Best Comic Book of 2018: THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: HOTEL OBLIVION

 
     The first two The Umbrella Academy mini-series came out way back in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 at Comic Con, Gerard Way mentioned the third series was going to be called, "Hotel Oblivion," and Dark Horse announced a 2010 release date. Well that certainly didn't fucking happen. If it wasn't for the Netflix adaptation to finally be filmed, who knows if this would have ever come out. But it's here, finally, and it's glorious. Gerard Way of course hasn't been sitting on ass, though. He went to DC and started an imprint and wrote a fairly disappointing Doom Patrol remake. And so if you thought ten years later his magic had disappeared, you'd be wrong. The Umbrella Academy was one of my favorite books back in the day, and re-reading it I realized why. It's weird but thrilling and bold, totally alive and bonkers and jaw-droppingly awesome. The new series (#1-#3 were released in 2018...so yes, the end may be terrible) has the old gang back together (writer Way and artist Gabriel Ba along with colorist Nick Filardi) and so far this is just as good as the superior second series, Dallas. I think the one thing that works wonderfully in the new series is that it's a great story. Since Way had mentioned he was writing #1 way back in 2002 and the "hotel" was mentioned early on by Spaceboy in the first series, the idea and story were probably always there from the beginning. The Hotel Oblivion is where the Academy's father sent all of the evil criminals they defeated. Well of course all of the criminals break out and all hell breaks loose. The bizarreness of the book is always present, but it's not obtuse. Everything works and is understandable, which is definitely a gift of Way, unlike some other writers (ahem, Grant Morrison, ahem) that write weird stories that usually make no sense. The art is wild and loose, the colors are vibrant, the book is fun and super entertaining. This is just a great return to form from everyone involved. It's so nice to see a masterwork return and be just as good as it was. It rarely happens, if ever. Now let's only hope they don't wait another ten years for the 4th series.

Best Cover of 2018: SUPERMAN #3 (variant)

Best PAGES & PANELS of 2018

THE MIGHTY THOR  

                       
MOON KNIGHT

 BATMAN: THE DARK PRINCE CHARMING

                                                     

SOUTHERN BASTARDS

 CAPTAIN AMERICA

Best Issue of 2018: WYTCHES: BAD EGG HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

    The last issue of Scott Snyder and Jock's Wytches came out way back on May 20th in 2015. Back then, Scott Snyder was king of the world, one of the best comic book writers ever. Then his Batman run with Greg Capullo ended and so did Snyder's magic. He wrote one bad series after another: All-Star Batman, Dark Knights: Metal, A.D. After Death, Justice League. What happened? Who knows, really, but he decided to throw a curveball and write a new entry in the Wytches series for the magazine Image+. It would only be a few pages in every issue of the magazine but eventually be collected in this sixty page one-shot that was released on Halloween. It's not a sequel to the first Wytches arc, it's a set-up to the second series. It's also fucking awesome, totally disturbing, and features everything we loved about Snyder's writing in the first place. It seems like Snyder needed this to get his mojo back; write something that probably a lot of people aren't going to see and might fly under the radar (who reads Image+, anyway?). Snyder also lets loose in Wytches: Bad Egg; it's fucking disturbing as hell. A husband and wife have a son just so that they can eventually give it to the wytch creatures as a sacrifice so that they can gain powers. The problem is that their son happens to befriend a boy whose mother happens to be a wytch hunter. The artwork by Jock is as creepy as possible as well. This one-shot is akin to a great Tales From the Crypt issue/episode. It's readable, engaging, fresh, alive, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Scott Snyder really knocked it out of the park with this one. A true masterpiece.

Best Writer of 2018: BRIAN K. VAUGHAN "SAGA" "PAPER GIRLS"

     Brian K. Vaughan had another stellar year (again). Both Saga and Paper Girls were two of the best comic books out there. Saga of course had a monumental issue #54 when Vaughan killed off the main character and, in the letters page, noted that the book would be going on a hiatus of a year or so. Which means, even now, years into a run, the dude still can shock and surprise us. What works about his storytelling is that while it is humorous and tongue-in-cheek at times, it's also heartfelt, emotional, and features real world angst and humanity while showcasing science fiction and strange monsters and total, acid-dipped insanity. His books bring alive these characters and worlds like no other. You root for Marko and Alana in Saga and you root for Erin, AJ, Tiffany, and Mac in Paper Girls. These characters and their incredible journeys become your own, and that says a lot about the ability of a writer.

The Best Art of 2018: STEVE SKROCE & DAVE STEWART "MAESTROS"

     Steve Skroce famously quit the comic book business years ago to work in Hollywood and draw storyboards for films like "The Matrix." Brian K. Vaughan helped coax him back a few years ago and last year Skroce finished his book "Maestros" that he penciled/inked and also wrote. While the book was funny, bonkers, and wildly entertaining, it was certainly the art that made it a great book. Detailed, colorful (Dave Steward did the coloring), wonderful, fantastic, and gorgeous to gaze at. This book had the best art of the year.