Top 5 Comic Book Writers (Updated...)

It's been over a year since my first Top 5 Comic Book Writers list was posted (See: Top 5 Comic Book Writers), so I thought I would update my list...They are ranked according to how quickly I’ll pull out my wallet whenever I see their name on a comic book title. Note: Previous "Rank" in parenthesis next to writer's name.

New Comic Series to consider......

Here are a few new Comic Series to consider reading....they are in no particular order, just as I've heard of them. Xombi & Carbon Grey have just had their first issues released. Moon Knight, Witch Doctor & Marijuana Man will be released in the next few months.....


1. Witch Doctor. Writer Brandon Seifert describes the book as "Dr. House meets Dr. Strange." Their website; Witchdoctorcomic.com, describes the series as a "medical horror comic". It follows the adventures of Dr. Vincent Morrow as he practices the black arts while battling demons, vampires, and creatures of myth and folklore. Artwork to be done by Lukas Ketner. Issue #1 expected to hit bookshelves June 29.


2. Marijuana Man. A philosophical superhero comic created by the legendary Ziggy Marley, written by Joe Casey and drawn by Jim Mahfood. I believe the title & creator speak for themselves, so toke it up while reading this one...just kidding. Casey is a good writer, and it is scheduled for release on April 20. You can check it out on Ziggy's website.


3. Carbon Grey. Created over eight years by Hoang Nguyen, Khari Evans, Paul Gardner, Mike Kennedy and Kinsun Loh, Carbon Grey centers around Mathilde and Giselle....the Sisters Grey. For generations the Sisters have protected and counseled the Kaiser, ruler of a central European kingdom that looks and feels a lot like "old" Prussia . But times have changed...a bustling industrial age and a great war are dividing the empire and loyalties. When the Kaiser is assassinated, Giselle is accused. Pursued by her sisters and hunted by the enemy, Giselle must unravel the prophecy of the Carbon Grey before it's too late. I picked up the first issue, the artwork is phenomenal!


4. Xombi. The immortal David Kim; kept "alive" by nanotech enhancements, and accompanied by weird nuns and mind-bending images...this is one of DC Comics' "off-the-beaten-path" and refreshing new books. Creator John Rozum and artist Frazer Irving team up to deliver the finest in contemporary urban horror – with a Super Hero twist! As an undying, unchanging Xombi, David Kim must watch the world consume itself and burn while humanity grows more distant from each other due to the rise of technology. What would a Xombi do just to feel change again? And where will he ever be able to find a kindred soul? I perused the first issue and it looks good, definitely "outside-the-box".


5. Moon Knight. Marvel Comics' reboot of the character written by Brian Michael Bendis, with artwork by Alex Maleev. Moon Knight has been around since I was a child (i.e. a long time), and was one of the first comic books I ever read. Gaining supernatural abilities from the moon and mixed with Egyptian myth and tormented by on-and-off again drug addiction and a schizophrenic personality, the Moon Knight is a complicated and interesting personality among Marvel's heroes. I've been skeptical of past incarnations of the character, but I trust the great writing talents of Bendis to bring this hero back to the forefront of Marvel's universe. Maleev is a great artist, so this series (starting in May) should be great!

Top 5 Comic Book Artists

This list comprises the best artists in the Comic Book Industry. Although I could make this list very long, these are the ones that when I see their work....I salivate.

Top 5 Monthly Comics to collect in 2010

I collect about 12 different monthlies in Graphic Novel form, but I’ve narrowed them down to my essential 5 for 2010:

1. Green Lantern. You cannot go wrong collecting this series! Geoff Johns continues to impress more and more taking Green Lantern into uncharted territory and writing stories on par with anything in the market today! The Blackest Night event will blanket the DC Universe into 2010, and Green Lantern will be at the forefront of DC’s heroes.

2. Batman. With the announcement that Bruce Wayne will be returning in 2010, the Batman series led by Grant Morrison should impress as never before! Always a winner and worth spending the money on, DC’s flagship character will carry the DC franchise in 2010.

3. Elephantmen. If your local comic book shop doesn’t carry this title, you should be begging and pleading with them to start! Richard Starking’s story and characters seem to get better with every issue, and the artwork is always phenomenal! A real up-&-comer getting a lot of attention on the comic websites.

4. Daredevil. The man without fear is riding high, and new writer Andy Diggle should keep him that way in 2010. The story is usually for mature audiences and often reads as a detective/crime novel with pictures. Following in the footsteps of Kevin Smith, Brian Michael Bendis, & Ed Brubaker isn’t easy…..but I believe it will bring out Diggle’s best work to date!

5. The Brave and The Bold. With J. Michael Straczynski taking over as writer, I fully expect this to be one of my favorites for 2010! Sales numbers are in the toilet…..but if you love a good story, or just love JMS than you’ll love this title. I wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed if they cancel this title and then restart it from #1 with JMS as regular writer.

Special Mentions go to Superman and Green Arrow & Black Canary. Both titles are on the brink of disaster, but with good writers on board and “mega-events” coming up in 2010 for both titles, they should be worth reading. Also….Hulk. Despite some fan criticism, the Fall of The Hulks event in 2010 should make this title worth spending the money for.

Top 5 Graphic Novels

This list was extremely difficult to come up with. I wish I could just do a top 100 list….but that would be a lot of typing, and probably get a little boring. I made the list by deciding which five graphic novels I would grab & say belonged to someone else if the IRS took everything I owned.

1. Green Lantern: Rebirth. Written by Geoff Johns, artwork by Ethan Van Sciver. This collection re-introduces Hal Jordan as Green Lantern. I would have bought this on John’s name alone, but also just for the artwork by Van Sciver! A must-read if you’re new to comics or the Green Lantern character.

2. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Written by Jeff Loeb, artwork by Ed McGuinness. The saying goes, “The book is always better than the movie”, and if you liked the DVD S/B: Public Enemies, than you’ll love the book! Loeb tells the story from both Superman’s & Batman’s perspective, and McGuinness’s artwork is top notch! A great read if you don’t collect Supes or Bats monthlies but want to know more about the characters.

3. Planet Hulk. Written by Greg Pak, artwork by various. Soon to be released on DVD, Planet Hulk is a great, original story about the Hulk! Marooned on a distant planet, forced to be a gladiator, the great rebel leader the Green Scar shows the Hulk; not as a mindless monster, but as a calculating and fearless rebel leader. Pak solidified my respect with this collected volume.

4. Identity Crisis. Written by Brad Meltzer, artwork by Rags Morales. This event has me wishing that Meltzer and Morales did more work together! A very mature story involving the violation of one of the Justice League’s wives, a rush to judgement, the death that ensues, and the crumbling of trust and respect among the heroes involved. I actually cried when Batman & Robin are rushing to try and save Robin’s father. This volume brought me back into collecting comics!

5. Superman: Red Son. Written by Mark Millar, artwork by various. Millar tells a wonderfully original story of Superman’s life. Crash landing in the Ukraine instead of Kansas, raised with the ideals of a communist utopia rather than the American Way, protector of the Proletariat! The artwork is fantastic and the Hammer & Sickle replacing the “S” on his chest makes you want to join the communist party.

Special Mentions go to Green Arrow: Quiver (Kevin Smith/Phil Hester), Superman/Batman: Supergirl (Loeb/Michael Turner), & Hip Flask: Unnatural Selection (Richard Starkings & Casey/Ladronn).

Top 5 Comic Book Writers

I thought I would post my Top 5 Comic Book writers. I will be polite and NOT post my top 5 worst writers. They are ranked according to how quickly I’ll pull out my wallet whenever I see their name on a comic book title.

1. Geoff Johns. I absolutely love his style of writing, and his willingness to delve into the minds of Rogues/Villains. He made me love the Flash’s Rogues almost as much as I love the Flash! Same with Sinestro. He seems to be able to weave great short stories into huge “never-saw-it-coming” events that leave my mouth gaping open saying “Whoa!” His list includes: Green Lantern, Flash, JSA, Hawkman, Superman, and the new Flash series “Rebirth” and upcoming new monthly.

2. Jeph Loeb. I love his ability to tell a story from multiple angles. This was never better done than during his Superman/Batman run. He wrote the first 4 volumes of that monthly series, and I still collect them although he no longer writes them…..now that’s a good writer! the Batman trilogy series he wrote was also fantastic. He is currently writing Hulk for Marvel Comics, which has had a lot of bad reviews on the forums….but I like it, and collect the volumes. His list includes: Batman: Haunted Knight, BM: Long Halloween, BM: Dark Victory, Superman/Batman (vol. 1-4), Batman: Hush, & Hulk (Vol. 1 thru present).

3. Grant Morrison. He is different. He has the ability to use little known heroes/villains in new and unique ways that make you love them. A prime example was Aquaman during his JLA run. They started a Aquaman monthly based on the popularity Morrison gave him, then cancelled the monthly when Morrison stopped writing JLA. He didn’t even write the monthly series!! Now that is POWER!! He also is not scared to take characters into new directions. Prime example: Batman. Killed in R.I.P./Final Crisis shocked the comic world! Now, Bruce Wayne Returns will turn the comic world upside down again! His list includes: JLA, All-Star Superman, Final Crisis, Batman, and is currently writing Batman & Robin.

4. J. Michael Straczynski. Creator of Babylon 5 (tv series), screen writer of Changling (starring Angelina Jolie) & Ninja Assassin… also writes Comics! The only Amazing Spiderman I’ve ever collected is what he wrote. The only Thor I’ve ever collected is what he wrote. I am no longer collecting either since he left……enough said. Although I didn’t really get into his independent stuff, he is a great writer who likes to weave long stories over years. However, he has proved recently he is just as adapted to doing “one & dones” as he is telling mega-plots. His list includes: Amazing Spiderman (vol. 1-10, The Other, Civil War, Back in Black, & One More Day), Thor (vol. 1-3), and is currently writing The Brave & The Bold for DC Comics.

5. Richard Starkings. Creator and Writer of the Elephantmen series from Image Comics. As much as I’d love to see him write characters in the big 2, I love that he puts all his best work into probably the best comic series going right now…. Elephantmen! I actually bought Strange Embrace (which I didn’t like & He didn’t write) based solely on his recommendation. I do not hold it against him either…. that is how much I love his work. He also seems to pull the best artists out of thin air to draw his Elephantmen…..making me wonder why DC or Marvel didn’t find them? In a couple years may be at the top of this list. His list includes: Elephantmen (vol. 1-3), Hip Flask (vol. 1 & 2), Elephantmen: War Toys, & E: Damaged Goods.

Special mentions go to Larry Gonick (creator/writer/artist of the Cartoon History of the Universe vol. 1-3, C.H. of The Modern World vol. 1-2, and C.H. of the United States), Kevin Smith (wrote Daredevil, Green Arrow, & Batman: Cacophony), & Mark Millar (Superman: Red Son, & Ultimates).