[Jeffrey]

This isn't a poll or a list. Just wondering what the best stuff you read this year was.

For me:

Best Mini-series:
DC Comics' "Identity Crisis"
(if you're not reading this...what's wrong with you? I guess a prerequisite is an affection for the Justice League. But even if you're not well-versed in Captain Boomerang's secret identity or how the Atom's belt works, Brad Meltzer will still grab your attention with an arresting tale of betrayal, lies, and murder in the DC superhero community. Meltzer writers mystery novels for a living, and it shows here..."Identity Crisis" will wrack your brain and tug at your heartstrings).

Best Ongoing Series
DC Comics' "Gotham Central"
(a brilliant concept with distinctive art and a refreshingly human angle to the world of capes and cloaks that neither delves into the satire that's killing modern comics or inaccessible hero worship. One of those rare titles in an expansive mainline universe that can be picked up by a neophyte with no background in the greater universe and still read with earnest, free from continuity bog-down but satisfying to the long-time reader)

Best Character
Doop from "X-Statix"
(I can't get enough of this weird little guy. When he tells off Thor in smartass English I was rolling in my seat. )

Best New Title
Wildstorm's "Ex Machina"
(if you are reticent about comics or superheroes but are tired of mean-spirited Authority-style send-ups or too much gamma-ray-and-magic in the ones that look interesting, get "Ex Machina." It's fiercely original and the first comic to really tap into the American psyche post-9/11)

Runner-up: Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Fantastic Four"
(Had to give props somewhere for a great title and a great revamp)

Best Underground Comic
Jay Naylor's "Better Days, Volume One"
(It's so underground he's currently not taking orders as he waits to revamp his site further. Distinctive art, quirky storytelling, heartwrenching moments, and the charm that lo-fi does best)

Best Graphic Novel
Tony Millionaire's "Sock Monkey: Uncle Gabby"
(I'd still recommend most folks here avoid Millionaires Crumb-esque daily strip "Maakies" as it is generally R-rated, but "Sock Monkey" is accessible to all ages, from Millionaire's childrens book featuring the characters to his Dark Horse title. His latest hardcover "Uncle Gabby" is just mind-blowing. Art and dialogue that recalls Victorian genteel airs and plots and topics that are offbeat, surreal, and endearing, I find it hard to read through an issue or book of "Sock Monkey" without bursting into tears)

Best Imported Sequential Art
Motofumi Kobayashi's "Apocalypse Meow, Volume 2"
(technically this was released in 2000 in Japan as "Cat **** One," but it finally got here, in English, and it's so good. I guess I should have a "Best Manga," but this is the best you'll get)

Best Newspaper Daily
Darby Conley's Get Fuzzy
(I wanted to put The Lockhorns 'cos I love that comic, but Get Fuzzy is refreshingly distinctive and breaks the format other dailies have been forced into. The humor is two steps beyond "set-up/punchline" and the art is just a treat for the eyes)

Best Online Comic
qwantz.com's Dinosaur Comics
(What do you get when three clip-art dinosaurs in the same poses and panel placement appear daily to discuss metaphysics, morality, and pop culture? The funniest thing on the web - and wonderfully clean - and it keeps getting better)

Best New Online Comic
alessonislearned.com's "A Lesson is Learned But the Damage is Irreversible"
(Uh...what to do with this comic. Fiercely original and compelling, and certainly playing a game with a whole new set of rules)

Best Comics Journal
Too Much Coffee Man
(A magazine based on Shannon Wheeler's acclaimed caffeine-fueled social commentator? You bet your sweet fanny it is. Each month the magazine is filled not only with work from Wheeler, but the latest and greatest of underground comic strips, such as the Calvin and Hobbes parody "Chomsky and Mailer." Plus, you get humorous articles and reviews that make the magazine read like some off-kilter heir to the intellectual mantle of the Westminster Review)

*spoilers on some of the following*

Most Compelling Moment
Hawkeye's death in "Avengers"
(I know, I should say the murder of Sue Dibny. Or the death of the Ultimate Gwen Stacy. A lot of folks felt that the Avengers Disassembled arc was a scam and a little distasteful, and while it didn't feel as loving or respective as, say, Identity Crisis in its depiction of heroes-in-crisis, I felt that Hawkeye's death was fitting and handled in a matter both compelling and shocking. He'll probably be back, but I felt my gut wrench as he shouted in desperation and sorrow "NOT LIKE THIS!" and fought to take down his attackers in a way that would make his exit glorious)

BEST MOMENT OF 2004
Guy Gardner's reclaiming the mantle of a Green Lantern.
(MY FAVORITE MOMENT OF 2004!)

I may add more as it comes to me. I have trouble picking best writer or best artist. I think everyone involved in the above is brilliant.

[Jeffrey]

Thoughts? Any of the titles/books click with you? Any you didn't like? Any you're curious for more information on? Any not on this list that you want to laud as the year comes to a close?

I will amend that the last issue of Identity Crisis was a bit disappointing. Not enough to knock it off my list, but overall it wasn't what I had hoped for. The first six issues were amazing, the last one was lackluster.

[Skeeter]

From what I've read, I agree with most of your list. I really haven't had the money to keep up with comics. But Hawkeye's death was well done and I love that Guy Gardner back as Green Lantern. I still haven't finished the Identity Crisis series. Doop is awesome and what little Ultimate Fantastic Four I got hold of was excellent. That was a really awkward sentence.

I appreciate how Ultimate X-Men has kept up their quality and I like the first issue of New Avengers (I love Bendis) so I'm curious as to where that's going to go.

My favorite webcomic right now is Questionable Content, with its fantastic indie musings and realistic relationship quandaries. And a cool robot. My favorite new webcomic is Commissioned. With a clean and simple art style and amusing fantasy and roleplaying situations, it consistently makes me laugh. Plus I've done an interview with the creator for an article I wrote and he was very friendly and helpful. He had a great story leading him to webcomics too.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

I appreciate how Ultimate X-Men has kept up their quality and I like the first issue of New Avengers (I love Bendis) so I'm curious as to where that's going to go.

I have not picked up the New Avengers yet. It looks really, really good. I like the line-up they've picked.

My favorite webcomic right now is Questionable Content, with its fantastic indie musings and realistic relationship quandaries. And a cool robot.

The art reminds me of "Scary-Go-Round." I'll check it out.

My favorite new webcomic is Commissioned. With a clean and simple art style and amusing fantasy and roleplaying situations, it consistently makes me laugh. Plus I've done an interview with the creator for an article I wrote and he was very friendly and helpful. He had a great story leading him to webcomics too.

He gets one hit off (no fault of his own) for looking like the accursed Spider Jerusalem from Transmetropolitan, but I've enjoyed what I read (I saw it in your signature). I think mustbenothing would love it's D&D humor.

[Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

The art reminds me of "Scary-Go-Round." I'll check it out.

The artist is admittedly influenced by Scary-Go-Round, which I also greatly enjoy. Questionable Content is a little less whimsical and more down to earth and deals with all sorts of issues and problems with a humorous edge.

He gets one hit off (no fault of his own) for looking like the accursed Spider Jerusalem from Transmetropolitan, but I've enjoyed what I read (I saw it in your signature). I think mustbenothing would love it's D&D humor.

Poor O. Just because he's bald doesn't mean he's Spider Jerusalem (who I occasionally enjoy as a character). I like supporting the comic because it's just getting started and has plenty of potential. I think I'm going to be joining his online roleplaying campaign. Sounds incredibly geeky, but I'm alright with that.

I picked up the January 2005 issue of Wizard, which has their "Best of 2004" feature. Their picks:

Book: "Astonishing X-Men"
Mini-Series: "Identity Crisis"
Artist: John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Planetary)
Writer: Brad Meltzer (Identity Crisis)
Man: Brian Michael Bendis (Everything)
Cover Artist: Michael Turner (Everything else)
Supporting Character: Nick Fury
New Character: Mitchell Hundred aka. The Great Machine (Ex Machina)
Villain: The super-powered serial killer from "H-E-R-O"
Hero: Green Arrow (Identity Crisis)
Publisher: Marvel

I can't type in the others without some major spoilers, so I'll just leave them out. I agree with many of their choices and sincerely wish I could've bought all the comics mentioned in their feature. Stupid lack of money...

[Jeffrey]

"Identity Crisis" also wins in my book as "Most disappointing end to a mini-series."

[Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

"Identity Crisis" also wins in my book as "Most disappointing end to a mini-series."

I really need to buy the rest of the series. I already got enough spoilers from Wizard, now I need the real thing. Even if the end is disappointing.

But it can't have beaten out the horrid end to "Armageddon 2001"...

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

But it can't have beaten out the horrid end to "Armageddon 2001"...

Really, what were they thinking?

[Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Really, what were they thinking?

Apparently it was supposed to be Captain Atom who was revealed as the future bad guy, but it leaked out before the conclusion. So they panicked and switched it to a character no one cared about. Stupid, stupid people.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Apparently it was supposed to be Captain Atom who was revealed as the future bad guy, but it leaked out before the conclusion. So they panicked and switched it to a character no one cared about. Stupid, stupid people.

They were in a bit of a bind, which is why I try to ignore any rumored leaks. What if someone had given away the big Identity Crisis secret a month before it showed up in stores?

However, a lot of the stories I read were lame. I have a couple Batman ones, and they're decent (because Anarky's in one!). I have a Superman one that is so poorly written, and rips off (it tries to pass it off as an homage and pastiche) Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.

Now the Eclipso major crossover, that was awesome.

[Skeeter]

Man, I haven't seen Anarky in anything for a while now.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Man, I haven't seen Anarky in anything for a while now.

I know. He's such a cool character. He's the voice for real conceptual anarchy, but he has a very libertarian spin.

If I wrote a The Question comic, he'd be a regular guest.

[Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

I know. He's such a cool character. He's the voice for real conceptual anarchy, but he has a very libertarian spin.

If I wrote a The Question comic, he'd be a regular guest.

That would be entertaining. I'm not always a fan of political commentary in comics, but when it comes from the characters (like The Question, Anarky, Green Arrow) then it can be very rewarding.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

That would be entertaining. I'm not always a fan of political commentary in comics, but when it comes from the characters (like The Question, Anarky, Green Arrow) then it can be very rewarding.

Yeah, I love it when writers pit characters like The Question and Green Arrow together. Two very different worldviews, yet each character is very confident and well-studied so both positions are well-demonstrated.

I'd like to write a mini-series in which The Question, Green Arrow, and Blue Beetle, along with the second Green Arrow and Anarky, team up to solve the mystery of a person running around in the costume of an old villain long presumed dead. I'd contrast it with an earlier case involving that villain where The Question, Green Arrow, and Blue Beetle had to team up (shades of Identity Crisis, perhaps). It would be set in the early careers of Vic Sage and Ted Kord, which isn't too long into Oliver Queen's own escapades. One could really explore how the three characters have matured and how their worldviews have changed or remained. Toss in two younger characters, and you have a great story that involves mystery and the discussion of philosophy.

You have Vic Sage, a formerly rage-filled Objectivist conservative who has tempered his colder leanings with a Zen-like outlook that has blossomed into a shamanistic view of human interaction that has come full circle back to his brutal methods and his trust in objective reality.

You have Ted Kord, the billionaire inventor who, like Oliver Queen, was ousted from the company he helped found. Kord could be the voice of the common educated man, used to the system of capitalism and self-reliance and open to other views. He can relate to the struggles of Oliver Queen, but is a middle ground between Sage's right wing and Oliver's left.

Oliver is the man who, even more so than Ted Kord (both long-time Leaguers), walked with the gods, because his best friend was Hal Jordan. He is a bleeding-heart liberal, but one with perhaps the most heartbreak of any of them.

Connor Hawke, the second Green Arrow, shares many of his father's leanings, but with a cooler head and a few more trappings of a young socially-conscious lifestyle (vegetarianism, animal rights, etc.). He can swap Eastern theories of philosophy with Sage, having been raised in a Zen monastery.

And then there's Lonnie Machin. Anarky is a middleground like Kord, not for his moderation, but his extremity. His distrust of government, religion, and the Ivory Tower of academia and his extreme commitment to a radical idelogy would in many ways endear him to both Vic Sage and Oliver Queen, with them only disagreeing on particulars.

That's a story I would love to write, or read.


Anarky: most underused character in 2004.

[Skeeter]

Sounds good. I'd read it.