5. Absolute Martian Manhunter (Deniz Camp -- Javier Rodriguez -- Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou)
Although a lot of people like this book it's not my favourite of the year. With that said!... this is one of the best new books coming out from "mainstream" comics and it is still pretty good. The story is John Jones tries to work out violent outbursts with care & various powers that might not be there. This comic is a bit more adventurous than the average big 2 book in terms of moody colour and layouts that are a big swing but still easy to follow.
4. Supergirl (Sophie Campbell -- Tamra Bonvillain -- Becca Carey et al.)
My personal favourite right now when Campbell is drawing it. The feel-good self-indulgent funny book of the season. Supergirl returns to her home town and find that someone is pretending to be Supergirl. Oh No! And her secret identity has been stolen as well! While this is eventually resolved, Supergirl remains in town and has many fun adventures. My mom have been reading this series along with me, every now and then. Sophie Campbell is my favourite living cartoonist.
3. Adventure Time: The Bubbline College Special (Caroline Cash)
This is a gorgeous display of what a tie-in can be when a creative person is allowed to be themselves.
The plot revolves around an alternate universe where Princess Bubblegum is going to college and meets a mysterious vampire lady. oooOOOOooooh! This is a lot of fun and is a solid bit of fluff.
Cartoonist Caroline Cash has just turned 30 and is no longer an enfant terrible but an established talent.
2. The Deviant: A Christmas Story #9 (James Tynion IV -- Joshua Hixson -- Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou)
If more than one issue of this came out this year this would have been first place. This is definitely one of the best books I've read from a big 2 writer. This is a page turning thriller that holds one of my favourite wordless pages. Just stellar.
1. Dogtangle (Max Huffman)
A serious work of hilarious sharp wit. Tells you everything you need to know about the person who made it and offers something only he could make. There is a shift of how the characters are portrayed in this book. Some of the characters are dummies who hold too much power. But then there is a sympathetic focus on relationships. Max Huffman has a theme of disconnection in relationships and the state of the world, while being critical of these same characters. This shift is one of the things I keep returning to in 2025.
