USA Today's Year in Comics 2011, part 1

USA Today has come out with their Year in Comics list for 2011 and I give USA Today much props for dedicating an article to Geekdom's weekly habit. Face it guys, comic books are a drug and we comic geeks are habitual users who, by Wednesday, are pacing, itching, saying, "Is it Wednesday yet? How come it's not Wednesday? Tuesday sucks because it keeps me from Wednesday."

 Here's the Evil Genius Comics opinion on USA Today's opinion about the 2011 Year in Comics:

Best Writer: USA Today - Scott Snyder - Ok, USA Today says Snyder is a nice guy who does a hell of a job in the horror genre and is looking to put his name in Batman history along the lines of Morrison, Kane, and Miller with the Batman relaunch. Unfortunately, Snyder's credits involve a lot of titles I don't follow. I did follow his run on Detective Comics and found it very well done and can see how his dark, horror rooted sensibilities work for Gotham City.

 but...

Evil Genius Comics - Geoff Johns - There are a number of writers whom, when I see their names attached to a project, will almost guarantee I'll pick it up. Eric Powell, Paul Grist, Mike Mignola, Robert Kirkman and Keith Giffen are some of the names which will get my attention every time, but the Goon's sporadic releases and Godzilla: Kingdom of Monster's failure to really hold my interest hurt Powell. Grist was almost absent this year. Giffen finished up his entertaining Justice League: Generation Lost series and went on to helm the relaunched Omac series, but the problem with DC's 52 relaunch was, you just couldn't pick up everything you wanted to give a shot. Omac was one of the titles I reluctantly didn't even give a shot. Kirkman and Mignola have gotten into a very entertaining, looking forward to it every month, groove, but they've not really done anything new. Which left me with either Johns or Brian Michael Bendis. And it seems ironic to say, but Aquaman saved the day for Johns. If you roll your eyes when you see the relaunched Aquaman on the rack, take a leap anyway and give it a chance. Johns did the best thing he could do for Aquaman. Rather than fight against the ever present Aqua-mockery, he embraced it and ol' Arthur has to handle that mockery from the civilians he tries to protect. Anyone who can make Aquaman a fun read without pretense and haughtiness, as prior Aquaman series have been prone to, deserves major kudos. And that doesn't even include his work on the relaunched Justice League (Green Lantern's reaction to meeting Batman is priceless) and making Sinestro the hero in the relaunched Green Lantern.


Best New Writer: USA Today - Justin Jordan - I haven't read The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, so can't say...


but...

Evil Genius Comics - Shawn Gabborin - Admittedly I'm not positive Fracture is Gabborin's first series, but my quick, slipshod fact check didn't bring his name up with another series. Jeff's life get turned upside down when he learns he has a split personality, the superhero Virtue, or two, the super villain Malice.

Best Cover Artist USA Today - Lee Bermejo
Evil Genius Comics - Agreed









Best Superhero Artist USA Today - J. H. Williams III
Evil Genius Comics - Agreed. Most artistic pages out there. Beautiful.

Best Non-Superhero Artist USA Today - Rob Guillory for Chew Evil Genius Comics - Agreed Check in tomorrow for some more comments on USA Today's Best of Comics 2011






Tomorrow we'll see if Evil Genius Comics agrees with USA Today on Best series, movies, and TV shows.