Class of 2024: The Comics

Favorite Comic Books of 2024

Here is another entry in my class of 2024 series. This is something new that I don’t think I’ve ever done.

For this one I am looking back on single issue comic books that have stood out as my favorites over the year. I chose to go exclusively with issue #1s on all of these because I couldn’t really decide which single issue of the series were my favorites. All of these issue #1s were released this year though so that keeps it with the theme.

So anyway, here are my top 10 favorite comic books of the year….

10. Justice League Unlimited #1
Justice League Unlimited #1 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the iconic superhero team. Written by comic legend Mark Waid with artwork by Dan Mora, this one was released in November. In this story, the Justice League has opened its membership to, well, practically everybody that calls themselves a superhero in the DC universe. It is a good solid foundation for the new team.

9. Red Before Black #1
Red Before Black was written by Stephanie Phillips. It was released in August by Boom Studios. The artwork was done by Goran Sudzuka. This first issue of the series begins with a military veteran returning home and begins a hunt for a drug runner with unexpected results.

8. Exceptional X-Men #1
This book is the first of several from the new X-Men (From the Ashes) relaunch that began this year with the end of the Krakoan Age. It was written by Eve L. Ewing and drawn by Carmen Carnero. This series focuses on Kitty Pryde (aka Shadowcat) who, following the events of the Krakoan Age wants nothing to do with being a superhero team anymore, or being a superhero in general for that matter, but begins to get pulled in that direction with a group of teen mutants.

7. Batgirl #1
I’m a big fan of Cassandra Cain (well, the comic book version) so when I found out that DC was giving her a new solo series, I was pretty excited. This series finds Cassandra (aka Batgirl) reuniting and teaming up (sort of) with her mother (Lady Shiva). Batgirl #1 was written by Steve Orlando and drawn by Takeshi Miyazawa and released in November.

6. Absolute Superman #1
Jason Aaron wrote this first issue of the Absolute Superman era. Rafa Sandoval did the artwork. Absolute Superman #1 was released in November and begins the story of the Superman of this new “Absolute” universe. I found it to be a very interesting new origin story for the beloved character and I really love how, despite the disadvantages that are placed on iconic superheroes in this universe, that at his core, Superman is still Superman.

5. Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #1
This Spider-Gwen series is another one written by Stephanie Phillips (she has been busy this year). Issue #1 was released in May and the artwork was done by Federica Mancin. In this series, Gwen has somehow gotten herself trapped in the core Marvel universe (she is originally from Earth 65) and despite the fact that she is supposed to lay low manages to get herself in all sort of superhero mischief.

4. X-Men #1
The next X title in the From the Ashes relaunch to show up on my list and one of the “flagship” titles of the X series, X-Men #1 was written by Jed MacKay and drawn by Ryan Stegman. It was released in July. In this issue we find that the “main” team of X-men have set up their headquarters in a small town in Alaska…in a former Sentinels factory! This series focuses on the team comprised of Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, Magik, Psylocke, Temper, Juggernaut (yes, Juggernaut), and Kid Omega. For more about my thoughts on this book go read my review of it at Future of the Force.

3. Uncanny X-Men #1
The second X title in this list was released in August. It was written by Gail Simone with art by David Marquez. This series focuses on a team made up of Gambit, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Wolverine (Logan), Jubilee, and newcomers Calico, Deathdream, Jitter, and Ransom. This story finds a reluctant Rogue tasked to bring a team together while there is a mysterious force out there hunting mutants. Gail Simone really brings it in this issue! I wrote a review of this one at Future of the Force also so you can check that out here.

2. Ultimate Spider-Man #1
With writer Jonathan Hickman at the helm, it is going to be hard for anyone to not like this series. The issue was released in January at the artwork was done by Marco Checchetto. This series launched the new Ultimate universe following the events of Ultimate Invasion from last year. Hickman has really thrown together an interesting alternate origin for the web slinger. Great book! Once again, I wrote a review of this book for Future of the Force so you can check that out here.

1. Absolute Batman #1
The second book on the list from the Absolute universe. There is so much to say about this book. It is absolutely amazing! Naturally, I wrote a review of this when it first came out so a lot of what I have to say about this book can be found there. It gives us a return from writer Scott Snyder who wrote the iconic Batman story arc Court of Owls. It was drawn by Nick Dragotta and released in October. It was the first issue of the Absolute launch. If you have not read this book go out and read it right now!

Why are you still reading this? Go read Absolute Batman!

So there are my favorite single issue comic books of 2024. I hope you go out and read some or all of these if you haven’t already. If you have already read them, let me know in the comments what you thought of them.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more class of 2024 posts.