The last twelve months offered comic book readers a wide variety of work ranging from the most crowd-pleasing superhero epics to the most idiosyncratic of indies, and the return of old favorites to the emergence of exciting new talent. It was a busy and productive year for the industry, and one we’re pleased to celebrate with what we’re certain will be an uncontroversial, unenumerated list of awards that will prompt only resounding agreement and unbroken fellowship amongst our readers in the comments below. Welcome to part four of ComicsAlliance’s Best Comic Books of 2014.

Click here for PART ONE.

Click here for PART TWO.

Click here for PART THREE.

About the Uatu the Watcher Memorial Awards

Marvel has been in a state of constant rolling events since Avengers Vs. X-Men, with each multi-part series feeding off the last, setting up the next, and touching almost everything around it. If you're the sort of reader who finds it a little oppressive and overwhelming, just think how toga-toting bobblehead Uatu Watcher felt. That guy's whole life was an unrelenting crossover, and he had to watch the alternate reality versions as well. That guy saw everything, including his own impending death -- and it's little wonder that he went with the flow and took the easy out. Live by the event, die by the event; that was the Watcher's way.

Uatu the Watcher was shot dead by Nick Fury (I'm pretty sure), who then took his place as the official Marvel Universe weirdo who spies on everyone from a remote hidey-hole on the moon, because we'd hate to not have a guy doing that important work. Uatu the Watcher is survived by his wife Ulana, and his son, a creepy floating head.