It’s the first Top Twenty of the year! And yes, to answer your question, we will be continuing this feature for 2012. Hope you’ve enjoyed it so far and we hope it’s pointed you toward a few titles you might not have normally read. The world of comics is as wide as you can imagine and there are myriad comics of every size, shape and genre. Okay! Pep talk over!

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 January 2012
The Best Single Issues

1. BATMAN #5 – Mucho discussion on the Conversation about this one, and a powerful showing in the polls propel this one to the top spot! Scott Snyder once again wins the month with Batman in a very cool issue that required the reader to turn the book sideways, upside down and ultimately read left to right! Very cool and a good story behind it all.
2. CHEW #23 – The second part of “Major League Chew,” introducing us to what is perhaps the greatest Chew back-up character to date: Agent Buttercup! A fantastic issue, which did actually lose in the poll to Batman (above), but won Rusty’s pick for Best Book of the Week. Something tells me Chew will once again hols top honors in the list below…
3. WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #4 – This book was just fun, straight up fun. Nick Bradshaw took over on the art (from Chris Bachalo) and did a fine job, with Jason Aaron still writing. I loved the cover and the cover turned out to be a great indicator for what was to come. Basically just a crazy day at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. SO enjoyable.
4. WALKING DEAD #93 – The opening three pages basically tell the story on this one. So you represent other settlements, eh, Jesus? We’ll see about that!
5. SCALPED #55 – We’ve said this before, but Scalped isn’t the easiest series to just pick up and read out of the blue. However, if you HAVE been reading Scalped then this issue was awesome. A big old fight between two characters who were basically destined to fight. Not to mention an unbelievably good ending. “You’re under arrest!”
6. UNCANNY X-MEN #4 – We got two issues of Uncanny X-Men this month but this one was definitely the stronger of the two, completing a fantastic Mr. Sinister story arc. A big fight and an ending that was actually kind of moving. Just a good issue all around and Kieron Gillen moves up another few notches in our estimation.
7. PUNISHERMAX #21 – The second to last issue of the series and the third Jason Aaron book of the top 10. This is Old Man Frank in a struggle to the death with Wilson Fisk… and they both lose! A brutal issue in a brutal series.
8. SUPERIOR #7 (OF 7) – A very cool ending to a very cool series. Little kid gains superpowers, little kid loses superpowers, little kid must bargain away his immortal soul to get superpowers back. Mark Millar and Leinil Yu killed it on this one.
9. FATALE #1 – Hard to keep coming up with superlatives for the crime stories that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips keep turning out. This one took a totally different turn than the ones that have come before it, an HP Lovecraft kind of turn, but it was nevertheless still awesome.
10. I VAMPIRE #5 – We’ve been enjoying this series, no doubt, but this issue might have taken it to the next level. Batman’s appearance was awesome.
11. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #677 & DAREDEVIL #8 – Parts one and two of the two-part Spider-Man/Daredevil crossover by Mark Waid. Just included them as one pick because they were basically one story… one totally excellent story. An old school vibe and some very cool moments.
12. STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #4 (OF 6) – Personally, I wasn’t sure that this issue worked. An explanation issue that I felt didn’t explain anything! But it turns out I was completely wrong because everyone else loved it. And we’re still recommending this series without hesitation.
13. SHADE #4 (OF 12) – A one-shot set in the middle of a 12-issue series! James Robinson is still writing but for this issue Darwyn Cooke (Parker, DC: The New Frontier) took over on the art. And it was a great read.
14. JUSTICE LEAGUE #5 – A couple truly cheesy moments didn’t spoil the many other awesome moments in this one. The League is now together and turning their efforts toward Darkseid… and making confessions to each other.
15. ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #6 – The scale on this one continues to defy belief. At this point we’re actually hoping the bad guys succeed just to see what happens!
16. WHISPERS #1 – We pumped this book before it came out as a the newest thing from (at least one half of) the Luna Brothers. And it didn’t disappoint. An obsessive-compulsive young guy finds he can have out-of-body experiences… thereby negating any germaphobic issues he might have. At least I don’t think there are germs on the astral plane…
17. RACHEL RISING #4 – The wild ride that is Rachel Rising continues. More weirdness with Rachel, more weirdness with the little girl, more weirdness full stop!
18. ACTION COMICS #5 – Superman’s origin told once again, but as only Grant Morrison could tell it! We saw Krypton, we saw the Phantom Zone, we saw Ma and Pa Kent. And it was charming.
19. SUICIDE SQUAD #5  – Haven’t given Suicide Squad much play in the Top Twenty but this issue makes it in because it gets us stoked for Harley Quinn!
20. ANGEL & FAITH #6 – Around here, we’re suckers for great endings, and man did this one have a great ending! Can’t ruin it here but it was a great issue!

Top Twenty Titles of January 2012
The Best Current Series

1. CHEW – I gave the first Chew trade paperback to a customer the other day and I swear no later than two hours later he came right back and bought the other three trades plus the three subsequent single issues. (TPBs)
2. BATMAN – So much to like about this series, from the density of the plot to the artwork to the overall execution. It really is outstanding.
3. WALKING DEAD – You’d think it would be hard to maintain the level of interest and intensity in such a longstanding zombie book, but Robert Kirkman keeps coming up with new ideas! (TPBs)
4. WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN – Before he left today, Rusty said, "Wolverine and the X-Men just might be the best Marvel book right now." And I think he just might be right.
5. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY – Didn’t make it up top this month, but it is still one of our faves and would probably be our favorite Marvel book if not for the #4 book on this list.
6. SCALPED – It’s dark, it’s not fun and it makes you cringe half the time. Needless to say we love it. (TPBs)
7. GI JOE: COBRA – Takes a little hit in the rankings because this month’s issue didn’t quite have the right vibe, but it’s got so much good will in the bank that we can’t demote it too much. The best GI Joe book ever. (TPBs)
8. ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES – Continues to knock us out month after month. Personally, I enjoy it more than any of the Avengers books!
9. PUNISHERMAX – Only one more issue to go. Just might have to give it an honorary #1 ranking next month for its overall excellence. RIP Old Man Castle.
10. AMERICAN VAMPIRE – Scott Snyder has a way of making his stories.. just… well… cool. And this series is the epitome of that.
11. JUSTICE LEAGUE – So much action and this month we finally started a plot!
12. BUFFY / ANGEL & FAITH – Once again, they’re just good! And now is a great time to get on board if you haven’t already.
13. RACHEL RISING – Terry Moore’s story of a girl back from the dead gains complexity and features many… well… I don’t know if I’d call them “wow” moments so much as “well that’s pretty weird” moments.
14. UNCANNY X-MEN – With Uncanny X-Men and Journey into Mystery both as strong as they are, Kieron Gillen just might be the strongest writer in the Marvel U right now. Uncanny in particular is just really interesting!
15. AQUAMAN – A longtime favorite hero around here, and this series totally does right by him.
16. I VAMPIRE – The strongest issue yet propels an already very good series into the Top Twenty!
17. SWAMP THING – See comment for #10.
18. INVINCIBLE – Rusty said, "2012 just might be shaping up to be an Invincible year." Let’s hope so! (TPBs)
19. FABLES – Maintaining its place in the #20 spot, the always reliable Fables. (TPBs)

Others receiving votes for the Best Current Series: