2024: A Year of Familiar Comfort and Unexpected Excellence in Comics
2024 saw readers gravitate towards familiar narratives. Surprisingly, many of these familiar tales were exceptionally well-executed and pushed creative boundaries. Navigating the sheer volume of weekly comics from major publishers, alongside the diverse graphic novels available, is a monumental task. This curated list highlights some of 2024's standout titles.
A Few Preliminary Notes:
- Focus: Primarily on Marvel and DC, with a few exceptions.
- Minimum Length: Series must have at least 10 issues. This excludes newer titles like Ultimates, Absolute Batman, recent X-titles, and Aaron's Ninja Turtles.
- Overall Ranking: The ranking considers all issues, regardless of release year, including those from earlier runs. Exceptions: McKay's Moon Knight and Williamson's Robin.
- Anthologies Excluded: Due to varied authorship (Action Comics, Batman: The Brave and the Bold).
Table of Contents:
- Batman: Zdarsky's Run
- Nightwing by Tom Taylor
- Blade + Blade: Red Band
- Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
- Outsiders
- Poison Ivy
- Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson
- Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
- The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
- The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
- Venom + Venom War
- John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
- Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko
Reviews:
Batman: Zdarsky's Run
A technically impressive but ultimately underwhelming comic. The fight against the "wrong" Batman proved tedious, except for a noteworthy Joker-centric arc.
Nightwing by Tom Taylor
A strong start, but later issues bogged down in filler. Despite its flawed conclusion, it contained moments of brilliance. It fell short of its potential to be a modern Hawkeye.
Blade + Blade: Red Band
A successful adaptation of the Daywalker into a fast-paced, action-packed comic book experience.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
A mixed bag. The rushed resurrection of Moon Knight hampered the narrative, leaving several plot threads unresolved.
Outsiders
A Planetary reimagining within the DC Universe. While the meta-commentary is present, it lacks subtlety and becomes predictable.
Poison Ivy
A surprisingly long-running series (30+ issues) with a consistent psychedelic charm, despite occasional pacing issues.
Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson
A solid exploration of father-son relationships and self-discovery, though not as impactful as Williamson's previous Robin series.
Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
A surprisingly charming and visually appealing comic from Dark Horse, showcasing a simpler, more heartwarming narrative.
The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
A challenging and complex read, rewarding those willing to engage with its intricate plot.
The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
A visually stunning but narratively underwhelming series, bogged down by references to previous works.
Venom + Venom War
A chaotic and impactful series, deserving of multiple rereads.
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
A masterpiece in its UK-focused first part, but the US section falters. Despite its flaws, Spurrier's portrayal of Constantine remains brilliant.
Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko
A unique blend of manga, psychological horror, and the X-Men, elevated by Momoko's consistent artistic excellence.
