Wayfarer Special: Top 10 Indie Comics of 2011 (Part 2 of 2)

And so once more into the breach dear friends, as I bring us to the second half of this happy little countdown of the Indie comics that I loved the most this past year. Yes, I know, it's been a long gap since Part 1 of this little countdown and the New Year is well into it's first quarter, but it is what it is - I felt that coverage of our Comic Con in Delhi and all that came out of it took precedence and this could wait just a bit.

Before I get to the final leg of the countdown, a quick listing of the books that almost made it to this top ten but fell just shy. I wish I could have made this list longer and perhaps I will review them all in the near future, but in the meantime I think they all deserve an Honourable mention:

• The Goon (Writer/Artist: Eric Powell)
• G.I.Joe Cobra (Writer: Christos Gage and Mike Costa, Artist: Antonio Fuso)
• Scarlet (Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Artist: Alex Maleev)
• Scalped (Writer: Jason Aaron, Artist: R. M. Guéra)
• Artifacts (Writers: Ron Marz, Marc Silvestri & Matt Hawkins, Artists: Michael Broussard, Stjepan Sejic)
• Super Dinosaur (Writer: Robert Kirkman, Artist: Jason Howard)
• Fallen Angel: Return of the Son (Writer: Peter David, Artist: J.K.Woodward)

So thank you for your patience and now without any further rambling along on my part, lets just get to it shall we?

05. HELLBOY

Click to enlarge

Writer: Mike Mignola w/ John Arcudi

Artist: Various

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

For those of you that have been following Mike Mignola's worlds as they've evolved in the Hellboy, B.P.R.D and related series, I think you know what I mean when I say that for so many years now they have been the most consistent, creative and amazingly put together comics – among the best comics as a medium have to offer in a sense. For those that have not, you are really missing out on something special.

The various story arcs and such together form such an amazing, long-running and vast story-line and world that it's amazing they've managed it for such a long period of time – and the hand of creator Mike Mignola is definitely visible in every single book, even the one's he has not directly scripted himself. Of course credit where it's due to the talents who've worked with him and been able to strike a nice balance between their own work and style but ever retaining the unique look and feel that Mignola brought to the comic-medium. The truly awesome part being that it remains this damn good even after 17 years!

Special Review: Dark Horse Presents #8

Today folks, we have a very special review of a new comic released this past week. It's a single comic but is so huge and loaded with talented creators' work that we felt deserved a reviewing all its own. This edition of Dark Horse Presents is brought to you by various writers and artists including John Arcudi, Brian Wood, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, Andi Watson, Al Gordon, MJ Butler, Beau Smith, Duncan Fegredo, Geof Darrow, Kristian Donaldson, Thomas Yeates, Mark Wheatley, Eduardo Barreto and has been reviewed by one of our newest additions to the Comic Addicts family, Mr. Anubhav DasGupta:

I’ve been following DHP somewhat sporadically, and checked out this issue mainly because it carried a few Hellboy/BPRD and Beasts of Burden features, and although they were amazing (and probably the best of the bunch), I found myself staying back for a few more of the stories.

The Neal Adams and Howard Chaykin features just went over my head, but I guess that’s because I haven’t checked out the previous parts. But the post-apocalyptic Tarzan story (that celebrates the franchise’s 100^th anniversary), the Time-travel story, the aforementioned Hellboy epilogue and Beasts of Burden short are nothing shy of amazing. Writing and art on all of these are absolutely amazing, nothing short of brilliant.

Random Musings - 12 /09/2010

Pax Romana

I have been following JONATHAN HICKMAN for some time now (Pax Romana, The Nightly News, Red Mass for Mars). With his latest stint at Marvel Comics (Fantastic Four, Secret Warriors, Shield) , he is telling very interesting stories through highly innovative concepts. Reminds me of Grant Morrison's work. Is he the next Grant? Hmm..Future will tell.     
 
Just got my TOM STRONG  (by Alan Moore) deluxe edition volume 2. Very few comics are such joy to read these days, but thankfully their number seems to be increasing. The top two contenders undeniably are Hellboy and Atomic Robo. Maybe I should be writing about them someday..

Started Reading "RAIDERS" (Yen Press), the premise seemed interesting : The search for holy grail(or blood!) and some unusual Zombies ( Zombies seems to be new Vampires now! o Wait, we already have a glut of Vampire comics).. but despite of high concept and action sequences, somehow couldn't get emotionally vested in the series...

Deadman Wonderland

On the other hand am enjoying DEADMAN WONDERLAND (Tokyopop) .The characters are slowly growing on me and am looking forward to the next installment. Though this series has much grounds to cover to rival any of the top shonen manga's in the market today, it definitely has potential.

Are you reading Gail Simone's "SECRET SIX"? Why the hell not?

Too many DEADPOOL books in the market seems to be taking the charm away. Marvel: Just do a few books, with quality content. Now Deadpool jokes seem more "eh" than amusing. But I guess, with deadpool movie on the horizon, it was expected.  Me? I just miss my insanely FUNNY juvenile Deadpool...less and less laugh out jokes every day, which is not good.. no.. not good at all

Sayonara ,Zetsubou-Sensei

Still enjoying the dark humor in Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei

"CONAN the CIMMERIAN" is going on a hiatus.. I am not too happy. Hopefully its coming back sooner than later.. I need my Conan fix damnit.

Read an interview with Eric Trautmann ( Co-writer of Checkmate, sadly another brilliant series which was cut short due to low sales) on Vampirella. And I am glad he is not looking jazz up the Sexiness of Vampirella, but rather tone down the over emphasis on (almost) naked female form in lieu of story content. If it would have been any lesser writer than him, this would have been difficult to believe . But Eric has brownie points for CHECKMATE.

Want some more ASTRO CITY... Can't wait till the ongoing starts

Recently read Blackest Night, no emotional attachment whatsoever. That's all I am gonna say to this one.

If its one comic book you read before you die, let it be TRANSMETROPOLITAN, 'nuff said! Here's my post  on it

That's it folks .. Leaving you with a random page of Transmetropolitan , apologies for the scan quality, but if you make a slight effort to read, you would be rewarded  :)

'till next time then