE MIGHTY THOR Artisan Edition, by Walter Simonson (IDW) _______ ⇩
After Lee and Kirby's original '60s run, the most revered arc of THOR is by writer/artist Walt Simonson in the mid-'80s. Its influence was so keen on the THOR films that Simonson had a cameo as an Asgardian.
• THE SANDMAN: Overture
- J.H. Williams III Gallery Edition, by Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams III (Graphitti Designs) _______ ⇧
After many years, Gaiman wrote a new Sandman story. This deluxe version focuses directly on the lush illustrations of the chameleonic Williams at full scale without text.
(A smaller texted version is included for reading.)
• P. Craig Russell’s THE SELFISH GIANT
And Other Stories Fine Art Edition, by P. Craig Russell (Wayne Alan Harold) _______
Since his breakthrough illustrating the acclaimed KILLRAVEN series, Russell's art nouveau grace has made him an artists artist.
• LONE SLOANE: Chaos, Vol. 1, by Phillippe Druillet (Titan) _______ ⇧
The 1978 chapter of the Odyssean astronaut by the grandiose Druillet, a visionary artist who co-founded Metal Hurlant magazine with Moebius.
• FRANKENSTEIN, by Mary Shelley and Berni Wrightson (Hermes Press) _______ ⇧
Originally printed in 1983, Wrightson's illustrations for the classic text ignited universal praise. The 50 pieces, a labor of love across seven years done in the painstaking style of Golden Age Of Illustration giants like Joseph Clement Coll and Franklin Booth, are reproduced at large size, along with the full text, showcasing the master at his peak.
• CORTO MALTESE:
Mu The Lost Continent, by Hugo Pratt (IDW) _______
The twelth and final adventure from 1988 brings the sailor's journey full circle.
• Collected TOPPI, vol. 3:
South America, by Sergio Toppi (Lion Forge) _______ ⇧
Sergio Toppi has been one of the finest illustrators of the last 50 years.
• Collected TOPPI, vol. 4:
The Cradle Of Life, by Sergio Toppi (Lion Forge) _______ ⇧
Every volume by Sergio Toppi is a master class in line, color, design + composition, and visual storytelling.
• THE LEGEND OF KORRA:
Ruins Of The Empire, by Michael Dante DiMartino and Michelle Wong (IDW) _______ ⇧
An original sequel following on from the lauded 4-season animated series.
• LITTLE BIRD:
The Fight For Elder’s Hope, by Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram (Image) _______ ⇧
The 5-issue series spanning galactic reaches and inner dreams compiled.
• ADVENTUREMAN, Vol. 1:
The End and Everything After (1995), by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson (Image) _______
The frighteningly prolific Fraction thrills us with Pulp yesteryears that now become a mother and son's new frontiers.
• TARTARUS, by Johnnie Christmas and Jack T. Cole (Image) _______
Imagine Mos Eisley with Afrofuturist edge and DUNE-esque intrigue.
• BE GAY, DO COMICS, by Various Creators (IDW) _______ ⇧
A fun anthology of over 30 creators examining the LGBTQIA possibilities, from contributions to The Nib (see 'Best Webcomics' below).
B E S T
R E I S S U E S :
• THE ETERNAUT (1957-'59), by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Alberto Breccia (Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
A remastering of the late-'50s Argentine classic of Cold War fear and new world hopes.
• BARBARELLA (1964, 1974), by Jean-Claude Forest (Humanoids) _______ ⇧
A remastering of Book 1 (1964) and Book 2 (1974), newly translated from French to English by Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel, Bitch Planet).
• MERMAID SAGA (1984-'94), by Rumiko Takahashi (Viz) _______
Takahashi's classic, a journey through immortality and lost humanity, which inspired the 2003 animated series.
• Absolute SWAMP THING
by Alan Moore, Vol. 2 (1985-’86), by Alan Moore, Stephen R, Bissette, and John Totleben, + (DC) _______
Alan Moore first seeded the '80s Comics Renaissance with his British series, MarvelMan (1982).
But it wildflowered to the world with his US work on Swamp Thing.
This is a remastered omnibus of the middle, with new (dull airbrush) coloring.
• STUCK RUBBER BABY (1995), by Howard Cruse (First Second) _______
Cruse's groundbreaking semi-memoir of braving homophobia and bigotry in the mid-'60s South gets a 25th anniversary edition, with a new introduction by Alison Bechdel (Fun Home).
with the new color version.
• FROM HELL:
Master Edition (1989-’98), by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell (Top Shelf) _______ ⇧
A new remastering of the ultimate Jack The Ripper examination, in which artist Campbell adds muted color to the black/white tale, and some quiet tweaks for visual clarity.
WHERE WE
COME FROM,
Dept.
• THE FLAPPER QUEENS:
Women Cartoonists Of The Jazz Age, by Trina Robbins (Fantagraphics) _______
Trina Robbins, a pioneer in the Underground Comix movement and comics historian, once again enlightens us on female artists for the ages.
• DRAWING LINES:
An Anthology Of Women Cartoonists, with Joyce Carol Oates, Colleen Coover, Roberta Gregory, Trina Robbins, and Gail Simone + (IDW) _______ ⇧
This treasury of a dozen stories gives proper due to many pivotal pioneers.
• INVISIBLE MEN:
The Trailblazing Black Artists Of Comic Books, by Ken Quattro (Yoe) _______ ⇧
The great Matt Baker has gotten long overdue fanfare in recent years. This insightful book expands outward to other creators from the Golden Age Of Comics who deserve our attention, bringing us full comics stories, art, and photos.
• JACK KIRBY:
The Epic Life Of The King Of Comics , by Tom Scioli (Ten Speed Press) _______
A comics bio of The King, told in an almost manga style.
• HISTORY OF EC COMICS, by Grant Geissman (Taschen) _______ ⇧
A 600-page history of the most notorious comics company of all time, with new info, the infamous covers, key stories, and photos galore.
• MASTERS OF BRITISH COMIC ART, by Ken Quattro (Art Masters) _______
Following his Masters of Spanish Comic Book Art, Roach rescues British artists and (often literally) their work from obscurity and neglect, distilling the eclectic grab-bag of English cartooning into one cornucopia.
• COMICS AND ADAPTATION, Edited by Benoit Mitaine, David Roche, and Isabell Schmitt-Pitiot (University Press Of Mississippi) _______
Literature has been adapted by comics, comics have been adapted to the screen. This scholarly book of essays examines the process of both through a formal and contextual perspective.
MAGAZINES
• ALTER EGO (TwoMorrows) _______ ⇩
The original '60s comics fanzine that pioneered all of modern fandom, with deep stories on the Golden and Silver Age creators, is an ongoing mag still edited by Roy Thomas.
> Alter Ego
• BACK ISSUE! (TwoMorrows) _______
Dedicated to the '70s and '80s renaissance.
> Back Issue
• ILLUSTRATION (The Illustrated Press) _______ ⇩
The best illustrators celebrated by the smartest illustration mag.
> Illustration
• RETROFAN (TwoMorrows) _______
Everything pop cultural from the '60s through the '80s.
> Illustration
• THE COMICS JOURNAL (Fantagraphics) _______
The premiere scholastic graphic arts forum, now printed in an annual volume.
> The Comics Journal
• STAR TREK (Titan) _______ ⇧
"These are the voyages..."
> Star Trek
• STAR WARS INSIDER (Titan) _______ ⇧
"An energy field created by all living things..."
> Star Wars Insider
B E S T
M O V I E S
+ T V :
•
WONDER WOMAN 1984
• AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. 7
• DOOM PATROL 2
• UMBRELLA ACADEMY 2
• SNOWPIERCER 1
See Also:
> Four Color Films,
THE Comic Movies Review Site!
B E S T
W E B C O M I C S :
• SOFT LEAD, by Chan Chau _______ ⇧
Clark and Bruce just hanging out, being real.
• HEARTSTOPPER, Alice Oseman _______ ⇧
A tale of friendship and coming out.
• NANCY, by Olympia Jaimes _______
Under a pseudonym, someone is upgrading the classic strip's mindtricks for the digital age.
"Sluggo is lit" and you should get literate, too.
• PRINCE VALIANT, by Mark Schultz and Thomas Yeates _______ ⇧
Schultz (Xenozoic Tales) and Yeates (Timespirits) are doing excellent work continuing Hal Foster's masterwork into the 21st century.
• The Nib _______
RESIST!
R E S T
I N
P O W E R
From you, we exist.
Because of you, we persist.
• Claire Bretecher
• Alice Schenker
• Juan Gimenez
Mort Drucker; Denny O'Neil
• Mort Drucker
• Dennis O’Neil
• Joe Sinnott
• Milton Glaser
Ron Cobb; Richard Corben
• Bob Fujitani
• Ron Cobb
• Richard Lupoff
• Richard Corben
© Tym Stevens
See also:
▶ FourColorFilms: THE Comics Film Review Site!
· BEST MOVIES + TV: 2023
• BEST MUSIC: 2023
• BEST COMICS: 2023
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2022
• BEST MUSIC: 2022
• BEST COMICS: 2022
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2021
• BEST MUSIC: 2021
• BEST COMICS: 2021
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2020
• BEST MUSIC: 2020
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2019
• BEST MUSIC: 2019
• BEST COMICS: 2019
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2018
• BEST MUSIC: 2018
• BEST COMICS: 2018
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2017
• BEST MUSIC: 2017
• BEST COMICS: 2017
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2016
• BEST MUSIC: 2016
• BEST COMICS: 2016
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2015
• BEST MUSIC: 2015
• BEST COMICS: 2015
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2014
• BEST MUSIC: 2014
• BEST COMICS: 2014
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2013
• BEST MUSIC: 2013
• BEST COMICS: 2013
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2012
• BEST MUSIC: 2012
• BEST COMICS: 2012
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2011
• BEST MUSIC: 2011
• BEST COMICS: 2011
• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2000-2010
• BEST MUSIC: 2000-2010
• BEST COMICS: 2000-2010
• How STAR WARS Is Changing Everything!
• 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY - Its Transcendent Influence on all Pop Culture, with Music Player!
• How SPAGHETTI WESTERNS Revolutionized Rock Music!, with 3 Music Players!
• TWIN PEAKS: Its Influence on 30 Years of Film, TV, and Music!, with 5 Music Players!
• The Real History of ROCK AND SOUL!: The Music Player Checklist
• THE CANON 1: 50 Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player
• THE CANON 2: 50 More Books That Created Modern Pop Culture, with Music Player
• THE CANON 3: 50 Recent Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment