The 10 Best Comic Books of 2012

Looking back at 2012, it was definitely a year of transition for the mainstream comic book industry. Over at DC, the company continued to move along with its New 52 initiative. And though some stellar titles cropped up because of it, even more took slight steps backwards. It was a similar story over at Marvel, where the company announced a complete overhaul and reboot of its comic book line, titled Marvel NOW, that took place after its Avengers vs. X-Men crossover. In the short amount of time since it began, Marvel NOW has given us hope that 2013 will be a year of creative change at the House of Ideas, but it wasn't enough to wash the taste of the AvX crossover from our mouths.

As the big two continue to pump out some great (and not so great) superhero titles, independent publishers like Image, Dark Horse, Top Shelf, Valiant, Boom Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, and Archaia launched a host of new properties that spanned across multiple genres and artistic styles. Comic lovers have seen horror, humor, espionage, sci-fi, romance, drama, and any other branch of storytelling you can imagine from these niche publishers. All of which, it's important to note, prove that you don’t need a roster of movie star characters to capture fans' collective attention.

As the year is winding down, let's take a look back at The 10 Best Comic Books Of 2012. Some of these titles might be a bit out of your comfort zone, but you’re going to have to trust us on them. They are simply the best.

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Written by Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1)

Writer: Brian Wood
Artists: Becky Cloonan, Declan Shalvey, Vasilis Lolos

Who would've thought that a Conan title would land on a “Best Of” list? Well, at least not before Dark Horse gave the reins over to Northlanders scribe Brian Wood. Thanks to him, the barbarian’s world is perfectly suited for modern audiences. Slimmed down and more emotionally vulnerable than ever before, the younger Conan is quite the likeable protagonist.

Wood started his run back in February, and, along with artist Becky Cloonan, gave readers one of the best introductory arcs on a book in 2012. Adapting a classic Robert E. Howard story for the comic, Wood introduced the new version of Conan and Bêlit, a pirate who he would take on as a lover. Each storyline that followed continued to explore their relationship, with the highpoint being the “Border Fury” arc that saw Conan and Bêlit attempt to stop a Conan impostor from ruining his good name.

Kudos for Conan the Barbarian's art, too. Cloonan's drawing are a bit more animated, while Shalvey adds mood and grit to the book. Both aid Wood’s scripts immensely and bring life to the world of Cimmeria and beyond. Mythic fantasy is a genre that seems to be leaving the comic book page over the past few years, but if Wood can continue this level of success with Conan, then one title is all we’ll need for our fix.

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artists: David Aja, Javier Pulido

On its surface, Hawkeye is a book that stands for everything we hate about modern superhero comics. It takes a character that's clearly only relevant because of The Avengers movie (as played by Jeremy Renner) and gives him his own title in order to milk sales from the movie's fans. But despite all of that, writer Matt Fraction has managed to turn Hawkeye into one of the best books on shelves.

By taking the character of Clint Barton and focusing on what he does on his days off from being an Avenger, Fraction created a superhero title with indie sensibilities that brings a certain amount of humor and charm to the Marvel universe. Hawkeye is packed with personality, and in each new issue Fraction manages to make Hawkeye a completely loveable prick as he battles against various crime organizations from around the globe.

What really makes the title stand out, though, is the art team, which has revolved between David Aja and Javier Pulido. By using a minimalist approach, they've given Hawkeye a unique look that reminds us of Dave Mazzucchelli’s work on Batman: Year One. There's also a certain Jack Kirby-esque charm mixed into Pulido’s work that brings with it a ‘60s spy comic feel.

This was a tough year for Marvel, but if the company would somehow wean itself away from bloated crossovers and superfluous Avengers books and just focus on pumping out titles like Hawkeye, 2013 could be much better.

Writers: Scott Snyder (Swamp Thing), Jeff Lemire (Animal Man)
Artists: Yanick Paquette, Marco Rudy, Francesco Francavilla (Swamp Thing); Steve Pugh, Travel Foreman, Jeff Huet, Timothy Green III (Animal Man)

It might seem like a bit of a cheat to put both Swamp Thing and Animal Man in the same entry, but both books were linked so tightly in terms of theme and plot that it’s impossible to separate them. The first half of the year in each title was spent showing Swamp Thing and Animal Man battling against different forms of The Rot in their respective book. Then, about halfway through 2012, the titles merged as Lemire and Snyder began their “Rotworld” crossover storyline.

The story kicked off with Swamp Thing and Animal Man being sent to a dystopian future where The Rot has decayed the plant and animal life of the Earth and turned the heroes of the DC Universe into grotesque zombie-like creatures. In this new dead paradise, Animal Man and Swamp Thing separate to restore The Red (animal life) and The Green (plant life) respectively, in order to combat the decay of the planet.

Both titles explore the symbiotic relationship between the plant and animal world, while also portraying The Rot, or death, as a necessary evil in the grand scheme of life. With art by a talented stable of creators, Lemire and Snyder have created a world wholly unique from the other superhero books on the market. Underneath all of the fight scenes and zombie madness, both Swamp Thing and Animal Man are sister books deeply entrenched in some very interesting philosophies on the balance of life.

Unfortunately, Snyder will be leaving Swamp Thing early in 2013, but we’re keeping our hopes up that Animal Man will continue to flourish. If not, at least we can look back at 2012’s “Rotworld” as the best comic book crossover since “The Sinestro Corps War.”

Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory

If you follow our comic book coverage at all, you’ll know that we absolutely love Chew. And after three years in publication, John Layman and Rob Guillory have managed to pump out the best calendar year worth of stories that the title has ever seen. By expanding the supporting cast and introducing some off-the-wall plots, Layman has made the Chew mythology much more dense without ever losing sight of the fact that at its core this is a humor book.

Oddly enough, the year's biggest highlight didn’t come from an actual issue of Chew—it came from a special one-shot issue titled Chew: Secret Agent Poyo. The book focused on a maniacal, bionic rooster from the FDA that ripped and clawed his way to justice in hilarious fashion. Then, with last month’s issue, Layman brought us the first truly shocking plot point of the entire series when Toni Chu—the sister of Tony Chu—was brutally killed by the Vampire. Still, though, Chew managed to retain its trademark wit throughout.

For as much praise as we give Layman, we really have to recognize just how much artist Rob Guillory brings to the title. With his dense, cartoonish penciling, Chew leaps off the page with each new installment. In a year where the book's main character, Tony Chu, spent most of the time in the hospital recovering from a vicious beating, Guillory has managed to still bring the same energy to the title’s supporting cast without losing a step. Plus, you can’t argue with a guy that can turn a simple rooster into the most sadistic killer in comics.

Chew keeps improving, and now that the series is about halfway done, this is the perfect time to play catch-up.

Writer: Brian Wood
Artists: Kristian Donaldson, Garry Brown

Taking place in a world where environmental catastrophes have irrevocably changed the globe from both a political and social standpoint, The Massive focuses on a group of environmentalists on their ship, The Kapital, as they search for their sister vessel, named, yes, The Massive. It’s a book that explores the geo-political landscape in a world that has been hurled to the edge of chaos.

Pirates and anarchists have hunkered down in the remnants of cities where lawlessness, greed, and murder have become global pastimes. Writer Brian Wood brings all of this to life with meticulous accuracy and enough political savvy to have an understanding of where society would logically go if this “Crash” ever actually happened.

Similar to The Walking Dead, The Massive isn’t so much about the “Crash” itself as much as it is the human response to it. While Callum Israel and his band of environmentalists desperately try to get to the bottom of these events, they continue to peel back the seedy layers of a world gone to hell.

This is the second book on our countdown from writer Brian Wood, and he has again proven why he is one of the best writers in the industry. Simply put, The Massive is dangerous, revealing things about humanity we don’t like to admit. And artists like Kristian Donaldson and Garry Brown help bring this dystopian universe to life in a way that's realistic yet stylized enough to drive the point home.

The Massive has been somewhat under the radar since its launch earlier in the year, but the last three issues, in particular, have been so stellar that we don’t think the series will be ignored for much longer. It's a book you need to be picking up if you want a workout for both your eyes and brain.

Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Chris Samnee, Mike Allred, Paolo Rivera, Kano

Most of Marvel's titles are more concerned with tricking readers into picking up vapid, lifeless storylines that promise “shocking twists” rather than engrossing plots and memorable characters. Mark Waid’s Daredevil, however, continues to deliver superb superhero tales every month with an eye on creativity and brilliant characterization.

In 2012, the Man Without Fear took on some of the most dangerous crime families in the world, battled the Mole Man, and questioned his own sanity, all while being illustrated to square-jawed perfection by a stable of artists, most notably Chris Samnee.

Daredevil continues to find that nebulous balance between light-hearted superhero storytelling and deep, complex psychological drama. Waid is a master at this because he continuously avoids falling into the trap of most former Daredevil writers by making the character too dark. With that old school, swashbuckling mentality, the book flourishes.

The last few issues, in particular,presented Daredevil battling against a new, terrifying version of The Spot, a D-list Spider-Man foe that Waid made into a bona fide threat in just a few short issues. The way he revamped that one villain is a microcosm of the way he revamped the whole Daredevil franchise, and, in turn, gave modern writers a blueprint as to how to craft dense, fulfilling superhero stories without resorting to needless sex and violence.

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples

A few years ago it was almost impossible to think that writer Brian K. Vaughan had it in him to create a series that could top his cult classic Vertigo book, Y: The Last Man. After only eight issues, though, Saga is looking like a serious contender to do just that. Revolving around the forbidden romance between a man and woman from warring species, Saga is a space opera that focuses on their fugitive lifestyle after the authorities on both sides learn that the two have a child together.

Deftly blending humor, heart, and plenty of sci-fi oddities, this book continues to carry the banner for truly imaginative comic storytelling that proves you can succeed without relying on pre-established franchises. Comic book writers are notorious for treating romances like a burden, but Vaughan brings so much care and believability to Marko and Alana’s relationship that their dynamic has become our favorite in the industry. It’s impressive to note that in a title where space battles and futuristic action go down in every issue, Vaughan manages to make the Romeo and Juliet-esque love story the most interesting part of the book.

It also helps that Saga is expertly brought to life, thanks to artist Fiona Staples. Her style isn’t gaudy like a blockbuster movie. There’s lyrical quality in the way she crafts this world. Shots of mammoth spaceships and visceral battle scenes are delicately counterbalanced with heartfelt character moments and the type of romantic comedy found in Woody Allen's early work. Her line work is superb and her ability to craft action sequences is always top-notch, but it’s in her storytelling ability where she separates herself from the pack.

The way Staples brings emotions out of her characters is unrivaled, in our opinion, and it’s her subtlety and nuance that brings Saga to life.

Writer/artist: Jeff Lemire

Proving that you don’t need superheroes or non-stop action to make a great comic book, Jeff Lemire’s The Underwater Welder seemingly came out of nowhere earlier in the year and completely changed the way we look at the medium. The story revolves around an underwater welder named Jack who's about to become a father. But in order to become the dad that he knows he has to be, he needs to make peace with his relationship with his own father on the anniversary of his death.

As Jack throws himself into his work, he begins to dive both physically and emotionally deeper into the murky waters of his own life. It’s a tale of love, guilt, and growing up in which Lemire manages to tap into the universal struggles that we all go through in our lives. The Underwater Welder deals with the fear we all have of letting go of the comforts of our youth as we seek to become more responsible adults.

On the art side, Lemire’s peculiar character models and backgrounds perfectly fit this story. The human emotion is in every panel, and Lemire seemingly went through great pains to make sure each bit of art worked towards enhancing the story. It’s actually quite beautiful in its simplicity, and though it may take some getting used to, there is no other way we would have wanted this to be done.

Crafted with the gravitas of any great film or novel, The Underwater Welder is a triumph, not only for Lemire, but for comic books in general. For a writer who has had so much mainstream success over the past few years, it’s an encouraging sign to see him continue to challenge himself, and us as readers, with books as personal and earnest as this.

Writer/artist: Sean Murphy

With the launch of Punk Rock Jesus this summer, Vertigo reminded all comic book fans what this imprint is capable of when the right talent is around. Sean Murphy’s creator-owned triumph is satirical, emotional, unpredictable, and dangerous all at once. The book tells the story of a reality show named J2 that used DNA from the Shroud of Turin to create a cloned version of Jesus Christ, named Chris, who grew up for all the world to see on their TV.

Along with his mother, Gwen, Chris' every move was watched by audiences and a security force led by a former IRA operative named Thomas McKael. With radical Christian protesters attempting to get to him constantly, a sleazy TV executive abusing them for his own gain, and their freedoms all but stripped away, the mother-and-son duo begins to see the world in a completely different light.

This mini-series is densely packed with commentary on the media, religion, politics, and everything in between as Murphy brings biting wit to each new topic. The visceral, heady nature of his plots are complimented perfectly by the black and white art that goes along with the story. It's not about flashy splash pages or digital coloring techniques—Punk Rock Jesus is a stripped down, raw, and seriously powerful.

If you’re expecting Punk Rock Jesus to treat you with care and leave you with a smile on your face, then read something else. Murphy's book is a repeated kick to the crotch that will take all of your cherished beliefs and put them through a literary wood chipper. It could've made it even higher on this list if the final issue came out in 2012, but, alas, we still have a few weeks to go until this wraps up.

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artists: Greg Capullo, Becky Cloonan

We’re staunch advocates for independent and creator-owned comic books here at Complex, but whenever DC or Marvel puts out a mainstream title that's a genuine work of art, props are due. That’s why Batman lands at the top spot on this list. What writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo have done on this book is nothing short of incredible, with each new issue somehow trumping the one that came before it.

The beginning of the year saw the continuation of the “Court of the Owls,” and, later, “Night of the Owls” storylines, which featured the Caped Crusader and the rest of the Bat Family taking on an organized cult that had been working in Gotham City’s shadows for decades. The story was a twisting, tense thriller with unexpected plot twists and great character exploration.

In each issue, Snyder continued to pull back layer after layer of Batman’s mind until his entire psyche was put on display as we watched like spectators in an operating theater. Also, Greg Capullo's nightmarish art helped set the tone and atmosphere for each issue as every pencil line added further depth to Batman’s struggles.

Snyder then moved onto the “Death of the Family” storyline, focusing on the Joker's return. With his face having been cut off in last year’s Detective Comics #1, the Clown Prince of Crime now walks around with belts and straps holding his Cheshire grin in place, and thanks to Capullo’s gruesome penciling, it’s damn disturbing to look at. Only halfway complete so far, it’s like a blending of The Dark Knight and Se7en that sees the Joker seemingly in possession of the entire Bat Family’s identities.

True story: Batman easily trumps every other superhero book on shelves, as well as the character’s appearance in the hit summer blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises. Snyder and Capullo are working in perfect synchronicity to bring what has become the quintessential version of Batman to life every month.