2024: A Year of Familiar Comfort and Unexpected Excellence in Comics
2024 saw readers gravitating towards familiar narratives. Surprisingly, many of these familiar stories excelled, pushing creative boundaries. Navigating the sheer volume of weekly comics from major publishers, plus graphic novels from various imprints, is a monumental task. This list highlights some of 2024's standout titles.
A Few Preliminary Notes:
- Focus: Primarily Marvel and DC, with a few exceptions.
- Minimum Length: Series must have at least 10 issues. This excludes newer titles like Ultimates, Absolute Batman, "From the Ashes" X-titles, and Aaron's Ninja Turtles.
- Ranking Method: All issues of each series are considered, regardless of release date in 2024. Exceptions: Jed McKay's Moon Knight and Joshua Williamson's Robin.
- Anthologies Excluded: Due to varied authorship (Action Comics, Batman: The Brave and the Bold).
Table of Contents
- Batman: Zdarsky Run
- Nightwing by Tom Taylor
- Blade + Blade: Red Band
- Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
- Outsiders
- Poison Ivy
- Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson
- Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
- The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
- The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
- Venom + Venom War
- John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
- Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko
Reviews:
Batman: Zdarsky Run
A technically proficient but ultimately underwhelming comic. The fight against the "wrong" Batman proved tedious, except for a noteworthy Joker-centric arc.
Nightwing by Tom Taylor
A strong start faltered towards the end, burdened by filler issues. Despite its flaws, it contained moments of brilliance. It fell short of its potential to be a modern Hawkeye.
Blade + Blade: Red Band
A successful adaptation of the Blade character into a fast-paced, action-packed comic book.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
A mixed bag. The premature return from death undermined character development and narrative consistency. Hopes remain for future installments to rectify these issues.
Outsiders
A Planetary reimagining within the DC Universe. While the meta-commentary is present, it becomes predictable.
Poison Ivy
A surprisingly long-running series (36 issues!) with a consistent psychedelic charm, despite occasional pacing issues.
Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson
A compelling coming-of-age story exploring father-son dynamics and self-discovery, featuring the iconic Robinmobile.
Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
A charming and visually appealing comic from Dark Horse, prioritizing heartwarming simplicity over experimentation.
The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
A challenging read with a complex and unpredictable narrative, rewarding patient readers.
The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
A potentially rewarding but initially tedious series, held together by Ewing's established concepts and stunning artwork.
Venom + Venom War
A chaotic and impactful series, deserving of multiple rereads.
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
A brilliant first part (UK) is contrasted by a weaker second part (US). Despite its flaws, Spurrier's portrayal of Constantine remains exceptional.
Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko
A unique blend of manga, psychological horror, and the X-Men, brought to life by Momoko's consistent artistic vision.
