When it comes to rankings, I'm pretty shit. So, in no particular order, here were my 10 favorite books of 2014.
Superman
Geoff Johns' Action Comics run was so good, it's been great to get him back writing for the character. The book has been so...meh since the New 52 started, and it feels awesome to have the book be good again. It doesn't hurt that he's got a really great team with him in JR Jr, Klaus Janson, and Laura Martin.
Green Arrow
I'd never read Green Arrow before. I was a fan of Jeff Lemire, going back to Sweet Tooth and Superboy. So, I gave it a run. Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, & Marcelo Maiolo were so in sync on this book, it boggles the mind. Outsiders War was probably my favorite arc of the year, and I hope that somehow these three get to make a return trip to Seattle.
Trillium
Lemire + love story + time travel hijinx = very happy FF.
Batman
I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. Zero Year was incredible, Endgame looks nuts. The run this book has been on is starting to remind me of the Waid-to-Johns run of the Flash.
Uncanny Avengers
Rick Remender at his shit-hitting-the-fan best.
Deadly Class
At the back of the first trade, Remender talks about his experiences as a teenager and how that was an inspiration/fuel for Deadly Class. I don't know why it surprised me so much, because you can feel that connection in the book itself. Like Buddy wrote, we've all had those moments as a teenager, when we think we're bigger than we are, an we feel like everything's against you. This book hits on a personal level, and that's due to Remender's writing. Wes Craig + Lee Loughridge are both incredible and their art is a big reason why this book is a must read (the Acid King tripping in Las Vegas is
amazing).
Moon Knight (Ellis/Shalvey/Bellaire)
The story of this book is the same as Green Arrow - a team of insanely talented creators draw me into a book/character I hadn't really read and completely kill it. This was my first taste of Moon Knight...ever. No disrespect to Marc Spector, but I was never that into his series. I am, however, very into Warren Ellis. Which is why I decided to give this book a go. I'm really happy I did. Whatever this team decides to do next, I'm with them all the way.
Wicked + The Divine
You have no idea how much I wanted to hate this book. I didn't like Gillen's most recent Young Avengers work, I really really didn't like his Iron Man run. I thought this was going to be bad, especially since pre-release interviews sounded a lot like what he was saying during the later parts of YA. Even when the series premise interested me, I ignored it, thinking I'd hate it.
I have never been so happy to be so wrong about a book
ever. Holy shit, everything about this book is amazing. Art, writing, color, the fucking name of the first trade. Goddamned everything. I'm back in on Gillen/McKelvie.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
This is probably my favorite representation of the Turtles in any form of media, just edging out the Nick show. It's also responsible for one of my favorite covers of the year:
TIE: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor/Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor
I loved the IDW Doctor Who series, and I was quietly anticipating the move to Titan Books. It didn't disappoint, as both of the creative teams for each book have managed to perfectly get the voice of the two Doctors. I'll continue with the series into 2015, as well as catch up with the Twelfth Doctor series that just started in October.
Honorable Mentions:
Justice League 3000
Justice League United
Justice League
The Flash
Cyclops
Daredevil
Grayson
The Walking Dead
Batgirl
Hinterkind
BPRD
Batman & Robin
The Unwritten (I will dearly miss this book)
Avengers/New Avengers (Namor getting sonned by Doom will never not be glorious)
Books I really should start in 2015
Rat Queens (I'm sorry)
Ms. Marvel (I said I'm sorry)
Southern Bastards (I'M SORRY)
Old books that I just started reading this year and still loved:
Uncanny X-Force - WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD BEFORE GODDAMN