2012 in Comics: Best Series of the Year

After countless hours of quality comic-book reading time in 2012 (thanks to the wonderful folks at Bridge City Comics and the invaluable Multnomah County library system), I can honestly say it was a spectacular year for comic fans, and the future is nothing but bright.

Sure, some big things went down in the world of superheroes last year, but other than one particular pointy-eared hero, you won't find much Marvel or DC on this list. If you're new to the medium, most of these books would make for wonderful introductions. Here are my top picks for some of the best ongoing series of the year!

*Note: While all of these series are available on the digital reading platform Comixology –  on smart phones, tablets, and right on your computer screen – many first issues are also offered there for free! Simply create a free account and you're ready to get reading.

FATALE

Writer: Ed Brubaker – Artist: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics

The Rundown: A classy noir with a supernatural horror twist, following an entrancing femme fatale and the men who stumble into her path.

I'm an absolute sucker for a solid noir tale, and even more of a sucker for supernatural horror. So you can imagine my excitement when this series was announced, pairing longtime creative partners Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (best known for their CRIMINAL series, among many other credits).

With tight and stylish writing, juicy cliffhangers, and stunning artwork, FATALE is a huge success each and every issue.

Vol. 1: Death Chases Me

Buy It:                                      

Better World Books

Amazon

Comixology (digital)

Read It Now:

*Free First Issue*

Spoiler-Free Review: Snowtown (aka The Snowtown Murders)

Plot: Based on the true story of Australia's worst serial killer, John Bunting (Daniel Henshall), whose string of killings is often referred to as the "Bodies in Barrels Murders," this grounded interpretation narrows in on 16 year-old Jamie (Lucas Pittaway). After experiencing tragedies of his own, the impressionable teen falls under the wing of Bunting and his crusade of evil.

Review: How do you approach making a film about heinous slayings pulled from the headlines without destining it to a Wal-Mart bargain big alongside other true-life murder flicks such as Dahmer, Ed Gein, and Gacy? The answer is simple, but far from obvious: don't make it a horror movie. Writer-director Justin Kerzel, in his first feature, manages to approach this well-publicized story without the bells and whistles of typical horror and treats the material with a much more appropriate natural style, which makes the horrible crimes all the more disturbing.

It's been a long time since I've seen an entire ensemble cast master naturalism so perfectly, with particular emphasis on Henshall's entirely believable and utterly terrifying turn. By underplaying Bunting as seemingly nothing more than a charming guy-from-down-the-street, Henshall shows us just how easy it would be for a susceptible mind to be swayed by Bunting's magnetic personality. But as much as Henshall stands out, it really is the effort of the entire cast that makes Snowtown feel like it could be happening right next door.

Daniel Henshall as John Bunting

There's no way to address this film without mentioning its graphic content. Before the screening, a speaker reminded the audience several times that the film is indeed very violent, and that refunds would be given to those who left the theater within the first 25 minutes of the movie. Yes, many people couldn't stomach it; I haven't heard so many seats flipping back and forth since I saw Brokeback Mountain in my Eastern Oregon hometown of about 10,000 people. What makes the violence so unnerving is not the direct filming of the murders, which we actually get very little of thanks to Kurzel's knack for suggestion, but the reactions from the characters to what they're seeing. Because Jaime is shocked to the core by what he witnesses, we feel exactly the same way, which is much more unsettling than watching Jason tear a promiscuous teen in half with a machete. Don't be surprised if you catch yourself feeling like a silent participant in these appalling proceedings; such is the hypnotic nature of Snowtown.

If you think you can handle the content matter, I can't recommend Snowtown enough. It is one of the most uniquely unnerving cinematic experiences I have had in a long while, and many of its beautifully framed images will stick in my mind for years to come – for better or worse.

A word of warning, though: I would recommend not seeing this film in a densely-packed shopping mall on a Friday night. Coming out of the theater and having to face escalators and screeching teenagers was jarring, to say the least.

Spoiler-Free Review: Kill List

Viewed as part of the After Dark portion of the Portland International Film Festival. 

Plot: I read this several times before seeing Ben Wheatley's second feature film Kill List, and I heard it again from the speaker who introduced the screening: the less you know about this movie going in, the better. I will say that it involves a hitman (Neil Maskell), which you can gather from the title, and that what starts as a well-written family drama gradually morphs into something much more sinister.

Here's a little more help. If you enjoy any of the following films, you may want to check out Kill List:

- The Wicker Man (1973)
- In Bruges
- The Descent

Review:  More than anything else, Kill List deserves a great amount of credit for its ambition to blend the crime drama, psychological thriller, and horror genres into an effective 95-minute film. The script by Wheatley and Amy Jump invites us into the home of our lead character and fleshes out his relationship to his family and friends so well that, like all the best horror, we actually care about what happens to him.

One thing's for sure: this film is not for the squeamish. As the plot spirals into darkness, the level of unsettling violence rises. But more disturbing than the bloodshed is the path that Wheatley has laid out for his protagonist; I'm not exaggerating when I say that one particular moment of the film sent chills throughout my entire body and, when I re-lived the scene in my mind on the drive home, caused the hair on my arms to stand up straight.

Not to say that Kill List is perfect. I had no trouble with several aspects of the film being left up to the imagination of the audience, but there are a few pacing issues throughout that may cause restless viewers to shift in their seats. If you fall into this camp, do yourself a favor and hold strong through the final act, which should send genre fans home with a punch to the gut and more than a handful of questions to ponder with their friend/spouse/partner – who most likely thought the film was garbage.

Kill List debuted at South by Southwest last March, and receives a limited U.S. release on February 3. It is also available now on Video on Demand, if you're so inclined.

Comic Review: Batman #1

Batman #1

Script: Scott Snyder

Pencils: Greg Capullo

Ink: Jonathan Glapion

Price: $2.99/$1.99 digital

Publisher: DC Comics

Here's the deal: If you even moderately enjoy the ill-tempered Dark Knight detective, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book.

Story:
Scott Snyder has managed to turn every one of his stories into pure gold, so the comic-book community was rightfully overjoyed when DC announced that Snyder would be penning his own take on Bruce Wayne. 

And it's nothing short of wonderful.

Instead of burdening himself with a "new" and "fresh" take on Batman, Snyder manages to inject all of the details that we already know and love about the character into every single page. We get a Batman who is confident, ambitious, and adept at mopping the floor with his entire rogue's gallery of villains in a single evening. Snyder also does a spectacular job with creating exciting and imaginative additions to Batman's utility belt, enhancing his reputation as a detective, first and foremost. 

As Bruce Wayne, our hero announces his optimistic plans for Gotham's future and seems much more chipper than usual, and it's a refreshing angle on the typically dreary and pessimistic crimefighter. 

But everyone should know that things won't stay bright and peppy for long; this expertly paced issue ends with a cliffhanger that is guaranteed to make Bruce question the inherent "good" of Gotham City. 

Art:
After years of drawing elaborate monsters and creative carnage on Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Greg Capullo brings his unique and borderline cartoonish style to Batman, and it looks fantastic. There is a definite "back-to-basics" vibe with the look of the Batsuit that can be compared to David Mazzucchelli's groundbreaking work in Batman: Year One, and the straightforward design gives Batman a youthful and energetic presence.

Good ol' Bats can certainly bring the pain.

The opening sequence featuring the Dark Knight containing a breakout at Arkham is downright thrilling, and while it doesn't necessarily further the plot, it serves as a perfect representation of what Batman is: one badass dude. We're also treated to a straight-up classic wide-angle splash page of the Batcave and all of its contents, which would look great blown-up and framed on my wall.

My only minor issue here: Why must every artist (and writer, for that matter) feel the need to completely redefine The Joker? I don't necessarily dislike his wacky look in this issue, but it's getting a bit old, people.

New-Reader Friendly?
If you've seen a single Bat-flick or TV show, you're good to go here. Well, other than the fact that Batman has gone through several Robins over the years, and the most recent one is Bruce's biological son from one steamy evening with Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia. There, now you're all set!

For a double-whammy of awesome, snag this along with Batman #2, in stores tomorrow!

Comic Review: Animal Man #1

Animal Man #1

Script: Jeff Lemire

Art: Travel Foreman, Dan Green

Price: $2.99/$1.99 digital

Alright everyone, now THIS is good stuff.

Story:
The concept of Animal Man could easily result in all-around silliness: a man named Buddy Baker is tapped into the planet's wildlife, and he can use this connection to possess the abilities of any animal he chooses.

Goofy? Hang on a sec.

Instead of traveling the world punching bad guys and delivering monologues about saving the pandas (although these tasks do fall under his job description), Buddy's primary role is as a husband and father of two. Jeff Lemire is a writer who knows how to bring out the intricacies and subtle quirks of his characters through traditionally mundane situations, such as the kitchen scene in this issue, and he delivers in spades with just about every line of dialogue here. The Baker family feels like a complex and and fascinating bunch – who just happen to have a super-powered father.

But Lemire doesn't settle for a simply fun, suburban superhero tale. After a shocking event during what Buddy expects to be a routine job, the book spirals into full-on horror mode; Buddy has a doosie of a nightmare, giving him his first glimpse of what could be his most horrifying challenge yet.

And that last page...yikes. Let's just say there's something wrong with the Bakers' youngest daughter, Maxine.

Anyone else get a Captain Kirk vibe here?

Art:
I can't imagine a better artist for this creepy tale than Travel Foreman. His extra-thin lines and untraditional page layouts give the book a slightly off-putting vibe, which is absolutely perfect given the dark places that this story is headed.

Having said that, Foreman's style definitely takes a little getting used to. He uses much more negative space than most comic artists – too many artists feel the need to fill every centimeter of the page – allowing the characters to pop off the page. There are also several downright strange facial expressions to be found, but they help define their characters in a unique way, so I'm all for it.

Oh yeah, and Buddy's nightmare sequence? Gorgeous and terrifying all at once. This book is worth a purchase for those few pages alone.

New-Reader Friendly?
I had never touched an Animal Man comic before, and I felt like I knew everything I needed to know to enjoy this story. Lemire also slapped on a clever "interview" with Buddy Baker on the first page that essentially sums up the character's history to this point. So there you go. 

Next: behold the awesome power of Batman #1!

Comic Review: Swamp Thing #1

Swamp Thing #1

Script: Scott Snyder

Art: Yanick Paquette

Price: $2.99/$1.99 digital

Since it's October and all, I know what you must be thinking: What a perfect time to pick up some horror comics! 

Okay, so maybe that wasn't your first thought, but why not? There are some fantastically creepy funnybooks sitting on the shelves (literal or digital) just waiting to be cracked open, and Scott Snyder's Swamp Thing is a great place to start.

Here is a little background on what Swamp Thing is all about:

Alec Holland was a botanist working on a project that could change the collective future of the world's flora and fauna. But as these things go, a tragic lab accident left Holland on the brink of death until he was essentially absorbed into "The Green" – or the consciousness of all the earth's vegetation – and transformed into Swamp Thing, defender of "The Green."

Sound geeky? Perhaps, but a single read through the pages of Swamp Thing will have you ducking under the covers, rather than rolling your eyes.

Story:
Swamp Thing #1 kicks off with Alec returning to his life as a human being after years spent as Swamp Thing. Snyder is a writer who clearly does his homework before delving into a script, and this issue only furthers his reputation. Full of specific plant-related details only a botanist would know, Snyder's narration invites the reader into Alec's mind and shows us why he was such a strong candidate to defend the world's plant life.

But all is not well on planet Earth, and Snyder brings his tried-and-true sense of dread to the story within the first two pages. Not to mention the mass-murdering beast that shows up about halfway through – but those details are best discovered on their own.

There's a lot of buildup in this issue (which comes with the territory in a "#1"), but it's so carefully crafted that it perfectly captures the sheer terror guaranteed to come later in the series.

Art: 
Yanick Paquette's big, bold lines do a wonderful job of separating this book from the pack. And while his page layouts in the scenes with Alec get the job done, he really hits it out of the park with the "monster" sequences; the thick divisions between panels look like black moss growing across the pages, which are perfect compliments to the eerie contents of the panels themselves.

However, a visit from the boy in blue only reminds me that I can't seem to accept this re-design on Superman's costume. It just looks...unnecessary.

Say goodbye to the red undies.

 New-Reader Friendly?
While this book works well as a "new beginning" for Swamp Thing, it wouldn't hurt to bop on over to Wikipedia and have a look over the character's history. Or even better, check out the legendary Alan Moore's work on our gooey hero!

Next: More eerie pre-Halloween reading with Animal Man #1!

Comic Review: Detective Comics #1

I'm going to get something out of the way right now: I'm a huge Batman fan. In fact, one of my first memories features me sitting five inches away from the television and playing my VHS copy of Tim Burton's Batman until the tape literally fell apart (while fast-forwarding through the "scary parts" of course).

Detective Comics #1

Script: Tony S. Daniel
Pencils: Tony S. Daniel
Ink: Ryan Winn
Price: $2.99/$1.99 digital
Publisher: DC Comics

Story
After Scott Snyder's masterful run on Detective Comics last year, I was a little nervous to see the creative team switcheroo. Upon reading the blasted thing, it's safe to say that there was cause for concern.


In this issue, we've got a young, confident Batman swinging across the rooftops of Gotham City and chasing (wait for it) The Joker. Now look, I love The Joker; he's my favorite villain, the ying to Batman's yang, yadda yadda yadda. But I can't help feeling like we've seen this all before.

Other than the re-hashed plot devices (CRAZY Joker, rooftop meeting with Commissioner Gordon, etc.), Tony S. Daniel seems to be under the impression that Batman loves to chit-chat. His pages are littered with the Caped Crusader explaining his every thought to the reader, from the unnecessary ("Tonight I'm feeling lucky") to the outright silly ("But I can take it. I'm Batman"). After discovering The Joker committing murder in his birthday suit, our hero ponders whether or not his arch nemesis always removes his clothes before he kills. Because we didn't already know that The Joker was crazy, he has to be crazy AND naked.

The obligatory "twist" ending shows some sign of a promising yarn in Detective Comics' future, but one can't rely on a shocking final page alone to carry an entire issue.

Score: 2

Art 

What Daniel lacks in textual storytelling skills, he certainly tries to make up for in the visual department. His take on Gotham is gorgeous, and his bold and bulky Batman practically leaps off the page. The rooftop discussion with Gordon could have been staged simply and casually, but Daniel's creative layout elevated the sequence into a fresh and more-than-welcome change of pace. Now if he could just find someone to help him in the plotting department...

How far we have strayed...

Much can also be said for Tomeu Morey's color work here; the blues and greys of the Batsuit against the industrial teals of the Gotham skyline are a sight to behold.

But that cover...a bit much, wouldn't you say?

Score: 4

 
New-Reader Friendly? – If you don't know the basics of the Batman mythos by this point, you have likely been living in a Batcave yourself. With that said, maybe my criticisms of this issue's familiar plot serve well in this department. Never touched a Batman comic before? You'll be perfectly up-to-speed with this by-the-numbers tale of the Dark Knight.

Overall Score: 2.5/5

Next: Mother Nature reaches out her slimy fingers in Swamp Thing #1!

Comic Review: Action Comics #1

Action Comics #1

Script: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Rags Morales
Ink: Rick Bryant
Price: $3.99/$2.99 digital
Publisher: DC Comics

Story
For far too long have we witnessed Superman the Boy Scout, willing to bow to the president's every whim – and taking flack from just about every other superhero for doing so.

Enter Grant Morrison, the writer deemed by many as totally off his rocker, and his vision of Superman the Populist: a hero donning a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt who fights for us, not the American government. Not only does this refreshing take on the world's first superhero breathe a new sense of life into the genre, but it successfully takes us back to square one with a Man of Steel who is young, idealistic, and leaping tall buildings in a single bound. That's right, the guy can't even fly yet!

More than any other title in the "New 52," Action Comics truly returns to the roots of its super-powered hero, and brings the version of Superman that first appeared in 1938 soaring and crashing into the 21st century. Folks, this comic is a blast, and the script would earn a perfect "5" if it weren't for a couple slightly jarring and disjointed sequences courtesy of Morrison's brilliant but kooky brain.

Score: 4.5

Art

Other than a few minor inconsistencies regarding a certain villain's facial features, Rags Morales' work here is hopping with energy and absolutely thrilling. His action sequences are dynamic and brilliantly paced (a scene involving a wrecking ball and a tank is particularly friggin' cool), and they certainly help Action Comics live up to its title by making the whole issue fly by like a bullet train. Also, a splash page early on featuring our hero dangling a corrupt businessman over the ledge of a skyscraper will soon be added to the library of iconic Superman images. Mark my words.

Score: 4.5

New-Reader Friendly? – Absolutely! Even if someone had never heard the name Christopher Reeve, they could easily pick up this book and meet a Superman who is still working out the kinks. However, Morrison's unconventional and occasionally confusing style may take some getting used to.

Overall Score: 4.5

Next: Batman can't stop talking and The Joker gets naked in Detective Comics #1!

Comic Review: Justice League #1

Before launching into the review, I just wanted to give a preface about DC Comics and their whole "New 52" goings on.

In an effort to attract new and lapsed readers (while snagging a little media attention), DC came up with the crafty plan to take 52 of their most notable titles (including Batman, Superman and
Wonder Woman) back to their roots by starting over with all new #1 issues and releasing them digitally on the same day of their in-store release. Some comic fans were outraged by this move ("What about continuity, DC! Are you saying that everything I've read up to this point doesn't matter?"), while others were optimistic ("Man, they chose some great writers to reimagine my favorite superheroes!").

Because I am not drowning in cash, I wasn't able to pick up each and every issue of the New 52. But I managed to snatch up a good chunk of the heavy-hitters, and I will be giving you the spoiler-free play-by-play on whether or not they are worth your hard-earned dollars.

Let's do this!

Justice League #1

Script: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Jim Lee

Ink: Scott Williams

Price: $3.99/$2.99 digital

Publisher: DC Comics

Story
As the first issue of DC's hyped-up relaunch, Justice League should have been stellar. It should have featured the seven folks you see to your left rushing toward some world-destroying foe and kickin' tush. Unfortunately, what we get here is an oversized issue dedicated to the first meeting of Batman and Green Lantern, and a smidgen of Superman thrown in for good measure. Geoff Johns can write superhero banter well enough, but that's just it: it's all just fine, when it needed to be great. A few clever one-liners aside, there is nothing that lingers after the book is closed. 

 Score: 3

Art

Let's just get this out of the way: I am not a fan of Jim Lee's redesigns on these costumes. Superman's collar looks tacked-on and awkward, Batman's armor is busy as all-hell, and the stylistic similarities from hero to hero indicate that they all went to the same tailor. Don't get me wrong, the guy can draw a swell iconic pose, but other than a few nifty-looking panels featuring BAAAMMM and BABOOOOOOOSHHH, it all feels like more of the same. 

Score: 3.5

New-Reader Friendly? – Since we are witnessing the first meeting of The Dark Knight and Hal Jordan, it's pretty easy to jump right in and witness the creation of the Justice League from the ground up. However, DC could have given new readers a little more bang for their buck. To any newbies out there: superhero comics are not always this uneventful, I promise! 

Overall Score: 3

Next: Superman gets back to basics in Action Comics #1!