by Mike Favila, Editor

 Top Five Best Comics Of The Year (part 1)

I have to be honest, Emil turned me on to most/all of these, but these are my picks for 2014.  It’s been a great year for both independent publishing and the bigs, but there’s just way too much to pick from this year to narrow it down to just 5.  Consequently, this is part 1.

Starlight Volume 1

Mark Millar has been slowly making his comics and movies brighter and more epic. For me, this isn’t a bad thing. The story of an old space adventurer who nobody believes has been covered before, but there is some finesse to Millar’s take. Goran Parlov is a great match for this story, a timeless fairy tale about hope against a tyrannical invading species. Yes, there’s not limbs being ripped everywhere, but you know what? I don’t care.

Low Volume 1: The Delirium of Hope

Rick Remender made a comment in the back of issue 1 that this book was going to be focused on optimism against all odds. Unlike Starlight (above), it’s not a bright fancy world, where feel good themes exist in a swashbuckling adventure. This dystopia really feels like a loss, that every character is one step from the abyss. So when the main character hopes against hope for a solution, you really feel for her, even if nobody believes her. Greg Tocchini’s art is expressive and not as direct as I’m used to, but it fits the book amazingly. I pore over the lines, just amazed by the flow of one character into the other. If artwork could be poetic, this is it.

Moon Knight Volume 1: From the Dead

Moon Knight as a wacko/detective/rich guy. I know, it’s been done before (Kevin himself told me so), but not this good, and not by Warren Ellis. To be honest, I’ve really been obsessed in recent years with tracking down Ellis’ stuff. By far, this is my favorite book from him since Planetary. Just amazing action, coupled with a total mastery for the form. I’ve literally said “Wow” after a few of these issues, it’s that good. I reread every issue twice. I would buy this in any format, twice.  It’s still good with Brian Wood, but those first six episodes are mind blowing.

She-Hulk Volume 1: Law and Disorder

I’m so depressed that this book is not going to continue. I know Charles Soule is responsible for about 50% of what’s coming out of DC right now, but his take on She Hulk as a lawyer is hilarious and fresh. From the odd supporting characters, to the choice of cases that they’ve taken on (including old Captain America), there’s nothing on the shelves like this.

Southern Bastards Volume 1: Here Was a Man

Emil and I have been Jason Aaron fans since Scalped, but even as he joins the mainstream Marvel Universe, he doesn’t lose his edge here. Earl Tubbs is a reluctant tough guy that seems like we’ve seen before. But it’s not quite that easy to categorize our hero. Jason Latour’s art is a great complement, and the coloring only adds to Bastards’ gothic quality. It’s mournful, but somehow, also respectful to its characters and setting.  The twist at the end of the arc (I won’t be spoiling it here!) is a doozy. There’s not a ton of issues, so get them all right away, then read them over again.  THIS is art.

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