I’m a big fan of lists. For the past 11 years or so, I’ve kept a list of every single book I read each year. The title of every issue, every graphic novel, every prose novel is stored safely in the Notes app on my phone until the end of the year when I sit at my kitchen table with an adult beverage and write the entire list into a notebook. I also do this with every record that came out that year that I liked, every concert/event I went to, and every new film I watched. I have been assured that this is a very normal way to spend my time and not at all serial killer-type behavior (phew!). With 2025 right around the corner, Thanksgiving week is as good a time as any to look back on this year and acknowledge the comics I’m most thankful for this year.
Wonder Woman by Tom King and Daniel Sampere
At the time of this writing, Wonder Woman #5-15 hit the shelves this year and continues to be my favorite ongoing superhero comic right now. I’m a big Tom King fan *most of the time*. King has written some of what I consider to be my favorite comics of all time, but he has also written some that I don’t consider ever again after I’ve finished reading them. His work has been polarizing, especially for a title like Wonder Woman, as it is a thinly veiled allegory about potentially sensitive socio-political issues. Also, Sampere’s portrayal of Diana and her family is my favorite I’ve seen in a very long time and worth the price of admission every month. You can pick up issues off the rack or get caught up with volume 1 & 2 of this Wonder Woman run from your nearest GCC location!
DOOM (one-shot) by Sanford Greene and Jonathan Hickman
Marvel has certainly been building Dr. Doom this year. He’s taken up the mantle of the Marvel Universe’s Sorcerer Supreme following the events of Blood Hunt, but Sanford Greene (with help from Jonathan Hickman) wrote a Doom story that will stand the test of time as one of his most beautifully illustrated. Many readers that don’t often frequent comic shops stopped in to pick this one up after the internet blew up at the sight of MF DOOM lyrics on the very first page and hopefully stuck around to fully appreciate the story. This issue is tougher to track down, however there will be a over-sized treasury edition of it scheduled to come out in March 2025 that is sure to do Greene’s artwork justice.
Fantastic Four by Ryan NorthThis year, I saw Fantastic Four #16-26 arrive in my pull box and it was always the first thing I read that month. While having Alex Ross illustrate most of the covers, the true FF magic was within the pages of these issues. This book is perfectly strange and truly unlike any other comic Marvel is producing right now. A common complaint about modern comics seems to be that individual issues feel like they’re written to be part of a collected volume later rather than a standalone story that someone could pick up and read without too much prerequisite knowledge. It’s difficult not to be impressed with comics that aren’t necessarily an anthology, but tell a different story in every issue while still being part of a greater narrative. North pulls it off wonderfully in Fantastic Four. Each GCC location should have the most recent issues of FF on their racks, but volumes 1-4 of the collected paperbacks can also be found in the graphic novel area!
Surviving On Mars TPBI’m a fan of comic creator Brandon Graham and I like auto-bio diary comics, so when Surviving On Mars was solicited I know it would be a day one purchase for me. Graham is known for his whimsical writing style and dream-like stream-of-consciousness storytelling, but this is obviously a little more of a grounded effort. Giving the reader snapshots of his daily life as well as some profound self-reflection, mixed with his signature art style was a real treat to read for me. It’s a book with a huge heart and clocking in at a modest 116 pages for $14.99, it’s a book you could very easily knock out in one sitting. Ask your local GCC for a copy!
DC Compact EditionsI’m sure anyone reading this article is aware of the $9.99 digest-sized DC Compact Editions. They truly are the best deal in comics right now. Full stories of some of DCs most must-read titles for a measly ten bucks plus tax has gotten many readers (including myself) to finally read stories that they’ve been meaning to for years but just never got around to. With a slate of new titles being reprinted in this format coming next year, I’m very thankful DC has made these essential stories available for such a reasonable price. Plus, editions like Harley Quinn & The Gotham City Sirens and Catwoman: Trial Of The Catwoman are not always easy to find in standard size TPBs outside of getting a pricey omnibus. Most GCC stores have a designated section for these books for your browsing convenience!