The year has been an up-and-down one for me. Many days of long-awaited paychecks, furious reading, and painstaking rewrites have yielded little success commercially. However, that has only increased my love for the refuge of a good comic, movie, TV show, or novel. Here’s a look at my top picks.
BEST Comic of 2019: Brother Crow
My interest in comics is predominantly indie based. While a lot can and should be said about the work published from all corners of indie publisher-world, so too should self-published works get some love. When I was at Rose City Comic Con, in Portland Oregon on Sequential Planet’s behalf, it was my goal to meet and enjoy the company of as many indie comic book creators as I could. I was lucky to have this opportunity, as I would never have discovered my favorite comic of the year*, otherwise.
I interviewed Justin in my Rose City Comic Con: Indie Creator Spotlight #1. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so as it’s a deeper dive into Brother Crow.
What grabbed me about this series is its originality and nuance. I love stories that are magical without naming themselves as fantasy, mystical without being cheesy, and punk-rock without being apathetic. This story checks all these boxes. It asks real questions in life and gives real answers as well.
This is why it’s the only punk-rock magical realism comic I’ve read this year, and also my favorite comic of all.
*So, yeah, the current books in this series weren’t published in 2019, but Justin Rueff has #3 in production, so I count it as an ongoing series.
Best TV Show of 2019: True Detective
Sure, True Detective went through a rough Season Two back in 2015. Now that it’s out of the way, let’s move on.
Season One, back in 2014 is, perhaps, some of the best TV ever. However, in hindsight its use of women as literary props rather than meaningful characters is troubling. The lack of awareness from writer and creator, Nic Pizzolatto, prompted a stellar Season Three in 2019. In it, Pizzolatto touches on many issues he fails to address in Seasons One and Two. While race is the most prominent issue confronted, sex and gender roles also play a role in Season Three. Actress Carmen Ejogo, puts together a stellar performance in a piece that could have easily descended into a male-dominated “who-done-it” plot. Her chemistry with = lead actor, Mahershala Ali, makes this show worth watching.
While it’s difficult to forget the tire-fire that is Season Two, the quality of the newest season of True Detective, make it my favorite show of the year.
Best Move of 2019: Us
I’m a man who doesn’t mind hopping on a band-wagon, but the truth is, I’ve loved the horror genre ever since I was a kid. Us, as pretty much everyone already knows, is an awesome movie. I don’t need to tell you this. It’s a dark look at how those who prosper do so at the expense of others. It’s a look at how circumstances shape who we are and our world as a whole. While it may be off-putting to those not partial to the horror genre, it’s a thoughtful look at life, not just a reason to be afraid.
