The Comic Frontline crew throughout the month of December discuss the best comic books of the year! This week they cover best cover artist, best event, best one-shot, and best cover.





UPDATE:

We recorded this video sharing some of our favorite Cover Artists as seen below in written format. Each week, we’ll pick one category and share a few of our picks in a video like this. Scroll down to see our full picks and categories for the week!

Best Cover Artist

5. Art Germ (Variants)

Art Germ proves that heroes don’t have to be punching each other or telling funny jokes to make for one great cover. Art Germ’s covers succeed with their subtly and photo realistic portrayals of these characters. -Kat

4. Francis Manapul (Action Comics)

Manapul is one of my all time favorite artists, and he does such a great job at injecting joy into the Super books. -Kat

3. Kris Anka (Runaways)

It was sad to see Kris Anka leave as an interior artist for Runaways, but glad that he stayed as a cover artist. He always does a great job at capturing emotional beats of the series. -Kat

2. Alex Ross (The Immortal Hulk)

Ross’ covers for The Immortal Hulk are just as haunting as Joe Bennett’s interiors. It’s always a pleasure to see a cover artist capture the tone of the interior artist. -Kat



1. Mark Brooks (Captain Marvel)

Brooks has always been a favorite of mine, and glad to see him doing a lot of cover work in 2019. I especially loved his work on Captain Marvel as he gave us a glimpse at Carol’s many new looks. -Kat

5. Joe Quinones (Dial H for Hero)

These covers are nostalgic and playful, yet meaningful, tied into the interior story, vibrant and just cool! -Brant

4. Mark Brooks (Captain Marvel)

I have been a fan of Mark’s work for years and I’m loving his Captain Marvel work especially this year. -Brant

3. Jenny Frison (Variants)

There’s a distinct vibe about Jenny’s cover art. It’s intense, atmospheric, and it pulls you into the character. The use of tones to evoke a certain mood, expressions that lure you in and beautiful line work make her covers stand out from the pack. -Brant

2. Artgerm (Variants)

I’ve never been more excited about variant covers as I am when a new ArtGerm cover is revealed! -Brant

1. Dan Mora (Once & Future, Klaus, WWE)

Dan Mora’s star has been on the rise in recent years and he continues to deliver amazing work and fantastic renditions. Most recently, his Once & Future covers have been striking and full of life, and I’ll always be a fan of his WWE covers! -Brant

Chris

5. Art Germ (Variant)

4. Francis Manapul (Action Comics)

3. Jim Lee

2. J. Scott Campbell (Various)

1. Alex Ross (The Immortal Hulk, Spawn)

Mike

4. Clayton Cain (Venom, Spider-Man)

3. J. Scott Campbell (Black Cat) 2. Alex Ross (Immortal Hulk)

1. Art Germ (Variants)

Best Cover Artist Art Germ Francis Manapul Kris Anka Alex Ross Mark Brooks Joe Quinones Jenny Frison Dan Mora Jim Lee J. Scott Campbell Clayton Cain

Best Event

2. Powers of X/House of X

Hickman has people talking about the X-Men on a weekly basis again because of Powers of X and House of X, and as a Marvel/X-Men fan that’s very exciting! -Kat

Creative Team: Jonathan Hickman, R. B. Silva, Pepe Larraz

1. War of the Realms

“War of the Realms” blew every other event out of the water this year! It had the perfect balance of plot and character work as the ramifications of this event is still being felt. Daughterman’s pencils were absolutely breathtaking! I love this creative team and I hope we get to see more from them for another Marvel franchise in the future. -Kat

Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman

2. Avengers: No Road Home

I really enjoyed this story more than I realized I would when it first started. The way it utilized characters that don’t always get the spotlight I felt really heightened the story for me, and the motivation on Nyx and her children and the way they carried out their plan was far more interesting than I thought it would be upon first glance. -Brant

Creative Team: Al Ewing, Jim Zub, Mark Waid, Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco

1. War of the Realms

I’m a big fantasy buff, can’t get enough of the sword and sorcery storytelling, so you mix that with Marvel characters with great art and a compelling story and it’s a definite win! -Brant

Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman

Chris

3. X-Men – Powers of X/House of X

Creative Team: Jonathan Hickman, R. B. Silva, Pepe Larraz

2. Absolute Carnage

Creative Team: Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, J. P. Mayer

1. War of the Realms

Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman

Mike

5. House of X & Powers of X

Creative Team: Jonathan Hickman, R. B. Silva, Pepe Larraz

4. Avengers No Road Home

Creative Team: Al Ewing, Jim Zub, Mark Waid, Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco

3. Absolute Carnage

Creative Team: Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, J. P. Mayer

2. War of the Realms

Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman

1. DCeased

Creative Team: Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, James Harren, Stefano Guadiano

Best Event Powers of X/House of X War of the Realms Avengers: No Road Home Absolute Carnage DCeased

Best One-Shot

4. Young Justice Outsiders: Prelude #1

A perfect way to get fans ready for the new season of Young Justice. I especially enjoyed the character work from Miss Martian and Superboy in this one, and it was a pleasure to see Christopher Jones return to these characters. I can’t wait to see his work on the show next season. -Kat

Creative Team: Greg Weisman, Christopher Jones

3. War of the Realms: Omega #1

As stated in “Best Events”, I really enjoyed War of the Realms. The Omega issue did a very solid job at setting up the next chapter for these characters, I especially enjoyed the peek into Jane Foster: Valkyrie (a series hitting it out of the ballpark) –Kat

Creative Team: Daniel Kibblesmith, Al Ewing, Jason Aaron, Gerry Duggan, Juan Ferreyra, CAFU, Oscar Bazaldua, Ron Garney

2. Age of X-Man: Alpha #1

I really enjoyed the unique spin on the mutants from this issue. It shows the negativities that come from the hopes for a utopia, and it’s always a pleasure to see Ramon Rosanas on pencils. The lightness of his work made for a great contrast for what was brewing. -Kat

Creative Team: Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, Ramon Rosanas

1. Marvel Comics #1000

I was blown away by this issue! It juggled so many creators, while still making the stories and narrative enticing as it beautifully celebrated the past and the future of the company. I want to give credit to the whole team, but especially Al Ewing for keeping consistency and fluidity throughout the script. -Kat

1. Marvel Comics #1000

I truly did not expect to be so engrossed with this book based on other anniversary type issues we’ve seen over the years. But mixed in with some great one-off stories was this overarching plot that is leading to a larger story down the road, and that whole premise and delivery really took me off guard. I also loved a lot of the shorts and the way that they told these stories in chronological order. This is how you celebrate an anniversary issue! -Brant

Chris

5. Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis

Creative Team: James TynionIV, Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan

4. Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Death of Superman #1

Creative Team: Jeff Loveness, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, Norm Rapmund

3. Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1

Creative Team: Clay Chapman, Brian Level

2. Age of X-Man: Alpha #1

Creative Team: Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, Ramon Rosanas

1. Marvel Comics #1000

Mike

1. Marvel Comics #1000

One of the best one shots I have ever read! This issue had an ongoing story as well as paying tribute to the characters that we have grown to love over the years.

Best One-Shot Young Justice Outsiders: Prelude #1 War of the Realms: Omega #1 Age of X-Man: Alpha #1 Marvel Comics #1000 Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Death of Superman #1 Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1

Best Covers

5. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #11

MJ looks good in the Spidey costume! -Kat

Art By: Andrew Robinson

4. Captain Marvel #12

I was so pumped for evil Captain Marvel because of this cover, and that’s exactly what a good cover should do. -Kat

Art By: Mark Brooks

3. Young Justice #1

I absolutely loved the play on this meme, very clever! -Kat

Art: Jorge Jimenez

2. Runaways #18

I remember being extremely excited for this comic just because of the cover, which is how you know a cover has done its job. I loved seeing the Runaways dressed up in their parents costume – chilling! -Kat

Art: Kris Anka

1. The Immortal Hulk #23

I really enjoyed the Immortal Hulk wrap around covers – as a big Betty Ross fan I’m glad her transformations also received some spotlight for these covers. -Kat

Art: Dale Keown

5. Teen Titans #34 YOTV Variant

This is a neat cover as we see Crush and Damian fighting while D’Jinn tries to block them out. The interesting thing about it is the 3D/Painted art highlighted by the almost cartoony effects and bursts both in the foreground and background. Great use of color too as D’Jinn stands out from the others that are bathed in and backlighted by red. -Brant

Art by Alex Garner

4. Dial H for Hero #3

I love when art imitates life and here we have Mister Thunderbolt tearing away a comic cover to reveal another cover underneath so it would read Dial V for Villain instead. It’s just a cool concept, and one of several from the series. -Brant

Art by Joe Quinones

3. Red Hood: Outlaw #40

This is probably the coolest piece of Jason Todd I’ve seen. Just the way he’s plunging through the fire, sword ready to impact, hair and hood flying and the look of death on his face is just intense as can be! -Brant

Art by Philip Tan

2. Wonder Woman #63 Variant

The use of white space really stood out to me here as it’s basically an inked piece with splashes of color for her uniform and lasso. Then the way she digs her heels in sliding tearing up that white space that shatters the ground is just so cool visually. -Brant

Art by Karmone Shirahama

1. The Terrifics #21 YOTV Variant

I LOVE this image! The cell phone displaying the team in distress, covered in blood tells a story that you just have to know!

Art by Tony Shasteen

Chris

3. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #40 Foil Cover

Art: Goni Montes

2. Catwoman #15

Art: Artgerm

1. Young Justice #1

Art: Patrick Gleason

Mike

5. Marvel Comics #1000 Emma Frost

Art: Artgerm

4. DCeased #3

Art: Jay Anacleto

3. Venom #14

Art: Maxx Lim

2. Catwoman #15

Art: Artgerm

1. Harley Quinn #57

Art: Julian Totino Tedesco

Best Cover Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #11 Captain Marvel #12 Young Justice #1 (Superboy Variant) Runaways #18 The Immortal Hulk #23 Teen Titans #34 YOTV Variant Dial H for Hero #3 Red Hood: Outlaw #40 Wonder Woman #63 Variant The Terrifics #21 YOTV Variant Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #40 Foil Cover Catwoman #15 Young Justice #1 Marvel Comics #1000 Emma Frost DCeased #3 Venom #14 Harley Quinn #57

Polls

Best Cover Artist

Best Cover Artist Art Germ Francis Manapul Kris Anka Alex Ross Mark Brooks Joe Quinones Jenny Frison Dan Mora Jim Lee J. Scott Campbell Clayton Cain

Best Event

Best Event Powers of X/House of X War of the Realms Avengers: No Road Home Absolute Carnage DCeased

Best One-Shot

Best One-Shot Young Justice Outsiders: Prelude #1 War of the Realms: Omega #1 Age of X-Man: Alpha #1 Marvel Comics #1000 Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Death of Superman #1 Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1

Best Cover

Best Cover Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #11 Captain Marvel #12 Young Justice #1 (Superboy Variant) Runaways #18 The Immortal Hulk #23 Teen Titans #34 YOTV Variant Dial H for Hero #3 Red Hood: Outlaw #40 Wonder Woman #63 Variant The Terrifics #21 YOTV Variant Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #40 Foil Cover Catwoman #15 Young Justice #1 Marvel Comics #1000 Emma Frost DCeased #3 Venom #14 Harley Quinn #57

Kat’s Social Media

Brant’s Social Media

Chris’ Social Media

Mike’s Social Media

Let us know in the comments what you think of this article!