2024: A Year of Familiar Comfort and Unexpected Excellence in Comics
2024 saw readers gravitating towards familiar narratives. Surprisingly, many of these familiar tales were exceptionally well-executed and pushed creative boundaries. Navigating the sheer volume of weekly comics from major publishers, alongside graphic novels from various imprints, is a daunting task. This list highlights some of the year's most captivating reads.
A Few Preliminary Notes:
- Focus: Primarily on Marvel and DC, with a few exceptions.
- Minimum Length: Series must have at least 10 issues. This excludes newer titles like Ultimates, Absolute Batman, recent X-titles, and Aaron's Ninja Turtles.
- Overall Ranking: The ranking considers all issues, not just those released in 2024. Exceptions: McKay's Moon Knight and Williamson's Robin.
- Anthologies Excluded: Due to varied authorship (e.g., 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
Technically impressive, but ultimately a dull and forgettable comic, except for a noteworthy Joker arc.
Nightwing by Tom Taylor
A strong start, but later issues bogged down in filler. While enjoyable in parts, it fell short of its potential.
Blade + Blade: Red Band
A successful adaptation of the Daywalker into a fast-paced, action-packed comic.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
A mixed bag, hampered by rushed storytelling and underdeveloped character arcs.
Outsiders
A Planetary reimagining within the DC Universe, featuring predictable meta-commentary.
Poison Ivy
A surprisingly long-running series with a unique psychedelic charm.
Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson
A fun coming-of-age story exploring father-son relationships.
Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
A charming and visually appealing comic that embraces simplicity.
The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
A challenging and complex read with unpredictable narrative twists.
The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
A visually stunning but narratively slow and convoluted comic.
Venom + Venom War
A chaotic and intensely engaging comic.
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
A masterpiece in its first part, but the second part falls short.
Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko
A unique blend of manga, psychological horror, and X-Men mythology.
