... 25 Best Comic Runs of the Decade. Richard Stark’s Parker: Slayground and Parker: The Score – adapted by Darwyn Cooke ought to be on the list. The history of the Civil Rights movement is a complicated one, with many competing narratives vying for that “definitive version” spot. When one can die at any moment or on any day, as Bras does repeatedly throughout this series, it’s important to remember that life — even the somber moments — is special and needs to be appreciated. It comes in a box with 14 different stories to read, some on newsprint, some in bound books, some in small pamphlets. It’s an exploration of what it means to be a “monster,” revealing that good or bad, monsters are just like everyone else: tortured, ambiguous, fascinating. And then there’s Crooky the dog, who far from being a faithful companion, is just a constant disappointment. Becoming Unbecoming is a genuine triumph. Prince of Cats crushes both. The characters may be mythological, but the drama is very, very real. We focus mostly on a 30 year-old woman who lives alone, and her other neighbours, a disintegrating couple and the landlady, an elderly woman who has lived there for decades. He’s presented to us a bird, complete with his bird family, but surrounded by regular-looking people. Ezra Claytan Daniels weaves a tale of transhumanism, body horror, psychological thriller, moral and ethical dilemma, elderly abuse, lies, emotional manipulation, love and betrayal. Authors: Gary Groth, Kim Thompson, Robert Boyd. Damn fine comics. She begins investigating her life to discover who might have killed her. — Heidi MacDonald, Michel Fiffe (Self-published/Bergen Street/Image). In a blobby, inert style rendered all but immune from human emotion, Nick Drnaso explores our modern preoccupations — truth, lies, the internet, and our need to connect in a world that’s becoming more and more hostile to human interaction. It’s a ton of fun and filled with humor and adventure. Janet is also trying to recreate the idyllic conditions of the books she’s read, as if living in the same place and eating the same food as her favourite characters could somehow recapture the magic she feels when she reads. From the most intriguing start to all the twists and turns, from... 2. Ms. Marvel “No Normal” Created by G Willow Wilson, Sana Amanat, and Adrian Alphona, Kamala Khan is the fourth Marvel character to take the name Ms. Marvel. The Property is her most magisterial comic by far, a painful and searing tribute to victims of the Holocaust. Of the many Hellboy and Hellboy-adjacent stories to see print during the 2010s, Hellboy in Hell stands out as most impressive. The creators knew bringing the series into horror territory required a deep exploration of the character’s extremes but also his history. But the reader response to the variant was so great that Francavilla and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa launched the horror series later that year, along with Jack Morelli on letters. Sophie Goldstein addresses gender inequality, the ecological impact of society, social structures, motherhood, and a host of other topics in a tight science-fiction book worthy of the best Ray Bradbury stories. In making this list, we had to winnow down just putting all of Davis’s books on the list – in a decade of powerful voices hers was one of the most versatile, illustrating both intensely personal narratives (You & a Bike & a Road), detached but gripping observations (Libby’s Dad) and dystopian fables (several of the stories in this volume). — Andrea Ayres. The end of the decade is rapidly approaching. — Ricardo Serrano. This story of robots, existence and drama is, to me, a cautionary tale about pursuing normalcy (and one that I should remind myself of more often). It’s an overused phrase, but My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness was, and remains, a game-changing (and life-changing) comic. Copra #4 was sold out too by that point, and I loved the three-issue format of Compendium, so I skipped grabbing #5 from the shelf and dutifully waited for Copra Compendium Volume 2 to be released. — Cori McCreery, Vita Ayala, Emily Pearson, Jessi Jordan, Chris Shehan, Isaac Goodheart, Marissa Louise, and Jim Campbell (Black Mask). Slip Sex Fantasy from your roomy coat pocket to your lap during your work commute and you are exactly where you should be. They also set a longing tone rich with intimacy, making it feel throughout as if the Surfer and his earth-born companion Dawn Greenwood (a character taken right from the real world) were the only beings in the universe who truly mattered. — Samantha Puc. If there is a common thread, it is that these works are deeply informed by all the culture and mythos and history that has come before, filtered purely through the mind of a sole creator. More often than not, when feminist stories get told, they focus only on cis women, and don’t think about how their plots would affect trans people. When characters outside of this immediate circle appear, they’re treated with equal respect and care, but these three are truly what make this run so special. Una cohesively breaks down the systemic misogyny and unforgivable violence of rape culture, which blames victims rather than perpetrators and frequently allows rapists, assaulters, and abusers to get off with little more than a slap on the wrist — if that. True Story Swear To God. to humor (updated Nancy Drew! We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. The initial run of Spider-Gwen, starting in 2015, is dynamic, intense, engaging, and fresh. Vaughan’s script manages to speak so specifically about the dangers of digital information and the things we share publicly that the book ends up extending its messages reach. Whenever he’s confused or in emotional trouble he makes a chant his uncle taught him to summon ‘God,’ a floating head with a glorious afro. This is significant, and so too is the high quality of the story. In a not-so distant future, the planet’s increasing temperature has pushed populations into giant domed cities in which population control are strict. Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba is the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a kid with the perfect life and family. It’s a riveting and sometimes gloomy account of the secrets families hold, and how wider conflicts affect little lives. What if family is a super villain and his self-assigned apprentice, who just so happens to be a chaotic shapeshifter with a chip on her shoulder the size of the galaxy? One of the best written, best drawn series in a long time. It’s a self-contained cautionary tale that tells us the world still isn’t perfect and never will be, with new social problems coming up with new generations in what can rightly be considered a post-zombie world. The artwork is sublime. 10. That is until something comes up that causes them to confront their racism, as the comic explores in this collection of events. Keep reading to find out the most influential comic book movies from the 2010s. This probably reveals a lot about my age — but The Vision is what got me into comics. Publisher: DC Comics In Superman: Red Son, writer Mark Millar bends the comics template of dualistic morality and shows a world in which heroics are defined by … Once I picked up Bergen Street Press’s Copra Compendium Volume 1, which reprinted the first three sold out issues, I was hooked. Holden and (of course) Carlos Ezquerra have all brought their own little touches to the world of the strip, always in service of the story. There are smartly laid out layers to this book that provide thoughtful reading each time it gets picked up. Matt Fraction and David Aja blend their talents beautifully on each page, and this comic would not be the greatness it is without either of them. In a way, it makes perfect sense for what is, in my opinion, her best work, to come out at the end of the decade that began with the release of her first graphic memoir, Smile. Dec. 24, 2019. It earns a spot as one of the decade’s best not because it closes one of the most successful comic series in the medium’s history, but because its warning of stepping into the future without remembering how we got there in the first place — and forgetting a zombie apocalypse is quite the metaphor — is an enduring lesson that somehow manages to say something new as it drops the final curtain. Brazen is a remarkable achievement. The story sounds a little… weird: Adam is a gay teen in a toxic relationship, and struggling with bullying and family issues, but when he turns into a tree he begins to see the world in its beautiful, nurturing form. That moment, walking home on a cold, sunny spring day, clutching a comic in one hand and holding my grandmother’s hand in the other, had changed my life. For young readers, This One Summer is a recognition of what they’re going through and for adults, it’s a reminder. While Batman: The Black Mirror got people to take notice Scott Snyder, it was Batman: The Court of Owls where the writer finally got his hands on Bruce Wayne and was able to carve his place into the short list of legendary Batman writers. Tamaki represents the very best of comics of the decade. My Friend Dahmer is a chilling, necessary book. The retro aesthetic instantly transports readers back to the Bronze Age of Comics and the Golden Age of Hip Hop. The Property’s mix of love, nostalgia, and the pursuit of a lost love in a land of horrible memories is searing. This comic scared me. — Andrea Ayres, Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, Ruy Jose, Paul Mounts, and Cory Petit, with Leonardo Romero, Paul Hornscheimer, Marguerite Sauvage, Garry Brown, German Garcia, Brian Level, Ryan Bodenheim, and Chris O’Halloran (Marvel). And each flip of the page, like each flip and scratch of vinyl under a DJ’s fingers, brings forth a new revelation. Punpun’s main love interest, Aiko Tanaka, suffers the consequences as she reciprocates his interest but is constantly let down and hurt by Punpun’s lack of emotional maturity. The ones that made the cut are: Tom Taylor's All-New Wolverine Mark Waid's Daredevil And Khary Randolph’s art is a vibrant blend of magic and sci-fi. And I’m glad he did. We need more kids’ books that explore queer themes in a way that’s safe for those who can’t read stories with blatant queer rep in the title or on the cover; we need more kids’ books that explore queer themes, period, from #OwnVoices creators. In doing so, Ewing and Bennett have given us one of the best superhero comics of the decade, with more to come. That’s the introduction. Of course we could have had another 100 titles on the list, and there were some heartbreaking omissions. I’m especially happy to see “The Multiversity” on it. Beland tells a touching love story about how he met and married Lily Garcia from Puerto Rico, and does it without ever getting mushy or sappy… a romance comic even the most macho guy would be okay with … The first story, “Hawaii 1997,” is about a young Sam Alden on vacation in Hawaii with his parent and the girl he meets one night when he’s out to see the beach and the stars. Originally debuting in RAW Magazine back in 1989, Richard McGuire expanded his groundbreaking strip in 2014 into a full-blown graphic novel. Top Comic Books Of The Decade (2010-2019): DC Comics CAMERON STEWART & BRENDEN FLETCHER’S BATGIRL. Published by Image Comics. — Billy Henehan. He has a chance encounter with Shoko one day, and decides that he must make amends with her. Daniels’ characters are compellingly illustrated and convey a wide range of emotions that aren’t easy to get across. Karen is a 10 year-old who is (or at least thinks she is) a werewolf — it’s easier than being a woman. What really brings all these stories home is her stunning art. Something about the bits and pieces of the family story coming together but never quite getting the true story in Tonta worked for me whereas ITHYSM was just another good Maggie and Hopey story. This is a great read for the superhero fan who wants to step away from attempts to make superhero stories gritty or hard-edged and return to a place of hopefulness, progress, and growth. It’s been an indispensable online presence that includes work from some of the best cartoonists around, including Andy Warner, Eleri Harris (who is also Deputy Editor), Peter Kuper, Sarah Glidden, Sophie Yanow, Whit Taylor, and many others. But Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles is probably his most poignant work to date, taking a deep look at a very dark time in our country’s history, while at the same time focusing on the parallels we see in America today. Goldstein’s spare art is perfect to showcase the ways these characters built up their hope, only to be crushed by the collapse of their dream. Rock Candy Mountain, which is arguably Starks’ magnum opus, examines an oft-misunderstood aspect of U.S. history: the “golden age of hobos” and the Great Depression, when traveling itinerant workers (especially ex-vets) were integral to the country’s growth and expansion. These characters and this team all meant so much to me, and as much as this book hurt me over the years, I’d have it no other way. Privilege and class are examined thoroughly, and race plays an integral role in the story. But as the atmospheric story unspools, it becomes increasingly clear that something spooky is afoot. These spare pages are wells of emotion, raw stuff given form and then released again. Wonder Twins tackles toxic masculinity, racism, and cultural biases. And that is a special thing. — Philippe Leblanc, John Allison, Max Sarin, Lissa Treiman, Whitney Cogar, and Jim Campbell (BOOM! Mark Russell has proven himself to be one of the best writers of the last decade, and did so with titles I truly never expected to be as good as they were. kinda missed Injustice year one…and TMNT and Power Rangers…. Kohei Horikoshi’s artwork is fluid, action-packed, and adorable by turns, with dynamic paneling that keeps the pace quick and exciting. Sniff sniff. Email. It is his autobiography about what happened to him during the years where he was diagnosed with a tumour and the aftermath of his surgery: a decade-long struggle to recuperate from the multiple health complications that followed. By the end, empty factories beneath an unforgiving moonlight disintegrate right before our eyes. 9 min read. Seth’s affinity with futility finds full display in this ode to the dissolution of mid-century America/Canada. To be fair to all these creative teams we’ve combine ongoing comics together as long as they were part of a greater creative run on a franchise. I read most of it when it was still a webcomic, and have been following her on Twitter for years, so going back to it felt a bit like going home. How many of those have we seen this decade? This series, though brief, is beautifully crafted and incredibly poignant; Pearson’s art is elevated by Marissa Louise‘s colors and Jim Campbell’s letters are excellently rendered as usual. I don’t make as much time as I used to for webcomics, but I’m very glad I sat down and read through all of this again. Ladies and gentlemen, do you have what it takes to handle the terrifying, vaudevillian wonder that is Mister Miracle? Cue in The Fifth Beatle, a heart-wrenching biography about Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ faithful manager. Glyn Dillon has a way of using his art as an aid to bring a voice and color to his characters words and actions; and takes the time with traditional pencil and watercolor to make sure the expressions and flow of even the most mundane conversations are engaging to the reader. We follow the life of Lucia Joyce (James Joyce’s daughter) as well as that of Mary M. Talbot, the author of the graphic novel and daughter of Joycean scholar James S. Atherton. As in that series, Aaron approaches the story and its characters as all part of a complex and storied culture. The Hilda series is just pure fun, each book a thoughtful adventure with real heart and done in an aesthetic nostalgic, simple, and spritely. — Alex Lu, Like the perfect partner, Young Frances is a book that lands not simply because it’s excellent, but because it came into my life at the right time. Similar to Year One, Scott Snyder puts a lot of focus on Commissioner Gordon and his family, reintroducing his dangerous, mentally unstable son James Gordon Jr. to see how it impacts one of the corrupt city’s most fierce and loyal protectors. What makes Boxers & Saints special, though, is just how much attention is paid to presenting an evenhanded narrative that does not take sides but knows when to condemn clear acts of terrorism (which were authored from the Boxers’ side) and intolerance (which we get to see a lot of in the Saints book). The style is cute. On my personal list, I’d also include the Buccaletto/Manapul Flash volume 1 – “Move Forward.” The other diamond in the rough from the New 52 era DC. However with Big Kids, DeForge defined a new phase of his career, the dysmorphia finally tethered to an empathic world view. Hip Hop Family Tree looks like no other comic of the last decade. Bunjevac’s search for her own history unearths secrets about her father, a Serbian nationalist, and his actions against the Communist government in Yugoslavia, as well as the culpability of certain other family members in helping to create their disaster of a family life. — Samantha Puc. From DC and Marvel superheroes to manga, YA, and indie fare, these are the best comics … In this reunion, the dinner table leaves one seat vacant, because Cyclops is missing in action and presumed dead. Joe: Sierra Muerte for IDW. We've read a TON of great comics in the last 10 years, and we picked out the 100 best for you to passionately disagree with. From a Jim Lee-drawn Nazi-controlled Earth-10, to Cameron Stewart’s rendition of the Marvel Family’s Earth-5, to Chris Sprouse even echoing some of his previous Tom Strong work with the pulp-influenced Earth-20, Morrison and his creative partners paint a rich tapestry celebrating some of the best adventure storytelling that the DC universe has to offer. I loved it and my grandmother was more than happy to encourage me to read in English. Ultimately, My Friend Dahmer is about failure. 10 Best Marvel Comics Writers of the Last Decade 10 Saladin Ahmed. — Arpad Okay, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Jacob Wyatt, Elmo Bondoc, Takeshi Miyazawa, Nico Leon, Francesco Gaston, Marco Failla, Diego Olortegui, Ian Herring, Irma Knivila, and Joe Caramagna, with Saladin Ahmed, Rainbow Rowell, Hasan Minhaj, Devin Grayson, Eve L. Ewing, Jim Zub, Gustavo Duarte, Joey Vazquez, Kevin Libranda, Minkyu Jung, Juan Vlasco, and Bob Quinn (Marvel). But Fiffe delivered, and continues to do so. The comic was later turned into an animated short, narrated by Passmore. Mariko Tamaki’s coming-of-age graphic novel discusses mature themes from a teen’s perspective in a way that’s understanding and emotional. The point is to understand both sides first and then pass judgment. Dillon also gifts readers with a script about mental illness, obsession, violence, race, bizarre romance, and just trying to get by that matches its heartbreaking themes with empathy and relatable awkwardness. — Samantha Puc. The characters are all fantastic, and impressively intersectional. Matt Kennedy/Marvel Studios This story is part of The 2010s: A Decade in Review, a series on the memes, people, products, movies and so much more that have influenced the 2010s. The 2010s’ most prominent run on Silver Surfer — by writer Dan Slott, artist Michael Allred, and colorist Laura Allred — is a rare thing: a corporate superhero comic that pushes the medium while also speaking honestly to the beauty and sadness of our shared human condition. The Best Comics of the Decade | Den of Geek. That’s it. Sex Fantasy is. Scary though that may be. Here is an alphabetical list of my top comics that weren’t in my TOP FIVE. We stay interested in Punpun’s life journey, his highs and his lows. Truth: there are simply too many wonderful comics worlds to be encompassed in a single list like this — use it as a starting point, not a destination. Even if you are not familiar with Lucia Joyce or her father, this book is a remarkable exploration of the life a fragile individual, broken by the circumstances around her. Everyone’s personal information is out in the world for everyone to see. Accessibility aside, it’s also a career-defining achievement for talented creators writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples, with letters by Fonografiks. What if “good” and “evil” aren’t so black and white? Cover to ‘The Fade Out’ #12. The decade from 2010-2019 was a transformative one for comics. — Chloe Maveal, Scott Snyder, Jock, Francesco Francavilla, David Baron, Jared K. Fletcher, and Sal Cipriano (DC). — Heidi MacDonald, Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valerio-O’Connell (First Second). As non-fiction comics have grown, The Nib, both as an online source and more recently as a print publication, rose to the call to provide a regular outlet for the best of the work available. Hilda and the Black Hound combines zany ideas — a slapstick-laden, high-concept chase sequence of Buster Keaton proportions — with quiet lessons on trust and large feels life stuff. — Philippe Leblanc. Daredevil Vol. Rose’s story is a bridge between these two audiences and says firmly that they can both coexist in the comics medium. In the middle of all this is a neo-noir story that has all the bells and whistles one expects from the genre. The Fade Out. I hope they do it for another decade! The decade was great for books as well, with several huge epics finally reaching their conclusions (Wheel of Time).