Russell
Favourite Comic of 2007
The Immortal Iron Fist
Like a vast majority of people currently buying and loving this title, if you had told me 18 months ago that this would be my favourite title, I’d have laughed in your face. Sure, I had enjoyed Essential Iron Fist and his appearances in Bendis’ Daredevil run, but this is IRON FIST.
Hands down, this is the best title on the stands. There’s an energy to it, a pure comics joy that takes me back to how I felt reading comics as a kid. Like so many have said before, this is the natural successor to Robinson’s Starman. Pick up the hardcovers, the trades, the singles on the back issue market, whatever. You should be reading this title.
Hopes for 2008
My first hope is that IDW can find a way to get their Doctor Who title out over here in the UK. I have high hopes for The Incredible Herc and Millar’s Kick-Ass. Marvel’s big summer event, Secret Invasion, looks like it might actually be worth reading. Oh, and when it comes around, Paul Cornell’s run on Excalibur. That’s going to be incredible.
Frank
Favorite Comic of 2007
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba, James Jean, Dave Stewart and Nakt Piekos is the type of comic that I would love automatically. Way’s high watermark of Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol is a high place to shoot for for challenging, daring, emotional storytelling and Way and company out do themselves. The first story of the series is addictive, entertaining, smart, but not smarty pants and somberly beautiful. It is a project that I am glad to see, read and want to see more of. It is a prject that proves that Dark Horse is on fire when it comes to good comics and is a book that holds it’s own to the quality of the Dark Horse publishing scheme and what comic creators should try to aim for every month.
Hopes for 2008
Planetary 27 to be published, so I can retire from heavy comics consumption. Monthly Goon, BPRD,The Boys, and Buffy. Yay!
Howard Chaykin to write and draw a creator owned book again or the American Flagg trades to ship.
More Criminal, Desolation Jones, newuniversal, Doktor Sleepless and Fell.
New League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Umbrella Academy, and Hellboy.
The launch of Greg Rucka’s Stumptown. Also, I would like it if the crossover bug stopped being so prevalent that it makes comics no fun.
Mark
Favourite Comic of 2007
Got to go with Iron Fist too. A series that works with an artist who can’t quite do a full monthly book and turns it into a bonus for the storytelling rather than let it slow it down.
It still seems a silly idea, but Iron Fist is the book of the moment at Marvel even with fierce competition.
Hopes for 2008
Starman Hardcovers being done right. My favourite comic of all time in Hardcover. DC better not use crappy paper.
Paul Cornell on Excalibur - here’s hoping this gives Iron Fist a run for the best monthly at Marvel.
Hitch and Millar on Fantastic Four. Jeff Smith’s RASL - he’s done wonders for fantasy and now it’s Sci-fi’s turn. Zorro - I was already interested when it was Matt Wagner writing this, but now with Francesco Francavilla on art I cannot wait.
Ross
Favourite of 2007
I have to confess that the comic I get most enjoyment from each month is probably also Iron Fist…In the interest of variety though Black Summer has been some ultra violent Ellis fin, The Boys has been quite a fabulous breath of OTT fresh air and Suburban Glamour was a nice surprise.
Hopes for 2008
That some of the new Vertigo series stand out in the same way Y or 100 Bullets did way back when they starrted. That secret invasion doesn’t suck, and that against all odds the WSU actually becomes good again.