Comic Book Guy: 2010 in review
While a voting constitution consisting of a single person may be unethical and entirely unfair, with the end of 2010 approaching the time comes to highlight the best of the comic book year.
There is always a plethora of new titles each year and 2010 was no different, but the best new series of the year has to be DC’s American Vampire by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque. In a year where Twilight put forward the potential death of vampire credibility this series introduced new radical Americanised vampires that thrive in sunlight. Each story arc charts this new breed through a different decade of the 20th century with innovative fresh storytelling breathing new life into the undead.
Snyder’s writing is a contender for best of the year, as many know it is the writing talent that a comic book can live or die by; but he is beaten to the post by this year’s man of the moment, Grant Morrison. The Batman & Robin writer is a born storyteller whose creative vision broke the mould of stagnant comic book narrative to turn the medium on its head. When Morrison returned to the characters who were old friends from his days writing Arkham Asylum, it was with the intention to pull the proverbial rug from under and deliver an original twist in a cynical age to rebirth The Batman.
With every great writer there must come great artists and, although there were numerous great indie artists this year, few have bested Ivan Reis’ work on DC’s Blackest Night and Brightest Day mini series’. Built around Green Lanterns’ Hal Jordan, this multi character crossover demanded more than just action packed artwork, but also that of true emotional depth. Delivered in his trademark style Reis cemented his reputation as one of DC’s most reliable artists with this standout.
But when it comes to naming one title as the years showcase the best continuing series of the year comes as no surprise. Now TV viewers have come to know what comic book readers have been privy to for a long time, that The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman is just plain excellent. For this indie title to be the highlight outside of the Marvel DC domination (it’s published by Image) is a testament to its engrossing stories of zombies, cannibals, walled communities and the psychology of the survivor.
With 2010 presenting a fearless line up of indies, reinventions, crossovers and events we wait with baited breath for 2011, may it continue to break the mould.