To celebrate the end of the year, the staff of Sequential Planet will be listing their favorite things from 2018! Below are some of Marcus’ favorite picks of the year. Click here to see the rest of our picks!
Comic Books
Series of the Year: Giant Days
Giant Days is the absolute best you can do in the slice-of-life genre and the best comic book series of the year. I can’t stress enough how special this series is. John Allison has managed to make the mundane daily lives of young people extraordinary, while Max Sarin’s art makes the book gorgeous. Every issue a joy to read, with pure interactions, heartbreaking drama, and over the top humor. There is something for everyone in Giant Days.
Honorable Mentions: Fence, Saga
Best Writer: Rick Remender
It was a strong year for Rick Remender. Black Science and Deadly Class continue to exhilarate, while newcomer Death or Glory gave us a high-octane thriller. Throw in the return of Seven To Eternity and you have four of the best comics out right now. With Low returning early next year, who knows how great of a year we will see from Remender.
Honorable Mentions: Kelly Thompson, Brian K Vaughn, Gail Simone
Best Artist: Bengal
This is a sleeper pick, I admit, but I don’t think that Death or Glory would be as great as it is without Bengal. Bengal injects a certain life into the book that no artist could. Glory in particular benefits most from Bengal’s animated style and cartoonish expressions. In addition to the fun style, Bengal is more than capable of ramping up the intensity during the many high-speed sequences. While Remender has a great script, Bengal sets the tone of the series, which is why he is my pick for artist of the year.
Honorable Mentions: Mirka Andolfo, Fiona Staples, Max Sarin
Best Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Matt Hollingsworth is a household name in coloring, having colored for great books like Hawkeye, The Wake, and Daredevil. In 2018 Hollingsworth colored Jessica Jones, Batman White Knight, and of course, Seven to Eternity. Seven To Eternity is the standout of the year as far as coloring goes. Jerome Opena’s art comes to life thanks to Hollingsworth’s colors. Everything looks so vibrant. Just look at that page!
Honorable Mentions Rachael Cohen, Whitney Cogar
Best Issue: West Coast Avengers #1
West Coast Avengers #1 was the most entertaining issue I have read this year. Kelly Thompson took a strong, diverse cast of heroes and created a fun, action-packed team that has no business being together. Everything in this issue from the banter, composition, and colorful art make this debut an absolute standout.
Honorable Mentions: Jook Joint #1, Deadly Class #35
Best Publisher: Image Comics
This was a really close one. Image Comics has continued to release the best creator-owned titles on the shelf, which is why it is once again the king of comics. Image has published ongoing classics like Saga and Deadly Class and great new series like Farmhand and Unnatural. At this point, Image being the best in comics is just the norm.
Honorable Mention: BOOM! Studios, Marvel Comics
Best New Series: Farmhand
In a year with dozens of great new books, Farmhand stands out as the best. Rob Guillory’s writing debut is about as good as you can ask for. Farmhand‘s wild premise of growing human organs makes for a thrilling but hilarious read. Guillory has planted the seeds for a fantastic series, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. Fans of Chew will find everything they need in Farmhand.
Honorable Mentions: Death or Glory, Domino, Unnatural
Best Miniseries: Infidel
Infidel is the definition of a modern horror story. Pornsak Pichetshote has flawlessly created a horror masterpiece that is also socially aware. Aaron Campbell and Jose Villarrubia make every panel anywhere from unsettling to simply terrifying. Fans of Get Out should absolutely read Infidel.
Honorable Mention: Eternity Girl
Anime
Series of the Year: Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
Wotakoi stole my heart this year. Every character is instantly relatable, the banter is hilarious, and the relationships are so damn cute. As much as I enjoy high school drama, I love anime that focuses on adult relationships, and boy does Wotakoi nail adult relationships. Every episode is full of heart, and there isn’t a show I looked forward to more every week.
Honorable Mentions: Steins;Gate 0, Hinamatsuri, Megalo Box
Best OP: Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
https://youtu.be/qHNUEyCb564
Okay, so I really like Wotakoi. I am not sorry. This OP is catchy, very well choreographed, and just cute. Sumika’s music perfectly captures the essence of the show, which most OPs fail to do. It’s an inventive experience that simply can’t be skipped at the beginning of the episode. I still instinctively do the hand gestures when the chorus hits.
Best ED: Megalobox
A catchy tune, neon lights, and awesome flow. I’m just going to leave the song here and let you enjoy it.
Best Moment: 50 Letters, Violet Evergarden
This was a hard category to do because anime had some great moments this year. Violet Evergarden by itself has many emotional moments that could steal this category. In episode 10, Violet is tasked to write letters for the mother of Anne, a little girl. The story is told from Anne’s perspective, as she is increasingly frustrated by her mother focused on writing a letter to an unknown person, all while marveling at the idea of a real-life doll in her home. I really don’t want to spoil anything from the final scene of this episode, because the emotional impact is simply immense. Everyone is crying by the end, even the emotionless Violet. It’s truly a spectacle and one of the best payoffs in anime.
Best Studio: David Production
JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOJO! Seriously, isn’t Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure enough reason to make DP studio of the year? Cells At Work was cute too.
Games
Game of the Year: God of War
No game has captivated me more this year than God of War. God of War is a triumphant return for Kratos, who finds himself in a Norse world with his son, Boy. Everything about God of War is satisfying, from the near perfect hacking and slashing to the spectacle of a storyline. God of War needed a modern spin, and Santa Monica gave it just what it needed. The mix of linear and open world environments is perfectly balanced. The story is a powerful look at fatherhood and loss that challenges both Kratos and the player. Finally, the Norse setting is full of rich lore that will make fans of the pantheon squeal. God of War is a nearly perfect game that demands to be played.
Honorable Mentions: Red Dead Redemption 2, Soul Calibur 6
