Another look back at the comics of 2019. Today it’s the 20 worst comics. (Based on books I actually purchased in 2019). ‘Worst’ is subjective, so I understand others’ milage may vary.
1. Avengers: No Road Home #10 (Marvel – 04/17/19) ★
Writer: Mark Waid, Jim Zub & Al Ewing / Art: Sean Izaakse / Colors: Marcio Menyz with Erick Arciniega / Cover: Yasmine Putri
WTF was with that ending? A nine week build up for that? A Marvel homage issue? Terrible. I want my money back.
2. Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1 (Marvel – 08/14/19) ★
Writer: Clay McCleod Chapman / Art: Brian Level / Colors: Erick Arciniega
So many questions. How many symbiots does it take to capture a tween? A bit too cute by half, this one. It’s like they were hardly trying (the writers and the symbiots).
3. Iceman #5 (Marvel – 01/09/19) ★ (Final Issue)
Writer: Sina Grace / Art: Nathan Stockman / Colors: Andreas Mossa & Federico Blee / Cover: W. Scott Forbes
There was a decent story buried in the muck of this book. Poor design and art just killed it. Also, jokes are okay, but the ones in this book are just stupid. Bobby’s an adult, not a tween.
4. Death’s Head #4 (Marvel – 10/30/19) ★
‘Jailbreak’ (Final Issue)
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: Kei Zama / Colors: Felipe Sobreiro / Cover: Nick Roche & Felipe Sobreirp
Underwhelming, rushed and confusing finale for this up and down series. No laughs, no suspense, no real action, just lots and lots of talking. Big disappointment, yes?
5. Venom #15 (Marvel – 06/12/19) ★
‘War of the Realms’ Tie -In
Writer: Cullen Bunn / Art: Iban Coello with Alberto Alburquerque & Roberto Poggi / Colors: Andres Mossa / Cover: Kyle Hotz & Dan Brown
Messy, noisy, subpar book. May be good for regular Venom readers. Not so as a ‘War of the Realms’ tie in. Also Alburquerque’s art ruins any book he touches. Dude’s awful.
6. Legion Of Super-Heroes #1 (DC – 11/06/19) ★
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Art: Ryan Sook & Wade von Grawbadger / Colors: Jordie Bellaire / Cover: Ryan Sook
A jumbled mess. Lots of exposition and characters talking over each other in lame attempts at “youth humor”. I just don’t see a point or need for this book. Also, have I mentioned how much I hate aged up Jon Kent? It’s not working.
7. Captain America #14 (Marvel – 09/25/19) ★
‘The Legend of Steve – Part 2’<br>Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Art: Niko Walter / Colors: Matt Milla / Cover: Alex Ross
A by the book rescue mission with few, if any real surprises. The narrative a was a bit confusing and a bit of an unpleasant read as well. This title continues to stumble along. Not sure how long I plan on sticking with it. (And I collect Cap books).
8. Amazing Spider-Man #16 (Marvel – 02/27/19) ★
‘Hunted – Prelude’
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Ryan Ottley, Alberto Alburquerque & Cliff Rathburn / Colors: Laura Martin, Brian Reber & Carlos Lopez / Cover: Cully Hamner & Justin Ponsor
Still no fan of Ryan Ottley’s art, but Alburquerque’s is some of the worst art I have ever seen. Ruined this book for me.
9. War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men #1 (Marvel – 04/24/19) ★
‘War of the Realms – Part 1 of 3’
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Pere Perez / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: David Yardin
A confusing mess of a battle book. The art makes it difficult to tell who’s speaking, and the whole thing just feels unnecessary.
10. Age of X-Man: Apocalypse and The X-Tracts #1 (Marvel – 03/13/19) ★
Writer: Tim Seeley / Art: Salva Espin / Colors: Israel Silva / Cover: Gerardo Sandoval & Israel Silva
This book made very little sense. The mutants they’re coming up with are basically stupid. Horse Head Girl? Eye Boy? Please. Best thing was the cover.
11. Uncanny X-Men #10 (Marvel – 01/16/19) ★
‘Disassembled – Part 10: Conclusion’
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg, Kelly Thompson & Ed Brisson / Art: Pere Perez / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Roberto Poggi & Jason Keith
Not the most satisfying conclusion to the ‘Disassembled’ story. It’s big, overblown, and has a questionable ending. Please, no more telepaths and Uber-Mutants. They’re boring as hell.
12. Age of X-Man: Alpha (Marvel – 01/30/19) ★
Writer: Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler / Art: Ramon Rosanas / Colors: Triona Farrell / Cover: Phil Noto
An incomprehensible prelude to another Mutant crossover EVENT!. No thank you.
13. Wolverine: Infinity Watch #2 (Marvel – 03/20/19) ★
Writer: Gerry Duggan / Art: Andy MacDonald / Colors: Jordie Bellaire / Cover: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Roberto Poggi & Dean White
No story, just unrelated fight sequences. It ends on something like a story beat, but overall it’s a mess.
14. Uncanny X-Men #14 (Marvel – 03/20/19) ★
‘This Is Forever – Part 4’<br>Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Salvador Larroca / Colors: Guru-eFX / Cover: Salvador Larroca & Rachelle Rosenberg
A muddled, incoherent mess. I couldn’t understand anything that was going on. The final reveal was a plus, but overall this issue was another misfire.
15. Flash #78 (DC – 09/11/19) ★
‘Death and the Speed Force – Part 3’
Writer: Joshua Williamson / Art: Rafa Sandoval & Jordi Tarragona / Colors: Arif Prianto / Cover: Sandoval Tarragona & Tomeu Morey
Less action and more… lots more… talk in this issue. There’s some decent dialog, but overall its a bit of a bore.
16. Domino #10 (Marvel – 01/30/19) ★
‘Soldier of Fortune – Part 4: Conclusion’ (Final Issue)
Writer: Gail Simone / Art: David Baldeon, Michael Shelfer, Alberto Alburquerque & Anthony Piper with Victor Olazaba, Ed Tadeo & Michael Shelfer / Colors: Carlos Lopez / Cover: Gang Hyuk Lim
So Domino ends not with a bang, but with a fizzle. The story tries really hard, but it’s a very unpleasant book to look at. Of the four artists, only Balderon’s work was any good (don’t get me started on Alburquerque). A sad way to go out.
17. Uncanny X-Men #18 (Marvel – 05/15/19) ★
‘We Have Always Been – Part 2’
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Carlos Villa, Juan Vlasco & Craig Yeung / Colors: Guru-eFX / Cover: Whilce Portacio & Erick Arciniega
Taking the murdering mutants theme to the extreme in this one. I fail to see the point of this overly grim storyline.
18. Avengers #17 (Marvel – 03/20/19) ★
‘The Kingdom of Vampires’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: David Marquez / Colors: Erick Arciniega / Cover: David Marquez & Matthew Wilson
A bit of a jumbled mess. What was this story all about? Where’s the resolution? Such a disappointment.
19. Conan the Barbarian #3 (Marvel – 02/06/19) ★
‘The Life & Death of Conan – Part 3: Cimmerians Don’t Pray’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Mahmud Asrar / Colors: Matthew Wilson / Cover: Esad Ribic
The magic’s of the return of Conan is already wearing off a bit, and it’s only the third issue. This was just a straight-up murder-porn story. Nothing to write home about.
20. Year of the Villain #1 (DC – 05/01/19) ★
‘Doom’
Writer: / Scott Snyder / Art: Jim Cheung / Colors: Tomeu Morey‘Leviathan’Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Art: Alex Maleev / Colors:Tomeu Morey
‘Justice’
Writer: James Tynion IV / Art: Francis Manapul / Colors: Francis Manapul / Cover: Greg Capullo & FCO
Big EVENT! kick-off. Another one where all the heroes fight all the villains (sigh). More of a promo than a collection of true stories. It’s all stuff we’ve seen before, dozens of times. Yawn.