The Five Favorites of 2017

Boy, what a role reversal 2017 ended up being for comic. From the tail end of the New 52 sucking and Marvel's machine gun-style event launching to an era where I read maybe one Marvel book a weeks and five DC books a week, things have certainly changed! So let's talk about some of favorite comics this year. And remember, these are my favorite comic books of the year by opinion. Alright, here The Panel Biter's Top 5 Favorite Comic Books of 2017!

5. The Champions

Diversity strikes again! Champions is the work of writer Mark Waid and artist Humberto Ramos. I love this book so much, it's the only Marvel book here because it seems like the only book with a consistent message: Do good things because they're good. And that's a broad message, sure, but when you show The Champions saving lives, donating their time and care into helping people in need, inspiring regular people to do something for the community, it makes it feel so much more heartfelt. That's why I love the book so much, it's about these wholesome characters helping the world. So many Marvel titles are about public backlash towards heroes or world-ending threats, it's like this is the only book to show a team who progressively solve problems before their asked to, like they're the only ones talking to people. This team is so refreshing and their amazing stories help plunge those "SJW Marvel" haters into obscurity. The Champions aren't here to pander, they're here to remind us what heroes look like! 

4. Mr. Miracle

A fairly new series, "Mr. Miracle" comes to us from Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads. Following the life of New God/superhero/celebrity escape artist Scott Free, this comic is Tom King's visual display of the horrors of PTSD. Essentially, Scott is a warrior of an alien world being dragged back into a unwinnable war against DC's resident badass: Darkseid. Only, Darkseid is gone. But his influence still is. Darkseid is. That's the terrifying theme of the book, that no matter how many fights are fought or how far Scott runs, he can't leave this war. Scott's power is escaping any trap, but what happens when he's faced this trap of life? This book is beautiful and it's artistic tricks speak volumes. Tom King-who's work on Batman has been shaky-knocks this book out of the park. Next to his "Vision" book, this is sizing up to be masterclass storytelling.

3. Superman

Yep, still excellent. Mainly written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason (with Gleason on occasional art duty) I present a true-to-form Superman title. And it's not some alternate universe story about a perfect Superman and his family (that's why "Renew Your Vows" didn't make it here) it is canon, part of the universe, the son of Superman-Jon Kent-is the newest face in the DCU. And gosh is this book a shining star. This book follows the adventures of Superman, his wife and badass reporter Lois Lane, and their potentially stronger-than-dad son Jon/Superboy. It is so nice to see a book where Superman is allowed to be himself AND solve new problems. Parallax possessing kids? Frankenstein fighting his wife? How about fixing the government of an alien planet? Yeah, Superman's on the job. Along the way Superman and Lois teach important lessons about morality and American history to their son, reminding readers the better parts of American culture that are worth hanging on to. We see Jon's growth and his struggle, we see both Superman and Lois have adventures of their own, and we see a family built from love and hope tackle a world in desperate need of it.

2. Nightwing

I love when bias is justified. "Nightwing" by Tim Seeley and Minkyu Jung (the best artist on the book) is a fantastic journey following the first Boy Wonder himself, Dick Grayson. Coming off the heels of the spy book "Grayson" this book sees a return to form as Dick is back as Nightwing, moving to the Vegas-like city of Bludhaven, and effectively establishing his own place as a DC Comic's superhero. Nightwing's book has a cast of supporting characters who are recovering supervillains, returning villains from the Nightwing books of old as well as an exciting new villain named Raptor who is both fresh and interesting, but also connected to Grayson's past. The organized crime of Bludhaven had me interested, Grayson's character is spot-on as how I know the character, the guest stars fit perfectly into the story, and Grayson's complicated relationship with the new character Defacer makes Batman and Catwoman look like cheap Skinemax. This book is such a lover letter to Nightwing and his history as a solo act, as a lover, as a Robin, as a Batman, as a character in general! This book makes him feel like a staple of the DCU while also allowing him to spread his arms and have room to be his own man. It's what I've always wanted out of a Nightwing book. And it can only fly up from here.  

1. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Surprise! From Boom Studios, writer Kyle Higgins and artist Hendry Prasetya comes probably the best Power Rangers thing-like-in the past decade. Better than that new ninja one, better than the movie, this is the best. This is the first of two series Boom Studios has published based of the show "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and it is the expansion of the show fans like me have wanted for years! Update the world and characters to match modern times, show the events between episodes, show the growth in characters, and you have one amazing comic book about a childhood classic. This series introduces dark future versions of characters, the idea of the Power Rangers working with a branch of the government, and exploring the hopes and fears of our favorite Power Rangers. What helps the book is the understanding of the material by Higgins-an old school fan of the show-who masterfully steeps the comic in continuity and references things from the show that never got resolved. He explores this avenues that the show couldn't afford to. The show had a budget and was made for kids, but this comic can do anything AND is made for fans of the show. Adult fans with adult ideas. That's probably the best part, this feels like an adult version of The Power Rangers, but it isn't gritty or dark like everyone thinks an adult Power Rangers should be. This version of the Rangers features diverse character interactions, real-world issues applied to each character, the behind-the-smoke perspective on what The Rangers do and how the world sees them. When you watch Power Rangers and ask stuff like "where is the government in all this" or "how are they not killing anyone" or "why don't they use that teleporting power", you go unanswered. But this book answers all of that and more! Seriously, this isn't just bias, this book is awesome. It has cool ideas and a loyal, but evolved, presentation of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. And we all know they're just getting started!
Thanks for reading!