Life got crazy this year, so I was consistently behind on my comic book reading. That's why this list is so late. I needed my recency bias to help me with some of these picks. There were a lot of good surprises this year though, which I will talk about in more detail. One thing I'll start adding to these reviews is how many 2024 books I bought and read this year. This total is not how many comics I read in total, because I have a backlog of older stuff I cycle through as well when I get caught up on the recent stuff.
That official count is: 469.
Let's break that down. How do my numbers fall out in regard to publishers?
It's no surprise that I'm team Marvel, but I try to balance that with other publishers. DC is always my number two and then a toss up amongst the other indie publishers. What is surprising to me is that IDW has outpaced Image comics. But really, in looking at my numbers, that IDW number is inflated because those are 95% Ninja Turtle comics. My purchases from Image comics are primarily Transformers and G.I. Joe shit. I would LOVE to step out and get more indies, so I'm going to pay better attention this year.
Anways, Without further ado, here is part I of my review of 2024.
Dearly Departed (The Comics I dropped this year)
Before I get into the rest of my list, a moment of silence for the number of comics that I dropped this year after giving a good go at it:
- Incredible Hulk (Marvel)
- Daredevil (Marvel)
- Green Lantern: War Journal (DC)
- Batman and Robin (DC)
- Captain America (Marvel)
Deadpool/Wolverine (Marvel) - This movie was woefully short of comic book movies and that was a good thing. This movie would have one anyway. It's the closest thing we've gotten to an X-Men movie in years. I went into detail about this movie already in my review, but it was a fun ride. As much as I like Deadpool movies, hopefully this is the end of solo films for him. They are fun, but Deadpool as a character is exhausting. He's Spider-Man with no filter. On anything.
Honorable Mentions: N/A
Worst Comic Book Movie of 2024
Well, I guess there is no one to take this spot because I didn't watch any other comic book that came out in 2024. I saw Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but that is technically a 2023 movie. If I had watched that Joker sequel or that damn Kraven movie, it would end up here. Instead, because I'm a maschoist, I will watch those and review them later.
Honorable Mention: N/A
Favorite Comic Book TV Show of 2024
X-Men 97' (Marvel) - On the other hand, there were a LOT of shows that came out this year and the one that came out back in March EASILY takes the cake. While in retrospect, that old X-Men cartoon was bad, this show was the exact opposite and was good. They were able to lose the illusion that this is a show for kids and have storytelling that was more mature and nuanced. I can't say enough good things about this show, but it is fantastic.
Honorable Mentions: Agatha All Along (Marvel), My Adventures with Superman Season 2 (DC)
Honorable Mentions: N/A
Worst Comic Book Movie of 2024
Well, I guess there is no one to take this spot because I didn't watch any other comic book that came out in 2024. I saw Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but that is technically a 2023 movie. If I had watched that Joker sequel or that damn Kraven movie, it would end up here. Instead, because I'm a maschoist, I will watch those and review them later.
Honorable Mention: N/A
Favorite Comic Book TV Show of 2024
X-Men 97' (Marvel) - On the other hand, there were a LOT of shows that came out this year and the one that came out back in March EASILY takes the cake. While in retrospect, that old X-Men cartoon was bad, this show was the exact opposite and was good. They were able to lose the illusion that this is a show for kids and have storytelling that was more mature and nuanced. I can't say enough good things about this show, but it is fantastic.
Honorable Mentions: Agatha All Along (Marvel), My Adventures with Superman Season 2 (DC)
Worst Comic Book TV show of 2024
What If (Marvel) - I haven't written a full post to rail on this show yet, but out of all the shows I watch, this is the one that feels like a chore. My problem is that the What If scenarios are boring concepts to begin with and the execution doesn't get any better. Yes, I really wanted to see what would have happened if Hela had the ten rings. The problem is the What If comics took a scenario and took it in the opposite direction of what happened. This show takes a scenario and goes in a direction that is completely unrelated to the premise. I could go on, but I'll save that rant for a longer post.
Honorable Mention: Harley Quinn Season 3.
The “Oh you still come out and I buy you” of 2024
Gargoyles (Dynamite) - I honestly can't tell you why I still buy this book. I'm not really enjoying it that much. I loved the TV show and this is a continuation of that. The problem is, I never saw season 3, so I started at a deficit with this series. It makes no attempt to catch you up, so I'm just living in this world trying to follow along. Unfortunately, the art is just not good. It's cartoony, but feels off. And the writing is fine, but again, they don't explain anything in the past, they expect that you're already a super fan and up on everything. That is comic book malpractice. At least have a summary page or something. I seriously need to drop this book.
The "Oh, why don't I drop you because it would be so easy" of 2024
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (Marvel) - It's not that I forget this book comes out, it's more of a "Why do I still buy this book." To understand why I do this is to understand the economics of comics. Some of us have cried out for more diversity in comics. When the comic companies do that, no one buys them and then they have to go back to their old tricks. That is why you see race swapping of known characters. It's having your cake (using a popular established character as a crutch) and then doing something slightly different. I buy this book to help it's numbers so they can keep doing this.
Where I sit with this book is this: we have a black writer that has a more authentic voice for Miles. Black Writers tend to pull in other little used black characters and team them up. Now I get to see Misty Knight heavily involved as a mentor or Sam Wilson will show up or Black Panther, etc. So that is fun. The problem is this Spider-Man doesn't have a rogue's gallery on his own and any new ones that are created just don't feel interesting. The art is also all over the map and something about it is just not clicking with me. This is another thing I will expand on in a later post.
Favorite New Artist of 2024
Belén Ortega (Wonder Woman) - She has been doing these back up stories in Wonder Woman throughout the year and I instantly fell in love with her art. It's a little anime-ish, but that would be too reductive in what she does. The facial expressions are on point, the art feels dynamic when there is action and her characters just look cool. I seriously hope DC gives her a push as a main artist on a series somewhere.
Favorite New Artist of 2024
Belén Ortega (Wonder Woman) - She has been doing these back up stories in Wonder Woman throughout the year and I instantly fell in love with her art. It's a little anime-ish, but that would be too reductive in what she does. The facial expressions are on point, the art feels dynamic when there is action and her characters just look cool. I seriously hope DC gives her a push as a main artist on a series somewhere.
Honorable Mentions: Vincenzo Carratu (Psylocke)
Worst Artist of 2024
Francesco Mortarino (Fantastic Four) - Within comics, you'll get fill-in artists when the main artist needs a break. That's where the disparity in art really comes through. I say all that to say that fortunately, I only had to deal with this person's art in one issue (Fantastic Four #16). His chracters had weird noses, Val looked the same age as Franklin and his rendition of the Thing is probably the worst I have ever seen. His head looked tiny in comparison to his body and he had a tin man looking jaw. He was not ready for prime time.
Honorable Mentions: Danny Earls - Incredible Hulk #11
Favorite Artist of 2024
Dan Mora (Justice League Unlimited, Absolute Power, Superman) - I should have had this man up here sooner. He's one of those rare artists that if I see his name attached to a book, no matter what it is, I'm getting it. He's got a cartoony art style that is full of character and energy. He's got the workman like output of a Mark Bagley. I honestly don't know how this man keeps up the consistency of his work and puts out so much in a year like he has. Modern day artists simply don't do this. Health issues pop up and I am legitimately worried that Dan is striking while the iron is hot before he inevitably falls to father time.
Honorable Mentions:
Favorite New Writer (to me) of 2024
Dan Watters (Destro) - It was hard to find any writers I haven't already read comics by so I THINK this is my first time experiencing Dan. I thoroughly enjoyed his Destro mini series and this new thing they are doing with G.I. Joe. The fact he was able to turn me is a testament. This book was fun and I felt like it was well written. I'll be keeping an eye on him.
Honorable Mentions: N/A
Worst Writer of 2024
J. Michael Strazynski (Captain America) - Maybe I hold a grudge, but I've never forgiven this guy for a Spider-Man story about 15 years ago that had the return of Gwen Stacy in about the weirdest way imaginable. Since then, I have thought of him as a hack and his job on Captain American didn't change my mind. I had to drop it because I couldn't take it anymore and my time is valuable. I could give more details, but I don't want to. I don't like the guy's writing. Full stop.
Honorable Mentions: N/A. (I can't remember anyone else that should be on this list)
Favorite New Writer (to me) of 2024
Dan Watters (Destro) - It was hard to find any writers I haven't already read comics by so I THINK this is my first time experiencing Dan. I thoroughly enjoyed his Destro mini series and this new thing they are doing with G.I. Joe. The fact he was able to turn me is a testament. This book was fun and I felt like it was well written. I'll be keeping an eye on him.
Honorable Mentions: N/A
Worst Writer of 2024
J. Michael Strazynski (Captain America) - Maybe I hold a grudge, but I've never forgiven this guy for a Spider-Man story about 15 years ago that had the return of Gwen Stacy in about the weirdest way imaginable. Since then, I have thought of him as a hack and his job on Captain American didn't change my mind. I had to drop it because I couldn't take it anymore and my time is valuable. I could give more details, but I don't want to. I don't like the guy's writing. Full stop.
Honorable Mentions: N/A. (I can't remember anyone else that should be on this list)
The Oversaturation of 2024
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Same as the year before, we continue this year too. Again, I love the Turtles, but Jesus H. Christ. They are everywhere. (** Editors Note, I didn't change this section from last year because it was STILL true. ** )
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