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After a short five-year hiatus, we’re back with a longtime CBR tradition. At the end of the year, we polled the many members of the CBR staff that make this site so great and asked them for their for their rankings of the top comics of the year. Every publisher putting out new comics material in English, regardless of genre or format, was fair game; each individual list is then factored in to determine the overall Top 100 that will be unveiled on CBR over the course of this week.
We started on Monday with #100-76 and then on Tuesday we had #75-51, with the countdown continuing each day this week. Here’s the schedule (all times Eastern): Thursday, 12/30, 3 p.m.: Top 25-11; Friday, 12/31, 3 p.m.: Top 10; Saturday, 1/1, 9 a.m.: Master list.
Start perusing the list below, and if you feel so moved, take to Twitter and (politely) discuss your thoughts using the hashtag #CBRTop100.
50. All Time Low Presents: Young Renegades
Written by: Tres Dean
Art by: Robert Wilson IV, Megan Huang, Meg Casey and Fred C. Stresing
Letters by: Andworld Design
Publisher: Z2 Comics
This graphic novel, based on the All Time Low album, Last Young Renegade, is a metafictional approach of a guy and a girl at their high school reunion running off to see a secret All Time Low concert.
49. Black Widow
Written by: Kelly Thompson
Art by: Elena Casagrande, Rafael De Latorre, Elisabetta D’Amico and Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel
After the heartbreaking opening of this series, Black Widow has now decided to remain in San Francisco, building an offbeat sort of team of other wounded souls now trying to do some good in Black Widow’s adopted city.
48. Newburn
Written by: Chip Zdarsky (Back-up story by Nadia Shammas)
Art by: Jacob Phillips (Back-up story by Ziyed Yusuf Ayoub)
Letters by: Jacob Phillips (Back-up story by Frank Cvetkovic)
There’s no shortage of hard-boiled detectives in modern crime comics, but none of them are quite like the titular lead of Chip Zdarsky and Jacob Phillips’ Newburn. This Image title follows Easton Newburn, an ex-cop turned private investigator for New York’s organized crime families. With the stylish, grungy atmosphere of Criminal and a procedural’s investigative precision, Newburn flips the typical detective story on its head. – Tim Webber, Major Issues
Publisher: Image Comics
47. Oblivion Song
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Lorenzo De Felici and Annalisa Leoni
Letters by: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
Things appear to be reaching the end stages in this epic science fiction/fantasy story as the portals are now leading to outright interdimensional war.
46. Iron Man
Written by: Christopher Cantwell
Art by: CAFU, Angel Unzueta, Ibraim Roberson and Frank D’Armata
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel
You might recall that nearly fifty years ago, Iron Man was the place that Thanos made his debut and this current run of Iron Man is embracing that sort of cosmic storytelling once more in a bold, new approach to the armored hero.
45. Barbalien: Red Planet
Written by: Tate Brombal and Jeff Lemire
Art by: Gabriel Hernandez Walta and Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
This Black Hammer spinoff is basically the greatest Martian Manhunter series that was never written.
44. Tunnels
Written by: Rutu Modan
Art by: Rutu Modan
Letters by: Rutu Modan
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Modan’s third graphic novel sees an offbeat archaeological search for the Ark of the Covenant work as a metaphor for the religious conflicts of Middle East.
43. United States of Captain America
Written by: Christopher Cantwell (Back-ups by Josh Trujillo, Mohale Mashigo, Darcie Little Badger, Alyssa Wong
Art by: Dale Eaglesham and Matt Milla (Back-ups by Jan Bazaldua, Natacha Bustos, David Cutler, Roberto Poggi, Jodi Nishijima
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel
This celebration of Captain America’s 80th anniversary sees the introduction of a number of new Captain Americas that symbolize different parts of our great country.
42. Girl From the Sea
Written by: Molly Knox Ostertag
Art by: Molly Knox Ostertag and Maarta Laiho
Letters by: Molly Knox Ostertag
Publisher: Scholastic
This bittersweet romance novel sees a teen girl fall in love with, basically, a seal girl, but think about the movie Splash. Remember how much the guy had to deal with hiding that he was basically dating a mermaid? Well, imagine that same scenario except also having to hide that you’re a lesbian! That’s the center struggle of this amazingly well-told graphic novel.
41. Second Coming: Only Begotten Son
Written by: Mark Russell
Art by: Richard Pace, Leonard Kirk, Andy Troy and Paul Little
Letters by: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Mark Russell’s most ambitious comic yet — which is saying something — Second Coming is consistently funny, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking in all the best ways. – Brandon Zachary, Associate Writer
40. It’s Jeff
Written by: Kelly Thompson
Art by: Gurihiru
Letters by: Gurihiru
Publisher: Marvel
The breakout Marvel digital star, Jeff the Land Shark, stars in his own series of webcomics that are just absolutely awesome.
39. Eat the Rich
Written by: Sarah Gailey
Art by: Pius Bok and Roman Titov
Letters by: Cardinal Rae
Publisher: BOOM!
It’s a perfect horror movie– and what I love the most about it is how deep the metaphor goes. It opens up with a horrifying premise– rich people eat their servants upon retirement, but I never could’ve expected the layers and layers the comic keeps adding. It’s not half as simple as it seems upon first glance– and it’s somehow more disturbing as it goes on. – John Miles, Features Writer
38. Daredevil
Written by: Chip Zdarsky
Art by: Marco Checchetto, Mike Hawthorne, Stefano Landini, Manuel Garcia, Adriano Di Benedetto, Cam Smith, Scott Hanna, Victor Nava, Marcio Menyz and Bryan Valenza
Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel
For a character with so many definitive runs, it’s shocking how easy it is to say this current take on the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen is likely to be a defining take on Daredevil, Elektra, Kingpin, and the Marvel New York for years to come. – Brandon Zachary, Associate Writer
37. Destroy All Monsters
Written by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips
Letters by: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
Brubaker and Phillips continue their new noir graphic novel series starring private investigator Ethan Reckless, only this latest work does an excellent job also developing Reckless’ business associate, Anna, who contrasts wonderfully with the hardboiled Reckless.
36. Superman and the Authority
Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Mikel Janin and Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: Steve Wands
Publisher: DC
35. X-Men
Written by: Jonathan Hickman (and then Gerry Duggan)
Art by: Brett Booth, Mahmud Asrar, Francesco Mobili, Nick Dragotta, Russell Dauterman, Sara Pichelli, Lucas Werneck, Adelso Corona, Sunny Gho, Frank Martin and Matthew Wilson (and then Pepe Larraz, Javier Pina, Ze Carlos, Marte Gracia and Erick Arciniega)
Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel
In its best moments, the flagship X-Men title continued to serve as the thrilling beating heart of Marvel’s sprawling, multi-year Jonathan Hickman-masterminded Krakoa epic. With all-star artists like Mahmud Asrar and Russell Dauterman, moments like one team’s impossible mission to investigate the hyper-evolved Children of the Vault and the election of a new X-Men team stand alongside the best moments of the Krakoa era. – Tim Webber, Major Issues
34. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Written by: Tom King
Art by: Bilques Evely and Mattheus Lopes
Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC
33. I Am Not Starfire
Written by: Mariko Tamaki
Art by: Yoshi Yoshitani
Letters by: Aditya Bidikar
I Am Not Starfire is Gilmore Girls by way of Teen Titans and then some: Mariko Tamaki writes the story of a misanthropic teenager understandably frustrated at her well-meaning super mom, but the days of chemistry class mishaps and romantic embarrassment that she takes for granted may not last forever. Yoshi Yoshitani’s expressive art and striking character designs bring the grounded cast to vivid life. – Ciaran McGhee, Anime Features Writer
Publisher: DC
32. Dark Knights of Steel
Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Yasmine Putri
Letters by: Wes Abbot
Publisher: DC
31. The Wrong Earth: Night and Day
Written by: Tom Peyer
Art by: Jamal Igle, Russ Braun, Juan Castro and Andy Troy
Letters by: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
A love letter to superheroes of different eras, The Wrong Earth continues to surprise with its tight character work and strong story. – Brandon Zachary, Associate Writer
30. Run, Book 1
Written by: John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
Art by: L. Fury and Nate Powell
Letters by: L. Fury
Publisher: Abrams Books
29. Defenders
Written by: Al Ewing
Art by: Javier Rodriguez and Alvaro Lopez
I love the immortal hulk (but I haven’t finished it, so no spoilers), so of course I had to check out this run. Al Ewing continues to be one of the smartest writers at Marvel, and his extensive knowledge of the 616 cosmos makes this a fascinating read. And while I’m usually not a fan of this many splash pages– Javier Rodriguez’ dynamic action scenes are incredibly enticing. It’s not horrific like Immortal Hulk, it’s just weird, utilizing all of Marvel’s weirdest elements in one page-turning story. I love this new defenders lineup too– I hope cloud and masked raider stick around a little longer. – John Miles, Features Writer
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel
28. Strange Adventures
Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mitch Gerads and Evan “Doc” Shaner
Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC
27. The Good Asian
Written by: Pornsak Pichetshote
Art by: Alexandre Tefenkgi and Lee Loughridge
Letters by: Jeff Powell
Publisher: Image Comics
What a great title. It’s a sprawling murder mystery set in 1930’s San Francisco, with plenty of fascinating historical footnotes. But it’s not just educational, it’s emotionally raw, with complex characters and tough moral quandaries. – John Miles, Features Writer
26. Once & Future
Written by: Kieron Gillen
Art by: Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain
Letters by: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: BOOM!
Produced by one of modern comics’ great writers and with stunning art, THIS is the ‘modern Game of Thrones’ every studio has been looking for. – Brandon Zachary, Associate Writer
Check back with CBR on Thursday for more of the Top 100!
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