Ongoing Comics:
Last year I read about 350 comics, and this year I read 450, which is the most I've read in the last three years.
It seems like there's a lot more miniseries than anything else, just like last year. I had 10 best new series and 9 best ongoing series.
Best Ongoing Series:
1. Nightwing (#100-109) (Last year #1 Ongoing)
A very satisfying 100th issue that brought back the Titans lead to a slightly down year for Nightwing, as it spent a lot of time setting up Titans, and playing around in a supernatural story featuring Z-list villain Neron, but it came on strong at the end with a fun pirate-themed story. Even lower tier Nightwing by Taylor is still pretty great, though, and it remains my favorite ongoing title.
2. Fantastic Four (#3-14) (Last year #7 New Series)
A bunch of good done-in-one sci-fi superhero stories, closing out with dinosaur Dr. Doom and a cliffhanger payoff to the missing Baxter Building that was set up in the first two issues makes this my favorite Fantastic Four run in a long time. I might even put it above Byrne and Waid/Wieringo if it keeps up this pace.
3. Moon Knight (#19-30, Annual #1) (Last year #3 Ongoing)
Starting the year off with the deep cut villainy of The Commodore and closing it off by seemingly killing off Marc Spector to start a relaunch in 2024, this got almost too in-the-weeds Moon Knight continuity at times, but McKay's Moon Knight continues to be a fantastic take on the character, and the strong supporting cast and Midnight Mission setting gives me a lot of hope for the new Moon Knight in the new year.
4. Doctor Strange (#1-10) (Last year #4 New)
I enjoyed McKay's series focused on Clea, but the return of Stephen Strange, working with his warlord wife, has been even better. General Strange is a really exceptionally adversary, and I like the setup of W.A.N.D. and various other trappings of this book.
5. Star Trek (3-16, Annual 1, Day of Blood, Day of Blood Shax's Best Day)
2023 was the year I finally watched all of Deep Space 9 and finally fell in love with Lower Decks, which made it the perfect year for this series, which like Lower Decks, uses every bit of Star Trek continuity, and like Deep Space 9, is not afraid to explore the darker aspects of Trek. The Day of Blood crossover, finishing off the story started in Star Trek #1 last year, was really strong, and the new status quo for the Theseus is really working well so far. Better than at least half of the Star Trek shows, and as strong as some of the best.
6. Spider-Man (4-11) (Last Year #10 New)
I'll be honest, I think Dan Slott's story, introducing Spider-Boy, is merely OK compared to the work he did on Amazing Spider-Man, but with maybe the worst Amazing Spider-Man I've ever seen by Zeb Wells as a backdrop, this is a welcome port in the storm for Spider-Man fans who don't want to tear their hair out every month.
7. Punisher (9-12) (Last Year #8 New)
Turns out this was a miniseries, but I'm counting it in the ongoing series list, because I've got too many miniseries already. This was a satisfying end for Frank Castle, and while I'm almost certain they'll bring him back, this story will resonate better if they don't.
8. Daredevil (7-14) (Last Year #2 Best Returning)
Zdarsky's Daredevil ended... kinda weird, to be honest. But there was a lot to like throughout, and it remains another great run for a character who has had a surprising number of great runs.
9. Saga (61-66) (Last Year #4 Best Returning)
There was a time when Saga was my runaway favorite series, and the loss of Marko and the many delays have turned it into one I merely like. But I do still like it.
Best New Series:
1. Transformers (#1-3)
We're three issues into Daniel Warren Johnson's Transformers run and it's the best Transformers I've ever read. I'm a mild Transformers fan, but DWJ is doing something really interesting and unique. Specifically the action sequences are fantastic, but the tie-in to the new Energon universe is making me like the G.I. Joe/Transformers connection in a way I haven't previously.
2. Duke (#1)
It may seem a little crazy to put a book on the #2 spot when I've only read one issue, but it's a great first issue, and it plays very well with what has been going on with the Energon books Transformers and Void Rivals. There's a lot of promise in the G.I. Joe universe for the first time in a while, and since G.I. Joe is what got me into comics, I'm pretty excited about it.
3. Avengers Inc. (#1-4)
Well as it turns out this is canceled with the next issue, but that doesn't change the fact that this Wasp-led P.I. book is the best Avengers book in a long time. Al Ewing does some great work with B- and C-list villains and heroes, and I'm sad we won't be getting more of it.
4. Birds of Prey (#1-4)
Kelly Thompson has a fresh take on this team that I've always liked, with some great moment-to-moment writing and a fun concept. Leonardo Romero's art is at least half the selling point, though. I've always liked his art but his new style is really beautiful.
5. Star Trek Defiant (#1-10)
This companion book to Star Trek, putting Worf together with a crew including Spock, Lore, Sela, Ro, and several others, is just as good as the primary series. And the post-Day of Blood status quo, turning them into bounty hunters dealing with other Next Gen-era threats, has been great so far.
6. Titans (#1-6)
While I really like the idea of Titans as the replacement for the Justice League, based out of Bludhaven, and Taylor is always good with the moment-to-moment writing, I've been a little let down by the plot so far. It's still fun, but I hope that the story re-aligns after Beast World ends.
7. Immortal Thor (#1-5)
Al Ewing's take on the Hulk was a great ride, and his take on Thor is completely different, but of the same
level of quality and fitting the character just as well.
8. W0rldTr33 (#1-6)
One of the creepiest horror series I've ever read, Tynion continues to be the best horror writer in comics.
9. Void Rivals (#1-6)
The launching point of the Energon Universe, it's an interesting sci-fi story so fr.
10. Green Lantern War Journal (#1-4)
This new series focused on John Stewart has been not only good for him, but the best use of Steel I've seen since Priest wrote him.
Miniseries:
1. Peacemaker Tries Hard
2. Batman Santa Claus
3. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees
4. Adventures of Jon Kent Superman
5. Rare Flavours
6. Dark Knights of Steel (#9-12) (#1 best miniseries)
7. Marvel Unleashed
8. Star Trek Holo-Ween
9. Star Trek Deep Space Nine The Dog of War
10. Secret Invasion
11. The Deviant
12. DCeased War of the Undead Gods (#1 best returning)
13. Quest
14. TMNT/Usagi Yojimbo Wherewhen
15. Seasons Have Teeth
16. Clear
17. Dungeons & Dragons Fortune Finder.
18. Titans Beast World
19. Batman City of Madness
20. Fishflies
21. Usagi Yojimbo Ice and Snow
Best One-Shots:
There were not a lot of great one-shots this year.
1. Batman One Bad Day Ra's Al Ghul
Tom Taylor's chapter in this mostly forgettable series of one-shots was really good, giving Ra's Al Ghul a little bit of a Poison Ivy-esque makeover while not completely selling out Batman.
2. Batman/Catwoman Gotham War Battle Lines
The crossover story that followed was good until it ended in a pretty terrible way, but this one-shot, setting up a Civil War type story where a Zur-En-Ah influenced Batman took on a Catwoman who was reforming henchmen, leading the Bat-family to have to take sides, was a pretty interesting setup.
3. Superior Spider-Man Returns
I'm not sure we really need Superior Spider-Man back, but this was a good way to bring Otto back into this part of his life.
4. Fallen Friend The Death of Ms. Marvel
Killing off Kamala Khan for shock value in Amazing Spider-Man only to bring her back a month later was unbelievably stupid. But this tribute to the character, with work from G. Willow Wilson, Mark Waid, and others, was really good.
5. Space Usagi Yokai Hunters
Fun to see Space Usagi again, but I would have preferred a new miniseries to a one-shot that spends a lot of time in feudal Usagi times.
Best Graphic Novels for the Year:
- Where The Body Was HC
- Nightwing Vol 3-4 HC
- Night Fever HC
- Nice House on the Lake HC
- Dark Knights of Steel Vol 2 HC
- DCeased War of the Undead Gods HC
- Adventures of Superman Jon Kent HC
- Superman Son of Kal-El Vol 3 HC
- DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie HC
- Spider-Man Animals Assemble HC
- Parker Girls HC
- D&D Endless Nights of Adventure TP
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