Usually to kick off the year I put together a list of my favorite comics from the previous year as well as a reflection of that year. Well, 2023 was just… odd. So much so, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all and figuring out what I want to say. So, I’ll save the reflection for another day. Instead, let’s focus on what stood out in comics for 2023.

Below is broken down into two sections. There’s the comics I enjoyed and then the comics that really stood out and shouldn’t be missed. While I read a lot this past year (60+ comics, graphic novels, and manga a month), I didn’t read everything released, so this is based on what I read. Something not included doesn’t mean it wasn’t good, it’s possible I didn’t read it.

You’ll notice a lot of manga on this year’s list. I read a lot of manga, that’s why, and let me tell you, it’s amazing. There’s so much and so much variety, really something for everyone.

But, before we get to the comics of the year, I want to talk about two publishers that stood out.

IZE Press/Yen Press – Notice, there’s a lot of manga and manhwa on the list and it’s mostly from these two publishers. Yen Press knocked it out of the park with so much quality (and some stinkers) and IZE Press was damn near perfect in its releases.

Skybound – Normally when I think of Skybound, I think The Walking Dead and Invincible. I think 2023 was the year the publisher really broke out and showed it’s so much more. Yes, there’s been solid releases before 2023 that weren’t those two comics, but 2023 is when the publishers took over Transformers and G.I. Joe breathing new life into those properties as well as releasing comics for younger readers with Skybound Comet and some amazing releases on top fo that.

Now, on to what stood out in 2023 (in alpha order)….

And now what really stood out in 2023 (in alphabetical order):

• A First Time for Everything (First Second) – The graphic novel has won some awards and for good reason. The story is the author’s experience traveling to Europe for school.
  
• Animal Castle (Ablaze) – An adaptation of the classic Animal Farm, the story will get you to think with every issue and the art is amazing.
  
• Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW Publishing) – A twisted murder mystery where the characters are bipedal animals. Take all those cute books you read as a kid but add in Silence of the Lambs.
  
• The Boxer (IZE Press) – My favorite manga/manhwa of the year? Each volume focuses on one character and adds so much depth mixed with great art and it leaving you guessing who the “hero” really is.
  
• Homicide: The Graphic Novel (First Second) – An adaptation of the amazing book. Two volumes of near perfection.
  
• Local Man (Image Comics) – A superhero universe at Image that really works. It is its own thing while also teasing a connection to what has come before. Just fantastic all around.
  
• The Night Eaters Book 2 Her Little Reapers (Abrams Comicarts) – The second volume adds so much to this world and the art is amazing.
  
• The Penguin (DC Comics) – This has brought life to the classic character making him one to fear and sympathize with.
  
• Rooster Fighter (VIZ Media) – It’s a rooster fighting giant demon kaiju. Nuff said.
  
• Scurry (Skybound Comet) – Amazing art with a tale that feels like an all-ages classic. How this wasn’t discussed more is beyond me.
  
• So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? (Yen Press) – The reincarnated genre was overdone but this one took a methodical take on building a society with knowledge from another world.
  
• Solo Leveling (IZE Press) – Fantastic dungeon crawling-type series that brought some amazing action and twists with every volume.
  
• Space Job (Dark Horse) – The Office in space and I laughed with every issue.
  
• Traveling to Mars (Ablaze) – The best series on the shelf right now. It is fantastic sci-fi with laughs, satire, action, a lot of heart, and will get you thinking long after you’re done reading each issue.
  
• Universal Monsters: Dracula (Skybound) – Amazing art for the latest adaptation of the classic novel.
  
• UnOrdinary (Harper Alley) – Interesting superhero-ish manga set in a school with a nice twist to it. The powered use their ability for their own gain and using them to help others is heretical.
  
• Where Monsters Lie (Dark Horse) – Where do the killers go after their sprees? This twisted community. The series was laugh out loud wrongness.