What a century this last decade has been.
Webcomics and medium press publishers are EVERYWHERE now.
Marvel has embraced multiple restarts of its line.
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DC has rebooted its universe at least twice.
Comics are for kids again.
Nerds rule culture, for all thats good and bad.
Here are a few guiding principles to our list:
Its also an exercise in opinion!
And finally, its imperfect.
Its such a perfect take on Two-Face that I come back to it every couple of years.
Give this era of Batman a shot, I bet you love it.
readBatman & Robinon Amazon
99. readBlackon Amazon
97.
Its got unique characters with distinct voices and ridiculous, over the top action.
readAssassin Nationon Amazon
96.
Boundless
Jillian Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly)
Time has sped up immensely in the last three years.
Things that feel momentus happen and are forgotten four hours later.
Its a great book.
readBoundlesson Amazon
95.
Hes a great choice for that.
Dysart and the art team give us an outstanding story about megalomania here.
readImperiumon Amazon
94. readX-Men: Second Comingon Amazon
93. readUltimates 2on Amazon
92.
Adventure Time
Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb (BOOM!
Studios)
A licensed property likeAdventure Timeis tough to get right.
readAdventure Timeon Amazon
91.
They do great scale shifts.
And the coloring adds to the surrealness of the story.
readThe Divineon Amazon
90. readIvar, Timewalkeron Amazon
89. readVirgilon Amazon
88.
Memetic
James Tynion IV, Eryk Donovan (BOOM!
Studios)
Its shocking how prescientMemeticfeels.
That damn sloth meme has been stuck in my head for five years.
readMemeticon Amazon
87.
Some just need you to say Richard Feynman and Albert Einstein gun down a space station full of FDRobots.
Guess which oneManhattan Projectsis.
readThe Manhattan Projectson Amazon
86.
And its extremely, beautifully Kirby in so many different ways.
I cant believe it worked.
readOMACon Amazon
85.
Spoilers: shes GREAT at it.
I was stunned at how much I loved this comic.
readAll-New Wolverineon Amazon
84.
A monster destroys 34 of the moon and says more is coming.
But he gives mankind an out: Kill him inside of a year, and hell leave them alive.
Its basicallyBad News Bearswith a little more murder and some great manga art from Matsui.
readAssassination Classroomon Amazon
83.
The best thing about it is how faithful to the comic the TV adaptation is.
Its drawn well and smart and a lot of fun from start to finish.
readChilling Adventures of Sabrinaon Amazon
82.
The supersoldiers are treated like any other military technology resources to be deployed, depleted, exploited and overcome.
This is probably the most interesting treatment of super powers Ive seen in a comic in the decade.
readUberon Amazon
81.
The Spire
Si Spurrier, Jeff Stokely, Andre May (BOOM!
readThe Spireon Amazon
80.
Hes an incredible artist who draws incredibly detailed everything.
readAliens: Dead Orbiton Amazon
79. readShade the Changing Girlon Amazon
78.
I find myself recommending this book to a surprising amount of people.
readWuvable Oafon Amazon
77. readUpgrade Soulon Amazon
76.
One of them is the value of superheroing does flying around punching shit really actually fix anything?
readStrong Female Protagonisthere
75.
It was also a legacy numbered relaunch coming out of a big summer crossover event.
it Its one of my favorite things hes ever written.
readJourney Into Mysteryon Amazon
74.
Kinski
Gabriel Hardman (Monkeybrain Comics)
Sometimes, a comic is just plain good.
Sometimes, a comic prominently features the GOODEST BOY on a cover.
Sometimes, as is the case withKinski, a comic does both.
Hardman is a master of the form, andKinskiis one of his most underrated works.
But his art is magnificent.
readKinskion Amazon
73. readThe Sheriff of Babylonon Amazon
72.
Fortunately for us, it was.
It feels like it was timely when it came out, but it doesnt read like a political statement.
It reads like a really good revenge story.
Richardsons art was sharp and well laid out, and is a huge part of whyGeniuswas so good.
readGeniuson Amazon
71.
Judas
Jeff Loveness, Jakub Rebelka (BOOM!
Studios)
This book came out of nowhere for me.
And its gorgeous: Rebelka draws the hell out of Hell.
His backgrounds and tweaks are every bit as impressive as the storytelling accomplishment.Judasturned out to be an outstanding story.
readJudason Amazon
70.
The flow of the fights is spectacular these are some of the best punching scenes Ive ever read.
Its basically an ultraviolent, morally indignantJames Bond.
read Midnighter on Amazon
69.
In a good way.
And something feels really off throughoutBlack Hammer, which is the entire point of the story.
readBlack Hammeron Amazon
68.
Backderfs art is very much of the underground comix style, which elevates the story, I think.
readMy Friend Dahmeron Amazon
67. readNo Mercyon Amazon
66.
The way she juggles this huge cast is incredibly skillful writing.
Shes got a good grasp on everyones voice and knows all the continuity of the old team cold.
readRunawayson Amazon
65.
I dont think hes done better work on any character thanSpider-Man.
readPeter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Manon Amazon
64.
Ragnarok
Walter Simonson (IDW Publishing)
Its Walt Simonson drawing a Thor comic.
He already did the best Thor story of all time.
This is more of the same.
I dont think I really need to go into greater detail here, right?
you might almost count the scales on the serpent.
readRagnarokon Amazon
63. readMox Noxon Amazon
62. readThe Valianton Amazon
61.
But sometimes thats perfect.
readOne Punch Manon Amazon
60. readDarth Vaderon Amazon
59. readThe Highest Houseon Amazon
58. readThe Nibhere
57. readThe Wild Stormon Amazon
56.
Its beating a dead horse at this point, but these books were tremendous accomplishments.
readHouse of X/Powers of Xon Amazon
55.
Its a wonderful story.
readSex Criminalson Amazon
54.
Its a series I cant wait to share with family.
readThe Nameless Cityon Amazon
53.
Exit, Stage Left!
Brilliant and wry, Mark Russell is one of the best new additions to comics this decade.
readExit, Stage Left!
The Snagglepuss Chronicleson Amazon
52.
The panel flow is really exceptional, and Astones colors make this vampire/demon battle sing.
readThese Savage Shoreson Amazon
51.
Specifically, Psylocke and Angels moment of eternal bliss as their world was destroyed around them.
readThe Dark Angel Sagaon Amazon
50.
That is probably due in large part to Jock and Hollingsworth.
readWytcheson Amazon
49.
Fantasy Sports
Sam Bosma (Nobrow Press)
Fantasy Sportsisnt complicated.
Its about a treasure hunter who has to beat a mummy at basketball to loot a pyramid.
read more: The Best Comics of 2018
Bosmas art is the star here.
Its somewhere between sports manga andAdventure Time.
Its vibrant and fun, full of great movement in a story that hums along.
readFantasy Sportson Amazon
48. readSexcastleon Amazon
47.
Costa, Fuso, and Gage did an amazing job of juggling enormous casts and controlling for different voices.
Joe: Cobrathrough the Cobra Civil War is amazing stuff.
Joe: Cobraon Amazon
46.
Pope is one of the most unique minds working in comics.
readBattling Boyon Amazon
45.
The shock of the twist, hell the shock of the series still makes me smile.
It was ambitious and smart, and unlike anything wed seen in comics in years at the time.
readThe Omega Menon Amazon
44.
Its a lot of fun to read.
readLady Killeron Amazon
43.
But my god the art.
The pages are practically crackling with life.
Even if the story is a little pedestrian, the art is some of the best Ive ever seen.
readInfinite Kung Fuon Amazon
42.
Bandette
Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain Comics)
Bandetteis about an adventuring teen art thief in Paris.
Its silly and cute and charming and gorgeous.
readBandetteon Amazon
41.
It radically changed Clint Barton for a decade.
And in a lot of ways, its influence still rings out now, because its just really good.
Aja is a madman.
readHawkeyeon Amazon
40.
ButThe Black Mirroris even better.
Whenever someone asks me for a Batman comic gift recommendation, this is what I tell them to buy.
readBatman: The Black Mirroron Amazon
39.
Giant Days
John Allison, Lissa Tremain, Max Sarin, Julia Madrigal, Whitney Cogar (BOOM!
readGiant Dayson Amazon
38.
The history comes across as a much more jagged line.
readBerlinon Amazon
37.
AndThe Underwater Welderis precisely that.
Its so good at making you feel like somethings wrong.
The atmosphere ofThe Underwater Welderis almost asphyxiating.
readThe Underwater Welderon Amazon
36.
Marvelfor a Christmas present for my niece.
This is a great book to have around.
Marvelon Amazon
34. readDeathstrokeon Amazon
34.
Monstress
Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
Takedas art looks like an illuminated manuscript.
But that detail work is what makes her art special, and what pushesMonstressfrom very good to great.
readMonstresson Amazon
33.
What Tom King did to this family is deeply, profoundly messed up.
readThe Visionon Amazon
32. read4 Kids Walk Into a Bankon Amazon
31.
Kid Gloves
Lucy Knisley (First Second)
Kid Glovesis amazing for a lot of reasons.
Heres the thing about it for me, though: I started reading it at the library.
And I feel really good about that decision.
readKid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaoson Amazon
30.
This is because Munroe is really good at cartooning.
readXKCDhere
29. readTwo Brotherson Amazon
28.
Its no surprise that Stevenson is kicking so much ass onShe-Ra.
readLumberjaneson Amazon
27. readShowaon Amazon
26.
Copra
Michel Fiffe (Bergen Street Comics/Image Comics)
Its still amazing to me thatCopracan even get made.
readCopraon Amazon
25.
Afterlife with Archie
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Archie Comics)
This comic should not exist.
It should not be good.
It certainly shouldnt be one of the best comics Ive read in the last decade.
And yet,Afterlife with Archieremains incredible.
In fact, it might be the purest, finest zombie story Ive experienced in a while.
The slowly building tension is a masterclass in mood.
Francavillas art is probably the least surprising part of the equation, in that it is incredible.
readAfterlife With Archieon Amazon
24.
Scalped
Jason Aaron, R.M.
Guera (Vertigo)
The best thing about Jason Aaron and R.M.
They all sound different, move different, look different.
They carry the weight of a rough life in their posture and their cadence.
Superhero comics developed the distinctive costumes so artists could distinguish between characters easily.
readScalpedon Amazon
23.
But its still damn funny.
But when I first saw it, I died laughing.
Shes exceptionally talented, andNancyis amazing work.
readNancyhere
22.
Its incredible comics work from Eleanor Davis, an amazing talent.
readThe Hard Tomorrowon Amazon
21. readMy Heroes Have Always Been Junkieson Amazon
20.
Carroll is a gifted storyteller, andThrough the Woodsis some of the best horror stuff out there.
readThrough the Woodson Amazon
19.
Mark Russell is the best satirist working in comics right now, and certainly in the past decade.
readThe Flintstoneson Amazon
18.
Clevinger and Wegener have created a near-perfect, accessible, entertaining adventure story withAtomic Robo.
The writing is smart and sharp and Wegener does some outstanding action sequences.
readAtomic Robohere
17.
It destroys lives and relationships, and triggers an anti-internet backlash.
And an anti-journalist one.
readThe Private Eyehere
16.
I reread these comics more than any in my collection because theyre beautiful and immersive and impossibly grand.
readSecret Warson Amazon
15.
Every word of that paragraph still makes no sense to me.
I am continually delighted by this fact.
Honestly, just take my word for it: this comic was incredible.
readTransformers: More Than Meets the Eyeon Amazon
14. readThe Multiversityon Amazon
13.
My Favorite Thing is Monsters
Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
Everything about Emil Ferris debut work is absurd.
The production value of the book is stellar.
readMy Favorite Thing is Monsterson Amazon
12.
And the way that McGuire manages to tell a coherent story under those restrictions is masterful work.
readHereon Amazon
11. readHellboy in Hellon Amazon
10.
The best Thor stories have a bigger point than Can Thor beat up the Hulk?
Its masterful work drawn by a collection of incredible artists.
readThor: God of Thunderon Amazon
9. readSagaon Amazon
8.
Cookes storytelling techniques bounce all over the place, but all work amazingly well.
readRichard Starks Parker: The Outfiton Amazon
7.
Prince of Cats
Ron Wimberly (Image Comics)
WimberlysPrince of Catsis pretty close to a perfect comic.
Wimberlys art is stylish as hell, with fantastic layouts and odd angles, and it is colored beautifully.
readPrince of Catson Amazon
6.
Her supporting cast was terrific, guest characters were phenomenal, and Henderson has impeccable comic timing.
readThe Unbeatable Squirrell Girlon Amazon
5.
All of it lands because Beatons got a sharp eye and a strong voice for absurdity.
I think my personal favorite remainsStraw Feminists.
a Vagranthere
4. readHip Hop Family Treeon Amazon
3.
This is King and Gerads operating in peak form.
Everything about it, from the content to the pacing to the characterization, was absolutely perfect.
readMister Miracleon Amazon
2.
Smile
Raina Telgemeier (Graphix)
I came to Rainas world late.
I knew that these books were popular, so I grabbed one at a bookstore and started on it.
I will always appreciate that.
readSmileon Amazon
1.
Powells art is staggeringly good, full of gorgeous storytelling.
I knew it was historical and that still scared the hell out of me.
Kudos and thanks to Rep. Lewis, Aydin and Powell for making an incredible book.
readMarchon Amazon
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