NIA Favs of 2023.

Last day of the year! Hope you are all ready to get back to work? Why not buy a comic to read before those 12 months of pain begin again?

It’s been a weird year in comics. Sadly occupied in part by those not really reading the medium but preferring to bitch about it online. Weekly egomaniacal handbag typing and in-between the schoolgirl bickering we have thankfully seen some brilliant comics. People who treat the page as the place to show their craft. Artists and writers pushing the medium forward in many different ways. Some are just doing what they do and continue to prove quietly how good these stories can be. Not everything this year has been good sadly. However, below are some examples that may assist in learning for those poor sad souls!

In no actual order here is a little list of the new comics that got a 10/10 score in my trusty notebook. I read well over four thousand comics in 2023. Everything got a 1-10 score. Lots were older comics so didn’t go into the pot for this list. Some were given a ten at the time but when I went back to have another look dropped down a point or two. Sometimes you get swept up in the moment. Then I whittled it down to this list. Some are by buddies of mine – stop your nattering, they are there because they deserve to be and are great!

1. Junkyard Joe.

Written by Geoff Johns with art by Gary Frank and Brad Anderson. Covering war, humanity, family and legacy this seems to have been missed off a lot of lists that I’ve seen so far. It is written with heart and the art is flawless. Always at the top of the read pile when I got an issue. You can pick up the collected version here for £13.99.

2. Swan Songs issue #1.

Written by W. Maxwell Prince with incredible painted artwork from Martin Simmonds this was the standalone story that lead off this mini series. This issue was a real high point of my reading year and shows off some gobsmackingly complex and painted artwork by Simmonds. It tells of an end. But does so with grace, respect, love and art. Highly recommended. There’s a trade coming in April.

3. Monstrous Dreams of Mr. Providence.

Created with complex intricacy by Daria Schmidt this was sent my way by the good folks at Europe Comics. Sliding into that sweet spot between fairy tale, folk story and nightmare this creeps behind your eyes and will repeat on you. Mr. Providence discovers creatures and people that speak to him and his plight as he seeks to leave the park. Even if the story didn’t work, which it most certainly does, this would have made the list on art alone. BD leaves us playing in a sandpit whilst heading off to build a world.

Don’t we all want to escape the horror of 2023? You can find this over at the Europe Comics site here.

4. Giant Robot Hellboy.

A three issue mini series written by Mike Mignola with art by Duncan Fegredo and Dave Stewart. The last issue just came out.

A bit like some of the other books on this list, when a series or character is consistently great but has been about for decades we take it for granted. Mignola and Fegredo have put together a superb comic here. A story that batters along with pace, personality and some of the best artwork currently being shown to us in modern comics. This should be on all the lists this year! Have a look at it right here.

5. Monica.

I’ve spoken about this comic quite a few times already. Most recently on the ACP 2023 roundup episode that you can find here. I think that it may be my favourite comic of 2023. It combines so much. Not only the much-discussed clashing of genres, war, romance, slacker etc. But, also the changing and emotions and attitudes of the titular soul through the leapfrogging moments we witness in her life. It inhabits the Clowes worlds we have seen to a certain extent but also shows a tenderness you might not expect. You can buy a copy right here.

6. The United: Going Underground.

When you look at a lot of small press books you can spot those who have put the effort in to learn their craft. Both The United hardbacks by Jonny Canon have not only been feats of longform narratives but also show an understanding of what makes a comics panel, page, story work. Full of thought out motivations and emotions the new book ‘Going Underground‘ stands out for me this year. You can find a copy here in Gosh.

7. Fables.

Ignore the dramarama about this title in 2023 and just enjoy the glorious comics work. Written by Bill Willingham, art by Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha this is still the daddy of ongoing comics. It’s looking like we’ll get the end very soon, but if you haven’t been onboard so far do yourself a favour!

Available in trades, single issues and hardbacks you can find a combination of those at this here website.

8. Vyper: Crimson Dawn.

Created by my buddy Dan Butcher this may be the funniest book of the year. Part homage, part satire and part laugh out loud comedy. Listeners to the ACP and followers of Dan’s Vanguard webcomic will know of this but it deserves to be shared much more widely! Grab a copy here.

9. Viz.

This should be on everyone’s list. The single best comic put out in the UK. For those in the US this can be viewed as an Underground comic with GB-centric references that actually sells! I subscribed this year and love each and every issue. Get on it!

10. The Millarverse.

Mark Millar has gathered the best talents in comic book art to create, grow, shrink, explode and stand triumphant over the superhero genre. The Millarverse has brought back the New Comic Book Day excitement for many of my friends. Over at the ACP and the Slack community we’ve been loving that feeling of finding out the next twist on a Wednesday morning. Solid, well made adventure comics that are needed. Go to a comic shop and buy some. You won’t be disappointed.

11. The Hunger and the Dusk.

Written by G. Willow Wilson with art by Christian Wildgoose this is another title that gets talked about by the ACP hosts as soon as it hits the digital shelf. Being buddies of Mr Goose we were also lucky enough to get to see an early preview. A tight story that makes it not only a fantasy tale for the D’n’D crowd but also a team book for us lesser comics fans. Excellent visuals and characters who come alive on the page. Get yourself on the monthly journey before the rest of those morons catch on!

12. 20th Century Men.

Written by Deniz Camp with art by Stipan Morian this has all the pathos, thoughtful politics, meditation on war and spectacular art reminiscent of one of our hobbies mid-eighties greats.

It just squeaked under the 2023 wire but is a book that I’ve gone back to and recommended the most. Thanks to Cliff and Rob for giving me the kick to get into it! You can also hear me rattle on about it on the recent ACP episode here. They’ve reissued the trade so grab a copy. Probably best not to bring it up if you meet me in person as I may bore your balls off.

13. Electric Chair.

Yes, I know this is done by my buddy and collaborator Falpy! It’s also fucking great! Falpy is pushing the genre and is getting some great recognition in the US – and rightly so! This is proper Underground! This is how it should be done. There are a lot of pretenders out there, this is the real deal. Get this and feel the full girth!

14. The Rabbit!

This needs no commentary! Read it!

15. Spread Love Zine.

I discovered this great anthology at SPX this year at the Atomic Books table. It’s a cracking collection and they all seem to be bangers! Great to see some of the better UK-based comics makers in there recently. Grab a copy of Spread Love Zine at their website right here.

There you go. What are yours?

I only noticed that DC makes one entry on the list and doesn’t feel like something that would fit into their main line being a holdover from the glory days of Vertigo. Marvel, makes zero entries. It’s not as if I don’t read any Marvel. Apart from most of their Star Wars output I read everything they release. Most were pretty average with quite a few slipping into eye-rollingly awful areas. Same for DC I’m sad to say.

What will 2024 hold for us?

But one thing stands true.

Stop looking at your phone and read a comic.

MANY THANKS FOR READING.