Best of 2013 Part 2c: Monthly Comics

A few days ago I did my best of 2013 list for the books I had read in the second half of the year. In a departure from previous such lists I divided the books and the comics into separate posts so that I didn’t have one massive post up. Massive posts are a bit tough to handle, especially when you are promoting them on social media. And with the split posts, the directions are different and there’s no unnecessary crossover.

So, with the novels and graphic novels already having been covered, I now delve into my favourite monthlies of the year. This is the final “best of” list I’m doing for 2013 that involves reading.

You can check out my top-of-the-month lists on my Reading Awards page and this list is both an extension, and a continuation of what goes on there.

Let’s see what makes the cut and which comes close then!

A few notes:

• To keep the list as diverse as possible, I’ve included a variety of genres, styles, and so on here.
• The list is divided into two sections – the Top 6 and the Honourable Mentions.
• For comics I have usually tended to credit only the writers in titles of reviews, never the artists. It is something that I am attempting to correct. Since this list is for the monthly comics, I’ll credit the full creative team for each issue.
• The numbering is just for convenience, and because I like numbers.
• And just to repeat, this is a July-December 2013 list.

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More lists from me:

• Top 25 Series I Want To Read in 2013
• Top 25 Series I Want To Read in 2014
• 2012 Best of the Best Part 1
• 2012 Best of the Best Part 2
• 2012 Best Debuts
• 2013 Best Debuts
• 2013 Best of the Best Part 1
• 2013 Best of the Best Part 2a: Books
• 2013 Best of the Best Part 2b: Graphic Novels

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Best of the Best Monthly Comics

The Top 6 –

1. Afterlife With Archie #2 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla and Jack Morelli

  Official URL | My Review

NEW ONGOING SERIES! The end of the world is here… The horror continues as a zombified Jughead goes on a relentless hunt for brains in this shocking new series by Harvey Award-winning comic/screenwriter Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Stephen King’s Carrie, Archie meets Glee) and Eisner-winning artist Francesco Francavilla (Batman, Black Beetle). When he performs a despicable and frightening act in front of everyone at the Halloween dance, tensions start to rise and fears begin to mount — who will be next to join Jughead in the Afterlife? And what about those who are already infected? Be warned, kiddies, this one’s not for the faint of heart! For TEEN+ readers.

2. Samurai Jack #1 by Jim Zub, Andy Suriano and Shawn Lee

  Official URL | My Review

Cartoon Network’s hit animated series is back at IDW! The legendary samurai known only as ‘Jack’ is stranded in a strange future ruled by the demonic wizard, Aku. His quest to return back to the past has tested him many times, but now the stakes are higher than ever. Can an ancient relic known as the Rope of Eons finally take him home? Writer Jim Zub (Skullkickers, Street Fighter) and artist Andy Suriano (Character Designer on the original Samurai Jack TV series) begin a new era of samurai adventure!

3. Batgirl #26 by Gail Simone, Daniel Sampere, Jonathan Glapion, Blond, Steve Wands and Alex Garner

  Official URL | My Review

The shocking conclusion of “Batgirl: Wanted”! Can Barbara save her father’s life without compromising the truth about her brother’s death?

4. Black Science #1 by Rick Remender, Matteo Scalera, Dean White and Rus Wooton

  Official URL | My Review

Grant McKay, former member of The Anarchistic Order of Scientists, has finally done the impossible: He has deciphered Black Science and punched through the barriers of reality. But what lies beyond the veil is not epiphany, but chaos. Now Grant and his team are lost, living ghosts shipwrecked on an infinite ocean of alien worlds, barreling through the long-forgotten, ancient, and unimaginable dark realms. The only way is forward. The only question is how far are they willing to go, and how much can they endure, to get home again?

Join writer RICK REMENDER and the superstar art team of MATTEO SCALERA & DEAN WHITE for this face-melting science fiction epic spanning the lifetimes of a cast of dimensional castaways lead by the man who caused it all.

5. Trillium #2 by Jeff Lemire, Jose Villarrubia and Carlos M. Mangual

  Official URL | My Review

In the heart of the Amazon jungle, Nika, a scientist from the year 3797, and William, an explorer from 1921, struggle not only to survive but to make sense of the mind-bending events that have pulled them together across space and time. The mysteries continue to pile up as Vertigo’s new sci-fi epic launches into high gear!

6. All-New X-Men Special #1 by Mike Costa, Kris Anka, Jordie Bellaire, VC’s Cory Petit and Alexander Lozano

  Official URL | My Review

PART ONE OF “THE ARMS OF THE OCTOPUS!”

The All-New X-Men cross over with the Indestructible Hulk and Superior Spider-Man!

What does Doctor Octopus want with the All-New X-Men and HOW IS HE ALIVE?!

This gets the immediate attention of Superior Spider-Man, but what does it have to do with the Hulk?

Honourable Mentions –

1. Supergirl #23 by Michael Alan Nelson, Diogenes Neves, Chad Hardin, Marc Deering, Wayne Fauscher, Guy Major and Rob Leigh

  Official URL | My Review

Supergirl struggles to survive against one of the most dangerous villains in the entire universe – Cyborg Superman! But what could superman’s robotic doppleganger want with Supergirl? The answer will blow your mind—and set the stage for a massive story this fall!

2. Green Arrow #26 by Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Marcelo Maiolo and Rob Leigh

  Official URL | My Review

“THE OUTSIDERS WAR” begins here! Oliver Queen finally knows the location of the Outsiders’ base, but first he must return to the place where Green Arrow was born: The Island! Secrets are revealed, new villains introduced, and a mind-blowing final page kicks off this new storyline with a bang!

3. Conan the Barbarian #6 by Brian Wood, James Harren, Dave Stewart, Massimo Carnevale, Comicraft and Richard Starkings

  Official URL | My Review

Brian Wood and James Harren pull out all the stops in the blowout conclusion to “The Argos Deception”!

With Conan loose in Messantia, pirate queen Bêlit and her crew hit the city hard. Messantia’s soldiers think they’re dealing with a simple barbarian, but they’ve just stepped into Bêlit’s trap!

4. Witchblade #171 by Ron Marz, Laura Braga, Betsy Gonia and Troy Peteri

  Official URL | My Review

WITCHBLADE NO MORE!

Sara Pezzini violently ripped the Witchblade from her body and abandoned it. For Sara to begin her life anew, the Witchblade must find and bond with a new host. But not all who wield the Witchblade are worthy to bear the burden of the gauntlet.

5. Unity #2 by Matt Kindt, Doug Braithwaite, Brian Reber, Cary Nord, Travel Foreman, Len O’Grady, and Dave Sharpe

  Official URL | My Review

Broken but not beaten…

Unity has to put down X-O Manowar and avert nuclear war. But Harada’s super-team lasted a grand total of five minutes last issue before they were taken out. Time for Unity 2.0…but how do you get a cast of malcontents, egotists, immortal warriors, and manipulative backstabbers to work together? The answer? You don’t tell them they’re working together.

6. Superior Spider-Man Annual #1 by Christos Gage, Javier Rodriguez, Alvaro Lopez, Chris Eliopoulos, JG Jones, and Laura Martin

  Official URL | My Review

This ain’t no regular Annual, buck-o! This one counts!

BLACKOUT is back, and he wants to re-establish his reputation by killing the toughest guy in town… Spider-Man!

He plans to force Peter Parker Spidey into a trap. Blackout’s leverage? Aunt May!

The world will never look at Superior Spider-Man the same after this. BE THERE!

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So that’s all for now. In a few days, I’ll put up my list of the best movies for 2013. So check back soon.