Favorite Writer:
Jonathan Hickman
Hard to narrow down but it came to to these four Words: Avengers, New Avengers, Infinity!
I have never loved Avengers the way I’m loving the team right now. Steve and Tony expanded the roster to create an Avengers World but threats from across the universe and multiverse tested Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
From Avengers #1 when Steve “waked the world” to the game-changing showdown with Thanos in Infinity #6 Hickman weaved plots within plots, big epic ideas, incredible drama with a massive cast. Here are some of the favorite moments of what I can’t believe is just Hickman’s first year:
The Builders – relentless ancient aliens who’ve been creating, destroying and rebuilding civilizations for millenia. Hickman crafted a complex alien hierarchy with Builders, Engineers and those creepy Ex Niholo – and the most powerful aliens of this food chain may still be out there.
Black Panther – King of the Dead. How I LOVED how Hickman wrote the iconic hero. Broken and dethroned – T’Challa rallied the Illuminati to save Earth and was willing to sacrifice all to save his people. The powerplays between T’Challa, Namor and Suri reminded me of the politics and wargames of the Dune series.
Black Bolt’s ultimate sacrifice! The most incredible showdown of the year was in Infinity #4 as Black Bolt stood against Thanos. Maximus and Black Bolt paid a terrible price but saved their family but changed the Marvel Universe forever unleashing unlimited new Inhumans across the globe.
Thor’s “surrender”!!! Can a comic book still make you cheer? Infinity #5 did! Captain America sends the God of Thunder to negotiate surrender with the Builders and one incredible act – changes the direction of the war, rallies the universe and helps make the Avengers – the Universe’s Mightiest Heroes.
Infinity is the event of the year and one of the best Marvel epics ever written. (The full review of the finale here.)
Plus, five more words explaining my vote: East of West, Manhattan Projects!
The Manhattan Projects, Hickman’s twisted history book with Nick Pitarra continues to amaze and horrify as they took us deeper into the minds of the book’s most disturbed lead.
And East of West….very very dark. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse signal the end times in an alternate history with layers upon layers to test your mind and senses.
By Editor