10. Justice League Dark (DC Comics)

If you read reviews of Justice League Dark, and in particular those by reviewers who haven’t been following the magic-themed team-up from DC, you’ll read about people being surprised or impressed by what may be an otherwise lower profile title. The truth is that there may not be a more consistently enjoyable comic from the publisher, with very little fluff and filler throughout 2020. While the book may have most recently been tied up in the Endless Winter event, it served that story nicely and seems primed to take readers into interesting arcs in 2021. 

9. Vision (Fantagraphics)

A secret of mine is that as I get older I find that I prefer fully collected graphic novels to single issue floppies. With COVID-19 making traveling to my local comic shop equal parts time consuming and anxiety inducing, I spent more attention than usual to the graphic novel scene, and it definitely paid off. Fantagraphics has some really great books with really unique art styles. Vision creator Julia Gfrörer first landed on my radar with the incredible 2016 book Laid Waste, and Vision shows her unique style and distinctly gothic voice on full display. This is the kind of comic that non-comic fans would love, because more than anything else it feels different. 

8. Killadephia (Image Comics)

It’s the 90’s again! Not really. We’re more of an 80’s crowd here at NewRetroWave, but it’s hard not to see the Vertigo-esque streak in several books from all kinds of different publishers in the past year. Killadelphia is one such book. With writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander at both of their peaks, this comic is a dark and sometimes nightmarish look at vampires in the city of brotherly love. And while that description is very elevator-pitch high concept, the story itself is anything but a novelty. It’s a unique and gripping comic. 

7. Don’t Go Without Me (Shortbox)

Let it be known that there are no better book covers in all of 2020, or possibly even the last half decade, than Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s breathtaking cover of Don’t Go Without Me. I had never read any of her previous work and knew nothing of the book but purchased it immediately upon seeing it, and I was not disappointed. While different from the other books here in that this is an anthology and not a serialized or complete story, and it has some work that actually appeared initially a few years ago (albeit, in slightly different form). Don’t Go Without Me is a great book with a singularly fantastic visual style. 

6. Immortal Hulk (Marvel Comics)

Fun fact time: I have never liked The Hulk. Perhaps even more so than some other superheroes I have a disdain for, Hulk stories always bored me. Immortal Hulk was what I always needed. This is not a superhero story in the way that you might initially believe. With an art style that verges on body horror at times, Immortal Hulk grounds everything to the ultra-personal, to create a comic that is often gut wrenching and distressing, but always great. Writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett delivered in 2020 with this series. 

5. The Department of Truth (Image Comics)

The Department of Truth rests on a simple premise: what if every conspiracy theory was true? This is not a new idea, as I can think of at least three comics off the top of my head that start or go through the same or similar premise. What sets this comic apart is just how good James Tynion IV is at telling this story. This comic premiered in September of this year and had easily the best debut issue of a comic in all of 2020. With strong art from Martin Simmonds accompanying the great writing, I cannot wait to follow this story through 2021. 

4. X-Men (Marvel Comics)

The absolute state of X-Men in 2020 compared to, like, three years ago is astounding. Jonathan Hickman has not only revitalized so many of the beloved characters from the X-line (it’s finally nice to be a Cyclops fan), but has revitalized the line itself. Hickman’s ability to make the mutants of the 616 feel like they live in a living, breathing world can’t be overstated. X of Swords was, personally, a little hit or miss for me, but it’s hard to argue against the high points of a series that already demands high expectations. 

3. Excellence (Image Comics)

It’s a cliche at this point to say that Excellence lives up to its namesake in some capacity when talking about the critically acclaimed fantasy story from writer Brandon Thomas and artists Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez. But how can you blame such reviewers? The book is called Excellence and it has been one of the best books every week that it came out since it debuted in 2019. While I love and appreciate this book as a comic, there are no other books that have come out this year that I have read and thought “Make this an animated series or a movie or something right now” quite as much as Excellence. 

2. John Contantine: Hellblazer (DC Comics)

I’ve got to level with you. I didn’t read any of this series until I saw some friends upset about its premature ending from DC, one which by all accounts the story was able to pull off anyways. I didn’t read through any other entire series this quickly in 2020. John Constantine: Hellblazer was a downright special book from Simon Spurrier and a changing cast of artists. While it had spectacle and truly stand-out artwork, this comic truly excelled at making the titular character feel more alive than he has in years. 

1. The Dollhouse Family (DC Comics)

Expectations were high for The Dollhouse Family, as it had a strong creative team and would be the first of Joe Hill’s DC Comics imprint Hill House. It feels kind of surreal that this is a book put out by DC Comics. Not because of the quality, while this was my favorite book of the year you can clearly see I was a fan of what DC brought to 2020, but rather because it feels like the first time I found out that DC owned Vertigo. It just feels so different from what someone would expect from a comic, let alone a mainstream comic. It’s spooky and full of simultaneously heart and venom, and an easy recommendation for anybody. 

Expect either a review of the first issue or the whole 12 issue arc here at New Retro Wave.

BLADE RUNNER 2019 #1 (MR)
(W) Michael Green, Mike Johnson (A) Andres Guinaldo (CA) Artgerm
In the neo-noir city of Los Angeles, 2019, Ash, a veteran Blade Runner, is grappling with a new case: a billionaire’s wife and child, apparently kidnapped by Replicants for dark purposes… An all-new ongoing comic series from the pen of Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049, Logan, American Gods), with longtime co-writer Mike Johnson (Batman/Superman, Supergirl, Star Trek), illustrated by Andres Guinaldo (Justice League Dark, Captain America). The first comic to tell original, in-canon stories set in the Blade Runner universe! In Shops: Jul 17, 2019 SRP: $3.99

Wytches

Wytches writer Scott Snyder may be most famous for his modern run of Batman, but before that he teamed with Stephen King to deliver the stellar American Vampire. In 2014, Snyder refined those horror credentials by making one of the most unique horror comics, and one which was visually rendered in stunning detail by artist Jock. In a horror landscape where everything seems like an imitation of something else, it’s frighteningly delightful to see an imagining of witches in a completely unique way. There are no witches like Snyder’s witches, and because of that there are few books like Wytches. What would happen to you if you were pledged to the beasts of the forest?

Clean Room

Gail Simone is one of the most consistent comic book writers when it comes to her work with mainstream superheroes. One of the things that makes Clean Room so compelling is that is manages to be so tonally different from her other work while being perhaps her strongest offering as a writer.  With the Going Clear documentary giving popularity to the subject, Simone’s scary take down of a movement that bears a resemblance to Scientology is worth a read. Jon Davis-Hunt’s art perfectly compliments Simone’s story, and brings it to vivid life.

Abbott

Saladin Ahmed cut his teeth writing critically acclaimed novels. When he recently transitioned to comics, it became apparent that he had found a medium that really worked for his emotionally-driven storytelling. Noir stories lend themselves to horror well. This story of a detective solving a series of occult-connected murders gradually expands its own story. It builds its world so well that it’s hard not to wish it was longer. Sami Kivela’s artwork is straightforward, but it’s hard to imagine this comic looking any different.  It feels very classic in its delivery, but the comic feels so fresh.

Harrow County

Though it recently ended, Harrow County was a wild ride. Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Tyler Crook have created a genuinely scary comic. Each Harrow County arc somehow manages to outdo the already high bar the previous sets. At 32 issues, or 8 collected volumes, the comic feels like a sprawling, large novel that never feels tedious. It wastes little time in grabbing readers with Bunn’s stellar storytelling.  Crook’s skill with visual storytelling make this a stunning book loaded with memorable images.

The Walking Dead Vol. 1

I know. I know. We’ve reached the point of oversaturation with The Walking Dead that it makes dabbing and fidget spinners seem hip and new. Still, it probably deserves as much credit for comics being as culturally relevant today Marvel’s films. Reading the first volume of The Walking Dead, it’s not surprising that this became such an enormous cultural moment. Robert Kirkman delivers an incredible story. The building blocks of a major pop culture reference points are obvious almost immediately.

Uzumaki

As a piece of fiction, this manga may be the single scariest work on this entire list. While most of Junji Ito’s work feels obviously a cut above the majority of horror fiction, it’s in Uzumaki that Ito crafted what will likely be remembered as his definitive work from both a narrative and visual perspective. In a way that few have ever matched, Ito makes a concept as abstract as a spiral the most haunting and horrifying sight buried within in a panel. This story of a town haunted by spirals is terrifying and memorable. We don’t want to give too much away. If you just jump in, you won’t regret it. This book will consume you.

In the Flesh

This Korem Shadmi anthology is, in a lot of ways, a collection of love stories. The short story make-up of In the Flesh allows for fast, single-sitting readings of stories. For a unifying theme, Shadmi focuses on love, or, more accurately, desire. Anybody who has ever had a crush knows that they don’t always make us feel good. Sometimes our desire for someone can be, for lack of a better word, crushing. Shadmi captures that feeling with frightening precision. That fear is exponentially increased when our desires are perverse or warped.  

From Hell

From Hell is an overlooked gem in Alan Moore’s iconic bibliography. While not as radically influential as Watchmen or his work with Superman, Moore gives the Whitechapel murders an air of conspiracy and paranoia that feels real in a way that a lot of Jack the Ripper stories struggle with. If conspiracies are our way of making sense of the senseless, Moore obviously attempted to give significance to a story that has been commodified to an extent that the horror of it is sometimes lost. Moore never lets you forget that horror. His attempt to apply sense to it is proportionate to the brutality of the crimes themselves.

Long Lost

Long Lost is one of the best and most distinct comics in recent years, and as it is continuing it’s second and final arc at the time of this writing, it’s as good a time as any to jump on board and grab the first volume — a release we anticipated earlier in the year. With Long Lost, series writer Matthew Erman has crafted a world inhabited by such believable characters and strong emotional arcs that you can imagine them reacting to situations not presented on the page. Series artist Lisa Sterle gives the comic a look that draws from a number of influences, but with the end result of being something utterly distinct. The story of two sisters and their strange odyssey to their roots is not a story you should miss.       

Beautiful Darkness

If you stop this list right now and read Beautiful Darkness without reading anything else about it, I promise you that you will not expect what this book is. It’s upsetting, weird, difficult, and utterly terrifying. We don’t want to give too much away, but just know that even if it may seem cute and whimsical in the first few pages, this French comic becomes everything but. This truly scary and truly unusual book will likely be remembered for years to come. And we suspect that the reveals it has in store will stick with readers for a long time. 

Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049 in association with Columbia Pictures, domestic distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures and international distribution by Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Now news has surfaced via CBR.com that London based publishing company Titan will be co-publishing with Alcon Media a BLADE RUNNER comic book set in-canon with both Blade Runner films. That means that the drama taking place on the page will be happening in the same universe as Deckard and K.

“In partnering with the exceptional Titan Comics and Titan Books,” Kosove and Johnson said, “we’re confident that the world of Blade Runner will continue to organically grow in a way that refuses to sacrifice the quality, tone and high standards of this beloved property.”

Landau and Cheung added:

“We are extremely excited to be publishing Blade Runner comics and illustrated books. The Blade Runner universe has barely been explored; there is so much more there. It’s an honour to be bringing this world to life in new ways for a new audience — and to reveal tales from that universe that you’ve never seen before.”
– Titan’s co-founders, Nick Landau and Vivian Cheung.

That quote was from a statement made with Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. They also mentioned that the companies are set to develop a mix of Blade Runner comics, as well as a “a variety of publications focused on the visual and technical sides of the production process.”

I’m nowhere near on the moon but, my excitement is in the red. I just hope for a good team of creators to sign up for the project and deliver. It’s a good time on the horizon for people that relish in the HI-TECH, LOW LIFE aesthetic and pessimism of technology putting the polish on this turd of civilization while the concrete jungles of the world are crumbling around the sheep surrounded by hungry wolves.

Keep your head up. Keep your fingers on that rewind button.

“Image Comics has published Deadly Class on a mostly monthly basis since the first issue was released on January 22, 2014.” – Wikipedia

Producing the series are the Russo brothers who many of you know are the directors of the massive MCU blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War. Deadly Class hopes to remain faithful to it’s source material while delivering on a very demented ‘Coming of Age’ tale. The series is set during the late 1980’s and stars Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange, Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams), Benjamin Wadsworth (Teen Wolf), Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse, Alita: Battle Angel), Maria Gabriela de Faria (Yo Soy Franky, Sitiados), Luke Tennie (Shock and Awe), Liam James (The Way Way Back, The Killing) and Michel Duval (Señora Acero, Queen of the South).

No premiere date has been announced, but the series will debut in 2019.

Trailer Link:

While Buffy the Vampire Slayer plays a little more into 90’s nostalgia than our preferred brand of 80’s nostalgia, there’s no denying the streak of quality that the comic continuation has been on since the Season 11 comics started. If you haven’t been following the comics but loved the series, then Buffy Season 11: Giles Vol. 1 will be a perfect jumping on point for you! Giles is a great character and getting a glimpse of his teenage years is every bit a joy as it sounds.

9. Paradiso Vol. 1: Essential Singularity (Image Comics – Release Date: May 22, 2018)

Paradiso is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi story that owes a lot to 80’s and 90’s anime and manga, drawing influences from Battle Angel Alita and Akira, two titles that we love here at NRW. While Ram V’s writing is definitely an exciting part of the story and gives everything a very grand feel, the art team of Dev Pramanik and Dearbhla Kelly deserves special mention. Every inch of the world in Paradiso is stylishly drawn and feels immersive. 

8. The Way of Tank Girl (Titan Comics – Release Date: April 17, 2018)

If you aren’t familiar with Tank Girl, you might immediately recognize how much the cover of The Way of Tank Girl evokes Gorillaz album artwork. That would be because Tank Girl co-creator and illustrator Jamie Hewlett is responsible for the image of Gorillaz. Tank Girl’s other co-creator, writer Alan Martin, is sometimes not given the credit he deserves.

That’s a shame because Martin is very funny. The comedy in Tank Girl is not only funny on its own merits, but does so while utilizing the medium of comics to the fullest extent. It does to comics as a medium what Watchmen does, but does so without taking itself as obnoxiously seriously as that series, and as comedy it doesn’t garner the kind of acclaim. While The Way of Tank Girl is best suited for fans of the series, the collection of rarities will make a fun introduction and coffee table book for anybody.

7. Bloodshot Salvation Vol. 2: The Book of the Dead (Valiant Entertainment – Release Date: Sept. 25, 2018)

What Valiant does better than perhaps any comic book publisher is making jumping on points for their ongoing characters. Few publishers are as new-reader-friendly, and Valiant stands far above Marvel and DC in that regard. Their comics are consistently high quality. Each year brings at least one title that stands clear above the rest,  like 2017 with Secret Weapons. In 2018, it seems to be Jeff Lemire’s Bloodshot Salvation is primed for that spot. The second arc of the title has only just begun, but it was such a strong opening that it’s hard to not seriously consider pre-ordering The Book of the Dead this far in advance.

6. Cult Classic: Return to Whisper Vol. 1 (Vault Comics – Release Date: TBD 2018)

Vault Comics Cult Classic metaseries has kicked off with a tremendous start on the back of Return to Whisper. It has a kind of Fright Night aesthetic and energy infused with a Stephen King influenced plot that balances its humor and horror in equal measure. It is one of the most fun comics currently running. This is an easy recommendation for most comic fans. Time will tell, but this bodes well for the future of the Cult Classic line.

5. Long Lost Vol. 1 (Scout Comics – Release Date: June 27, 2018)

Long Lost has been promoted as Stranger Things meets Ghost World, but that doesn’t really do the series justice. It has been one of the most visually and narratively unique comics of 2017/2018. The series is the perfect example of the kinds of stories that indie publishers tell when at their best. It’s strange, it’s heartfelt, and it’s often haunting. Writer Matthew Erman and artist Lisa Sterle compliment one another perfectly. This story of two sisters reconciling the mysteries about their mother and their own childhood damage make for a stand out Southern gothic tale. 

4. Deathbed (Vertigo [[DC Comics]] – Release Date: TBD 2018)

This might seem premature, but the relaunch of the Vertigo line warrants deserved hype. Vertigo in decades past was like Young Animal is today, but somehow more unexpected and more trailblazing. Some of the best stories told in comic form came from the imprint, and Deathbed seems poised to vie for similar acclaim. Some of the violence so far has been over-the-top, but in a way that makes sense for the story being told.

3. The Ballad of Sang (Oni Press – Release Date TBD 2018)

The Ballad of Sang is, in no uncertain terms, awesome. It’s bombastic, hyperviolent, highly stylized storytelling. The first issue was one of the best comics of 2018 and the series should be on your radar. This is an easy recommendation for comic fans and non-comic fans alike. If you like 70’s yakuza films or Kill Bill then this is a kitana-sliced no-brainer, and a quick flip through the pages would let you know instantly if it is the kind of thing for you.

2. The Power of the Dark Crystal Vol. 2 (Archaia [BOOM! Comics] – April 24, 2018)

Surprising nobody, the conclusion to The Power of the Dark Crystal is an easy pick for a graphic novel to keep on your radar. The art and storytelling in this series is some of the best in all of comics during its year-long run.  The conclusion has been every bit as satisfying as the set-up, but you can read all about that in our review here!

1. DC/Young Animal: Milk Wars (Young Animal [DC Comics] – June 19, 2018)

Young Animal is the best thing happening in comics for two years running. Most of the titles that the Gerard Way-led imprint produces will be the comics that create comic fans for years to come. Comic book events are, almost as a rule, the worst. There are exceptions, as Hickman’s Secret Wars was an example of a straightforward event done right, as was DC’s Rebirth. That said, the endless tie-ins and events set to coincide with film releases leave readers drained. It doesn’t help the industry, and short-term rewards betray long-term reader investment.

Milk Wars is different. For starters, the event only really requires a knowledge of two or three of the involved titles, but also sets the stage for Young Animal’s 2018, which proves to be stranger and more isolated from the DC Universe. There’s a lot that could be written about Milk Wars, but it is probably best experienced blind. The quality and strangeness of its pages can’t be denied, and it earns the top recommendation from NRW.