Anywho, so I decided since I'm feeling all festive and it's nearly the end of the year I wanted to change pace just for this post to talk about something a bit more positive instead of berating everyone again this week. So instead of giving advice I'm going to talk about my top five comics of 2012. These are all excellent titles that you all should be reading.
NOTE: These are in no particular order because I really couldn't choose, I love them all for different reasons.
The Creep follows private detective Oxel "The Creep" Karnhaus as he investigates a double teen suicide. With Arcudi at the helm I expected a more supernatural type tale but was really surprised to find a more straight-forward mystery tale. Well, straight-forward isn't quite the right word for any good mystery story, but you know what I mean. Arcudi really weaves a wonderful tale here and really nails the noir thing. Jonathan Case, god, what can I say about Jonathan Case that doesn't sound like fan-boy geeking out? I fell in love with his work with Dear Creature (which, if you haven't read, please, go out and grab a copy ASAP.) Case just nails every aspect of this book from Oxel's frustrations, to the profound sadness surrounding the whole story. This is truly a comics masterwork that I could not recommend more.
Some of you might not know this, but I love Frankenstein's monster. Seriously, from the Karloff films to Shelley's novel to Christopher Lee as the monster in the Hammer flicks. I just... ugh... it's unhealthy. I mean, c'mon, it's why I created Mr. Frank. Anyway, Frankenstein Alive, Alive! is just so wonderful I can't even express. You'd be hard-pressed to find two creators in comics who love and respect the character more than Niles and Wrightson. Niles is a professed horror nut and Wrightson illustrated Shelley's novel back in the 80's and as far as I'm concerned his interpretation is the monster. Alive, Alive starts off with Frankenstein's monster working at a carnival sideshow then begins to fill in the gaps between the end of the novel and where we are first reintroduced to the character. It's lovely, sad, beautiful, and just... great. I am thoroughly looking forward to Issue #3.
Anathema is a tale of Mercy Barlowe who becomes a werewolf to avenge the death of her lover Sarah and to stop an ancient evil from being resurrected by a cult of ravens. First and foremost, you would never know that this is Deering's first comic. The writing is so polished and smart that you'd think she was a seasoned pro. Anathema is visceral, heart-breaking, and sexy as all hell. Mooneyham (the artist for #1 & #2) and Wes St. Claire (#3) also add a nice layer of polish to this already exceptional book. If you love werewolves, Hammer horror movies, or just a well-crafted horror comic, I cannot recommend this more.
Those of you who know me, know I am a massive Hellboy fan as well as a huge fan of Mignola in general, so it shouldn't surprise you that even with only one issue out that this would land on my list. Hellboy is dead (in case you didn't know) and has been sent back to Hell and has to face off against an old foe and make a new (old) ally. It is incredibly refreshing to see Mignola return to art duties on ol' Red. Don't get me wrong, I adore Duncan Fegredo and Richard Corbin drawing Hellboy, but nobody does it like Mignola. With him back on the book, it seems like all is right in the universe . Also, nobody draws strange Lovecraftian monstrosities like Mignola can... okay, well, maybe Guy Davis, but whatever. MIGNOLA IS DRAWING HELLBOY AGAIN. That is all you need to know.
Deadhorse is a mystery comic that follows Pike who receives a mysterious key from his mysterious father and has to go the mysterious town of Deadhorse, Alaska and and... well... whoa... that's a lot of mystery. Hang on. Deadhorse is delightfully charming, funny, smart, and mysterious. It's a wonderfully written comic that just wrapped up its first story arc "Dead Birds" with Issue #6. Grissom's writing is funny, suspenseful, and engrossing while Sloan just slays the art with this. His brush and ink style may at first seem a bit cartoony but hang in there, it totally fits the tone of the book and really just makes it even better (which is pretty crazy considering how great the writing is.) Again this comes from a first time comics writer which just blows my mind. I would have killed to have come out of the gate this polished. Truly a wonderful comic book.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
BEWARE by Mike Perkins & Will Perkins, FUBAR: SUMMER SPECIAL by Jeff McComsey, Chuck Dixon, Jim McMunn & more, VIC BOONE: MALFUNCTION MURDER TPB by Shawn Aldridge, Geoffo, and more, and THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE by Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore.
Well, that just about covers it guys. Have a happy New Year and see you guys next week!
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