2024: A Year of Familiar Comfort and Unexpected Excellence in Comics
2024 saw readers gravitate towards familiar narratives. Surprisingly, many of these familiar stories were exceptionally well-executed and pushed creative boundaries. Navigating the sheer volume of weekly comics from major publishers, along with graphic novels catering to all ages, is a daunting task. This list highlights some of 2024's standout titles.
A Few Preliminary Notes:
- Focus is primarily on Marvel and DC, with a few exceptions.
- Only series with at least 10 issues are included. This excludes newer titles like Ultimates, Absolute Batman, recent X-titles, and Aaron's Ninja Turtles.
- The ranking considers all issues, not just those released in 2024. This includes series with multiple titles comprising their initial arc. Exceptions are McKay's Moon Knight and Williamson's Robin.
- Anthologies like Action Comics and Batman: The Brave and the Bold are excluded due to their diverse authorship.
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 impressive but ultimately underwhelming comic. The fight against the "wrong" Batman proved tedious, except for the Joker's neuro-arc, a significant misstep.
Nightwing by Tom Taylor
A strong start, but ultimately bogged down by filler in its later issues. While possessing moments of brilliance, it fell short of its potential, failing to achieve the impact of a series like Hawkeye.
Blade + Blade: Red Band
A successful adaptation of the Daywalker mythos into a fast-paced, action-packed comic.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
A mixed bag. The rushed resurrection plot hampered character development and storytelling. Hopes remain that future installments will rectify these issues.
Outsiders
A Planetary reimagining within the DC Universe. While incorporating meta-commentary, its execution lacks subtlety.
Poison Ivy
A surprisingly long-running series (30+ issues) with a unique 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. A solid, if not groundbreaking, entry.
Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
A charming and visually appealing series from Dark Horse, prioritizing heartwarming simplicity over experimentation.
The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
A complex and challenging read, rewarding perseverance with unpredictable and engaging storytelling.
The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
A potentially rewarding but initially tedious series, relying heavily on references to previous works. The art, however, is exceptional.
Venom + Venom War
A chaotic and impactful series, both devastating and inspiring.
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
A masterful first part contrasted by a weaker second. While the writing remains strong, the thematic focus of the latter half feels less compelling.
Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko
A unique blend of manga, psychological horror, and the X-Men, beautifully illustrated by Peach Momoko.
