Monday, December 11, 2006

Top 5 for 2006

Well, I finally managed to pick my top 5 books for 2006... this was a grueling process as there were many books that I enjoyed this year. Anyway, here's what I came up with!

#5
X-Factor (Peter David)

One of the only Marvel books I like anymore! Well, at least that's part of their usual continuity. Peter David has made characters that I never really cared for seem new and interesting while maintaining an incredible overall story. You can't ask for more than that!

#4
52 (various)

A good, consistent, weekly comic... not to mention an event comic that actually introduces new readers to DC. It was somewhat hit and miss early on, but it picked up fast. The Black Adam family has been one of the more interesting stories, but this book is almost always the first I read when I get my books (unless LoSH came out!)

#3
Mouse Guard (David Peterson)

I love this book - a great action/adventure story that can be enjoyed by any age. The art is appealing as well!

#2
Fables (Bill Willingham/various)

Fables also made my list last year, and it has continued to be a consistently well written book. Not only are there constantly new characters being introduced and new worlds that we're able to explore, but we also get to see how the characters we already know progress. This isn't only a great series - it also was one of my favorite issues this year - Fables #50. Bigby Wolf and Snow White's wedding alone made this book guaranteed a spot in my Top 5.

#1
Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes (Mark Waid/Barry Kitson - usually)

This was my pick for the best book of the year without even thinking about it. Not only is it fantastic to have a solid Legion book around again, but having Mark Waid writing it makes it even better. Not only is it a fun book, but it manages to tell the story of many different heroes while maintaining an overall ongoing plot at the same time. The introduction of Supergirl made the series even better. Not only is the a better version of the latest Supergirl incarnation (I'm not to fond of her in the 21st century at the moment) but she adds a dynamic to the Legion that has been missing since the Giffen retcons. Hands down the best series this year!


An extra kudos to Kurt Busiek (Aquaman and Action Comics) and Gail Simone's books in general (Birds of Prey, Atom, Gen13, Secret Six to name a few...). I've enjoyed everything they've written this year.

Some others that were good but didn't make the cut...

Invincible
Shadow Pact
X-Men Fairytales
X-Men First Class
Nightwing
Loveless
Fell
Batman (Monster Men and Mad Monk)

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting at the moment, but I think I covered most of them :)