Geekscape Picks the Best Comics of 2009!

Peter Tomasi takes the galactic police force that Geoff Johns reinvigorated in Green Lantern and shows why this is the DCU book you should really be reading if you want to know what’s going on on a huge scale. This really does feel like a big ensemble book without falling into the conventions of other popular team books like JLA and X-Men… and any Bendis Avengers book. Here, there are no big three carrying the title (although Kyle Rayner and Guy Gardner are in there to represent Earth). In fact, it’s the smaller characters and relationships that often swing into focus when least expected that really make Green Lantern Corps shine. 

I’m heartbroken that this series by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson is only four issues long. When Bibbiani recommended this book to me as Bunnicula meets Fringe, I thought he was next going to try and sell me a bridge… but while his comparison is pretty accurate it falls well short of being able to convey all of the humor, excitement, depth and just flat out paranormal investigating creepiness in every issue.  Really! It’s household pets investigating paranormal activities… AND IT’S AWESOME!

I was so close to dropping this title. The first 6 issues had some pretty cool moments but nothing that led me to believe that Kick Ass was going to be anything more than a “what if superheroes were REAL” series. We’d seen that thesis developed by many creators over the last four decades and 6 issues of a mini-series is a bit of a wait for an actual story to show up. Sure, John Romita Jr. IS the best artist in comics… but where was this going?!? The answer is in issue 7. Mark Millar writes some of the best moments in comics and issue 7 was packed with them. My eyes went wide almost at the very start and remained glued to each panel until the last page was turned. Now all things point towards the yet to be released issue 8 to make things complete. If good writing is putting your main characters through a ringer and seeing how they’ll respond, Kick Ass #7 is full of ringers and the writing (and artwork) is great. 

Still the best and most underappreciated X-Men title. More or less divorced from all the mega crossovers and mutant baby messiahs of the other X books, Peter David has continued to develop the must dysfunctional band of mutant C-listers, more or less undisturbed in their own little corner of the Marvel Universe. Peter David did drop the ball on certain plot points here and there this year, but these are still the most fun mutants to read about month in and month out.

The first two issues came out in 2008, but the rest of the series came out in ’09, so it counts in my book. This one didn’t have the greatest story in the world, but getting all three versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes and getting George Perez to draw them all in a giant orgy of continuity porn was too much for a thirtysomething geek like me to resist. Also this series corrected two big DC Universe fuck ups of the last few years; the killing off of both Superboy Conner Kent and Kid Flash. And the cherry on top is villain Superboy Prime, the uber powerful version of every petulant angry fanboy with internet access. 

Superman returns to the remnants of his people, only to find out they are classist, racist, and arrogant. Well, most of them. Writers Greg Rucka and James Robinson have done a great job of not painting the entire race of Kryptonians with one brush, and have even given depth to former mustache twirling villain General Zod. Also, the only Superman book out right now that Superman is actually IN, which is nice.

1. Batman and Robin 

After Final Crisis and Batman R.I.P. I thought that Grant Morrison had finally choked on his own bullshit. I am a huge Grant Morrison from way back so I really pained me to read his last few offerings when they sucked so gigantically. So why did I bother picking up Batman and Robin? Because Frank Quitely was on board and All Star Superman last year was the most amazing mini since Kingdom Come. It was well worth it. The stories were like “Batman back to basics” and the art was so gorgeous I wanted to fuck the pages with my eyes. Dick Grayson has been such a great Batman I am actually sad that Bruce Wayne’s returning from the grave. 

To those that know me personally, then know I have a thing for the redheads. So when I’m told that Batwoman is a tough-ass roundhouse-kicking redhead in skintight leather my interest was peaked, as was my penis. Too bad she’s a lesbian, arrrggghhh! When she was introduced nearly four years ago Kate Kane was more of a shock value gimmick to get readers then a viable character. She would have stayed that way if it weren’t for her current run on Detective Comics. Between Greg Rucka’s amazing prose and J.H. Williams’ painterly art style made her not just a female comic character or a gay comic character but a superhero for all fans of the medium. 

I have a fever and the only cure is more comics written by Geoff Johns. 

I read all the sick shit that happens in the pages and think to myself, “And I thought that Geoff Johns was such a nice guy.” Not only does bad things happen or that people die it’s the sadistic way the Black Lanterns go about it. As it wasn’t enough to eat somebody’s heart –you have to make them cry first. Blackest Night is actually making up for the abortion that was Final Crisis, weird. 

Geoff Johns once again sets out on his recon mission across the DC universe. This stop – Smallville. How interesting can it be to tell the most retold origin story ever conceived? Well in the hands of Geoff Johns everything old is new again. The Story isn’t so much reinvented for the modern age as is refined. This isn’t about arching changes to the superman lore. It’s about the small details that makes it fun, like Clark needing to wear special glasses made from his spaceship not because he’s hiding is identity, but to control his heat vision that goes off when ever he gets aroused by a girl. By making Clark discover his powers like a teenager discovering hair while going through puberty, Geoff Johns made an invulnerable alien from a distant planet relatable. 

The Geoff Johns Blowjob festival continues. What can I say; he’s the best writer in comics of this age. You could say this about quality and quantity as well. The hardest working writer in the biz bid farewell to the title that launched him to geek stardom. This issue feels as if it wasn’t just another writer leaving for other projects or another chapter in comics ending – it felt much more personal than that. In a way Geoff Johns was also saying goodbye to his beloved and deceased sister. Johns’ sister, Courtney, died tragically on July 17, 1996 when TWA flight 800 exploded in midair and crashed into the Atlantic ocean. He created Stargirl, Courtney Whitmore as a way of honoring someone he cared dearly for. So in John’s final issue he centered the story on an average day in the life of Stargirl. It was a story of such warmth and love that it melted my Grinchy heart. Ending the issue with a thank you to the readership that had kept track of his run on the title since the beginning, Johns made a final mark by saying that the Justice Society wasn’t just another superhero team – they were family. 

This year Marvel quietly did something DC was unable to do, they put out a weekly— correction, high volume, series and maintained a relatively high standard. With the exception of Raptor, Spider-Man has reminded us why its the Marvel flagship title.

I am so happy that I stuck with this title. Having one of the best issues / storylines in 2007, then stumbling through 2008 due to larger Marvel continuity, X-Factor returns to its rightful spot, as one of the best x-books at Marvel. 

Its a bit early to call this the best book of the year, but you can’t deny how pretty and awesome the art by J.H. Willimas III is. While the first story arc left me cold, I’m enjoy the current origin of Batwoman storyline. If this quality continues, expect it to be named best series of 2010. 

Its a shame that Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly launched Batman and Robin this year, and that this book is tied with the $3.99 co-feature format. These two facts probably have prevented this book from getting the focus that it deserves. Out of the handful of issues released so far its safe to say that this book,much like the 1990’s Shadow of the Bat series, hasn’t been world-changing, and probably never will be (those events will be left for the core titles) but it has been the place to fine good, solid Batman stories.