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What did we think were the best comics, graphic novels, and manga of 2025? Find out!

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What were some of the best comics, graphic novels, and manga of 2025? Find out 20 that you should check out and then the full list!

If you missed our full list, check out this compact video review of what stood out.

Comics, graphic novels, and manga mentioned:

Manga
A Business Proposal – The series wrapped up this year and was a fantastic ending. The series as a whole went from cringe concept to cute rom-com that saw characters grow and delivered depth in them.

The Boxer – Each volume has been an amazing exploration of its characters and this year dropped major reveals as it heads towards its finale. This is far more than a story about boxing, it’s an exploration of humanity.

Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated – A manga about Magic: The Gathering that’s about playing Magic: The Gathering. It’s a manga and story that shows depth and knowledge of the game instead of just using its settings and characters. Add in interesting relationships and friendships and you have a great story about finding your group.

The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All – A cute manga about a girl who gets a crush on the “guy” that works at the local record store but is actually a woman and fellow student. It’s a story of finding friendship over one’s love of something with a will-they-won’t-they aspect.

Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom – A spin on Snow White, the characters have grown so much over the series and it’s blossomed into one about a real family. This latest volume added in more “Disney characters” that will take the series in an interesting direction.

Graphic Novel
Dr. Werthless – A brilliant dive into who Fredric Wertham was, far more than the “anti-comic” crusader he’s painted as. It features a lot of surprises about his life and paints a complicated individual.

Drome – Just absolutely fantastic art in a trippy sci-fi series.

The Five Wolves – Some of the best art of the year, this is visually one of the best releases of the year from the art to the lettering.

More Weight: A Salem Story – A released years in the making, a well researched massive tome about the Salem Witch trial. Add in more fantastic art and it’s been a year for fantastic art.

Partisan – While it might seem like just another “war comic” but it’s packed with moments that’ll cause readers to gasp. Again, add in great art and it stands out as one from 2025 to not miss.

Comics and Graphic Novels for Younger Readers
Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow – An adorable read that our youngest reviewer read multiple times. Parents will laugh at moments that are far too relatable.

C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table – One of my favorites this year. It’s got some great manga-inspired art and a cool take on the Knights of the Round Table. This is one I want to see as an animated series.

The Mighty Onion and Guinea Pig Girl! – The second volume of this series, it explores fame going to one’s head as the creative team find themselves having issues working together as their popularity rises. The execution in how it does all of that is brilliant with a mix of comics, notes, and journal entries.

Ten-Ton Titan Terrier – A dog that controls a big mech to help protect Earth. Yeah, it’s just a lot of fun.

Unico: Hunted – The second volume of the series, it continues the story of the magical unicorn that’s fun for kids and adults alike.

Monthly Series/Limited Series/One-Shots
Absolute Batman – With the introduction of Absolute Bane, Absolute Joker, and one of the best annuals ever, it’s been a series that has delivered a brutal story that redefines what Batman can be.

Everything Dead and Dying – The Walking Dead blew up the zombie genre to new heights and this series is its successor as it show the genre has a lot of life left in it. It’s been an emotional punch with multiple layers and exploration of humanity.

Feral – The series delivers with every issue and every arc. The cute art mixed with the horrors within creates more of a punch. It keeps readers on its toes and has no problem tugging at heart strings. Even people who dislike horror will enjoy this tense series.

The Killer: Affairs Of The State II – Few comics have been more relevant than this series that saw The Killer hired by the French government to eliminate members of an elite pedophile ring. It reflected the lack of justice in the real world as the comic debated what is justice and who can afford it?

Space Ghost – The series continues to be one the best superhero comics out there delivering stories and issues that can be enjoyed on their own while also building the greater story. It’s just something we see far too often in today’s comics. Add in great art and it’s pulp superhero fun at its best.

Logan’s 10 Favorite Comics of 2025

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2025 was a hellscape of a year so in my comics reading habits, I fell hard into the “escapism” genre, including a lot of DC Comics. I don’t know if it was residual goodwill from James Gunn’s Superman, or the fact that they hired some of my favorite writers and artists, but I enjoyed so many books from the company formerly known as National Comics this past year. I also fully embraced the one-shot format this year, and honestly, the majority of this favorite comics list could have been made up of one-shots. I’ve always been a pop single girlie (And even purchased CD singles once upon a time) so it’s natural that I would enjoy this kind of thing in comics whether it’s Archie meeting my favorite stoners from the View Askewniverse, a glorious intercompany crossover between Thor and Shazam, or the singular book that topped this list.

10. The Power Fantasy (Image)

There’s something rewarding about struggling with a comic early on, but eventually embracing and having it become one of your favorites. That describes my relationship with Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijingaard‘s The Power Fantasy to a tee. I always enjoyed Wijingaard’s approach to fashion, layout, and color palette, but the book’s narrative started to draw me in during year two as he and Gillen toppled dominoes and showed just how frightening a world with godlike heroes could be. This concept has been explored in more juvenile ways in the past (I won’t name any names). However, Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijingaard take more of a premium cable anti-hero approach in The Power Fantasy that is quite riveting and prioritize ethics and relationships over punching although this book had its fair share of pyrotechnics in 2025.

9. Bytchcraft (Mad Cave)

Writer Aaron Reese sadly passed away in January 2025, but they left us with a lasting legacy of Bytchcraft, a magical and fiercely queer series about a coven of witches in New York battling the apocalypse. Reese and artist Lema Carril crafted a world with a fascinating cosmology and magic system that definitely had Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, or Supernatural vibes, but its cast didn’t resemble the contents of a Duke’s Mayo bottle. Also, Carril’s eye for fashion made the characters some of the best-dressed in comics to go with a flashy color palette from Bex Glendining. Above all, Bytchcraft is a call to be queer and do magick, and I will clutch to it in the coming years.

8. Godzilla: Heist (IDW)

A tense smash and grab job under the nose of a kaiju attack is one of the coolest concepts I’ve heard in a while, and Van Jensen and Kelsey Ramsay pull it off in their Godzilla : Heist miniseries with style, grace, and social commentary. Genre blends are tough to do, but Ramsay’s line art and Heather Breckel’s colors know when to go for gritty urban crime mode or pull it back for the big monster reveal. Plotwise, there’s plenty of cool gadgets, double crosses, and general mayhem, but it’s all grounded by protagonist Jai, who wants to get back at the British government for being imperialist losers and screwing over his mother. And the King of Monsters ends up being the perfect partner for this vengeance quest.

7. The Ultimates (Marvel)

In its second and unfortunately final year, Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, and Phil Noto’s The Ultimates continues to be revolutionary pop art. Camp and Frigeri turn corporate mascots into avatars of resistance infusing them with leftist, anti-capitalist, and anti-imperialist ideologies while simultaneously making us care about them larger-than-life human beings. The Ultimates also gives each single issues its own unique identity whether that’s a commentary on the school-to-prison pipeline courtesy of Luke Cage, an epic poem set in Asgard, a kung-fu epic, or the wonderful Noto-drawn issues with Doom aka Earth-6160 Reed Richards trying to recreate the Fantastic Four that can be read in five different ways. It’s one of the best Marvel runs in recent memory, and I bittersweetly look forward to seeing how it all wraps and then going back and following the threads Deniz Camp seeded in early issues.

6. Absolute Wonder Woman (DC)

The combination of Hayden Sherman being a layout deity, Jordie Bellaire unleashing a color palette that is part Gothic nightmare and part ancient Greek pottery-inspired, and Kelly Thompson giving Diana a proper heroic-in-the-face-of-darkness character arc made Absolute Wonder Woman one of my favorite reads of 2025. Even the fill-in arcs drawn by Mattia De Iulis and Matias Bergara reveal important information about the cost of Wonder Woman using her abilities and her literally hellish past. But the real highlight is we got an honest to Hera Minotaur/labyrinth plotline featuring the return of some favorites from Greg Rucka’s Wonder Woman run as well as Sherman nailing the claustrophobic feel with their visuals. Also, Absolute Zatanna and the end-of-year crossover with Absolute Batman cemented this book as a proper blockbuster title.

5. Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton (DC)

Ryan North, Mike Norton, and Ian Herring’s Krypto : The Last Dog of Krypton was the one comic in 2025 that made ugly cry. Structured by seasons, Krypto explored tough topics like death and pet abuse in an honest, yet empathetic way and was also filled with a multitude of wholesome moments establishing its protagonist as the ultimate good boy. (Who can sometimes be naughty.) North and Norton drop the Silver Age concept of Krypto being able to talk and instead rely on body language and gestures to move the story forward. He also provides a listening ear and insight into characters like Lex Luthor and Superboy as well as the ordinary folks who cross his paths. Krypto : The Last Dog of Krypton isn’t just *the* definitive Krypto comic, but an evergreen for DC in general.

4. Metamorpho, The Element Man (DC)

Al Ewing, Steve Lieber, and Lee Loughridge’s beyond sadly cut short six issue Metamorpho, The Element Man series (Right before its lead’s triumphant big screen debut.) was the funniest and most clever comic of 2025. On the surface, Metamorpho is a send-up of Silver Age comics with Ewing channeling the late Stan Lee in his omniscient, mock-Beat, fourth wall leaning narration. However, as the series progressed and revealed its Big Bad, Metamorpho revealed itself as a love letter to the weird and wacky side of superhero comics, which is something I feel like DC has over Marvel. (See the Brotherhood of Dada and Brother Power the Geek, for example.) To name a few things, we had a Mod-themed antagonist, a supervillainous skewering of generative AI, and an emotional arc for Simon Stagg’s Neanderthal servant, Java. Finally, this book wouldn’t have succeeded without Lieber’s period-perfect visuals and impeccable comedic timing, especially during the more espionage-tinged issues where he pulls off Jim Steranko-esque layouts without being a weird racist.

3. Flip (First Second)

Cartoonist Ngozi Ukazu puts an original spin on the body swap genre in her graphic novel, Flip. In the book, a Black working class nerdy girl named Chi-Chi swamps bodies with a wealthy white jock named Flip Henderson, who she has a crush on and accidentally asks to the school dance via Power Point in an engaging, embarrassing opening scene. Flip showcases Ukazu’s skills with character acting, and it’s rewarding to slow down and see how Flip and Chi-Chi move differently in each other’s bodies. The story also has poignant commentary on race, class, and mental health, but also fun K-Pop dances and fandom. Seriously, every time Chi-Chi, her friends, and eventually Flip chat about their favorite K-Pop group and their biases, the comic takes on a sparkling energy. In a world of full of division, Flip makes the bold call to empathize with folks, who have different experiences, in an entertaining way.

2. Absolute Batman (DC)

After a strong launch in 2024, Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Marcos Martin, Clay Mann, and Jock’s Absolute Batman reached masterpiece status this year finishing especially strong with the conclusion of the horrific “Abomination” arc and even more horrifying stand-alone story that introduced Absolute Joker. Toxic, working class, and incredibly jacked Batman just works in our day and age, and Snyder and company aren’t afraid to take big swings and put truly original spins on iconic heroes, villains, and all the folks in-between. Reading this comic is like taking both a physical and psychological beating, and there is real power in the punches and moves Dragotta draws and in Martin’s flat colors. And the lobster to this juicy steak of a comic is the Absolute Batman Annual where skilled cartoonists like Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren put their own stamp on this grimdark universe and also draw Batman breaking Nazis’ limbs and doing cool wrestling moves.

1. Adventure Time: The Bubbline College Special (Oni Press)

My favorite comic was Adventure Time : The Bubbline College Special aka the cutest sapphic romance ever between a STEM princess and a humanities vampire queen. This one-shot from one of the most hilarious cartoonists in the game, Caroline Cash, is a love letter to slow burn romances, fan fiction, unexpected LGBTQ+ representation in pop culture, and finding someone you connect with even if you start out on the wrong foot. Cash’s color palette revels in the trippy weirdness of the Adventure Time universe while still making room for tender glances and shoulder brushes. It hits the right balance between indie and mainstream, which is about perfect for my own personal comics-enjoying aesthetic.

Honorable mentions: Giant-Size Criminal (Image), Street Sharks (Oni Press), Exquisite Corpses (Image), DC x Sonic the Hedgehog (DC/IDW), Thor/Shazam (Marvel/DC)

Logan’s 10 Favorite Movies of 2025

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Even though I didn’t quite live up to my personal goal of writing a full length film review every week, 2025 was a really fun year for me at the cinema. If I had to sum up my viewing in one word, it would be “auteurs”. Seriously, let talented filmmakers like Ryan Coogler, Guillermo Del Toro, and Paul Thomas Anderson cook and have massive budgets, and they will make art that won’t just be discussed on opening weekend, but by posterity. (I’m definitely including/referencing Sinners in my popular music library instruction.)

Here are my 10 favorite movies of 2025. I didn’t watch everything that came out this year, but I loved most of what I saw. (Sorry, Captain America: Brave New World.)

The Naked Gun (Akiva Schaffer)

10. The Naked Gun (Akiva Schaffer)

Conservatives claim that comedy is dead, but they just haven’t watched The Naked Gun yet. Liam Neeson is oblivious, deadpan perfection as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., and he and Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson) have silly chemistry that addsa dollop of romance to the spoof flick. To sweeten the deal, The Naked Gun is under 90 minutes and the most joke-dense film I’ve seen in the cinema in some time. It also roasts the hell out of tech bros and has the most hilarious end credits.

Lurker (Alex Russell)

9. Lurker (Alex Russell)

Lurker is a frighteningly intimate look at the relationship between artist and fan as retail clerk Matthew (Theodore Pellerin) grows closer to British R&B star Oliver (Archie Madekwe). Alex Russell does an excellent job progressively showing Matthew cannibalizing Oliver’s clout while simultaneously ending up becoming the inspiration he needs. A lo-fi score from Kenny Beats and grainy, intrusive cinematography from Pat Scola makes Lurker even more voyeuristic and uncomfortable.

Pavements (Alex Ross Perry)

8. Pavements (Alex Ross Perry)

Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements is a five layer movie burrito of documentary, biopic, musical theater, performance art, and tribute all centered around seminal, fiercely anti-commercial 90s rock band Pavement, who has recently reunited and gone on tour. (I was able to see them in 2024 at Riot Fest.) The film hits the right balance between irony and earnestness, and my favorite bits were seeing footage of the Pavement jukebox musical as well as Joe Keery’s quirky performance as the band’s frontman Stephen Malkmus during the biopic segments. As a band, Pavement didn’t care about appealing to the masses and/or Lollapalooza/Alternative Nation, and neither does this film, which makes it great in an era of estate-massaging ego trips disguised as art.

Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie)

7. Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie)

Marty Supreme is another stressful, entertaining movie from a singular Safdie Brother about a table tennis protege named Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet), who must gather enough money to go to the World Championships in Japan with the help of an evil businessman (A perfectly cast Kevin O’Leary), a silver screen star in decline (Gwyneth Paltrow still has her fastball.), and his pregnant childhood friend/situationship (A breakout performance from Odessa D’Azion). The film is set in the 1950s, but is chock-full with 1980s New Wave needle drops that give it that sports movie sheen although Mauser is the epitome of narcissism. However, Chalamet gives his all in the role, and you can’t help but root for him in the end and then shudder about the college boys watching this movie on winter break and seeing him as an aspirational figure. (I want one of those orange ping pong balls though.)

The Secret Agent (Kleber Mendonça Filho)

6. The Secret Agent (Kleber Mendonça Filho)

The Secret Agent is a tense sociopolitical thriller set at carnival in Recife, Brazil during the height of the country’s military dictatorship. However, it’s also a film about constructing identities, misinformation, and maybe even the research process.  Director Kleber Mendonça Filho and cinematographer Evgenia Alexandrova tap into 1970s sleaze in creating the film’s visual palette with plenty of yellow evoking the classic Brazilian football kit. This, of course, turns to red when shit hits the fan. The main takeaway from the film is the magnetic, yet earnest Wagner Moura as ex-professor/wanted man Armando, who really deserves a Best Actor nomination.

Superman (James Gunn)

5. Superman (James Gunn)

Like both the epic poems and comic books of yore, James Gunn’s Superman skips the origin story and plunges into the Man of Steel’s career in media res as he tries to mediate a conflict between Jarhanpur and Boravia, uncover a conspiracy connected to tech billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), dog sit, and maybe even get the girl. In the best way, Superman feels like picking up a random trade paperback with Gunn crafting an entertaining supporting cast that doesn’t take the spotlight away from its titular protagonist’s arc. Above all, Superman is a sincere film, and that starts with David Corenswet’s performance as the Big Blue Boy Scout, who can say “Kindness is the real punk rock” and mean every word. It’s a near-perfect tone setter for James Gunn and company’s vision of the DC Universe.

Queens of the Dead (Tina Romero)

4. Queens of the Dead (Tina Romero)

Tina Romero queers the horror comedy in the hilarious instant cult classic Queens of the Dead. This film has an elevator pitch to die for, namely, Brooklyn drag queens, queer folks, and one homophobic plumber fight zombies and try to find safety. However, Queens of the Dead isn’t just jokes, gore, and fabulous fits, and Romero and co-writer Erin Judge and actor Jacquel Spivey give anxiety-ridden drag queen Sam a beautiful heroic journey as they try to express themselves artistically in a late capitalist hellscape. And speaking of hellscape, Tina Romero brings plenty of pointed satire to the film that would make her father smile. We should really be on our phones less.

Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

3. Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

Sinners is an exciting vampire thriller meets blues musical that explores the concept of race and whiteness in the United States. The main juke joint sequence is worth the price of admission alone as director Ryan Coogler and star Miles Caton demonstrate that the history of popular music in the United States is the history of Black music. Caton’s triple threat performance is bolstered by Michael B. Jordan playing a dual role as Stack and Smoke. He has charming chemistry with Hailee Steinfeld, his bi-racial ex-girlfriend. Sinners has real heat to it, and you can smell the sweat and sex of the juke joint as carnal, supernatural, and spiritual unite, and Remmick’s (Jack O’Connell) Irish vampires try to break off a piece of it just like real life artists like Elvis Presley would in the near future. Finally, Sinners might have the best post-credits sequence of all time. (I feel like Buddy Guy playing himself slightly edges out Samuel L. Jackson’s debut as Nick Fury in Iron Man.)

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)

2. One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)

Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) juggles fatherhood and rekindling the ashes of revolutionary spirit in Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic film One Battle After Another. Just like the works of the author that inspired it (Thomas Pynchon), OBAA is more encyclopedia than film with the most exciting car chase scene, the most tender father/daughter moments, and the funniest supporting performance as Benicio Del Toro has the time of his life as the beer-guzzling “Sensei” Sergei. One Battle After Another doesn’t have any clear answers about being a good parent or fighting a cause while still trying to have a life and family, but that makes it all the more compelling and a lovely use of Warner Brothers’ $130 million.

Frankenstein (Guillermo Del Toro)

1. Frankenstein (Guillermo Del Toro)

My favorite film of 2025 was Guillermo Del Toro’s none more Goth adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein that I was thankfully able to see in theatrically courtesy of my local independent theater, The Belcourt. Frankenstein is truly the loveliest film of 2025 with Del Toro and cinematographer Dan Lautsen conjuring frames that look like English Romantic oil paintings, Gustave Dore woodcuts, and Berni Wrightson’s pencil and ink illustrations depending on the mood. This attention to visual detail extends to the exquisite costuming and set design, especially anything Mia Goth’s Lady Elizabeth/Baroness Frankenstein wears. (Yes, this film is quite Freudian.) Frankenstein isn’t a plot beat by plot beat adaptation of the novel, but Del Toro captures the overarching themes about the destructive nature of technology (*cough* Generative AI) and the hubris of humanity. To top it all off, Jacob Elordi gives a truly tragic performance as The Creature, especially in one poignant scene where the Blind Man (David Bradley) teaches him to read and engage with art. (John Milton’s Paradise Lost, of course.)

Honorable Mentions: The Ballad of Wallis Island (James Griffiths), The Bad Guys 2 (Pierre Perifel), Hamnet (Chloe Zhao)

Brett’s Favorite Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, and Manhwa of 2025

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Space Ghost Vol. 2 #1

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, 2025 was… dumpster fire doesn’t quite feel like the right term. Of course the upheaval of distribution was part of the top story of the year but that’s something to reflect on in another article.

Let’s celebrate the awesome comics that was!

Below is broken down into four sections, manga, monthly series/limited series/one-shots, graphic novels, and comics for young readers. There’s the comics I enjoyed and then there’s also some highlights of comics that really stood out and shouldn’t be missed. While I read a lot this past year, 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.

Manga and manhwa continue to stand out with some of the best stories and art on the shelves right now. If you’ve been nervous diving in to them, here’s some great ones to start with. There’s something for everyone. You can read comics any way you want and there’s stories and art styles out there for all tastes.

Now, on to what stood out in 2025 (in alpha order)….

Manga

Top five manga series in alpha order:

  • A Business Proposal – The series wrapped up this year and was a fantastic ending. The series as a whole went from cringe concept to cute rom-com that saw characters grow and delivered depth in them.
  • The Boxer – Each volume has been an amazing exploration of its characters and this year dropped major reveals as it heads towards its finale. This is far more than a story about boxing, it’s an exploration of humanity.
  • Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated – A manga about Magic: The Gathering that’s about playing Magic: The Gathering. It’s a manga and story that shows depth and knowledge of the game instead of just using its settings and characters. Add in interesting relationships and friendships and you have a great story about finding your group.
  • The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All – A cute manga about a girl who gets a crush on the “guy” that works at the local record store but is actually a woman and fellow student. It’s a story of finding friendship over one’s love of something with a will-they-won’t-they aspect.
  • Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom – A spin on Snow White, the characters have grown so much over the series and it’s blossomed into one about a real family. This latest volume added in more “Disney characters” that will take the series in an interesting direction.

Graphic Novel

Top five graphic novels in alpha order:

  • Dr. Werthless – A brilliant dive into who Fredric Wertham was, far more than the “anti-comic” crusader he’s painted as. It features a lot of surprises about his life and paints a complicated individual.
  • Drome – Just absolutely fantastic art in a trippy sci-fi series.
  • The Five Wolves – Some of the best art of the year, this is visually one of the best releases of the year from the art to the lettering.
  • More Weight: A Salem Story – A released years in the making, a well researched massive tome about the Salem Witch trial. Add in more fantastic art and it’s been a year for fantastic art.
  • Partisan – While it might seem like just another “war comic” but it’s packed with moments that’ll cause readers to gasp. Again, add in great art and it stands out as one from 2025 to not miss.

Comics and Graphic Novels for Younger Readers

Top five comics and graphic novels for younger readers in alpha order:

  • Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow – An adorable read that our youngest reviewer read multiple times. Parents will laugh at moments that are far too relatable.
  • C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table – One of my favorites this year. It’s got some great manga-inspired art and a cool take on the Knights of the Round Table. This is one I want to see as an animated series.
  • The Mighty Onion and Guinea Pig Girl! – The second volume of this series, it explores fame going to one’s head as the creative team find themselves having issues working together as their popularity rises. The execution in how it does all of that is brilliant with a mix of comics, notes, and journal entries.
  • Ten-Ton Titan Terrier – A dog that controls a big mech to help protect Earth. Yeah, it’s just a lot of fun.
  • Unico: Hunted – The second volume of the series, it continues the story of the magical unicorn that’s fun for kids and adults alike.

Monthly Series/Limited Series/One-Shots

Top five monthly series/limited series/one-shots in alpha order:

  • Absolute Batman – With the introduction of Absolute Bane, Absolute Joker, and one of the best annuals ever, it’s been a series that has delivered a brutal story that redefines what Batman can be.
  • Everything Dead and Dying – The Walking Dead blew up the zombie genre to new heights and this series is its successor as it show the genre has a lot of life left in it. It’s been an emotional punch with multiple layers and exploration of humanity.
  • Feral – The series delivers with every issue and every arc. The cute art mixed with the horrors within creates more of a punch. It keeps readers on its toes and has no problem tugging at heart strings. Even people who dislike horror will enjoy this tense series.
  • The Killer: Affairs Of The State II – Few comics have been more relevant than this series that saw The Killer hired by the French government to eliminate members of an elite pedophile ring. It reflected the lack of justice in the real world as the comic debated what is justice and who can afford it?
  • Space Ghost – The series continues to be one the best superhero comics out there delivering stories and issues that can be enjoyed on their own while also building the greater story. It’s just something we see far too often in today’s comics. Add in great art and it’s pulp superhero fun at its best.

Logan’s 10 Favorite Comics of 2024

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After whatever the hell 2023 was, I got back into comics in 2024. The Absolute and Ultimate lines helped me get back into Marvel and DC’s output, and I also finally read some stone cold classics, both old and new, like Starman, Gender Queer, 20th Century Men, and Something is Killing the Children. I really love that I can get Silver Sprocket’s books from Comics Plus and Hoopla from my public library, and even though I’m not a New Year’s Resolution person, I definitely plan on reading more of their catalog in 2025 (Caroline Cash’s Peepee Poopoo calls my name!) as well as the back half of Starman, Planetary, finally finding out what actually happened to Krakoa in the X-Books, and keeping up with new titles. (Metamorpho and New Gods were two year end bangers!)

Without further ado, here are my favorite ten comics of 2024

10. Peepshow #15 (Fantagraphics)

One of the happiest surprises of 2024 was the release of one last issue of Joe Matt’s Peepshow a year after his untimely passing. This comic deals with Matt moving to Los Angeles to pitch a TV version of Peepshow to HBO and deals with similar subject matter as the previous decades of the book like his frugality, personal feelings of inadequacies, and yes, obsession with Asian women. However, occasional distasteful subject matter aside, Peepshow #15 shows a cartoonist’s cartoonist at the height of his craft with impeccably placed sweat beads and speed lines as Joe Matt has another existential crisis. It’s also a love letter to a comics medium with one of Matt’s friends entreating both him and the reader to pore over some of the comics taking up space in his apartment.

9. Absolute Batman (DC)

In the launch title for DC’s new Absolute line, Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and Frank Martin rebuild and revise the Caped Crusader from the ground up. Absolute Batman takes elements from Frank Miller’s works, various Bat-films, and Snyder’s previous work with the character to create a beefy, working class Batman, who is currently bestie with what might later become his Rogue’s gallery. Scott Snyder and Dragotta take aim at school shootings, the prison industrial complex, and cryptocurrency while having entertaining action and chase sequences. They’re three issues into building a universe, and I’m excited to see where this book goes in 2025.

8. Grommets (Image)

Rick Remender, Brian Posehn, Brett Parson, and Moreno Dinisio’s Grommets is a semi-autobiographical love letter to 1980s skate and punk culture set in the Sacramento suburbs. Remender and Posehn draw on their own experiences as teenagers while Parson and Dinisio turn them up to eleven with detailed and period-accurate visuals that are something out of Mad Magazine. It’s fun to watch Rick and Brian’s misadventures and the ups and downs of their friendship, especially once a timer is put on it when Rick’s parents tell him they’re moving to Phoenix. The past few issues of the series have been literal bloodbaths as punks and jocks clash, and of course, the cops don’t take the jocks’ side. Grommets really captures how epic, hilarious, and occasionally sad growing up was.

7. “The Happy Art” (Self-Published)

I read Sami Alwani’s Ignatz-winning “The Happy Art” on his Instagram, but it’s also available in the Pulping “Comics on Comics” anthology. “The Happy Art” is a quite meta comic about how hard it is to appeal to different audiences in comics and also about collective thinking, cancel culture, and all that jazz. Alwani portrays himself as a dog, and the story reaches new heights of absurdity with each page. I love the juxtaposition of Gen Z lingo with a fanatical love for comics as a medium, and how it changes styles and POV with each panel. Saehmeh is indeed based, and so is this very accessible comic.

6. Godzilla Valentine’s Day Special (IDW)

Zoe Tunnell, Sebastian Piriz, and Rebecca Nalty tell a cute queer love story against the backdrop of kaiju attacks in Godzilla Valentine’s Day Special. Kaiju romcom is kind of the perfect subgenre, and Tunnell gives the full progression of the relationship between unemployed burnout-turned-monster chaser Piper and Earth Defense Force soldier Tam from loathing to sweet loving. On the art side, Piriz gets to dig deep into Toho’s library of critters, including a battle royale between Godzilla and MechaGodzilla that shows that building bigger bombs and weapons doesn’t lead to peace, but just more war. It’s also interesting to see the portrayal of the King of Monsters change as the book progresses from something jarring and life-changing to just a reality of life. This could also be a metaphor for the progression of a romantic relationship as well.

5. Belly Full of Heart (Silver Sprocket)

Madeline Mouse’s Belly Full of Heart is queer softness, love, and desire in fluid comic book short story format. Mouse uses pomegranates, starfish, cars, Adidas slides, and more as visual metaphors for love. Their vignettes flow from page to page and color palette to palette in a way that feels like a warm hug multiplied by eleven. Belly Full of Heart throws plot out of the window and focuses on feelings and vibes instead. It’s also full of silly humor with “Kissin’ at the beach/Pissin’ at the beach” getting inducted into the kind of rhyming couplet hall of fame. Belly Full of Heart captures the feeling of being 100% yourself around another person as Madeline Mouse rejects rigid panel boundaries and embraces hand lettering to craft one of the most beautiful and gender euphoric comics of 2024.

4. Midnight Radio (Oni Press)

I know that Midnight Radio technically came out in 2019, but it got a special edition remaster from writer/artist Iolanda Zanfardino so it’s eligible for my “Favorite Comics of 2024” list. Using a distinct color palette for each protagonist, Midnight Radio follows the lives of a diverse cast of characters brough together by a mysterious radio message urging them to be their own authentic selves. There’s a plotline with a healthcare company being responsible for the deaths of many people that was painfully relevant last year, and Zanfardino explores even more social issues like racism, xenophobia, social media addiction, and violence against queer people throughout her story. However, the main draw of Midnight Radio for me was the characters breaking off the shackles of corporate jobs, corrupt cops, unwelcoming families, and societal pressure and finding fulfillment through a variety of types of art, including indie games, music, and more!

3. The Ultimates (Marvel)

Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, and Phil Noto’s Ultimates is anti-imperialist team superhero comic published by the world’s largest entertainment corporation that is also an ode to the single issue. As a collective unit, Ultimates builds to the assembling of Earth-6160’s mightiest heroes and the return of the Maker. However, Camp does the opposite of writing for the trade and gives each single issue its own flair. For example, Ultimates #4 is about Dr. Doom trying to bring the Fantastic Four back and can be read in five distinct ways to tell his tragic story with Noto channeling his inner Dave Gibbons and creating gorgeous symmetry. Deniz Camp and Frigeri connect new takes on She-Hulk and Hawkeye to the violence done towards the indigenous people of the Pacific islands and North America and breathe new life into old school anti-fascists Captain America and Jim Hammond’s Human Torch. Ultimates feels a lot like if Angela Davis wrote the Avengers, and that is a high compliment.

2. Public Domain (Image)

Influenced by comic book history as well as his own experiences as a cartoonist, Chip Zdarsky’s Public Domain is part love/hate letter to the medium and dysfunctional family drama. Public Domain #6-10 shows how the sausage is made with Dallas Comics trying to beat the clock and their new take on iconic superhero, The Domain. Along the way, there are old men arguing at bars, thinly veiled analogues for “star” comic book creators, and a look back at a love affair. Public Domain shows the difficulty of being creative under corporate constraints and also having a personal life while being caught up in the wringer of the comic book industry. It comes across as a real passion project for Zdarsky who crams each issue with visual gags, parodies, and of course, heartfelt moments.

1. Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel)

Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and David Messina’s Ultimate Spider-Man was twelve issues of comic book comfort food as Peter Parker gets his powers as a thirty-something and must learn how to use them in a world undergirded by evil and corruption. In opposition to certain other writers and editors, Ultimate Spider-Man shows that a married with children Spider-Man comic can be compelling. There’s nothing like struggling fighting the Shocker while one kid knows your secret identity, and the other doesn’t and is kind of besties with J. Jonah Jameson. Speaking of Jameson, the story that showcased him and Uncle Ben digging into the Kingpin and Oscorp might have been the single issue of the year as the two old school newspapermen show their work and speak truth to power. On the art side, Checchetto brings a sleek high tech sheen to the suits and fights while not losing that classic Spider-Man charm, and Messina does a good job of holding down the fort in his fill-in issues. All in all, Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) is the Spider-Man comic I needed at 31 like Ultimate Spider-Man (2000) was the Spider-Man comic I needed at 13, and I love that it wrapped up its first year with a dark, Empire Strikes Back type ending.

Logan’s 10 Favorite Movies of 2024

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2024 was terrible year for comic book adaptations and blockbusters, but was a solid year for films in general. I feel like “elevated” horror became my genre of choice from this year with my favorite picks touching on that subject matter in some way. Also, I became a member at my local indie theater (Shout out The Belcourt!), and it’s a fun experience to pay late 2000s prices to see the latest A24 or Neon film and then also have the opportunity to see Eyes Wide Shut in 35 mm or Hannah Montana: The Movie or Ghost World at midnight. (There was no overlap between those two audiences.) Seriously, if you have the means, supporting your local indie cinema is one of the best things you can do and also provides you a little escapism in our late capitalist hellscape.

But enough rambling, here are my favorite ten films of 2024!

10. Lisa Frankenstein (Zelda Williams)

Starring Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse and with a sparkling screenplay from Jennifer’s Body‘s Diablo Cody, Lisa Frankenstein is about a 1989 teenage girl, who falls in love with a reanimated corpse while the dealing with the trauma of her mother being axe murdered. Although the PG-13 rating stymies some of the horror elements, this film is a sweet, devilishly funny, and maniacally homicidal love story. Newton brings a buoyant, weird girl energy to the lead role of Lisa Swallows, and costume designer Meagan McLaughlin deserves an Oscar nomination for the Gothic-inspired fits she puts the lead characters in. However, my favorite part of Lisa Frankenstein is its expertly curated soundtrack of late 1980s college rock that overlays key scenes like “Strange” by Galaxie 500 washing over an animated sequence of Lisa and The Creature falling love, or “Head On” by The Jesus and Mary Chain when she walks in like the coolest girl in school. (Because she is.)

9. My Old Ass (Megan Park)

My Old Ass is a throwback to classic high concept comedies like Heaven Can Wait, Peggy Sue Got Married, and a heavy dose of Freaky Friday with a contemporary sensibility like its main character being bisexual and her little brother having a shrine to Saoirse Ronan. In the film, Canadian high school senior Elliott (Maisy Stella) has a bad mushroom tea trip and meets her older self, played by an always deadpan hilarious Aubrey Plaza. Elliott gets advice from her older self about bonding with her family while she gets the chance and also to avoid a teenager who works for her family named Chad (Percy Hynes White) Despite the light science fiction and psychedelic elements, My Old Ass is a wise, beautiful film about cherishing family, friendship, and romantic relationships while you have them and to be more realistic about goals for the future. (Older Elliott reveals that she’s a 39 year old graduate student in one of the film’s funniest scenes.) The rural Canadian countryside setting is also an invitation to soak in and savor the film like Elliott does with her last moments of freedom before being thrust into the world of adulthood.

8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (George Miller)

Furiosa is the darker, more character driven little sister and prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road and fills in the backstory of Furiosa as she goes from a kidnapping victim to a commander of a war rig. Just like its predecessor, Furiosa has many balls-to-the-walls chase and action sequences, but the film succeeds because of the twin performances from Alyla Browne and Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa. Through just a look, they can convey fear, rage, or just resignation as the manically evil and aptly named Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) tries to find the mythical Green Place. An Ozsploitation villain is a perfect fit for Hemsworth’s comedic and physical skills, and he injects a little B-movie fun into Furiosa when it’s at the risk of getting too dour. However, the film works as both set-piece spectacle and a character study of one of the best action film heroines of the 21st century.

7. Love Lies Bleeding (Rose Glass)

Love Lies Bleeding is a roid rage-infused lesbian romance thriller about a gym manager named Lou (Kristen Stewart) and a bodybuilder named Jackie (Katy O’Brian), who fall in love, murder abusive men, take a lot of performance enhancing drugs, and eventually go on the run. Rose Glass both explores and queers the Pumping Iron gym culture of the 1980s and brutally satirizes the “family values” of Reagan/Bush Sr-era United States in the dysfunctionality of Lou’s family, especially her father Lou Sr. (A menacing Ed Harris) and toxic brother-in-law JJ (A smarmy Dave Franco) Of course, Lou wants to find escape and freedom, but she ends up repeating old patterns, and Love Lies Bleeding ends up being tragic rather than life affirming. But it’s one hell of a ride, especially in its surreal third act, and Stewart and O’Brian have insane chemistry.

6. Queer (Luca Guadagnino)

An adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel, Queer is about the relationship between a thinly-veiled analogue for Burroughs named William Lee (Daniel Craig) and a beautiful, young US army veteran named Eugene (Drew Starkey) Through the literally down-for-anything conduit of Craig, Luca Guadagnino takes from the gay bars of Mexico City to the jungles of Ecuador in a search for something to scratch that itch and expand the consciousness. Like many of the films on this list, Queer has trippy visuals to go along with a mind-altering score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as timely Nirvana needle drops. (Kurt Cobain and William S. Burroughs were actually friends.) Some of my favorite moments in the film are the ghostly representations of the desires of what Lee wishes he was doing with Eugene, but can’t because of illness or shame. He’ll probably lose to Timothee Chalamet or Ralph Fiennes, but Daniel Craig gives a Best Actor-worthy performance as Lee and digs deep into the grimy pits of love, lust, and telepathy.

5. Didi (Sean Wang)

Didi is both a universal and very specific coming of age story about about an eighth grader in 2008 named Chris “Didi” Wang (Izaac Wang), who makes videos with his friends and tries to find love and acceptance in the summer before going to high school. Sean Wang understands the vibe of the late-2000s Internet and social media as Didi uses Facebook to gather intel on the girl he has a crush on or hastily deletes his prank videos when he tries to become the filmer for a group of cool, popular skater kids. Throughout the film, he tries to put on a variety of identities, but still gets flak for being Taiwanese and not having the knowledge, skills, or lingo to fit in with various in-groups he tries to join. Didi is a film for anyone who struggled to fit inset to a music landscape of 2000s indie pop and pop punk (His older sister is a big Paramore fan!), and I love how Didi’s family members have their own arcs and struggles and aren’t just obstacles or comic relief. Shirley gives a beautiful performance as his mother Vivian, who must deal with an absent husband, two pain-in-the-ass kids, and a disapproving mother-in-law.

4. Wicked (Jon M. Chu)

Featuring two iconic performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda respectively, Wicked is a soaring musical fantasy blockbuster that doesn’t lose any of its source material’s subversiveness. Splitting the story into two parts was a shrewd move from Chu as it lets the musical numbers breathe, and he even finds some room for a new one with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth passing the torch to the next generation in a spot-on, pro-Wizard propaganda number. Grande has Broadway pipes, but is in full pop diva mode as she exudes confidence and conventionality in contrast with Erivo’s rebel with a cause. However, it’s Peter Dinklage’s voice performance as Dr. Dillamond that sticks with me in the months after seeing the film as he makes a bold and clear stand for marginalized folks and academic freedom that has become more increasingly relevant with the re-election of Trump and putting Linda McMahon in charge of the Department of Education. To steal a line from Billy Bragg, Wicked mixes pop and politics very nicely indeed.

3. Nosferatu (Robert Eggers)

Opening with Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) convulsing orgasmically to the dulcet Dacian tones of Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard), Nosferatu establishes itself as a slow-burn, Gothic freak fest that’s not afraid to explore the darker side of humanity and stare into the abyss of pure evil. Writer/director Robert Eggers’ winning streak continues, and he crafts a world where people take the undead and the supernatural completely seriously far removed from 21st century cynicism and postmodernism. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke embraces the film’s German Expressionist-meets-Victorian penny dreadful roots in his use of chiaroscuro lighting, shadow, wide vistas, and sharp corridor. Nosferatu is a masterclass in classic horror storytelling with Willem Dafoe’s defrocked academic Professor Von Franz bringing a quirky occultist balance to the powerful physical performances from Depp and Skarsgard.

2. I Saw the TV Glow (Jane Schoenbrun)

I Saw the TV Glow is an allegory for gender dysphoria couched in the visual language of cheesy fantasy horror TV shows, sad girl indie pop, and liminal spaces. (Also, jump scares from Fred Durst and Phoebe Bridgers.) It’s buoyed by soul-destroying lead performance from Justice Smith as Owen with Brigette Lundy-Paine’s acting as the Virgil to his Dante and introducing him to the show The Pink Opaque that is the only spark of light in his white noise suburban childhood. Both frightening and immersive, I Saw the TV Glow is the one 2024 film that has been a splinter in my mind as I compare my own experiences with pop culture and gender with Owen’s. (X-Men Evolution was my Pink Opaque.) It interrogated and transformed my relationship to reality and identity in a similar manner to The Matrix or The Invisibles, but with a lot less gunplay and more serialized storytelling a la the comics and television shows I’ve spent analyzing for over 1/3 of my existence. Maybe, the egg will crack one day.

1. Anora (Sean Baker)

While I Saw the TV Glow touched me the most personally, Sean Baker’s Anora was the most engaging and well-made film I saw in 2024. The movie is about a sex worker named Ani (Mikey Madison) who has a whirlwind romance and marriage with Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a powerful Russian oligarch. From the opening strip club sequence, Madison is a riveting force of nature, who dances, fucks, quips, and fights her way out of extremely stressful situations. Along the way, she bonds with Igor (Yura Borisov), who steals the whole damn movie with his empathy, active listening, and stoic sense of humor. Anora is a romance, thriller, and full of social commentary about social class in the United States. Ani Mikheeva is a true working class hero and deserves all the fairytale endings.

Brett’s Favorite Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, and Manhwa of 2024

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Traveling to Mars #11

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, 2024 was… just. A year full of negativity about the direction of the industry and lots of “sky is falling” worrying, it was a year of being anxious in every facet of one’s life. Publishers came and publishers went. It was a year that felt like it was full of volatility. But, maybe that’s for another day.

Let’s celebrate the awesome comics that was.

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 (75+ 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.

Manga and manhwa continue to stand out with some of the best stories and art on the shelves right now. But there’s something for everyone. You can read comics any way you want and there’s stories and art styles out there for all tastes.

But, before we get to the comics of the year, I want to talk about four 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 continues to put out some of the best comics right now.

Skybound – Normally when I think of Skybound, I think The Walking Dead and Invincible. 2023 was the year the publisher really broke out and showed it’s so much more. 2024 is when it showed off it could continue to deliver and it wasn’t a fluke. Its Energon Universe continues to be the best comic universe on the shelf right now. Its Universal Monsters line has been great takes on classic properties.

DC – The publisher has had a rough few years but in 2024 they delivered a solid event in Absolute Power and then launched their “All In” initiative as well as its “Absolute” line. Both have been excellent so far overall with a feel of excitement and positivity oozing from the releases.

Marvel – Marvel’s main line has a been a bit mixed, but its “Ultimate” line was launched and has delivered some of the best series and issues of the year. Overall, it’s been an excellent and exciting ride.

Now, on to what stood out in 2024 (in alpha order)….

  • A Business Proposal (Yen Press)
  • Absolute Batman (DC Comics)
  • Animal Pound (BOOM! Studios)
  • Aria of the Beech Forest (Yen Press)
  • Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture (Yen Press)
  • Bald (Graphic Mundi)
  • Cobra Commander (Skybound)
  • Dog Trouble (First Second)
  • Duke (Skybound)
  • Fist of the North Star (VIZ Media)
  • G.I. JOE (Skybound)
  • G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero (Skybound)
  • God Bless the Mistaken (Yen Press)
  • Hotelitor: Luxury-Class Defense and Hospitality Unit (Lerner Publishing)
  • I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp (Lev Gleason)
  • If You Find This I’m Already Dead (Dark Horse)
  • Justice League Unlimited (DC Comics)
  • Kaiju No. 8 (VIZ Media)
  • Karate Prom (First Second)
  • Killer Shark in Another World (VIZ Media)
  • Lightfall (Harper Alley)
  • Lunar Near Love Story (First Second)
  • Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil (Henry Holt and Company)
  • One for Sorrow (DSTLRY)
  • Origin (VIZ Media)
  • Oshi No Ko (Yen Press)
  • Power Rangers Prime (BOOM! Studios)
  • Prez: Setting a Dangerous President (DC Comics)
  • Rooster Fighter (VIZ Media)
  • So What’s Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin? (Yen Press)
  • Sophie (Marble Press)
  • Taking Care of God (Yen Press)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Publishing)
  • The Devil That Wears My Face (Mad Cave Studios)
  • The eXpets (Atheneum Books)
  • The Firelight Apprentice (Harper Alley)
  • The Goon: Them That Don’t Stay Dead (Dark Horse)
  • The Night Never Ends (Silver Sprocket)
  • The One Hand (Image Comics)
  • The Reformation of the World as Overseen by a Realist Demon King (Yen Press)
  • The Six Fingers (Image Comics)
  • The World After the Fall (IZE Press)
  • Tokyo These Days (VIZ Media)
  • Uncanny Valley (BOOM! Studios)
  • Unico: Awakening (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Universal Monsters: Dracula (Skybound)
  • Where Monsters Lie: Cull-De-Sac (Dark Horse)

And now what really stood out in 2024 (in alphabetical order):

  • Abortion Pill Zine (Silver Sprocket) – In a year where the right “won” and women saw their rights stripped with more subjugation to come, this “zine” does an amazing job to education about abortion and provide guidance about what options are available. The week the it was released in print, its publisher then released it for free online as well.
  • Absolute Superman (DC Comics) – DC”s “Absolute” line has been solid so far. Absolute Superman stands out with a Superman who feels like an insurgent fighting for the downtrodden.
  • Batman & Robin: Year One (DC Comics) – Three issues in and the series has been fantastic with an awesome mix of storytelling and art from Mark Waid and Dan Mora.
  • Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW Publishing) – Cute animals and serial killing. Thankfully we’re getting more as this series was a breakout for Patrick Horvath.
  • Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story (Abrams Comicarts) – Collecting the Guard Dog story from Mutts, we were choked up for much of the collection and it has some wonderful commentary and reflections within from creator Patrick McDonnell and more.
  • Drafted (Abrams Comicarts) – The true story of being drafted during the Vietnam War and featuring amazing detail about life in the army.
  • Feral (Image Comics) – Cute art + zombie genre = an amazing series that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat.
  • How War Begins: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Invasion (Fantagraphics) – An amazing example of graphic journalism with first hand accounts of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
  • I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time (Yen Press) – A fantasy series that has an innocent looking clerk kicking ass. It’s a great mix of action, humor, and fantasy fun. This is one to just sit back and enjoy.
  • Jungle Juice (IZE Press) – X-Men who? This series about a school of mutant students is packed with action and interesting factoids about insects and gets better with every volume.
  • Lebanon is Burning and Other Dispatches (Graphic Mundi) – An anthology looking at the Arab Spring and recent events in the Middle East. It’s beyond educational and a great example of graphic journalism.
  • Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom (IZE Press) – This manhwa is so adorable with an amazing twist on the Snow White story. It’s awesome to watch as this family comes together and we’re routing for them every step of the way.
  • Sidekicks Vol. 1 (Graphix) – Mixing Superpets and The Incredibles, Dan Santat’s graphic novel is a debut that had us immediately wanting more. We want a monthly comic, animated series, and more!
  • Solo Leveling (IZE Press) – Amazing action, the manhwa has been fascinating to read as we get to see a lead grow in power and toe the line between being a hero and villain. We’re fully expecting a turn at some point and fear the downfall.
  • Space Ghost (Dynamite Entertainment) – The series has been amazing. It has reinvigorated the classic character taking its core elements and adding depth and history that hasn’t really been present before. Writer David Pepose has been knocking it out of the park and the art by Jonathan Lau is some of the best in a monthly comic.
  • The Boxer (IZE Press) – The best ongoing manga/manhwa/comic right now in my opinion. There’s the amazing art to start. But, each volume examines its main character through telling the story of his opponents. But, it’s the slow corruption of our “hero” that has us questioning if he’s really the hero of the story or if it’s really about someone else. While the story might be set in the world of boxing, it’s the focus on the characters that makes it stand above the rest.
  • The Jellyfish (Pow Pow Press) – The story of a young woman who loses her eyesight is tragic but also hopeful for all those who struggle with adversity due to their health.
  • The Mighty Onion (Little Brown Books for Young Readers) – Using a mix of comics pages, journal entries, handwritten letters, and more, author-illustrator Mark Crilley explores the triumphs and tribulations of the creative process–and teamwork–in a series opener that’s unlike any you’ve seen before! Great for kids and adults!
  • The Pedestrian (Mad Cave Studios) – The quirkiest superhero in quite a while. There’s something rather quaint about the series. It’s a little X-Files. It’s a little superhero. It might be my first cosplay.
  • The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation (Abrams Comicarts) – Yes, a whole bunch of shit came out about Cormac McCarthy but Manu Larcenet’s art is too good to not include. It’s hauntingly beautiful and some of the best art in a comic this year.
  • Transformers (Skybound) – This is how you reboot and update a classic property. While familiar, it changes things just enough to keep readers on their toes. It’s packed with holy shit moments and a lot of heart. Mix in great art and it’s one of the most fun ongoing series.
  • Traveling to Mars (Ablaze) – The series wrapped up this year and it nailed its finale. An amazing read from beginning to end. It deserves so much more recognition. Just heart wrenching.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel) – Featuring one of the best single issues of the year, the series has been fantastic with its mix of action, heart, and fun. It’s the Spider-Man I’ve wanted for so long, one that has to balance being a hero, a father, and a husband.
  • Your Letter (IZE Press/Webtoon) – One of the best of the year. I was in tears by the end of it. Just a beautiful release about childhood friends and a magical scavenger hunt.

Pharoahmiles’ Best of 2023

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Local Man #1

It has been a few years since I have done one of these, but here are a few of my favorite things, Enjoy!

BEST ONGOING COMICS SERIES

Birds Of Prey – Kelly Thompson has ben on a tear with these characters , rather than put them in familiar situations, she capitalizes on what makes each of the core team members so magnetic, leaving fans wanting more.

Killadelphia – Rodney Barnes seems to top himself with every new story arc on this rewriting of history as we know it.

Mask of Haliya – this independent comic book which I had the pleasure of reviewing, is one which many Filipino American will see themselves in, while noticing how the series uses our collective belief in everything supernatural.

Enfield Gang Massacre – an old school Western which delves into the “ man on a run” genre, while showing readers exactly why this genre was so beloved in literature and film

Peacemaker Tries Hard! – this otherwise forgotten character got new life because of James Gunn and this series proves why he has staying power, leaning into all the 80s tropes which makes him so lovable.

Star Wars: Dark Droids – a story which uses the otherwise background characters in Star Wars in what would slowly become the rumblings a revolution.

Phantom Road– a different take on zombies while adding another chapter to the lone drifter genre.

Green Lantern – probably my favorite run of this series, where all the creators are at the top of their game, giving a Hal Jordan we have not seen until now.

Miracleman: The Silver Age – Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham create a masterpiece in storytelling, while blazing new roads within the context of the era.

Barnstormers – in anticipation of the upcoming Masters Of The Air, this series serves as an excellent primer, but with female protagonists in a stirring story.

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham -In a different vision of the Caped Crusader, one that remixes him for a different generation and jumps on the fanfare of  the latest Batman film.

Somna – an effectively creepy story which touches on the fear of witchcraft while serving the reader, a strong female protagonist.

Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville – an entertaining book which taps on the teenage energy of its main characters.

Immortal Thor – a story which masterfully blends the comic book and classic Nordic origins of this iconic character, while remembering to tell a great story.

W0rldtr33 – there is nothing like this book from Image and James Tynion IV,, as it massively creepy while giving readers scare jumps at every page turn

Avengers Inc – I can say I normally don’t like any of the Avengers comics, but this one by Al Ewing and Leonard Kirk, has given this franchise new blood in ways we will convert new readers.

Kill Your Darlings – another universe jumping story which reminds me of Kindred, but with witches.

Local Man – a story about what happens when superheroes get cancelled and what happens next.

Wonder Woman – Tom King and Daniel Sampere, do some fine work with Diana, offering reader a fresh view of this icon.

The Incredible Hulk – this series feels like what the 1st Rambo movie felt like, true horror.

BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS

We Are Not Strangers – I had to the pleasure of reviewing this book and interviewing the creator, a true story that is best viewed through the prism of of comics and Tuininga is in rare form here.

Blacula: Return Of The King – a new story of a Blaxploitation icon, not only rewrites what we know of him but reinvigorates the character and show why Rodney Barnes is a master storyteller.

Carmilla: The First Vampire – Amy Chu nd Soo Lee is in rare form as they dives into the dngers of gentrification while adding a different type of vampire into the canon.

Where The Body Was – Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips do not disappoint inanother potboiler thatshows they do crime noir better than most.

The Talk – Darrin Bell gibes in great detail his history of what is to be Black man and how the outside world sees him and people like him.

Roaming – Jillian and Mariko Tamaki offer an interesting tale of visitng New York City in a brilliant outsider view.

Mexikid – this book shows how it is to belong to more than one culture and how ften those of us live in it , find joy and pain within it.

Bonding – a love story which involves two broken people and a society where slugs determine compatibility, offers a fresh take on the romance.

The Sea In You – this twist on the  Little Mermaid is a must read for everyone.

Hungry Ghost – a sobering tale of one woman’s fight  with bulimia.

Queenie: Godmother Of Harlem – a fascinating true story of one of the first gangsters who endured hell and high water to becoming one of the powerful women in Harlem

BEST COLLECTED STORY ARCS

Wonder Woman Historia:  The Amazons –  one of the first titles announced when the DC Black Label imprint was revealed,  it has become a standard bearer for the rest of the line, showing exactly why DC diehards are right to believe in the brand.

Monarch – in another yarn by Rodney Barnes, we get the American version of Attack The Block, this time in Compton, in a gripping tale.

The Department Of Truth;:The Comp Conspiracy Deluxe HC Volume1 – this collection has the first 3 arcs of this secret organization in charge of blurring the liens between truth and fiction when it comes to conspiracy theories

IZombie: The Complete Series Omnibus – this collection houses every single issue, and show just how different the show was from the comic book.

Giga: The Complete Series – a dystopian story which centers around fallen gods and people ravaged by war.

BEST TV SHOWS

RoboDoc – an excellent examination of why the Robocop franchise has lasying power, and just jow ahead of its time it was

What If – one of the best shows in the MCU returned in one of its best seasons yet, giving long time fans of the orginal comic book series, a season worth savoring, as there has not one dud in the bunch .

Loki – the show returned to bookend the main character’s story arc in heartbreaking fashion, leaving fans with their hearts full in a collective gasp of what is to come with next MCU Phase.

One Piece(live action) – as a casual fan of the anime I was skeptical of the adaptation since Netflix has a low bating record in this regard, but they found the magic formula with this one, as it got he heart of the story in spades.

The Fall Of The House Of Usher – ever since Flanagan did Gerald’s Game , I have been a huge fan of his work, and this latest and sadly, last for Netflix, does not disappoint, as not only is the story is hitting on all cylinders but the cast is just as stellar.

Warrior – having been a fan since it was on Cinemax, this latest seasons dwarf the first two, even pulling in martial arts legend, Mark Dacascos into the mix. and although it ultimately got canceled by Max, it will see new life on syndication Netflix, hopefully we can get a 4th season .

Invincible– the show returned a few weeks ago to deliver its first half of its second season, one that has gone where most superhero shows have not gone before, the moral complexity of family politics.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – simply the best of the Star Trek franchise hows on air right now, as it bridges the gap between old school and new school fans, to deliver something both nostalgic and refreshing.

Shrinking – a brilliant Chuck Lorre show which maximizes the comedic talents of Jason Segal, Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford, who shows his versatility as an actor

Slow Horses – the best spy show on TV, possibly ever, as it does not take itself too seriously but has real world stakes and offers some very relatable characters , offering all the suspense of the Bond films without all the gloss.

Changeling – a frightening retelling of a Lovecraftian tale told through the prism of whom it was not intended for, as the narrator fo the show just so happens to be the author

Black Cake – a family drama that examines race, secrets, hidden lives and self-discovery through generations of one family and their repeating of of the original sin.

What We Do In The Shadows – this satirical Office like show about vampires nd their world, dives deeper into what made the film such a delight, sadly it will end its run with upcoming sixth season.

Reservation Dogs – this show was debasingly under watched and underrated, as it had a lot to say, whilst through the voice of comedy

Beef – a show which gets clss divide and race in a way most shows could not in a community that rarely get this microscope, Asian America.

Gen V – one of the best shows Amazon has ever done, as it was no mere spinoff of The Boys, but a whole new story that connects to the bigger Boys universe.

Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters – a show  that more than delivers , as it puts on a master class on world building, giving viewers another side of the organization who defends Earth against these monsters.

The Other Black Girl – a show based on the book that is somewhere between get Out and Single White Female, that is funny, contemplative and full of horror tropes

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off – a show that no only returned the original cast but expanded the sotry, as I have a friends who read the manga that spoke to how this series was the truest to the orginal story.

Blue Eye Samurai – a TV show that combines what fans love about anime while examining race, class and colonialism

BEST MOVIES

Shin Kamen Rider( titled in the US-Shin Masked Rider) – a superhero movie that upgraded the genre , as it truly gets the sinner turmoil that most of the big budgets don’t seem to convey as well as this film, with the action to match.

They Cloned Tyrone – in a movie that would have easily fell into stereotypical tropes , this one went even further than Get Out did in examining societal ills and the class divide.

Polite Society – A movie that combines fantasy with real life, we get something  between Regency romances and Bollywood dramas, an action packed movie from beginning to end, a must see.

Suitable Flesh – a frightening horror movie that will remind many of Denzel Washington’s Fallen, but will leave viewers even more disturbed than that seminal film.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – as a lifelong fan of TMNT, this movie is the ultimate fanboy love letter, as it gets why people love this franchise.

John Wick Chapter 4 – in a franchise that seems to not die, to the delight of move fans, this action movie more than delivers on th e story and action ends.

Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse – this movie is why comic book fans love alternate universes, the endless possibilities that a character(s) may go and this is the closest we have ever seen on screen.

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny – a fine farewell from Harrison Ford as the titular character and probably the most contemplative examination of age.

M3GAN – this movie was not only scary but it fused the fear of AI and toy dolls into an effective horror film.

Evil Dead Rise – an Evil Dead movie without Bruce Campbell? I was not sure of this one but it worked so well, as it was at times funny, but mostly, it did what horror movies should always do, scare.

Scream VI –  this is the best movie of the franchise so far, as it digs into what makes so good, the moral complexity of the villain.

Totally Killer – definitely one of the most entertaining films of the year , combining sci-fi and horror into a movie which will remind viewers of Back To The Future  but with a serial killer

Still: A  Michael J.Fox Movie – a movie that is meta and conversational, it gives a rare view of its subject.

A Million Miles Away – the true story the first “migrant farmer to go to space” Jose Hernandez, is both affecting and hopeful. 

Air– the true story of how Nike landed Michael Jordan is surprisingly thrilling and will open your eyes to just cutthroat their business is.

Extraction II – Chris Hemsworth returns in this Netflix franchise feels like if the 24 TV show and Crank movies had a baby, and it never disappoints the viewer

The Burial – another true story which gets into another industry that robs millions of people, funeral homes.

Guardian Of the Galaxy Volume 3 – James Gunn’s swan song to the MCU, is the best of the 3 films and gives a sendoff that will have fans choking back tears.

Cocaine Bear – a true story, which was funny, scary and action packed while also delivering one of Ray Liotta’s finest final performances

No Hard Feelings – a throwback to raunchy teen movies where Jennifer Lawrence gets to flex her comedic chops while  delivering a true protagonist evolution

Brett’s Favorite Comics of 2023

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Traveling to Mars #1

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)….

  • A Business Proposal (Yen Press)
  • Astrobots (Massive Publishing)
  • The Beginning After the End (Yen Press)
  • Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight (DC Comics)
  • Birds of Prey (DC Comics)
  • Conan the Barbarian (Titan Comics)
  • Coquí (Chido Comics)
  • Count Dante: The Unauthorized (But Sort of True) Story of the Deadliest Man Who Ever Lived (Scout Comics)
  • Dark Ride (Skybound)
  • Darkwing Duck (Dynamite Entertainment)
  • Daughter of the Emperor (Yen Press)
  • The Deviant (Image Comics)
  • The Devil That Wears My Face (Mad Cave Studios)
  • Duke (Skybound)
  • Edel Rodriguez’s Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey (Metropolitan Books)
  • Fist of the North Star (VIZ Media)
  • Green Lantern: War Journal (DC Comics)
  • The Hard Switch (Avery Hill Publishing)
  • Harrower (BOOM Studios)
  • Holy Roller (Image Comics)
  • I May Be a Guild Receptionist but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock out on Time (Yen Press)
  • Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong (DC Comics)
  • Kaiju No. 8 (Yen Press)
  • Maniac of New York: Don’t Call it a Comeback (Aftershock)
  • Maple Terrace (Uncivilized Comics)
  • Masterpiece (Dark Horse)
  • Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom (Yen Press)
  • Oshi No Ko (Yen Press)
  • Petrol Head (Image Comics)
  • Punisher (Marvel)
  • The Reformation of the World as Overseen by a Realist Demon King (Yen Press)
  • Spy Superb (Dark Horse)
  • Tomb Raider King (IZE Press)
  • Transformers (Skybound)
  • Zawa + The Belly of the Beast (BOOM! Studios)

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.

Don’t Worry, Mommy’s Here: 5 of the best moms in horror cinema

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When I was just a wee baby (as in barely a few months old), my mom decided to take me to the movie theater with her to see The Lost Boys (released in July, 1987). Jerry Rees’s The Brave Little Toaster was also playing. My mom apparently weighed her options and decided The Lost Boys would have more of an impact in my early development than a toaster with a smile.

I cried during the entire movie. If you’ve never seen it (and if you haven’t, you should), the vampire make-up effects by artist Greg Cannom were terrifying. The vamps kept their human forms, but their faces transformed into something resembling very angry bats. And then there’s the vamp feeding scene at a punk bonfire. Fangs sunk into skulls and blood flew over the fire as the bikers went into a frenzy.

mother

Years later, still a kid, I watched the movie again and managed to get through it without crying out of pure fear, but what stood out this time was how important the movie’s mother figure, Diane Weist‘s Lucy Emerson, was to the story and how much tension and terror the movie extracts from her as we watch one of her sons worry over her safety thinking she was dating a vampire. It left an impression. What if my mom got targeted by a vampire all of a sudden? Could I kill it on my own or did I need my own Frog Brothers to stake the bloodsucker?

It was easy to empathize with Lucy. She was a single parent moving in with her father at a time when her two kids were at their most rebellious in a new place she later learns is infested with vampires. She becomes a calming presence that could’ve helped more if her kids had let her in on the troubles of Santa Carla and the people they hung out with. One thing I admired was how brave she came off as in a place director Joel Schumacher went lengths to portray as dirty, dangerous, and forgotten. She was strong and she proved it in the final moments of the film, taking a decision for the sake of her family’s safety that jeopardized hers. All of this to say, Lucy Emerson was my first horror mom and she’s remained a favorite ever since.

It goes without saying by now, but my appreciation of horror, and The Lost Boys in particular, started getting nurtured the moment my mom decided to lightly traumatize me as a baby by taking me to the movies to see biker vampires on a big screen. So, in honor of the work mothers do from the moment we’re born, here’s a list of 5 horror movie moms that either scare, take care, or bring chaos to their kids. In other words, the kind of moms that keep steering future generations into horror.

Enjoy, and Happy (belated) Mother’s Day!

mother

1. Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist (dir. William Friedkin, 1975)

As frightening as the possessed Regan MacNeil is, none of it would’ve worked to the extent it did if the audience couldn’t channel their horror through her mom. Ellen Burstyn made this possible with a spectacular performance as Chris MacNeil, a mom that embodied both the fear of living with a child tormented by something unfathomable and the strength that’s required to fight a battle that initially looked unwinnable.

Burstyn dug deep to portray a mother that had her entire reality flung out the window and yet still managed to hold out hope as a demon tore apart her kid from the inside. Her facial expressions should be studied by anyone interested in capturing what true fear looks like, but also what anger and frustration look like in a supernatural setting. Each one of Chris MacNeil’s screams is a gut punch that makes you reel, heightening the horror of the possession and the idea of what it means to share a household with a sinister entity hellbent on corrupting an innocent soul.

mother

2. Hitomi Kuroki as Yoshimi Matsubara in Dark Water (dir. Hideo Nakata, 2002)

Mothers have a strange and complicated relationship with child ghosts in horror. In movies where the mother is grieving the loss of a daughter, for instance, the ghost becomes a metaphor for loss and denial in the face of death.

In Hideo Nakata’s Dark Water, though, the connection becomes something different. The story’s mother character, Yoshimi Matsubara, isn’t mourning the loss of a child. She’s getting consumed by the fear of losing hers, all of which stems from the ghost of a little girl that died in the apartment building they live in.

Actress Hitomi Kuroki plays Yoshimi like a tragic beacon of light that lonely ghosts can find a mother in. Her performance captures both the terrors that motherhood brings to the fore and what being a parent represents in the grander scheme of things. Kuroki channels the energy of a haunted house in human form, reluctantly accepting her role despite the consequences of potentially becoming mom to a ghost.

mother

3. Essie Davis as Amelia in The Babadook (dir. Jennifer Kent, 2014)

Perhaps the most influential horror mom in recent times, Essie Davis’ Amelia landed on the scene with a force that reminded viewers how brutal the experience of motherhood can be. The Babadook runs on her intensity, on her up-close and uncomfortably personal pain.

Amelia is a single mom taking care of her high-energy kid, called Samuel. Her life has essentially halted, fully, just because Samuel and his behavior take up so much of her existence, every inch of it, in fact. When the titular demon comes into their home, it finds Amelia ripe for murderous possession.

Director Jennifer Kent managed to paint a rage-filled portrait of a mother that was dealt an extremely bad hand. Essie Davis leans into Amelia’s frustrations and makes a compelling argument against becoming a mom, but only in certain moments. At others, she manages to flip the horror of the Babadook to show how incredibly beautiful it can be to take care of a life you created.

Bates Motel

4. Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates in Bates Motel (TV series developed by Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin, and Anthony Cipriano, 2013-2017)

I’m going to cheat here really quick and go for a horror TV series instead of a movie because this example is just too good, and it should be discussed more as a whole. Vera Farmiga’s interpretation of the iconic Norma Bates in Bates Motel is one of the most fascinating takes on the role in the history of the moms in horror.

The series modernizes the Norman Bates story by making the motel he shares with his mother part of a larger ecosystem and by having Norma be very much alive. Drugs, late night rendezvous, and dangerous relationships form in their place of business, and Norma has a hand in everything in one shape or another. And yet, nothing with her is predictable. She can turn a bad situation worse or offer comfort in times when those closest to her are in need.

What’s impressive is how the show interweaves outside influences with the peculiar intricacies of Norma’s relationship and outright manipulation of Norman. Farmiga switches with ease between scheming and selfish to loving and nurturing. She’s a source of torment one episode and a pillar of stability in another. She’s both what Norman needs as a mother and what he desperately needs to run away from. Farmiga puts on a show for the ages as Norma Bates. Her contribution to horror should not be overlooked.

huesera

5. Natalia Solán as Valeria in Huesera: The Bone Woman (dir. Michelle Garza Cervera, 2022)

A baby can be a terrifying thing, especially as it grows inside you. It can either be a great source of happiness or a force of existential oppression that can shatter a parent’s identity. Add the fear of some foreign entity shaping and corrupting the life you’re carrying and things can get scarier fast.

Michelle Garza Cervera’s Huesera indulges in this kind of fear, asking what a child is supposed to mean to a mother and whether they should submit to whatever the answer is. It places the mom-to-be, Natalia Solán’s Valeria, at the center of the story as a kind of victim of pregnancy, someone who went along with social expectations only to open the doors for something sinister to latch onto her baby.

Solán approaches Valeria as a ticking time bomb-type of character that suffers quietly at first, but is then forced to face the entity and the prospect of becoming a mother in the worst ways possible. Watching Valeria unravel is tough, but it comes with the development of a different point of view regarding a mother’s obligations and whether it’s okay to resist them. The very meaning of personal sacrifice is explored here, and it leads to an urgent question more people should ask themselves: is the parent’s life, their dreams and desires, less important than that of the child’s? The answer, Huesera would argue, is not so simple.

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