Best Of 2017: Series

2017, you were a… year. In and amongst some arduous times, to say the least, were some amazing comic book experiences. The team at Comicosity are talking about the best of the best in the year that was, including:

We continue with the Best Series of 2017 right here:

 

MJ Rae

WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD

Written by Steve Niles
Art by Alison Sampson, Stephane Paitreau, Aditya Bidikar, and Jordie Bellaire
Published by Image Comics

First off, if you haven’t run into a comic shop to touch this cover yet – get thee to your LCS! It is *velvet* and it is amazing. The cover may be soft and pink, but monsters come alive in this fantastic, terrifying mini-series. This series stands out because of Steve Niles’s sparse, intense writing style and Alison Sampson’s innovative art. The backmatter, which includes essays on satanism and features of different artists, makes each issue feel like an experience. This is one of the only mini series I wish would continue- but it’s perfect just how it is.

Runners-Up: Black Hammer, The Unsound, The Once and Future Queen

 

Allen Thomas

GODSHAPER

Written by Simon Spurrier
Art by Jonas Goonface, Colin Bell, and Marie Krupina
Published by BOOM! Studios

This comic is weird as s**t but it also has an interesting narrative regarding social politics. This world of gods and the godless puts up a mirror to our own and provides a challenging discussion regarding how oppression and marginalization work, even among those with less advantages than others. It’s also super gay so that’s a plus.

Runners-Up: The American Way: Those Above and Those Below, Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands, Steven Universe

 

John Ernenputsch

MISTER MIRACLE

Written by Tom King
Art by Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles
Published by DC Comics

Mister Miracle is not even halfway through it’s run, yet I couldn’t in good conscience pick another series as my best of 2017. Tom King and Mitch Gerads are the best creative team in comics. We saw it with The Sheriff Of Babylon, and they’ve taken it to the next level with their current collaboration. This series has taken a b-list cult favorite character who would come and go over the years, and turned him (and his amazing wife, lover, and protector Big Barda) into one of the absolute best characters in all of comics. This comic is intense, beautiful, weird, sexy and damn near perfect each and every month. King, Gerads, editor Jamie S. Rich and the rest of the creative team are in the midst of producing a comic we will be talking about for years to come. That is the best way I can think of to honor Mister Miracle’s creator Jack Kirby in the year we celebrated what would have been his 100th birthday.

 

Chris Campbell

THE DREGS

Written by Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson
Art by Eric Zawadzki and Dee Cunniffe
Published by Black Mask Studio

The Dregs was more than just a comic book; it reached the heights of literary perfection. It was more than just the writing, artwork, and colors being perfect but the messages it conveyed. It took the reader on a journey through the mind of Arnold as he is overcome with gentrification. It’s the city personified and man dehumanized. It’s definitely one of those books that the reader will finish and then wish he could immediately forget it to be enjoyed again for the first time.

Runners-Up: Miracle Man, Royal City, Black Hammer

 

Doug Zawisza

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE

Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Juann Cabal, Leonard Kirk, Nik Virella, Djibril Morissette-Phan, Cory Hamscher, Terry Pallot, Nolan Woodard, Michael Garland, Erick Arciniega, Cory Petit, Joe Sabino
Published by Marvel Comics

All-New Wolverine. There is no comic book I look forward to reading more than All-New Wolverine. I mentioned it before here on Comicosity, but it bears repeating: this is a fun book. It’s not unnecessarily gory. Wolverine (Laura Kinney) is actually quite likeable and is surrounded by a likeable cast, has adventures with likeable co-stars, and fights the good fight. Writer Tom Taylor frequently checks into the larger Marvel Universe with guest appearances and team-ups, but never does he lose sight of keeping the focus on Wolverine. It’s not easy for a fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes to type the word “Wolverine” so much, but in this case, it is so worth it. If you haven’t read this series, you’re not too late. Every issue is a good jumping on point, but, really, you’re less than thirty issues behind. Grab some trades and catch up on one of the most consistently enjoyable comic books on the racks today.

Runners-Up: The Mighty Thor, Elsewhere, Mister Miracle

 

E.A. Sofia

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS / BOMBSHELLS UNITED

Written by Marguerite Bennett
Art by Marguerite Sauvage, Siya Oum, Sandy Jarrell, Richard Ortiz, Mirka Andolfo, and Mohan Sivakami
Published by DC Comics

Bombshells is an Alternate Universe story about the lady superheroes of DC Comics during World War II. I’ve written before about why I love the series, and it stands out to me as the best of 2017 for being consistently enjoyable due to the characters, plot, and themes. Many of us have wanted stories that reaffirm the ideas that heroes fight villains, that defending what is true and just includes defending people who are marginalized in society, and that good can win out in the end. For the past few years, the desire for such stories has only increased as we need these messages to keep from losing hope. Bombshells offers that to me, and for that I’m very grateful.

 

Spokhette

AMERICA

Written by Gabby Rivera and Kelly Thompson
Art by Joe Quinones, Ming Doyle, Stacey Lee, Ramon Villalobos, Jen Bartel, Annie Wu, Aud Koch, Flaviano Armentaro, Joe Rivera, Paolo Rivera, Walden Wong, Jose Villarrubia, Jordan Gibson, Tamra Bonvillain, Brittany Peer, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Travis Lanham
Published by Marvel Comics

America is the best series for me because of the inclusion and representation it represents. I honestly can’t remember the last time i saw that many black and brown bodies in one place without the word “Black” being in the comic book title.

 

Keith Callbeck

ACTION COMICS

Written by Dan Jurgens and Rob Williams
Art by Patrick Zircher, Jack Herbert, Jose Luis, Ryan Sook, Guillem March, Ian Churchill, Doug Mahnke, Will Conrad, Viktor Bogdanovic, Carlo Barberi, Stephen Segovia, Matt Santorelli, Jonathan Glapion, Ray McCarthy, Jay Leisten, Scott Hanna, Jaime Mendoza, Christian Alamy, Art Thibert, Trevor Scott, Johnny Desjardins, Joe Prado, Cam Smith, Hi-Fi, Wil Quintana, Mike Spicer, Ulises Arreola, and Rob Leigh
Published by DC Comics

How does one choose the series of the year? Consistency? Personal favorite? Contribution to the art? I’m sure you’ll see all of these as you scroll through my peers’ choices in this list. I settled on Action Comics because it is the book I genuinely read first no matter what. Twice a month I have read it on the day of release without fail. It is Superman as I always imagine, with a family dynamic I never knew I wanted. Jon Kent is the breakout character of the decade and I enjoy every chapter. Also, Booster Gold was in it.

Runners-Up: Royal City, Underwinter

 

Matt Santori

GUMBALLS

Written by Erin Nations
Art by Erin Nations
Published by IDW Publishing/Top Shelf Productions

No comic in 2017 spoke as deeply and personally while entertaining as Gumballs did. A mix of autobiographical comic strips about the author’s journey as a trans man and other socially awkward funnies, Gumballs consistently delivered warmth, optimism in the face of challenge, and one of the finest printed publications around. I don’t know if Top Shelf has any plans past the initial 4 issues, but I implore them to take continuing this series very seriously. A gem in a really tough year for being yourself.

 

Aaron Long

MISTER MIRACLE

Written by Tom King
Art by Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles
Published by DC Comics

Gut. Punch.

This brilliant series by Tom King, Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles will punch you in the stomach with its stark realism hidden in a world of insane capes, boom tubes and New Gods. King & Gerads have crafted the most real comic in 2017 here, showcasing the mental strain of the world, the darkness and interspersed it with the most real marriage I’ve seen on a comic book page this year. This is a goddamn masterpiece and every week it comes out I both cannot wait to read it and am a little afraid of what emotional roller coaster it is about to take me on. This series will be spoken of for years to come, with good reason.

Runners-Up: Black Bolt, Motor Crush

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