The 25 Best Comic Books Of 2011

It has been the year of the reboot for the comic book industry. Not only did DC relaunch its entire line with the “New 52” initiative, but Marvel also introduced the world to new volumes of classic titles such as Daredevil, Punisher, The Mighty Thor, and Captain America. But despite all of the reboots, relaunches, and reimagining, 2011 still managed to be an extremely interesting year for comic books.

Over the last 12 months, the comic book industry has given us some truly original superhero titles, surprisingly solid crossover events, and emotionally charged independent books. B-list characters have found new life, and A-list characters have reminded us why they have been so popular in the first place.

Furthermore, young talent like Jeff Lemire, Scott Snyder, and Rick Remender have solidified their names amongst industry veterans such as Brian Azzarello, Grant Morrison, and Geoff Johns. So to catch everyone up on a great year for the comic book industry, we’re counting down The 25 Best Comic Books Of 2011.

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Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Andy Kubert

Both Marvel and DC brought blockbuster crossover events to the table this year in the form of Fear Itself and Flashpoint respectively; however, Flashpoint trumped Marvel’s efforts by featuring more enjoyable character moments and a better overall plot. The story was reminiscent of some of the better episodes of Bruce Timm’s Justice League animated series, and the art by Andy Kubert really helped put it over the top.

The main selling point of Flashpoint was the fact that it led directly into DC’s “New 52” initiative, but the story works well besides being just a lead-in to a bigger story. Watching the Flash take a rag-tag group of heroes from an alternate timeline against evil versions of Aquaman and Wonder Woman reminded us why we began to love superhero comics in the first place.

Writer: Rick Remender
Artists: Jerome Opena, Esad Ribic, Rafael Albuquerque, Billy Tan, Mark Brooks

Despite a revolving door of artists over the past year, Uncanny X-Force has been one of Marvel’s sleeper hits courtesy of the brilliance of Rick Remender’s plots and characterizations. Comprised of a group of mutants with less than admirable pasts, including Deadpool, Wolverine, Psylocke, and Archangel, X-Force is more intense and visceral than most of the company's other titles.

Debuting in 2010, X-Force showed some promise during its early issues, but 2011 has been a real standout for the title. Remender’s magnum opus thus far has been The Dark Angel Saga, which saw Archangel consumed by his former evil persona in an attempt to destroy the Earth. Pulling together plot threads from the legendary Age Of Apocalypse storyline, X-Force is tops in the world of mutants.

Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Marco Checchetto

It seems like the Punisher series gets relaunched every year with a new look and tone. Sometimes it’s an ultra-violent MAX title, other times it's a typical superhero title; at one point, it was even been a comedy book. But Greg Rucka’s latest Punisher series stands out from the rest. Featuring a darker tone, but not so dark that it makes you cringe, this comic has an intense focus on crime and violence, with a unique spin on Frank Castle himself.

The introductory issues featured the Punisher as somewhat of a background character lurking behind the scenes and manipulating everything. Soon enough, though, he was battling high above the streets of New York against the new-and-improved Vulture. Touting the perfect balance between grittiness and superhero action, Greg Rucka’s Punisher might be the best interpretation of the character in the mainstream Marvel Universe. We still don’t think it will touch Garth Ennis’ work, though.

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artists: Steve Epting, Barry Kitson, Greg Tocchini

Due to the death of Johnny Storm, a.k.a. The Human Torch, the Fantastic Four decided to reorganize themselves into the Future Foundation in order to become a global problem solving unit, as opposed to merely being a Spandex-clad family of crime fighters. That might sound like little more than a gimmick, but Jonathan Hickman has been writing FF and Fantastic Four for three years now, and Hickman's work in 2011 was a brilliant continuation of his previous excellence.

While Hickman introduced Fantastic Four fans to a plethora of new concepts, he was also mindful enough to include their classic foes and supporting cast intact, as well. This combination of the new and the old led to some of the best conflicts and character interactions in FF's history. All of these innovative plots would be useless if there was no visual excitement to go along with it, but thankfully a talented stable of artists (especially Steve Epting) have added a sufficient amount of eye candy to the book.

Writer: Matz
Artist: Luc Jacamon

Based in an alternate future, where the U.N’s armed forces are outsourced to private companies and wars are filmed for the public’s entertainment, Cyclops deals with the always-relevant subjects of corporate greed and corruption. There are no tights and capes in sight, and mad scientists and supervillains are replaced by real world problems that seem like they jumped right out of The New York Times.

Cyclops is a thinking fan’s comic, filled with sophisticated plot points and moral grey zones. Plus, the art by Luc Jacamon is sublime, as his futuristic look of the world showcases a clash between beautiful American cities and war-torn Middle Eastern towns. As you can deal with the excruciating wait in between issues, Cyclops is one of the more interesting books on the shelf.

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Jim Lee

When DC launched its “New 52” initiative, the company needed a main book that would explain this new universe to fans. The only logical choice was Justice League, which served as a large-scale introduction to all of the company’s superheroes and their brand-new continuity. Obviously the book needed a bit of name value to go along with the push, so the company chose superstar writer Geoff Johns and the legendary Jim Lee to take the reigns.

The result is a fresh take on the classic Justice League that easily appeals to new readers, while never alienating longtime fans. Featuring high-octane action and glorious art, the book is an adrenaline-fueled experience from cover-to-cover.

Writer and Artist: Nate Powell

Any Empire isn't your traditional comic. Instead of dealing with super villains, mad scientists, or terrorism, Nate Powell delves deep inside the minds of some youths who have grown up surrounded by news about war and violence. Playing out like an indie film, Any Empire is a touching visual experience that creates fleshed-out characters complete with real emotions and motivations.

But this is more than a simple graphic novel that you can put down then you’re done. Any Empire will rattle around in your brain weeks after you've completed reading the last page. It can be reminiscent of anyone’s childhood, but at the same time Powell's storytelling paints a somewhat grim picture of our violence-obsessed culture. In the end, it's really a story about growing up and either overcoming or surrendering to your environment.

Writers: Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft
Artist: Attila Futaki

Trying to convey genuine horror into the comic book medium is a tricky prospect. Without audible sound effects and music, a lot of the tension that's audibly palpable in film is impossible to achieve with word balloons and art; however, with the proper pacing, subject matter, and, most importantly, a dynamic creative team, a comic can provide the same thrills and chills as any motion picture.

Enter: Severed. Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft’s atmospheric tale about a young man traveling the country in search of his father and his own identity is a prime example of how to get some real scares onto the page. Set in the early days of the 20th century, Severed is a slow-moving, tension-filled tale that never lets readers get too comfortable with anything in the book. Featuring an ominous villain named The Salesman, and two young main characters that always feel authentic, Severed is the perfect comic to crack open on a stormy night.

Writer: Brian Wood
Artists: Riccardo Burchielli, Becky Cloonan, Simon Gane, Marian Churchland, Paul Azaceta

While Marvel’s The Mighty Thor deals with Vikings and Norse gods in a fantasy setting, Brian Wood’s Northlanders takes a look at a similar universe in a more realistic way, with an eye pointed specifically toward actual history books. Northlanders dosn’t followed one main character throughout its existence; the title jumps around the Nordic timeline and focuses on the major historical events in the Viking lineage. It can be extremely brutal and intense at times, but Wood proves that he can write some beautiful prose amidst the hardcore plotting.

Setting the book in such a drab, realistic way without getting bogged down by fantasy clichés sets it apart from any other comic on the shelf. And while Northlanders may not have a consistent artist, every issue features visuals that perfectly compliment the scripts. Don’t rush out the door in hopes of picking up the latest Northlanders issue in an effort to jump headfirst into the current story, though; unfortunately, the title will be canceled early next year. But picking up the earlier collections is always a good idea.

Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Mike Huddleston

If there's any comic on this list that deserves to be turned into a big-budget movie, it’s The Homeland Directive. After Dr. Lauren Regan is framed for killing her research partner, she quickly finds herself embroiled in a nationwide conspiracy that deals with national security and a government obsessed with tracking its citizens. Highly engrossing and socially conscious, The Homeland Directive has all of the energy and smarts of a Hollywood movie without all of the artificial celebrities.

With innovative art and plenty of plot twists, The Homeland Directive proves that a comic book can be both smart and action-packed without relying on garish superhero mascots. Pay close attention to Mike Huddleston's wildly creative art, too, which seemingly switches styles dozens of time throughout the book.

Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory

Chew has been going strong since 2009, and 2011 was the book’s best year. Filled with grotesque humor, imaginative art, and a Fat Camp revolution, this title manages to offer something new every issue, without losing any of its always consistency. Weaving multiple plot threads all at once, writer John Layman never overwhelms readers with too much information at once, but there are also never any filler issues that exist just to waste time.

In short, despite its humorous tone, Chew always manages to be one of the most carefully plotted books on the shelves. As one of the few books available that features both humor and interesting storytelling, Chew is a love letter to a time when comics weren’t so serious and creators were allowed to have a great deal of fun.

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Yanick Paquette

After years of being forgotten by a majority of comic book fans, Swamp Thing returned to the DC Universe with force this year in a new book written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by the infinitely talented Yanick Paquette. Bringing the character back to its more philosophical roots, with a heaping helping of good ol’ fashioned horror, Swamp Thing is a tour de force that touches upon every genre that makes the comic book medium work.

Not since Alan Moore’s run has Swamp Thing been crafted so expertly, and most of the praise should be given to Snyder. His enthusiasm for the character is clearly evident as each issue brings something new and exciting to the mythology. Also, fans should be following every issue of this series as it is primed to crossover with another great DC title, Animal Man, in the near future.

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos

In an effort to bring Spider-Man back to prominence, writer Dan Slott and artist Humberto Ramos gave the Wall Crawler a makeover in a new Amazing Spider-Man initiative titled “Big Time." This wasn’t a reboot as much as it was a new direction for Spidey and his supporting cast, placing Peter Parker at a new dream job, giving him a new romantic interest in the form of Carlie Cooper, and bringing back some of Stan Lee's soap opera story elements.

From battles with the new Hobgoblin to a great crossover event in Spider Island, 2011 proved to be a major shot in the arm for Amazing Spider-Man. Gone were the overly-serious storylines and publicity stunt plots, and in their place were stories that brought humor and adventure back to the book. Also, Humberto Ramos just kills it every issue with a creative style and non-stop energy.

Writer: Nathan Edmondson
Artist: Tonci Zonjic

Who Is Jake Ellis? combines the kinds of action and suspense found in any spy thriller with the mind-bending psychological overtones of a David Fincher movie. It’s rare that such genre crossovers ever succeed, but writer Nathan Edmondson pulls everything off flawlessly.

Who Is Jake Ellis? focuses on Jon Moore, a mercenary/spy, who travels the globe making money aided by his guardian angel, Jake Ellis. The only problem is that no one besides Moore can see or hear Ellis, and the story quickly becomes a deep mystery over who this man is living inside his head. Illustrated by the phenomenal Tonci Zonjic, Who Is Jake Ellis? is a beautiful globetrotting adventure that's one part Bourne Identity, another part Fight Club, and third, completely original part.

Writer and Artist: Kagan McLeod

What’s better than old-school kung-fu movies? How about an indie comic with all of the flavor of an old-school kung-fu movie that also happens to feature zombies and celestial discord? The brainchild of Kagan McLeod, Infinite Kung-Fu is a refreshingly sharp, long-form graphic novel that brings the world of martial arts and fantasy together into one brilliantly illustrated package.

McLeod's inventive book is about a young soldier named Yang Lei Kung who must stop a corrupt emperor from destroying everything on Earth. Featuring a long journey through mysterious lands, and clocking in at over 450 pages, Infinite Kung-Fu is a grand odyssey filled with elements of horror, hip-hop, and humor. It pushes the boundaries of the comic book medium and introduces something completely unique to fans everywhere.

Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Mirko Colak

In terms of writing comics centered on classic supervillains, Greg Pak is undeniably an expert. After writing the absolutely stellar Magneto: Testament back in 2008, Pak decided to take on Red Skull, Captain America's classic foe, in what was basically a tie-in to Captain America: The First Avenger. But nothing about Red Skull Incarnate screams "cheap cash grab"; in fact, it’s one of the most intelligent and well-written books Marvel has put out in decades.

Detailing how the Nazi party seduces Johann Schmidt, Red Skull uses real historical events as a backdrop for a powerful tragedy. Ditching over-the-top storytelling in favor of meticulous character development, Pak doesn’t just give us a typical supervillain origin complete with colorful costumes and maniacal cackling. It's a slow burn, and though it’s not what we may have expected, Pak's narrative direction is exactly what we needed from this story.

Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Cliff Chiang

Oh, Wonder Woman, where have you been all of our lives? Conceptually strong, but usually lacking in quality, the strong female character has rarely been given the chance to shine in her own solo book. But when DC’s “New 52” came along, the company decided to put two A-list talents on the book in order to inject some life into Wonder Woman’s stories.

In the series’ first four issues, Azzarello has given the character a mythological flavor that resembles Marvel’s Thor. Witnessing this 70-year-old character finally bring something new to the superhero genre is an absolute blast every month. Azzarello pulls no punches when it comes to the intensity or intelligence on this book, and Cliff Chiang's art is routinely amazing. Considering that she'd devolved into a mere afterthought for decades, Wonder Woman definitely came as a shock to us.

Writers: Haden Blackman, JH Williams III
Artist: JH Williams III

Greg Rucka’s recent run on Detective Comics introduced comic book fans everywhere to the brilliance of Batwoman. As one of the only lesbian crime fighters in mainstream comics, Batwoman is a completely different superhero than most of the colorful denizens of the DC Universe. And in the character's debut solo title, writers Haden Blackman and JH Williams III have played up her unique personality and presented a book that shatters expectations and provides us with something completely different from the pack.

With an intense focus her personal life and struggles, Batwoman is a great comic soap opera complete with scorned lovers and daddy issues. Traditional comic fans shouldn’t worry, though, because there are plenty of over-the-top villains to go around. Also, Williams' art is unbeatable; his use of panel layouts, coloring, and composition turns comic book art into fine art every issue. Batwoman is the complete package, one that is primed to have a huge 2012, as well.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Rags Morales, Gene Ha

The past few years have not been kind to the Man of Steel. Superman Returns was a box office dud, his comic books storylines became a pain to flip through, and long-time fans had to watch Batman become the company’s new poster boy. But, like he has done so many times, Grant Morrison was soon hired to inject Supes with some much-needed life after DC’s “New 52” launched.

By concentrating on the character’s early years and toning down his powers somewhat, Morrison has made Superman more relatable than ever in this new volume of Action Comics. With witty dialogue and real-world problems, Superman finally has a personality again and each new issue gives us another reason to love him again. He may be wearing a T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, but this version of the the kryptonite-hater is the real deal.

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artists: Jock, Francesco Francavilla

With its relaunch of every superhero title at the company, DC’s year can really split into two halves. And while most of the company’s books got better during the second half of 2011 (after the reboot), Detective Comics was rolling along just fine during the first half of the year. From issue 873 through 881, this was the best comic book on shelves, period.

Starring Dick Grayson as the Caped Crusader, Scott Snyder's narrative took readers through one of the most twisted, grotesque, and completely satisfying, manifestations of the Batman character in recent years. Shying away from the Caped Crusader's more famous villains (aside from the Joker, who's present here), Snyder presented Batman with new challenges and conflicts that were just as physical as they were psychological. And it didn’t hurt that the art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla blew us away every issue. Thankfully, Snyder was hired to write Batman after Detective Comics got rebooted, so fans of this story should mosey on over to his new stuff.

Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard

What more is there to say about Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead? Not only has it become a cultural phenomenon thanks to the AMC television series, but the comic book itself is still running strong after 92 issues. This year, The Walking Dead was as unpredictable as ever, with Rick’s son getting shot and a new group of survivors appearing from seemingly out of nowhere.

It’s rare for any series to stay this fresh for so long, but it almost never happens in an indie title. Every issue features plot twists and heartbreaks that keeps the book’s loyal audience coming back for more, and it shows us that while the TV show is good, the comic is simply better.

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Sara Pichelli

After it was announced that Peter Parker would be killed off in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man and replaced by a half-Latino, half-African American teenager named Miles Morales, fans were skeptical, and rightfully so. But Brian Michael Bendis proved all of the doubters wrong by delivering one of the freshest interpretations of the Spider-Man legend in years.

Putting a strong focus on intricate character development, as opposed to bombastic action scenes, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man is paced like an art-house movie, but with all of the visual flair of a blockbuster. Armed with a new costume and personality, this updated look at the Wall Crawler is a testament to the evolution of superhero comics.

It’s slow-paced (Miles didn’t even get his costume until the fifth issue) and thoughtful with fully fleshed-out personalities and motivations. But aside from all of the dramatic stuff, this new Spidey has already squared-off against Electro and Spider Woman, and a battle with the Prowler is all but inevitable. This is a book to keep your eye on in the new year.

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo

It’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to really choose if Scott Snyder has had a better run on Detective Comics or Batman in 2011, but, right now, we have to go with Batman. Again, he’s not relying on the same-old villains we have seen over the past few decades in Bat books, which is a good thing because his latest villainous creations, the Court of the Owls, are more interesting than a lot of the character’s classic rogues.

During Batman’s first four issues since the relaunch, Snyder has given us a glimpse at the start of a sprawling mystery that looks poised to be one of the best in recent history. Featuring the Caped Crusader dealing with a mysterious cult that has been preying on Gotham’s elite for decades, Batman deals with some subjects near-and-dear to the Dark Knight’s heart, such as paranoia, obsession, and some old school action scenes.

Backing Snyder up is the art of Greg Capullo, which combines meticulous detail and gothic imagery that is reminiscent of the cartoonish look of Batman: The Animated Series. Forget the hype for next summer's sure-to-bo big-screen knockout The Dark Knight Rises for a moment and start collecting this book.

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Travel Foreman

Since his creation in 1965, Animal Man only really made an impact on the comic book world during Grant Morrison’s run on the character from the ‘80s; however, once DC rebooted the entire series during its “New 52” initiative, Animal Man solidified itself as one of the company's strongest books. It’s also the one that least resembles a typical superhero book.

Bringing a supernatural/horror tone to the DC Universe, the book meditates on subjects as intimate as family life and as nebulous as nature itself. In a time when a lot of superhero comics are little more than flashy advertisements for upcoming movies, Animal Man throws a life-preserver to a section of comic book fans that simply enjoy a good read.

Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Paolo Rivera, Marcos Martin

After the events of the horrible crossover storyline Shadowland, it seemed that, after decades of high-quality stories, Daredevil was headed towards a nose-dive. Thnakfully, Marvel relaunched the series immediately after that debacle with writer Mark Waid, who has brought a completely different tone and flavor to the book.

Shying away from the gritty stories of the Frank Miller and Brian Michael Bendis days, Waid injected new life into Daredevil by bringing him back to his swashbuckling roots. Aided by two of the best artists in the industry, Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin, Waid’s Daredevil revival has reminded us that it’s perfectly acceptable for a comic to tone down violence and gore in favor of tight storytelling and superhero action.

There's a sense of creativity and whimsy that permeates every panel of Daredevil, a quality often only found in indie comics. Waid's book isn’t just the best Marvel comic, nor is it simply the best superhero comics; it’s simply the best title on stands today.