I posted this fantastic video a couple of years ago and I never forgot it. It took me weeks to track it down, even on my own site (in my defense I will say that Emerald Tablet does go back seven years). I think this is one of the great short films that strikes at the heart of competitive boardgames and how most of my friends feel.
I implore you to watch this video as it has real charm:
Honorable Mention of the Year Award #2: Cyclops
There are two reasons why Scott Summers – a.k.a. Cyclops – has been given an Honorable Mention of the Year Award. The first, because of how cool of a character he has developed into, and second, the fact that this year was the first year my favorite X-Man has ever been approved for his first ongoing comic book, depicting his teenager-self from the past. As he’s still suffering in the aftermath of the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, Cyclops is gradually becoming a damaged silhouette of his former self in such interesting ways in Uncanny X-Men. Struggling to lead and seek out new mutants popping up all over the globe while dodging and waging war against the worldwide taskforce that is S.H.I.E.L.D., the architect of The New Mutant Revolution is no longer sitting on the sidelines as the world despises mutants without mercy. In the current storyline, stemming from The Last Will and Testament of Charles Xavier (whom Cyclops murdered while being possessed by the Phoenix Force), Cyclops desires to draft what looks like one of the most powerful mutants ever in existence to his team for his own purposes. The mutant Scott Summers is turning into something exceptional and is absolutely a character to watch and watch out for as well.
Dishonorable Mention of the Year Award #2: “Doc Green”
When I think of the Hulk, I picture the timid scientist Bruce Banner cursed with this savage persona of rage which haunts him from the inside- out. All it does is roar, fight, and smash when it’s let loose, and that is what formulates Hulk into the green tank he is. When I read Hulk #5 (August 2014), everything that I liked about the Hulk was thrown out the window. Now preferred to be called “Doc Green”, this new take on the character saddens me. Speaking as if he was a scientist from a well educating university, running a lab, and, dumbest of all, sporting a weird Mohawk for hair, this is an unattractive version of the Hulk. It makes sense because of the story, but the core idea of it all is out of place. From what the plot has offered, Bruce Banner is trapped inside Doc Green’s consciousness, but I would really like for him to come back right now and get things back in order.
Hero of the Year Award: Captain America
(from the pages of Captain America, Avengers, and Uncanny Avengers)
What a year it’s been for Captain America, I don’t know where to start to adequately relay all he’s gone through. In the beginning of the year he brutally lost his life attempting to unravel the Apocalypse Twins’ rapture of mutantkind in Uncanny Avengers #16 (January 2014) only to return after the timeline was reversed by his fellow Avengers with help from Kang. Then the lost memories of what the Illuminati were up to and had done to him last year returned to anger him wholly against those he used to consider friends in the main Avengers book. This was instantly followed by the Time Gem thrusting Cap and other Avengers further into the future at each point it materialized in front of him. He also spoke an incredibly inspirational speech in Avengers #34 (August 2014) about the importance of saving lives that everyone should read. Finally, as he heroically threw his shield into the core reactor of the Gugnir helicarrier to stop the obliteration of a European country, his super-soldier serum was extracted from his body at the hands of The Iron Nail, turning Steve Rogers into an old man. This year he always stood up, and always tried to do the right and good thing. So, yeah, what a year it’s been for Captain America.
Cover(s) of the Year Award: Avengers (#23-37)
The covers for all of the issues of Avengers the past year were drawn by various superstar artists. Esad Ribic, Mike Deodato, Leinil Yu, Agustin Alessio, Jim Cheung, Frank Cho, and more contributed their noteworthy, terrific talent to the book. Few other titles could boast such talent, but what really make the covers for Avengers stand out this year compared to other books are the remarkable connecting covers drawn by Leinil Yu from issues thirty through thirty-four. One shattering Infinity Gem graces each cover of that story arc, showing an Avenger and their future selves in surrounding scattered pieces. Put them side-by-side and there you go; a complete, amazing work of art.
Team of the Year Award: The Illuminati (from the pages of New Avengers)
After all they have been through this year I think it would be safe to say that The Illuminati – consisting of Mr. Fantastic, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Black Bolt, Beast, Black Panther, and Namor – have become possibly the most dramatic and exciting superhero team in all of comic book history. They watched as alternate earths much like our own were conquered by the Black Priests and the Mapmakers, further left with the burden of working in secret to prevent the early death of the multiverse. But that was just the beginning of the unthinkable madness fate had dealt them all. Their worst fears came true as what is known as an another incursion (when an alternate earth starts to collide with our earth) began and they were left facing honorable heroes from that other world and, in the end, brought to their lowest breaking point. The morally questionable decisions, palpable tension between team members, emotional trauma, and life the Illuminati are dealing with and living will leave you pondering upon what it means to be a hero in a time of apparent infinite hopelessness. Are they men or are they monsters?
Honorable Mention of the Year Award #1: Titan Comics’ Launch of New Doctor Who Comics
BBC’s Doctor Who is no stranger to the comic book. Marvel Comics initially published adventures of the iconic Time Lord from Gallifrey in the late ‘70s and more recently IDW had been carrying the TV property along. However, I don’t believe we’ve witnessed much of an electrifying publication of Doctor Who as Titan’s launch as was evident this July. I’m a proud Whovian so when I got word of new comics featuring the 10th, 11th, and 12th Doctors would be landing in my local comic shop this year, I felt like shouting, “Geronimo!” (Doctor Who reference), right at my household walls. It’s rather nice to follow whole new adventures of The Doctor with all-new companions as they brave the unknown wonders of all of time and space, especially when your Doctor’s heart-breaking regeneration has transpired on television. Thus far, with traditional timey-wimey stories and astoundingly high-quality publication, the launch has been really successful, and it can only get better.
Dishonorable Mention of the Year Award #1: Marvel’s Lady Thor
Before you get ahead of me, this complaint has entirely nothing to do with me disliking female superheroes or not wishing for some the spotlight they may deserve like a self-titled ongoing book. Simply put, the proposition of replacing a popular, classic character like the god of thunder, Thor, with an unknown female who is supposedly “worthy enough” to wield Mjonir, Thor’s enchanted hammer, is just ludicrous in my opinion. This choice by Marvel to give Jason Aaron the green light wasn’t a smart one, and ultimately led me to drop the Thor title altogether. I want to read about The Mighty Thor I grew up with, not this other person to invest $3.99 in every month.
Villain of the Year Award: Kang (from the pages of Uncanny Avengers)
Kang is many things. He is royalty from the future, he is a time-traveler, he is a heinous foe of The Avengers, and he is, as he likes to call himself, a conqueror. From his looming machinations found in Uncanny Avengers, we need to add “master-mind schemer” to that list. His cunning grand plan involving the Apocalypse Twins, Havok’s Unity Squad of Avengers, and Celestial Executioner is a whirlwind of a ride. Recruiting heroes and villains from different timelines, including Earth X’s Venom and Doom 2099, it appears all Kang wants to do is fix his mistakes. It’s not until the pieces fall in place where we make out his true colors and his betrayal has deep ramifications for Havok and his teammates. This year, his pure villainy was at its finest.
~ By Nandor Shaffer
~ By Nandor Shaffer
Welcome back for November’s edition of my monthly annual Comic Book Awards. This month marks the second year of doing this little hobby of mine and if you’ve been following the past three installments of these awards in its new format I hope you’ve been really enjoying it. November panned out to hold a nice batch of comic books from publishers. Marvel continues to dominate my monthly purchases and this month saw the highly awaited launch of Superior Iron Man, the armored Avenger’s all-new ongoing title brought to you by the mind of Tom Taylor and art partner Yildiray Cinar. The Fantastic Four are now back-in-blue, Brian Michael Bendis is slowly but surely crafting an even cooler, complicated Cyclops in the pages of Uncanny X-Men as the head of the “New Mutant Revolution” himself comes face to face with what possibly appears to be the most dangerous mutant ever in existence, and we also get the privilege of witnessing the ever phenomenal progressive unfolding plot found intertwining in both of Jonathan Hickman’s brilliant Avengers books. Sadly, though, this was the first month for me passing over the prime Captain America title since the creative decisions behind All-New Captain America were not to my liking.
In any case, out of the many nominees, which are most worth your time and money? Look no further as November’s awards are here.
One of the touchstone goals for any comic book cover, no less one for the first issue of a new series, is to invite readers by catching their eye amongst the hordes of other books on the stands. Mike Choi’s cover art for the first issue of Superior Iron Man accomplishes this feat to stunning affect. The elegant cover for Superior Iron Man #1 unleashes an attractive brightness that tends to make you want to pick it up even despite how much you may or may not like Iron Man as a character. Presenting first-hand Tony Stark’s most recent version of his Iron Man armor in all its dazzling, blazing chrome glory with an excellent digital style filling the background as well as the touch of a fine logo, it’d be almost impossible to walk pass this issue without taking a lengthy second glance. It’s been around four months since we’ve had a comic individually starring Marvel’s golden boy avenger, and it feels more than great to have him back – especially reemerging in such brilliant form.
When Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier #1 was given this award last month I predicted Marco Rudy’s work would lift the series up to become possibly the very best looking comic book with each passing month. After issue two, that assumption seems more concrete and verifiable. His incredible artwork, heavily using paints, is out of this world. Throughout the issue the Winter Soldier encounters obstacles in a dream-like state of sorts (with no help from the god of mischief, Loki) which Rudy’s method exemplifies perfectly. Page after page you’ll find some of the most interesting and beautiful art to be featured in a comic book. Novel panel layouts are blasted with colorful bliss and Rudy’s intense, hyper-real facial expressions are just as arresting as the action sequences in this issue. If you keep saying “Whoa” to yourself under your breath as you flip through Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier #2, it only makes sense.
New Avengers #27 opens up hauntingly in what is known as “the nothing space of destroyed universes”, and in this particular place we find The Temple of the Black Priests, insanely powerful and fascinatingly scary multiversal creatures all but unknown to the reader. A Black Priest speaks in their chilling voice, “Somethiiiiiing shiiiiiimers…somethiiiiiing sparks. Company’s here.” That’s classic Jonathan Hickman, and those who have been following New Avengers will feel the weight of this issue after its last words are read. In Avengers #36, a small group of Avengers volunteer to seek out the cause behind the impending end of everything and are sent across the multiverse to fight back this seemingly hopeless threat. We get to see in this issue what or who they come across (the Black Priests) and a frantic battle is waged. A couple of pages visit Doctor Doom questioning Molecule Man in Latveria (what are they up to?) and one major, awesome revelation is also revealed that left this Doctor Strange fan smiling quite delightfully.
This issue is present with outstanding storytelling, classy dialogue, and detailed, excellent pencils and inks by guest artist Szymon Kudranski. A handful of Avengers helped by many Ex Nihili fight the mysterious Black Priests and more is divulged regarding the puzzling death of the multiverse. With great character moments involving Thor and Dr. Strange, Mr. Kudranski’s and Almara’s work bring a cinematic, dark flare to each panel while scribe Jonathan Hickman expertly demands your attention. What isn’t said or exposed in New Avengers #27 leaves you wanting more, while all that is explained is rather epic.
Thanks for checking out this edition of my awards and be sure to check back sometime next month for December’s Comic Book Awards! In the meantime, stay tuned for my COMIC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS. Spanning from December of 2013 to November 2014, this will be my second annual Comic Book of the Year Awards. This is what it’s all been leading to and the final award, Best Series, will conclude the ceremony.
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