![]() There are exceptions that elevate the work, but the bulk of its 225 pages find Dhaliwal trying to land a comic strip gag every two pages, and the success rate is astonishingly high for that kind of volume. Cyclopedia Exotica is almost entirely two-page vignettes, oscillating between the lives of various Cyclops, and the majority of the time it’s set-up, set-up, punchline. The satire is incredibly strong – there’s a page in particular about who gets to write minority literature that I haven’t stopped thinking about – but honestly, it’s the structure that blows me away the most. In her Drawn & Quarterly follow-up to 2018’s Woman World, Dhaliwal imagines a universe full of Cyclopes, where a primary “othering” occurs based on how many eyes an individual has. It’s the most ‘different’ endeavor from Brubaker’s other works of the period, and is the kind of thing you could hand to just about anyone.Īminder Dhaliwal’s graphic novel satirization of society’s discriminations and treatment of marginalized communities is an almost impossible blend of scathing, hilarious, and heartfelt. It’s not particularly new, as it’s been done before in prose, but it is a really refreshing read in comics that just transports you away. Brought to life by the spectacular Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente, it’s a really lovely ‘Well whatever comes after the story?’ take that looks at those middle-grade books through a new prism. But it is perhaps the writer at his best, in a really fun spin on the Kid Detective Story. But amidst all of them, Friday is perhaps the most overlooked, being a Panel Syndicate release without buzz. Ritesh Babu: Ed Brubaker’s been having a tremendously successful few years now. ![]() The darkness of the Ice Cream Man universe certainly follows, although Prince and his new-artist-per-issue collaborators play the stories a bit straighter, less reliant on a conceptual hook, or interconnected supernatural flavor of the day.įor more, check out my interview with W. Maxwell Prince shifting his unique brand of surreal philosophy from cosmic Ice Cream Men to all manner of costumed clowns. Maxwell Prince, Martin Morazzo, and Chris O’Halloran are simply the most inventive creative team in comics on an issue-by-issue basis.Įlsewhere, Haha is very much a spiritual spinoff, with writer W. Ice Cream Man has been on some version of my best of lists since 2018, and since 2020 the title of Comic Book Herald’s favorite ongoing series is Ice Cream Man’s to lose. One of the best horror books of the year in a year full of brilliant horror. To say nothing of the Jackson-esque ability to make the world simultaneously supernatural and extractions of a haunted psyche. Sloane Leong’s narration, meanwhile, never feels obtrusive and overwrought, capturing the delicate balance of the positionality of the characters and the dissonance of the world. In a year full of comics utilizing the black, white, and red color pallet, Anna Bowles’ work stands out with the stark detail of someone you would think had been doing comics for decades. A story about isolation, longing, and the pitfalls of mistaking romance for worship. Sean Dillon: The modern day House on Haunted Hill. Creating a platform to explore the insidious nature of conspiracy in modern culture is one thing, but managing to make it horrific, entertaining, mysterious, and engaging? That’s some good comics.Ĭheck out Comic Book Herald’s full review of the Best New Graphic Novel! Graveneye To keep conspiracy from overtaking truth, there’s The Department of Truth, one part Men in Black, one part Planetary. So flat-earth rallies lead to helicopter rides to the true edge of the world, and false flag school shootings lead to one of the most heartbreaking and chilling comics I’ve read. The series tackles the nature of conspiracy theories, in a world where belief in various real-world conspiracies transfers to manifesting those false ideas into reality. I’m blown away by the confidence, focus and creative synergy in The Department of Truth, the Image Comics series from James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds, Aditya Bidikar and editor Steve Foxe. ![]() Update: 12/10/21 The Best Comic Books of 2021! Support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards, or Donate here! Thank you for reading! When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a qualifying affiliate commission.Ĭomic Book Herald’s reading orders and guides are also made possible by reader support on Patreon, and generous reader donations.Īny size contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content.
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