Announcing Marvel, DC, and all-in-one comic rankings for 2024

2024: A Year of Familiar Comfort and Unexpected Excellence in Comics

In 2024, comic readers found comfort in familiar narratives. Surprisingly, many of these familiar stories pushed creative boundaries and delivered exceptional results. Navigating the sheer volume of weekly comics from major publishers, plus the graphic novels from various imprints, is a daunting task. This list highlights some of the standout titles we loved in 2024.

A Few Preliminary Notes:

• Focus: Primarily on Marvel and DC, with a few exceptions.
• Minimum Length: Series had to have at least 10 issues. This excludes newer titles like Ultimates, Absolute Batman, recent X-titles, and Aaron's Ninja Turtles.
• Overall Ranking: The ranking considers all issues of each series, not just those released in 2024. Exceptions are McKay's Moon Knight and Williamson's Robin.
• Anthologies Excluded: Anthologies like Action Comics and Batman: The Brave and the Bold are excluded due to their diverse authorship.

Table of Contents:

• Batman: Zdarsky Run
• Nightwing by Tom Taylor
• Blade + Blade: Red Band
• Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu
• Outsiders
• Poison Ivy
• Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson
• Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
• The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier
• The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing
• Venom + Venom War
• John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America
• Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko

Reviews:

Batman: Zdarsky Run

A technically impressive but ultimately underwhelming comic. The fight against the "wrong" Batman was tedious, except for the Joker's neuro-arc, which was a significant misstep.

Nightwing by Tom Taylor

A series that started strong but faltered towards the end, bogged down by filler arcs. While it had its moments, it fell short of its potential.

Blade + Blade: Red Band

A successful adaptation of the Daywalker into a fast-paced, action-packed comic book experience.

Vengeance of the Moon Knight + Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu

A mixed bag, hampered by rushed storytelling and underdeveloped plot points. The handling of character deaths and resurrections felt underwhelming.

Outsiders

A Planetary reimagining within the DC Universe, featuring heavy-handed meta-commentary that quickly becomes predictable.

Poison Ivy

A surprisingly long-running series (30+ issues) with a consistent, if occasionally uneven, psychedelic charm.

Batman and Robin by Joshua Williamson

A solid entry focusing on Damien Wayne's struggles with school and his relationship with his father. While not reaching the heights of the first Robin series, it's a worthwhile read.

Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver

A charming and visually appealing comic from Dark Horse, offering a cozy and simple narrative.

The Flash Series by Simon Spurrier

A complex and challenging read, rewarding those willing to engage with its intricate plot.

The Immortal Thor by Al Ewing

A potentially rewarding but ultimately tedious series, hampered by excessive references and a slow pace, though the artwork is exceptional.

Venom + Venom War

A chaotic and impactful series, leaving a lasting impression.

John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America

A series with a strong first half, but a weaker second half. Despite its flaws, Spurrier's writing remains compelling.

Ultimate X-men by Peach Momoko

A unique blend of manga, psychological horror, and the X-Men, resulting in a truly remarkable comic.