To celebrate the end of the year, the staff of Sequential Planet will be listing their favorite things from 2018! Below are some of Josh’s favorite picks of the year. Click here to see the rest of our picks!
Comic Books
Series of the Year: Venom
“Better than Watchman” is a meme that’s been running around with this series. With writer Donny Cates actually discussing this with the crazy old wizard himself Alan Moore, could this meme actually be reality? Well for me, Venom has been one of the best comics out this year, making it the series of the year for me. Ryan Stegman’s gorgeous art, with Cates expanding Venom lore like never before, this series has been a masterclass.
Best Writer: Al Ewing
Horror, suspense, thrills, a sense of dread. Al Ewing has captured them all perfectly with the new Marvel series The Immortal Hulk. Taking the character back to his more horror roots, Ewing has just astounded me with each new issue. He really knows how to do unsettling, while also doing a nice slow buildup keeping me entertained on the way. Really glad to hear this series is doing well, Ewing deserves all the recognition he can get!
Best Artist: Liam Sharp
We’re two issues in. Two whole issues. And Liam Sharp has blown everyone out of the intergalactic swimming pool with his fabulous work on The Green Lantern. Sharp’s work is stunning, gorgeous and encapsulates the old 70s/80s old school DC artwork. With stunning backgrounds, detailed characters and beautifully drawn action, Sharp’s artwork is making me drool in awe with each issue. Well done.
Best Publisher: Image Comics
2018 has been one of the best years for comics. Marvel and DC have both been coming out with some fantastic stories and minis, I’m really glad to be expanding on so many different and diverse titles and takes on characters, even making some new favorites! However this one was tricky, and the Big 2 have had nearly as many downs and ups, but overall I have to give credit to Image Comics for keeping a consistently great record of brilliant runs. Helping me discover so much new talent is also a massive perk! Looking forward to the new titles in 2019.
Best new series: Gideon Falls
A series, written by a team I’ve loved since their fantastic run of New 52 Green Arrow, Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino created one of the coolest and intense comics this year. Image Comics’ Gideon Falls is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma with sprinkles of horror throughout. Keeping the reader on their toes with twists and turns that would drive anyone insane, this new comic has been one of the most enjoyable reads for this year. Cannot wait to see what happens next in the world of Gideon Falls.
Movies
Best Actor/Best Performance: Rami Malek
Without a doubt, Rami Malek’s killer (Queen) performance as Freddie Mercury in this year’s Bohemian Rhapsody wins best actor for me. The man completely transformed into an embodied the glam rock star in this autobiography and is certainly an Oscar contender.
Best Director(s): The Russo Brothers
OK, I’m a little biased here but come on. Pulling off an event 10 years in the making with one of the biggest ensemble casts, telling a what should be an overly convoluted mess of a story and turning it into one of the most enjoyable films of the year? Excellent work by Joe and Anthony Russo, not bad for two guys who started off on just minor TV directing jobs. Cannot wait to see how they conclude with Avengers: Endgame.
Check out the rest of our staff picks here. New Best Of articles will be added daily.
