As we end 2018, which is our first year of existence, we at PopCultureSquad.com want to take a moment and recognize some of the great comic books that we have seen this year. Over the next few days, we will be bringing you three “Year In Review” posts.
This is the first post. We will take a look at the Best New Limited Series that debuted in 2018. This category took some finagling due to the trade paperback nature of some of the indie publishers. Often a series is published, and after the first arc is complete, it disappears. Therefore, we included series on this list that were either solicited as being limited or have a complete end to the story.
These limited series represent a cross section of the publisher market which helps us point out that great comic book storytelling is out there and comes from many different places. There are series from DC and Marvel as well as Image, Berger Books at Dark Horse, Black Crown at IDW, AHOY Comics, and DC’s Young Animal imprint.
We chose books that have a high quality storytelling. Stories that make sense, are intriguing, and are pleasing to the eye. You will find a link to the Comixology page for the series and a link to the collected edition on Amazon, if it is available. Of course, it should go without saying that our preference for getting your hands on these wonderful comics is to go down to your Local Comic Shop if you have one, and get it there.
It is difficult to rank series against each other. Each story brings something special to the table, and we collected twelve series here that we thought were outstanding. The books we chose are below in alphabetical order:
Cemetery Beach
Image Comics
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Jason Howard
First Issue: 9/12/2018
Issues Released: 4 of 7
This is an off-word tale of exploration and hidden Earth colonization. It is action packed and a visual tour de force.
Crude
Image Comics
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Garry Brown
First Issue: 4/11/2018
Issues Released: 6 of 6
Steve Orlando and Garry Brown tell a violent tale of a vengence. However, the theme turns from pure retribution to themes of dealing with loss and acceptance.
Eternity Girl
DC / Young Animal
Written by: Magdalene Visaggio
Art by Sonny Liew
First Issue: 3/14/2018
Issues Released: 6 of 6
Eternity Girl is a trippy tale of an all powerful former super hero searching for a purpose. Sonny Liew’s art is breath taking and the characterization by Mags Visaggio is fantastic.
Euthanauts
IDW / Black Crown Publishing
Written by Tini Howard
Art by Nick Robles
First Issue: 7/18/2018
Issues Released: 4 of 5
This comic series takes a look at what the afterlife looks like. It is a beautiful depiction of some interesting mechanical theories. The characters are intriguing and this series will wrap up in early 2019.
Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles
DC Comics
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Mike Feehan
First Issue: 1/3/2018
Issues Released: 6 of 6
Mix McCarthyism with Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters, throw in some rebellion against societal norms and you have a recipe for a heck of a comic book. We feel this book is destined for some wins in next awards season.
Heroes in Crisis
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by Clay Mann, Lee Weeks, and Mitch Gerads
First issue: 9/26/2018
Issues Released: 3 of 9
This series is the least complete, but has come out of the gate with a massive event. The art in this series is spectacular and the personal challenges of the Heroes are compelling. This is murder mystery that we look forward to being solved.
Amazon Link: N/A
High Heaven
Ahoy Comics
Written by Tom Peyer
Art by Greg Scott
First Issue: 9/26/2018
Issues Released: 4 of 5
The second series on the list that deals with what happens to the soul after death takes a humorous and cynical approach to the question. Peyer and Scott created a fantastic Heavenscape that we hope will come back for a second tour soon.
Amazon Link: N/A
House Amok
IDW / Black Crown Publishing
Written by Christopher Sebela
Art by Shawn McManus
First Issue: 8/29/2018
Issues Released: 3 of 5
Sebela and McManus have created one of the most gripping and terrifying family dynamics in recent comic memory with this series. The ability to convey the real danger that is going on in this story in a framework that is not disturbingly gory is impressive.
Iceman
Marvel Comics
Written by Sina Grace
Art by Nate Stockman
First Issue: 9/12/2018
Issues released: 4 of 5
We were very excited to see this series come back even if it is only in a limited series. Sina Grace belongs writing Iceman, and he does a fantastic job of telling interesting stories in seamingly stand alone issues. We will be sorry to see this go, when the time comes.
Shade: The Changing Woman
DC / Young Animal
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Art by Marley Zarcone
First Issue: 3/7/2018
Issues Released: 6 of 6
This mini series is also a return from an earlier great series. The story of self and madness that Castellucci and Zarcone tell is beautiful. This was a fabulous mini series in every way.
She Could Fly
Dark Horse Comics / Berger Books
Written by Christopher Cantwell
Art by Martin Morazzo
First Issue: 7/11/2018
Issues Released: 4 of 4
This issues of this series could not come fast enough for us. We were so invested in the main character from the get go. It starts off heartbreaking and gets crazier from there. This series is a triumph.
The Man of Steel
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Jason Fabok, Ivan Reis, Steve Rude, Adam Hughes, Ryan Sook, Kevin Maguire, and more
First Issue: 5/30/2018
Issues Released: 6 of 6
It would have been easy to ignore this series. Let’s be honest, it was a marketing event to firmly establish a break from the previous ongoing stories. A new “showrunner” for the Superman titles was coming on board and DC editorial felt a reset was in order. That being said, the art in this series is just phenomenal and the stories that were created are interesting and compelling as they continue outside the series. This was most likely the best “Event” from the Big2 to be released in 2018
