Thursday, 4 October 2012

From Jason Aaaron to Rob Williams: A Baker's Dozen Of TooBusyThinking's Favourite Comic-Book Writers Over The Past 12 Months (Or so)

In which the blogger offers up a baker's dozen of his favourite writers of "mainstream", fantastical comics from the past 12 months or so. As the reader will swiftly notice, the writers are listed in alphabetical order rather than in any spurious order of merit. Of course, the absence of a name isn't meant to suggest that its owner's work lacks the slightest degree of quality, while the mention of a creator doesn't imply that the blogger enjoys everything that writer produces.

As is always true where the contents of the weekly lists on TooBusy are concerned, your opinions on what follows, and what doesn't, would be welcome:

 1. Jason Aaron; Scalped and Wolverine And The X-Men

        
2. Dan Abnett; New Deadwardians


3. Paul Cornell; Demon Knights and Saucer Country

    
4. Al Ewing: Judge Dredd, Zaucer Of Zilk & Jennifer Blood

        
5. Kieron Gillen: Journey Into Mystery, AvX: VS #2, and Uncanny X-Men

    
6. Jonathan Hickman; Manhattan Projects

      
7. Roger Langridge; Snarked and Popeye

        
8. Grant Morrison: Batman Incorporated


  
9. Robbie Morrison; Nikolai Dante
 

 10. Gail Simone; Batgirl & Secret Six

    
11. Brian K. Vaughan; Saga 



12. Mark Waid; Daredevil

      
13. Rob Williams; Low Life, Judge Dredd & Ghost Rider


There were of - course - another dozen names and more which I could've added to the above, and I'm deeply tempted to name them simply to show that, yes, I'm well aware that Ms Y, Mr Z and all their splendid colleagues really are fine writers too. But that would be cheating. So I won't mention the likes of John Arcudi, whose work I'm reacquainting myself with, or Evan Dorkin, who I've only seen a few Beasts Of Burden shorts from this year, and so on   ...

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10 comments:

  1. Those are some fine comics, and some fine writers, Colin.

    Super fine!

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    1. Hello Sally:- Thank you. I will own to an agenda here. I've recently received quite a few comments about how I "hate" the modern-era comic book, and in particular, how I ought to shut up about the super-book because I'm obviously a reactionary living in the past and full of loathing for what the sub-genre's become. I thought it might be useful to have a page in which I simply say "Look. I love lots of today's comics". Not, as other lists have been, a post likely to kick off a debate or two. But hopefully a brief's moments distraction as well as a sign that there's a host of what we might call "genre adventure" comics - including super-books - that I do enjoy. And that does include a host of others - from Hawkeye to the Hellboy Universe - that for one reason or another didn't quite make it into the above, and probably should have.

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    2. I understand completely. Sometimes it seems as though all anybody ever writes about are the things that are wrong, or are endlessly complaining. And there is nothing wrong with a rant or two upon occasion. It is when that is ALL that a writer or critic does.

      You on the other hand, like to point out the good things as well, which is just...refreshing. As angsty as I can get about my books, it is true that there are some amazingly fabulous stories out there

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    3. Hello Sally:- Thank you :) I've always found you a very generous reviewer on the whole, and I've been reading your POVs for a good many years now. There's been moments of ... shall we say passion in some posts, but never angsty.

      I'm trying to dial the angstyness down in my pieces. I struggled with that Batwing review, but it could have been a great deal worse.

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  2. Kieron Gillan...his Journey Into Mystery is a minor masterpiece of writing. Usually this whole Asgard thing leaves me cold but I found this so absorbing, it gave Loki an entire new look. A friend recommended this book to me and its made for a thorough read.
    Mark Waid...his classic style never changes and hes all the better for it. The old reliable writer, his dependable, straight-thru method has been finely-tuned over the years and has made Waid almost rival [in my opinion] the great Marv Wolfman in great character studies.
    Jonathan Hickman...my main complaint with his FF run is that his characters come across as cold and remote, but like Waid he can tell a story like no other. He has a good measure of pace and manages to maintain interest. His Pax Romana is his best work. Curious to see where this Manhattan Projects goes.
    This is a fine list of writers here, Colin [btw apologies for the post yesterday, hope you didnt mind].

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    1. Hello Karl:- No problems about your post at all.

      I think Journey Into Mystery and Daredevil could be the books which folks recall when they remember Marvel's 2012, the books which proved that old -school and new-school needn't be two very different things at all. In that, MW and KG are very much the stars of the company's books this year where my money's concerned.

      I have struggled terribly with Mr Hickman's Fantastic Four titles, beyond acknowledging that he writes the youngest members of the extended family in a charming way. Manhattan Projects for me was the book which won me over. It hasn't meant that I've been able to go back to the FF and change my mind. But MP is one of the year's absolute highlights. (Pax Romana I have on my bookshelf waiting for a rainy afternoon. I'm glad to hear from you that it'll be an entertaining read :) )

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  3. Holy god, someone other than me read Williams' Ghost Rider run! ("I NEED A SPACE BIKE!")

    - Charles RB

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    1. Hello Charles:- The last issue of Ghost Rider is one of my favourite "widescreen" scripts despite the fact that the artist involved seems not to have actually read very much of it before producing their end of the collaboration. Perhaps deadlines were close, I can't say, and wouldn't want to know. I just know that script was a great deal of out-there fun with a huge amount of oppurtunity for an artist to really go for it. With a D'israelli or O'Neill, that would be remembered as a really enjoyable, smart issue.

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  4. Ah Colin- it's so weird to me that you like Batgirl. I can't stand the thing. Then again, there's going to be SOME bias, since I enjoyed the two previous Batgirl's and Oracle so much... but I do feel like I gave this Batgirl series a fair shake. Actually, I think I've read every issue published so far.

    And, uh, sorry for so much negativity for a purposefully positive post, but Pax Romana... well, I'd love to read your opinion on it. I'll leave it at that.

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    1. Hello Isaac:- I do have Pax Romana in the pile of books waiting to be read beside my bed, by which I mean, I have indeed listened to the good folks who recommended it :)

      I thought that the new Batgirl was really kicking into gear with 10 and 11. There was a smart use of social conflict and class oppression, some strong characterisation and - despite criticism by a great many folks elsewhere - what I thought was a strong and compelling guest appearance by Batwoman.

      Of course since then, I've been unable to read the book because of shortages in the UK. My local comic shop informs me that the last Batgirl wasn't originally solicited as a crossover, which led to under-ordering. And there's no copies to be had here unless far too much money changes hands.

      As more than one American of my acquaintance my say; Way To Go, DC!

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