Best single issue of 2012

Best single issue of 2012

2012 marked my first full year of new comics Wednesday comic book reading. With a full year to reminisce on it can be hard to select only five from what was a bumper year for comics in general. But with the thought in mind that memory is parallax let's have a look at my picks for best single issues of 2012.

Number five- Conan the Barbarian #5

The adventures of young Conan and his pirate queen Bêlit have never looked so good. James Harren's art sky-rocketed this issue onto my top five of the year, while the series itself has been excellent thanks to scribe Brian Wood's storytelling and character moments, Harren's art pushed this issue into the stratosphere. If you are not familiar with Harren's work pick this issue up and prepare to be swept away by the raw kineticism of his art, in particular the splash page where Conan beheads Messantia's champion is gorgeously brutal.

Number four- Spider-Men #4

I know that a lot of people were not impressed with the prospect of Marvel and writer Brian Michael Bendis performing this little crossover stunt between their regular and Ultimate universes. And while the premise was contrived, and to some unnecessary, it still gave me issue four of Spider-Men. This is why you crossover the universes, so you can explore the differences of each universe in a cute and funny way which plays against the backdrop of great sadness. Peter's sadness at seeing his old dead girlfriend Gwen alive and well. Gwen and May and Mary Jane's sadness at seeing an adult Peter alive and well. Bendis is right at home with these types of moments and the three issues to set it up were well and truly worth it for this great issue.

Number three- Action Comics #9

Grant Morrison hits on all levels with this issue, Action Comics #9 is at face value a rollicking alternate universe story about an African American Superman from Earth 23 who uses his powers to right the wrongs of the world when diplomacy fails. In the issue Super-Obama comes up against the Superman of the corporate brand "the smug fascist bully boy" Superman who seeks to enslave all of the many DC multiverses to his brand fad. A fun enough story in it's own right. Dig just a little bit deeper and you find Morrison's investigation into what it mean to juggle the pressures of working for a media giant like Warner Bros. while maintaining one's artistic integrity and what a fine balance that must be. A great issue which delivers on both levels, at once thought provoking and bombastic. 

Number two- Saga #1

Brian "Y:The Last Man, Ex Machina, Pride of Baghdad, Runaways" K. Vaughan's triumphant return to comics after years in Hollywood. Not only can Vaughan still tell a ripping comic book yarn, it's that he tells it with such heart and soul. A story of star crossed lovers, newly minted parents finding their feet set against a massive Star Wars style universe. Vaughan eases us into this immense and enticing world step by step but astute readers will recognise that Vaughan has so much material at his finger tips that he could be writing Saga well into the next decade. Drawn by relative newcomer Fiona Staples, this book has a unique look and feel, complete with Staples' own handwriting for the narration. And the first issue was double sized! For $3.50! You can't get better value for money than that!

Number one- Hawkeye #3

Hawkeye has been the late highlight of 2012. The combination of Matt Fraction's low key yet innovative writing with David Aja's simply gorgeous Mazzucchelli-esque art makes this series a must read. The third issue in the series was essentially an extended car chase scene which rivals The French Connection for it's awesomeness. Superhero comics are often tone deaf and occupied by cut out archetypes, with Hawkeye Fraction creates compelling and exciting drama with interesting and memorable characters, a worthy issue for pick of the year.