The Best Comics of 2011!!!

The year is winding down, and with it comes a time to do one of my favorite things: rattling off a list of some of the greatest (and worst) things of the year. Since this column is associated with the mighty Jetpack Comics, let’s take a look at some of the best comics that came out this past year. Of course, these are just my opinion; so feel free to yell at me if you disagree next time you’re in the store.

Uncanny X-Force
Let’s get this right out of the way: this is best thing Marvel is publishing. Period. It may even be the best thing being published by ANY company.  Rick Remender has taken characters that are way too over exposed (Wolverine, Deadpool) and characters that need more time in the spotlight, (Fantomex) and created a compelling team that operates outside of the current X-goings on.  From the opening “Apocalypse Suite” arc to the just recently wrapped “Dark Angel Saga”, Uncanny X-Force has been firing on all cylinders, and from the sounds of it, it’s only just beginning. 









Batman

When the DC relaunch was first announced, there was a lot of speculation about the creative teams for the 52 new series. Many fears were alleviated once Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo were announced for the (once again Bruce Wayne) Dark Knight’s book. Branching off his other Bat-tales from last year, while also being completely new reader friendly, Snyder’s ongoing tale has introduced fans to The Court Of Owls, a mysterious society that has been working in secret in Gotham for centuries. Bruce’s refusal to believe that they even exist is quickly starting to be his downfall. Snyder’s excellent portrayal of Bruce Wayne’s personality coupled with Capullo’s jaw-dropping visuals makes this one of the best titles to come out of the DC relaunch. 

Rocketeer Adventures
I love The Rocketeer. It was one of the first movies that my parents had bought a replacement copy because I watched it so much. So naturally, when I learned that IDW was planning on doing an anthology series with some of the best creators in the business, I was extremely excited, and the series exceeded my expectations. From John Cassady’s gorgeous story in the opening issue to the amazing pin ups that were spaced out throughout the four issue run, every issue of Rocketeer Adventures filled me with joy and made me feel like I was five years old again, watching Cliff Secord soar over the skies and punching out Nazis.  









Demon Knights

This book came out of nowhere, and is probably still on the fringe of the DC “new 52”.  Focusing on Etrigan The Demon and his random band of medieval heroes, Demon Knights gives writer Paul Cornell freedom to go crazy with the medieval DC universe, and his knack for solid character work is in full force here. This is a book that I look forward to every time it’s released, and wish that each issue was twice as long as it really is. 

The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode
A mix between Kick-Ass and the Hulk, Image Comics’ The Strange Talent of Luther Strode is extremely bloody, but also extremely entertaining. Creators Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore came out of nowhere, and deserve every accolade they get with this series.  The book tells the tale of Luther Strode, a nerdy comic fan who mails away for a Charles Atlas type workout plan and gains extreme level super strength. This is a book FOR the dweeby comic nerd who was picked on his high school (so, a majority of us), and secretly wished that they could gain superpowers. As of right now it’s a six-issue mini, but hopefully this will give it the push it needs to become an ongoing. 







These five aren’t the only books worth your time though.  IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles relaunch rules, Action Comics got Grant Morrison back after Final Crisis, Wonder Woman is surprisingly good, Amazing Spider-man has been rock solid this year, and yes, I still like Mark Waid’s Daredevil.  Even the impossible, a great Aquaman comic book, happened in 2011.  But not everything that happened in comics was great this year. So stay tuned for next week’s column, where I’ll look at the flip side of things, and give you my opinion on what I thought were the WORST books of the year…