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One book appears on all three reviewers top 10 lists so it is not that hard to figure out what the consensus on one of the best comic books of the year was. From there, our selections for best comics of the year range from company mega-events to small, private little stories. We even through in a few books from overseas just to provide a bit of foreign flavor for 2006.

Chris Cummings

10. Civil War #2 (Marvel) - By Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. The Superhero Registration Act becomes law. Cap and his renegade resistance continue taking down villains while Iron Man and his team hunt renegade heroes and villains alike. Meanwhile, Spider-Man makes a life-altering decision that surprises no comics fans yet shocks everyone who reads the story. Highly entertaining, compelling storytelling.

9. Fantastic Four #541 (Marvel) - By J. Michael Straczynski and Mike McKone. In protest of the Superhero Registration Act, the Thing leaves the United States for France and is quickly recruited by a band of Parisian superheroes who need his help stopping an army of subterranean rock monsters. This issue is an enjoyable throwback to simpler times, and is laugh-out-loud funny. “Il est temps de battre!”

8. The Walking Dead #33 (Image) - By Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard. The mysterious Michonne repays the sadistic man who proclaimed himself Governor of a small gated community. Hammers, nails, drills, and more (including a spoon) are used to inflict some of the most shocking and disturbing violence ever depicted in a comic book.

7. Detective Comics #826 (DC) - By Paul Dini and Don Kramer. An unexpected twist of fate lands Robin in the clutches of the Joker, who takes the teen hero on a Christmas “slay” ride. Robin’s fight to free himself and stop the vile madman is brilliantly juxtaposed against the Joker’s own deadpan, deadly delivery. One of the best Joker stories in years.

6. The Amazing Spider-Man #533 (Marvel) - By J. Michael Straczynski and Ron Garney. Following the events of Civil War #2, this issue depicts one of the hardest, most emotional days in Spider-Man’s life. J. Jonah Jameson’s reaction to Spider-Man’s recent revelations is priceless. Garney’s facial expressions perfectly capture what each character is experiencing.

5. Astonishing X-Men #17 (Marvel) - By Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. Whedon’s trippy story balances out multiple plot threads while underscoring just how scary Kitty Pryde’s phasing powers could be. This issue gets the cliffhanger of the year award for a last page that is truly surprising. “I don’t have any claws,” indeed.

4. Line (ADV Manga) - By Yua Kotegawa. A teenage girl named Chiko finds an abandoned cell phone that receives phone calls from a stranger who can predict when and where people will commit suicide. Guilt goads Chiko into a frantic race against time to stop the gruesome deaths before they can occur.

3. Pride of Baghdad (Vertigo) - By Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon. Inspired by the true story of four lions who escaped from the Baghdad zoo after an American bombing in 2003, Pride of Baghdad is a heart-wrenching story that utilizes talking animals to dramatize the glory of nature, the horrors of war, and the bloody price of freedom.

2. Rock Bottom (Ait Planet Lar) - By Joe Casey and Charlie Adlard. Tom Dare--an unfaithful husband and unwilling father-to-be--is slowly, inexplicably turning to stone and the process is slowly killing him. This subtle horror story utilizes the fantastic to depict how disease robs people of their dignity and sense of control, yet leaves room for both dark humor and hope.

1. New Avengers #22 (Marvel) - By Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu. With the Superhero Registration Act moments away from being signed into law, and the safety of his wife and child hanging in the balance, Luke Cage is forced to choose sides in the civil war that is about to tear the Marvel universe apart. Cage’s refusal to register with the government and his decision to stay and fight for what he believes in, while his wife and child escape to Canada, are sincere and character-based, rooted in strong emotions and a healthy distrust of the government. When the Act is signed and the pro-registration forces literally come knocking on Cage’s door, the neighborhood rallies for their local hero--and their heart-felt display of loyalty, despite the odds clearly stacked against them, is a compelling finishing touch on a fantastic done-in-one story.

Nahteboy

BEST:
Agents of Atlas (mini series)
Mouse Guard
Jonah Hex
Lone Ranger
Martian Manhunter (mini series)
Conan
Conan: Book of Thoth-Amon (mini series)
PVP
Fallen Angel
Doll & Creature

BEST OGN: Pride of Baghdad
BEST REPRINT COLLECTION: Peanuts

WORST:
Blade
Rokkin
Skye Runner
All-Star Batman & Robin
Onslaught Reborn

Scott Cederlund

1) De:Tales-- This collection of short stories by Brazilian brothers Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon rings with the sounds and music of their home country. Filled with magical realism, each story has its own sounds and emotions that the brothers perfectly convey.

2) Astonishing X-Men #13-18 “Torn" parts 1-6-- The first twelve issues may have had their issues but Joss Whedon and John Cassaday pull it all together for this six issue story that raises a new question for every old question it answers. This is the story I’ve been waiting for these two to create.

3) Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E. #9 & 10-- You had to know it was only a matter of time before someone got around to revisiting and revamping Forbush Man. In these days of gloom and in-fighting, it is great to see creators like Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen play with the Marvel Universe.

4) Local #3 “Theories and Defences” –What do you do when the band breaks up? Most likely you go your separate ways and give interviews about why the band broke up. This third issue of Local barely touches on Megan, the main character of the series, and looks at a the members of a rock’n’roll band in the days after they break up.

5) Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness—Really, I can understand why people may be turned off by earlier installments of this series but this third volume hits on the heart of the story and the characters.

6) Daredevil #82-87 “The Devil in Cell Block D”-- After a couple of years of Daredevil trying to keep out of jail, newcomers Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark begins their series with Matt Murdock firmly in prison, trying to stay alive without giving up his secret identity. From wonderful cliff-hangers that include a horrible fate for Foggy Nelson to uneasy alliances with The Kingpin and Bullseye, “The Devil in Cell Block D” is the most energetic and adventurous Daredevil story in quite a while.

7) Pride of Baghdad-- Brian K. Vaughan wrote a good story but it needed an artist like Niko Henrichon to bring it to life.  This story reminds us that the price of war is always too high.

8) Fate of the Artist-- Eddie Campbell’s most ambitious graphic novel was a stunning introduction for new publisher First Second. Equal parts confessional and mystery, Campbell tries to escape everything that he has been while having no idea what he wants to be. The fate of the artist appears to be in constant flux.

9) Seven Soldiers Frankenstein #2 “Red Zombies” – Easily the wildest of Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers run, Frankenstein #2 sees the character playing John Carter of Mars on Mars, riding across the plains of the red planet on giant insects and rescuing lost little children. Doug Mahnke’s artwork has never looked better.

10) Get a Life & Maybe Later-- These two French books by the cartooning team of Dupuy and Berberian fantastically illustrate both the art and the process of art. One book is fiction, looking at the life of their character Monsieur Jean. The other is autobiographical as the artists trade off on chronicling their own lives and the creation of a new Monsieur Jean book.

Honorable Mention:

52-- If nothing else, you’ve got to hand it to the most reliable book shipping from DC nowadays. So far, they’ve managed to hit a weekly book each and every week for thirty four weeks with no bumps or delays. Better yet, they’ve managed to make most of the storylines in this tour of the new DC fairly interesting (except for Steel. Steel will never be interesting.)

Casanova 1-6—Gabriel Ba shows up again on this list, this time joined by writer Matt Fraction. Casanova is wildly inventive in the way it mashes together its influences.

Astro City: Samaritan – A fantastic one shot that will remind you why Astro City has been a wonderful series for over more than the last 10 years. Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson return to Samaritan, the character who kicked everything off, in this story that that shows up what arch enemies do when they realize that neither can win their eternal battle.

Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 and Absolute DC The New Frontier-- These two late-year Absolute editions demonstrate everything that is great about this oversized format from DC.

Best Mangas of 2006 (The 10 Best List)
This year the Editors talked to all of us about making top ten lists to end the year, which is nice and all. EXCEPT one person’s top ten may not be another’s. I.e. everyone has a top ten list.  So in alphabetical order I’m going to give you my recommendations for Best Mangas of 2006.  In order of alphabet now, in order, which starts with one of several VIZ titles on my recommendatiosn list.

Aishiteruze Baby - I haven’t updated this in awhile but that’s a cross I have to bear (and unbear as I order volumes in 2007). Look for new reviews of this
recommended title in 2007.

Boogiepop franchise - Though they come in small doses from Seven Seas, this manga (and prose fiction novels) out of Seven Seas is both for the fan of the series and those looking for something different in a totally mature intellectual read on the supernatural side.

Crimson Hero - Sports isn’t my thing, let alone volleyball, but this female volleyball sensation is on my list recommended from me to you. (Another one of those
titles you might have already been exposed to if you are reading Shojo Beat on a regular basis).

Full Moon O Sagashite - As of Volume 7 this title has finally come to its conclusion. If you haven’t gotten into it yet now is as good a time as any now that the series has finally reached it’s inevitable conclusion.

Ichigo Mashimaro (Strawberry Marshmallow) - If you’ve seen my Anime review you know why I like this, if you read my manga review you know why and unlike the Anime you can still look forward to seeing this come out from TOKYOPOP in 2007 (it’s still on the go while the Anime seems to be all done from what I’ve seen of it).

Lone Wolf and Cub - Short and simple. If you’re reading Samurai Executioner you should be reading this, theyre both required reading if you’re an adult who like a mature title that has intellectual action (violence), sexuality, and the best and worst of the human condition. Adults who want a solid experience should get this one. There is one more title, yes, but I forgot the title. Sorry.

Nana - If you’ve been following Shojo Beat religiously (and why wouldn’t you) this is one of the recommended reads of that title that you should be following.  Already sporting one live action movie that hit it off well in Japan, and with a sequel in the works, you should find out why Nana is hot in Japan (and should be hot here on the English speaking side of the world).

Read or Die - Before the Anime came the Manga, and Yomiko Readman (the dysfunctional Paper Master who caught the eye of a certain dysfunctional then popular
writer in Japan who ended up tagging along after her on her next mission which I need to catch up on reviewwise).

Samurai Executioner - Short and simple. If youre reading Lone Wolf and Cub you should be reading this, they’re both required reading if you’re an adult who like a mature title that has intellectual action (violence), sexuality, and the best and worst of the human condition. Adults who want a solid experience should get this one. There is one more recommendable title, yes, but I forgot the title. Sorry.

Ultra Maniac - I know, I know, I didn’t recommend the manga of Marmalade Boy but I am recommending the manga of Ultra Maniac despite the fact its on my to
review list for 2007. Read my review of the first DVD to see what I see in this series, and why it’s worth checking out.

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