Two of our absolute favorite series come out this week so we gotta lead with them. Look out for Chew #21 and Walking Dead #89!
Meanwhile, October marks the second month of DC’s New 52, which means now we’ll start seeing some #2 issues! This week: Action Comics #2, Animal Man #2, Red Lanterns #2, Stormwatch #2, Swamp Thing #2, Batwing #2 and others! Also look for two new mini-series with Penguin Pain and Prejudice #1 (of 5) and Huntress #1 (of 6)!
From Marvel, it’s a little lighter than usual, but still plenty of good stuff. Look for Avengers 1959 #1, the first issue of a period piece written and drawn by Howard Chaykin. Plus, X-Men Schism #5, the long-awaited Superior #5 and Moon Knight #6.
All in all, one of the best months of comics we can remember. Yes, DC Comics kicked off its New 52 initiative with 52 new #1 issues — many of which were superb — but at the same time Marvel put out of some of the best comics we’ve read all year!
In case this is your first time, the Top Twenty is an ongoing monthly look at two ordered lists comprising A) The top twenty single issues of the month and B) the top twenty current series in comics. How did we come up with the lists? Well, the Cosmic Comix Top Twenty Committee took several things into consideration: Best Book nominees, poll winners and poll votes, sales numbers and general buzz levels surrounding each book. Yes, your input is not only appreciated but also counts toward the rankings. So let us hear it!
Top Twenty Comics of September 2011 The Best Single Issues
BATMAN #1 – It won both polls by large margins and it won Rusty’s pick for best book of the week. Most people seem to agree: Batman #1 won the month. Congrats again to Mr. Scott Snyder.
NEW AVENGERS #16 – What makes someone worthy of being an Avenger? One of Bendis’ best stories to date. I won’t name names, but it almost made one of us shed a tear.
SECRET AVENGERS #17 – A non-stop, action-packed romp as only Warren Ellis could deliver! It was awesome from start to finish.
DETECTIVE COMICS #1 – Of the two main Batman books, this was definitely the one people weren’t counting on to knock their socks off. Boy were we wrong!
CRIMINAL LAST OF INNOCENT #4 (OF 4) – Ah, Criminal. With this issue, it cemented its status as the best crime/noir comic on the rack. Couldn’t recommend it more.
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #627 – Mehpisto walks into bar and discusses the Fear Itself situation with the entire pantheon of gods and entities from the Marvel Universe. Just an excellent comic.
FEAR ITSELF #6 (OF 7) – Fear Itself continues to dominate the Marvel landscape and this issue showed why. The story is just HUGE! And people (including us) are loving it.
COBRA ONGOING #4 – Major Bludd takes center stage in this issue (we also got #5 this month), and he is aaaaall business. Will HE be Cobra Commander?
AQUAMAN #1 – An almost perfect introduction to Aquaman, addressing what many would call his inherent jokiness and establishing what real fans know is his badassness.
DAREDEVIL #3 – Another series that saw two issues this month, with this one being the better of the two. It was great. Action and good dialogue all around.
RACHEL RISING #2 – The first issue established the premise – girl back from the dead! – and this issue totally took it to the next level.
MIGHTY THOR #6 – The end of the Galactus vs. Odin story arc, one of the best Thor stories of the year! Silver Surfer retires!
ANIMAL MAN #1 – One of the more unusual of the DC #1 issues from Sweet Tooth writer Jeff Lemire. Also one of the best DC #1 issues and a fantastic start for the series! It won your pick in the DC poll that week!
PUNISHERMAX #17 – The start of a new story arc in one of the best Punisher series we’ve ever read. Plus a great twist at the end. Phone call for Kingpin! Your wife would like to talk to you.
STORMWATCH #1 – Came out the first week of the New DCU and quickly became recognized as one of the top tier titles. Martian Manhunter, Apollo, Midnighter and the rest. Just a great start to the first of the Wildstorm books.
SWAMP THING #1 – Came out the first week of the New DCU and quickly became recognized as one of the top tier titles. Started off as an exploration of the nature of Swamp Thing and if this issue is any indication it’ll be a great ride.
SCALPED #52 – Red Crow is still trying to go legit… though it’s not looking to good for him at this point, survival-wise.
SUPERMAN #1 – George Perez doing what he does best! One of the densest comics of the New 52 and a great start for the Man of Steel.
SUPERBOY #1 – Very surprising and an interesting take on the character. Writer Scott Lobdell is doing pretty well for himself these days!
We’re adding a special 21st pick this month to accommodate the many, many excellent #1 issues in DC’s New 52. Can’t wait to see some of those #2′s!
Top Twenty Titles of September 2011 The Best Current Series
SCALPED – As Scalped begins to wind down to its final issue, we vow not to take it out of the #1 spot. Boom! Done. (TPBs)
MIGHTY THOR – Far and away the biggest mover on the list, jumping up from #12. But what can we say? You put Galactus and Thor in a book together and it’s bound to be good.
CHEW – It comes out next week, just missing the month of September… and missing its chance to take the #1 spot. (TPBs)
PUNISHERMAX – A new story arc this month and it retains its title as the best Punisher story since Garth Ennis’ work.
BATMAN – Always tough to debut and then appear in this list in the same month. But Batman was so good it did just that!
DETECTIVE COMICS – It was on the Top Twenty last month and it’s on the Top Twenty this month, though it’s an entirely different series, concept and story! An impressive feat.
AMERICAN VAMPIRE – A new story arc kicks off this month and we’re calling it Native American Vampire.
CRIMINAL – Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips just wrapped up another one. All I can say is, we better get more soon! (TPBs)
WALKING DEAD – It could probably miss SIX months and we’d still have it in the Top Twenty. (TPBs)
SECRET AVENGERS – For at least the next four issues (while Warren Ellis) is writing, I don’t see how this won’t make the Top Twenty every time.
FEAR ITSELF – Continues to steamroll the Marvel Universe and we can’t wait to see how things wrap up in the final issue next month!
COBRA – The spying, the lying, the intrigue, the backstabbing. It all continues in the pages of Cobra! Two issues this month. Still the best international spy thriller on the racks. (TPBs)
UNCANNY X-FORCE – A rough patch for Rick Remender’s series knocks this one down a bit, but we have faith.
INVINCIBLE – The most recent issues was great but it juuuuust missed out on being included in the crop for this month. Making it late in my book! (TPBs)
DAREDEVIL – Two solid issues (including one GREAT issue) are turning this relaunched series into a big success.
SEVERED – We saw the second issue of the horror series this month and were more pleased with it than the first! If this trend keeps up, it’ll be top 10 with no problem.
AVENGERS: CHILDRENS CRUSADE – If you want to know what’s going on in the Marvel Universe, you need to be reading this one.
GODZILLA: GANGSTERS AND GOLIATHS – Another one that just missed out on the list above. Not just the best Godzilla story out there, one of the best crime stories!
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY – Three issues this month, including a Point One and a #627 that was just incredible. Totally different as Thor books go and totally great.
X-MEN LEGACY – Writer Mike Carey has been taking this team to the farthest reaches of the universe. And it’s been a great ride.
Others receiving votes for the Best Current Series:
The DC relaunch is here and we talk about all 52 issues this month! Plus a quick rundown of Marvel and the rest.
Just Listen!
In order to listen, all you need to do is make sure you have speakers or headphones plugged in and click the "play" button you see below or right click here to download.
Joshua Hale Fialkov is taking over the writing chores on IDW’s Doctor Who starting with issue #13, beginning the first arc of 2012. Fialkov wrote the recent I, Vampire book from the new DC52. It was a great issue and I am excited to see him on Doctor Who! Matthew Dow Smit will be providing the interior art. Mark Buckingham will continue as the cover artist.
There are some more creative changes for DC’s New 52. George Perez is leaving Superman as of issue #7 and Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens will be taking over the title. I like Giffen, but man why can’t we get an A-list creative team on this book?
In the new Wolverine and the X-Men series from Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo Wolverine is going to found a new mutant school. It’s going to be called the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. I bet you that’s going to tick Cyclops off. What do you think?
DC Comics has hired Nielsen to survey readers about the new DCU! If you want to cast your vote check it out!
Chris Weston verified via Twitter that he has finished The Twelve mini-series he had been doing with J. Michael Straczynski. Now that it is finished I expect Marvel to solicit the final issues sometime in the near future.
.gif)
.jpg)
Two of our absolute favorite series come out this week so we gotta lead with them. Look out for Chew #21 and Walking Dead #89!
SCALPED – As Scalped begins to wind down to its final issue, we vow not to take it out of the #1 spot. Boom! Done. (
Joshua Hale Fialkov is taking over the writing chores on IDW’s Doctor Who starting with issue #13, beginning the first arc of 2012. Fialkov wrote the recent I, Vampire book from the new DC52. It was a great issue and I am excited to see him on Doctor Who! Matthew Dow Smit will be providing the interior art. Mark Buckingham will continue as the cover artist.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
