We continue our look at the amazing year in comic books. Here are more of our favorite heroes, moments, creators and trends of 2013.
Best Team Leader: Steve Rogers, now and forever but especially as seen in Infinity. The master tactician rallied the universe and coached his team (Thor – Infinity MVP?) to an intergalactic victory against the Builders and then take back the Earth from Thanos.
Best Team: Avengers by Jonathan Hickman with artists Mike Deodato, Leinil Yu, Dustin Weaver among giants.
New recruits (Shang-Chi, Sunspot, Cannonball, Smasher) joined fan-favorite icons (Cap, Tony, Carol) for the event of the year! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes took on impossible odds and their bravery inspired former alien enemies to join their cause.
Coolest Hero: Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja.
This book is a creative risk that keeps paying off with awesome, smart and funny arc. This redefines how street-level super heroics should be told. Clint is just a “dude” off-duty helping his neighbors, his sidekick and his dog…pizza dog. He’s the everyman hero.
Best New Version of a Comics Origin: Batman Zero Year
Don’t call it a reboot! Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo craft a modernization of Bruce Wayne’s transformation into the Dark Knight that’s exciting, thrilling and new. It’s more a relevant redefining of the hero, an even more twisted origin of the Joker and a Riddler that’s a fascinating threat really worthy of the Dark Knight.
Best Retro Revival: Batman ’66
Jeff Parker and Jonathan Case take inspiration from the camp classic Adam West/Burt Ward series and continue the pop art masterpiece capers starring the dastardly costumed criminal favorites Joker, Catwoman, Riddler and False Face.
Best Fan Base: The Carol Corps!
The promotion of Carol Danvers from Ms. Marvel to Captain Marvel under writer Kelly Sue DeConnick continues to amaze and inspire. Young women proudly wear the new uniform in honor of the fan-favorite Avenger. The publisher even crafted a Carol Corps issue that was a fun, heartfelt salute to the readers who keep Captain Marvel soaring. If you’re at a comicon with DeConnick and the Corps – just go in a feel the fan love.
Captain Marvel will get a new number one restart as part of the All-New Marvel Now campaign in early 2014. See DeConnick talk about the upcoming relaunch and the Carol Corps here.
Best Book on Comic History: Divas, Dames and Daredevils by Mike Madrid. The author of The Supergirls introduces to an age where powerful Goddesses and tough career women ruled anthology comics of the Golden Age. This lovingly crafted blast from the past includes some rarely seen comics from the era.
Best Takeover of the World: Image Comics: The top creators in the business in no-limits, genre busting creator owned projects that challenge, frighten and entertain. Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios, East of West by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta, Mara by Brian Wood and Ming Doyle, Black Science by Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera – just some of the amazing new books this year.
More to come! What are you favorite heroes, books and creators of the year? Comment below or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @comicsblend.
By Editor