Local
by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly (Oni Press)
“Local” is a series of 12 stand-alone comics tied together by a young girl named Megan. In many of the stories Megan is the main focus, and in others she’s just in the background, but every story finds her one year older and living in a different city than she was in the last, having started her life anew once again but still trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Brian Wood is a master at telling stories of youth searching for a sense of identity, and the beautiful, detailed and thoroughly researched artwork of Ryan Kelly brings every city to life with an indie-urban aesthetic that will make you want to pack up and follow in Megan’s tracks. It’s the comic equivalent of 12 independent short films and the best work of either creator to date.
Y: The Last Man: Whys and Wherefores
by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra (Vertigo)
The epic story of Yorick Brown, the only male besides his pet capuchin Ampersand to survive a plague that killed anything on earth with a y-chromosome, comes to an end in “Whys and Wherefores.” Everything finally comes to a head as Yorick and Agent 355 head to Paris to find Yorick’s would-be fiance Beth. However, more than just a tearful reunion awaits them and a happy ending is anything but assured. Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra have produced one of the best ongoing comics series of the past decade and this finale is not to be missed. For those who haven’t been following the series already, the first deluxe hardcover edition, collecting the first 10 issues of the series, was also released this year, and it is an excellent starting point.
Three Shadows
by Cyril Pedrosa (First Second Books)
In “Three Shadows,” French artist Cyril Pedrosa tells a dark fairytale dealing with themes of death and mortality, specifically in relation to children and their parents. Louis and Lise live a happy life in the quiet countryside with their young son, Joachim, until a trio of shadows appear in the distant hills. Though the shadows are silent, Louis and Lise know they’ve come for Joachim. Lise comes to accept it, but Louis refuses to give up hope and tries to escape with the child. But can anyone really escape their fate when it comes calling? Pedrosa strikes all the right emotional notes with his depiction of the family, and his art is the perfect blend of heavy shadows, cartoonish character models and movement, making the story suitably dark while still maintaining a children’s fantasy feel. Fans of works like “Pan’s Labyrinth” or Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline” should pick this one up.
The Last Musketeer
by Jason (Fantagraphics Books)
“The Last Musketeer” is the latest comic by Norwegian cartoonist Jason to be translated for English. The story stars Athos of the Three Musketeers, somehow still alive in the modern era, trying to fight off an alien invasion of Earth. It sounds ridiculous, but this kind of insane genre mash-up is Jason’s bread and butter. The story is full of humor and B-movie charm, but still manages depth by asking what place romantic literature has in a society saturated with disillusion and infatuated with realism.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: Wolves at the Gate
by Drew Goddard, Georges Jeanty and Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics)
Season 8 of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” redefined what a licensed property comic should be and presented a whole new model for writing comics. Buffy creator Joss Whedon serves in an “executive producer” roll for the series, as well as lead writer, but also brings in top-notch creative talent from comics and television to write the individual story arcs. The best story yet has been “Wolves at the Gate,” written by Buffy television series alum Drew Goddard, also a writer on “Lost” and Cloverfield. Buffy and her slayers find themselves crossing swords with a group of Japanese vampires with enhanced powers and abilities. Meanwhile, love brews at the home base as Xander grows closer to slayer Renee. Goddard has recreated the feel of the television series even better than Whedon himself. Georges Jeanty continues to bring dynamic art to the comic while avoiding the trap of trying to recreate true to life images of the characters. This isn’t just a continuation of one of the best television shows ever; it’s simply one of the best comics on the shelf.
Nothing Nice to Say
by Mitch Clem (Dark Horse Comics)
Dark Horse Comics has collected two years worth of “Nothing Nice to Say” comics, Mitch Clem’s self-proclaimed “world’s first online punk comic,” as well as redrawn early strips from the series and several of Clem’s guest strips for other comics. Now fans can follow Blake and Fletcher’s unique lampooning of punk rock music, fans and culture in print for the very first time.
Echo: Moon Lake
by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
“Moon Lake” collects the first five issues of “Echo,” the new sci-fi thriller from Terry Moore, creator of indie romance masterpiece “Strangers in Paradise.” Julie Martin, a young photographer, goes out to Moon Lake to get some shots. What she doesn’t realize is that Moon Lake is the site of a government weapons testing program and ends up with a piece of armor containing the power of a nuclear weapon attached to her chest. While science fiction drives the story’s plot, it’s the characters’ personalities and their relationships that are the real heart of Moore’s work.
