Series of the Year (which also happens to be new) — Chew
My favourite series of the year were all new ones, so I have amalgamated both Series of the Year and New Series of the Year into one category. There is no end to how much I can rave about how much I love this series. This series centres around FDA agent Tony Chu and his uncanny ability to capture psychic impressions from things he eats. My only regret is not having been able to get my hands on the first issue earlier. The story is unique and the art is quirky — two things that make any series a great one. John Layman and Rob Guillory make a serious duo. Everyone should be taking a bite out of this one.
Writer of the Year — Ed Brubaker (Incognito, Criminal: Sinners, Daredevil, Captain America: Reborn, Captain America, The Marvels Project)
Why Ed Brubaker? Why not? This man has been the mastermind behind most of my favourite series of the year and consistently writes good stories with great characters. I cannot help but love a man that brings me such joy.Artist of the Year – J.H. Williams III (Detective Comics)
No other artist this year has made me drool over the pages of a comic.
Cover of the Year – Thor #601
This cover comes from a series that I don’t regularly read, but it was a cover that I could not help but give the honours to. There is little that needs to be said in regards to Marko Djurdjevic’s painted covers — they are simply amazing. However, what makes this a great cover is not the way in which it is done, but the content. The combination of an ancient Asgardian god with an iPod plugged into his winged helmet is just too funny.
Villain of the Year – Plutonian (Irredeemable)
Mark Waid presents one of the scariest and twisted villains yet. This man is CRAZY. I mean, the stage was pretty much set two pages into the first issue. Burning babies? Yeah, this guy is someone you definitely do not want to mess with.
Heroes of the Year – Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers
Sometimes the world is saved by the critters that live among us. Lockjaw, along with the diminutive dragon Lockheed, the cat Hairball, the falcon Redwing, the frog Throg, and finally the dog Ms. Lion, sets off on an adventure to retrieve the lost Infinity Gems and thus save the world from impending doom. The heroes of this mini-series stole a little piece of my heart that I am honestly quite happy to part with.
Splash Page of the Year – Deadpool #10
There is nothing more hilarious than seeing a seething Norman Osbourn grit his teeth as he out-smarted by the always classy Deadpool.
Fight of the Year – Hercules dressed as Thor vs. Thor dressed as Hercules (The Incredible Hercules #136)
There is no other fight this year that can take the cake from this one. The banter between the two is simply hilarious and the expressions are priceless. Greatest fight ever.
Saddest Cancellation and Most Pleasant Surprise– Ed Brubaker leaving Daredevil, Andy Diggle picking it up
It saddened me to hear that the writer who made me fall in love with a broken hero was leaving the series. I was left in a state of anxiety, wondering where my beloved would be left and who this new writer would be. Upon the start of the new series with writer Andy Diggle, I was happy to see that Daredevil was turning over a new leaf, but still kept much of the brooding attitude that makes him who he is. Brubaker’s interpretation captured a flawed man who wants nothing more than to do the right thing; having Diggle take that in a new direction is very exciting.
I picked up both Chew and Irredeemable on your recommendation, and I love both (both made my list, too). So kudos to you.
I’m probably going to pick up the Chew trade at some point thanks to you jerks. * APPROVAL PENDING *
It was a toss-up between the two as to which one would be my favourite of the year. I’m glad you enjoyed them Owen. And Caesar, it’s definitely a buy that you won’t regret.