The Comic Frontline crew throughout the month of December discuss the best comic books of the year! This week they cover Best Writer, Penciler, Ongoing Series, Publisher, Single Issue.

Best Writer

5. Sam Humphries (Dial H For Hero, Harley Quinn)

One of Sam’s biggest strengths is his character work, and he puts this on full display with his work on Dial H and Harley Quinn!

4. Kelly Thompson (West Coast Avengers, Captain Marvel, Jessica Jones)

Kelly Thompson not only had 1 great series this year but three with her work on Jessica Jones, Captain Marvel, and West Coast Avengers. I’m so happy to see Thompson take over so many Marvel titles and can’t wait to see her explore more characters from their toy box.

3. Ryan Parrott (Go Go Power Rangers, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)

This year Parrott has not only been working on Go Go Power Rangers, but also has taken over the franchise’s flag ship title as he further explores the characters and mythology of Power Rangers.

2. Jason Aaron (War of the Realms, Valkyrie: Jane Foster)

I’ve never been a huge Thor fan, but Aaron has made me a fan! This year marked the end of Aaron’s long run and he totally stuck the landing. He did a great job at tying in this year’s Marvel event for Marvel and Thor fans alike to enjoy, while also opening new storylines for a new era of Thor.

1. Al Ewing (Marvel Comics #1000,Valkyrie: Jane Foster, The Immortal Hulk)

Al Ewing hit it out of the park this year with his grand slam of a series, The Immortal Hulk, and the narrative he came up with to weave together the short stories in Marvel Comics #1000.

5. Adam Glass (Teen Titans)

4. Donny Cates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Venom, Absolute Carnage)

3. Sam Humphries (Dial H for Hero)

2. Al Ewing (Marvel Comics #1000, Valkyrie)

1. Kelly Thompson (Captain Marvel, West Coast Avengers, Jessica Jones)

5. Meredith Finch (Age of Conan: Valeria)

4. Donny Cates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Absolute Carnage, Venom)

3. Nick Spencer (The Amazing Spider-Man)

2. Kevin Eastman (TMNT)

1. Tom Waltz (TMNT)

5. Jason Aaron (War of the Realms, Valkyrie: Jane Foster)

4. Al Ewing (The Immortal Hulk)

3. Donny Cates (Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy, Absolute Carnage)

2. Jeff Lemire (Gideon Falls)

1. Gerry Duggan (Dead Eyes, Marauders)

Best Writer Sam Humphries (Dial H For Hero, Harley Quinn) Kelly Thompson (West Coast Avengers, Captain Marvel, Jessica Jones) Ryan Parrott (Go Go Power Rangers, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) Jason Aaron (War of the Realms, Valkyrie: Jane Foster) Al Ewing (Marvel Comics #1000,Valkyrie: Jane Foster, The Immortal Hulk) Adam Glass (Teen Titans) Donny Cates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Venom, Absolute Carnage) Meredith Finch (Age of Conan: Valeria) Nick Spencer (The Amazing Spider-Man) Kevin Eastman (TMNT) Tom Waltz (TMNT) Jeff Lemire (Gideon Falls) Gerry Duggan (Dead Eyes, Marauders) Created with

Best Penciller

5. Joe Bennett (The Immortal Hulk)

The Immortal Hulk has pleasantly taken a deep dive into horror, and Joe Bennett’s pencils add the perfect tone to this haunting title.

4. CAFU (Valkyrie: Jane Foster)

CAFU’s artwork is absolutely gorgeous. He balances action and emotion perfectly as he seamlessly transitions from Jane Foster to Valkyrie.

3. Jamal Campbell (Naomi, Far Sector)

Campbell’s artwork was the first thing that really grabbed me to Naomi, and with every passing issue the artist continues to impress.

2. Joe Quinones (Dial H For Hero)

The diversity of Quinones style is breathtaking. One of my favorite things about Dial H is how it explores all different sides of the medium and Quinones does this in stride.

1. Mattia De Iulis (Invisible Woman, Jessica Jones)

Just you wait Mattia De iulis is going to be a comic book superstar!

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

3. Jamal Campbell (Far Sector, Naomi)

2. Ivan Reis (Superman)

1. Mattia de Iulis (Invisible Woman, Jessica Jones)

4. Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls)

3. Ivan Reis (Superman)

2. Gary Frank (Doomsday Clock)

1. Ryan Ottley (The Amazing Spider-Man)

5. Joe Bennett (The Immortal Hulk)

4. Sean Murphy (Batman Curse of the White Knight)

3. Pepe Larraz (HOX/POX)

2. Ryan Stegman (Venom)

1. Ivan Reis (Superman)

Best Penciller Joe Bennett (The Immortal Hulk) CAFU (Valkyrie: Jane Foster) Jamal Campbell (Naomi, Far Sector) Joe Quinones (Dial H For Hero) Mattia De Iulis (Invisible Woman, Jessica Jones) Dan Mora (Once & Future, Klaus, WWE) Ivan Reis (Superman) Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls) Gary Frank (Doomsday Clock) Ryan Ottley (The Amazing Spider-Man) Sean Murphy (Batman Curse of the White Knight) Pepe Larraz (HOX/POX) Ryan Stegman (Venom) Created with

Best Ongoing Series

5. The Amazing Spider-Man

As a Spider-Man fan I’ve been very happy with Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley’s run on the character. It feels nostalgic but modern all at the same time.

4. Ghost Spider

I’ve said this in my previous posts about the series, but it’s always hard to take over a mainstream series from the original creative team but Seanan McGuire and Takeshi Miyazawa do a great job at making the title their own.

3. The Immortal Hulk

The Immortal Hulk puts a whole new layer to the character by embracing the aesthetic of his early creation.

2. Runaways

Rainbow’s character work for this series is flawless and the inclusion of Andres Genolet was a great replacement for Kris Anka’s expressive style.

1. Valkyrie: Jane Foster

Jane Foster: Valkyrie is the perfect superhero book! It has the perfect balance of Jane’s as a doctor and a hero.

5. X-Men

4. Valkyrie: Jane Foster

3. Middlewest

2. Ghost Spider

1. Teen Titans

4. The Amazing Spider-Man

3. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

2. Young Justice

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

5. The Amazing Spider-Man

4. Jane Foster: Valkyrie

3. Teen Titans

2. Venom

1. The Immortal Hulk

Best Ongoing Title The Amazing Spider-Man Ghost Spider The Immortal Hulk Runaways Valkyrie: Jane Foster X-Men Middlewest Teen Titans Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Young Justice Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Venom Create Online

Best Publisher

2. BOOM! Studios

BOOM! continues to have one of most diverse titles on stands with some of my favorites series on stands.

1. Marvel

This has been Marvel’s best year in a long time with consistent titles and multiple great events (some of the best the company has delivered in a long time.

4. Image Comics

3. Lion Forge Comics

2. Marvel Comics

1. BOOM! Studios

4. DC

3. BOOM! Studios

2. Marvel

1. IDW Publishing

5. Dark Horse

4. DC Comics

3. Marvel Comics

2. Image Comics

1. BOOM! Studios

Best Publisher BOOM! Studios Marvel Image Comics Lion Forge Comics DC IDW Publishing Dark Horse

Best Single Issue

5. Paper Girls #30

Paper Girls is one of my favorite series of all time, and its conclusion did not disappoint. The issue puts a laser focus on the title’s biggest theme – childhood friendship in a raw and realistic way that makes this one memorable story.

4. Batman: Curse of the White Knight #4

This was one of my favorite Batgirl issues in a long time. It had twist and turns and showcased Babs’ relationship with her father perfectly. From art to script, Sean Murphy there was a great display of intensity.

3. Valkyrie: Jane Foster #1

Jason Aaron, Al Ewing, and CAFU deliver a premiere issue that is pure superhero fun! It has all the classic superhero tropes we know and love with a new modern twist as Jane Foster brings an important unique perspective to the Marvel Universe.

2. The Immortal Hulk #14

I love how Al Ewing and Joe Bennett put Betty back into the spotlight and showcases that it’s not just Bruce who has to deal with their inner demons because of their connection with the Hulk.

1. Ms. Marvel #38

This was not only a celebration of Ms. Marvel, but the whole world that G. Willow Wilson created with her five year run on the character. It was a beautiful send off to a beautiful run.

3. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6

2. House of X #2

1. Marvel Comics #1000

4. The Walking Dead #193

3. TMNT #96

2. Powers of X #6

1. Young Justice #1

4. DCeased #6

3. Batman Curse the White Knight #4

2. The Walking Dead #193

1. Marvel Comics #1000

Best Single Issue Paper Girls #30 Batman: Curse of the White Knight #4 Valkyrie: Jane Foster #1 The Immortal Hulk #14 Ms. Marvel #38 Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6 House of X #2 Marvel Comics #1000 The Walking Dead #193 TMNT #96 Powers of X #6 Young Justice #1 DCeased #6 Created with

Polls

Best Writer

Best Writer Sam Humphries (Dial H For Hero, Harley Quinn) Kelly Thompson (West Coast Avengers, Captain Marvel, Jessica Jones) Ryan Parrott (Go Go Power Rangers, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) Jason Aaron (War of the Realms, Valkyrie: Jane Foster) Al Ewing (Marvel Comics #1000,Valkyrie: Jane Foster, The Immortal Hulk) Adam Glass (Teen Titans) Donny Cates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Venom, Absolute Carnage) Meredith Finch (Age of Conan: Valeria) Nick Spencer (The Amazing Spider-Man) Kevin Eastman (TMNT) Tom Waltz (TMNT) Jeff Lemire (Gideon Falls) Gerry Duggan (Dead Eyes, Marauders) Created with

Best Penciller

Best Penciller Joe Bennett (The Immortal Hulk) CAFU (Valkyrie: Jane Foster) Jamal Campbell (Naomi, Far Sector) Joe Quinones (Dial H For Hero) Mattia De Iulis (Invisible Woman, Jessica Jones) Dan Mora (Once & Future, Klaus, WWE) Ivan Reis (Superman) Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls) Gary Frank (Doomsday Clock) Ryan Ottley (The Amazing Spider-Man) Sean Murphy (Batman Curse of the White Knight) Pepe Larraz (HOX/POX) Ryan Stegman (Venom) Created with

Best Ongoing Title

Best Ongoing Title The Amazing Spider-Man Ghost Spider The Immortal Hulk Runaways Valkyrie: Jane Foster X-Men Middlewest Teen Titans Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Young Justice Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Venom Create Online

Best Publisher

Best Publisher BOOM! Studios Marvel Image Comics Lion Forge Comics DC IDW Publishing Dark Horse

Best Single Issue