@@@ 12th ANNUAL @$$IE AWARDS! @@@
Welcome, all, to the 12th Annual AICN COMICS @$$IE AWARDS, where comics best and brightest are recognized for stellar (and sometimes not so stellar) performances in comic bookdom. I’m Mark L. Miller aka Ambush Bug. There was a time when we could fit all of the @$$ies into one lengthy column, but the @$$Holes’ ranks have grown too big for that and the awards have grown in number through the year, so I decided to spread it out all week to post the @$$Holes’ picks for the best of the best in comics. Most awards are given around the turn of the year, but we think ours is kind of special, so while those outside of the know celebrate the time of the Oscar, we here at AICN COMICS celebrate the time of the coveted @$$ie Award. So sit back, crack the knuckles in your browsing hand, and scroll down as the @$$Holes pick the @$$ies!
(Click title to go directly to the category)
Best One-Shot/Annual/Special/Original Graphic Novel!
Favorite Super Team!
Best Artist/Art Team!
Lyzard - ARCHIE VS. SHARKNADO, Archie ComicsThis book wasn’t supposed to be good. I guess Archie didn’t get the memo that the SHARKNADO franchise doesn’t require nor have strong characters and well-crafted jokes. Unlike its filmic counterpart, able to repeat itself in crazier and more ridiculous ways because of a lack of expectations, ARCHIE VERSUS SHARKNADO was quality to begin with thanks to the combination of Archie veteran Dan Parent and the B-movie series own writer/director, Anthony C. Ferrante.
Ambush Bug - IF YOU STEAL Original Graphic Novel, Jason, Fantagraphics BooksI’m going to go out on a limb and guess many of you don’t know who Jason is. He’s a Norwegian artist known for his anthromorphic characters with blank, almost trance-like faces walking around doing sometimes mundane, sometimes dream-like things. IF YOU STEAL is a collection of short stories that star hitmen, Mexican wrestlers, monsters, vampire hunters—all of them with faces of animals. Jason’s stories are out of the ordinary, yet still speak about real issues, vivid emotions, and commonalities despite the bizarre animal-people experiencing them. I have a huge collection of Jason books and if you ever get the urge to step out of the mainstream, I urge you to check out one of them. Any chance I get, I tell folks about Jason’s books and his latest, IF YOU STEAL, is one of his best.
Humphrey Lee – THE SCULPTOR, Scott McCloud, First Second BooksIn typical me fashion, I’m going to kind of co-opt this category for the sake of pimping a self-contained story but, y’know, in big ass Graphic Novel form. “One-shots” don’t show up much in my typical buying habits anyway, though it’s not like life-affirming 400+ page OGNs are a typical occurrence as well. Regardless, if you want exemplary comic book storytelling in “one-shot” then this one time Scott McCloud piece of emotion-charged fiction is one of the best pieces of the medium to be released this past year. It is hands down one of the most effective pieces tale-telling in the comic book format I have read in quite some time and worthy of my skirting our rules here a bit to pimp in these awards.
lionel.putz@gmail.com - HOWARD THE HUMAN, Marvel ComicsI reviewed this book last summer, and I stand by that assessment now: this book has all the joy of a one-shot experience accompanied by amazing, bonkers artwork. I only wish this could be an ongoing title because I’m already bored with the new Howard the Duck.
Vroom Socko - HOPELESS SAVAGES: BREAK, Oni PressIt’s back. It’s been forever since Jen Van Meter last gave us a story about the best punk rock family in comics, and neither she nor the Hopeless-Savages have lost a step. This rock and roll road trip has plenty of the usual complications, but it also has one hell of a message at the core. One about how a family can change, often drastically, often irrevocably, but yet the most important parts never change. The parts that matter. It certainly helps when the family in question is hardcore as fuck.
The Kid Marvel - BATMAN #44, DC ComicsI don’t know if this can technically be considered a one shot but, it really feels like one, sitting directly in between two very long, expansive and massive story driven arcs by Snyder. I know BATMAN #44 is the origins of Bloom but, it just feels disconnected from the rest of the arc. Also to be honest, it’s been a long year and there aren’t any One Shots, Annuals or Specials that directly pop in my mind but, this does. That said, the artwork was excellent, especially using the newspaper clippings with the panels and just in general, Jock was definitely on his game. Plus, the story holds tons of relevance to the current climate of American history and the climate within our society, with that relevance alone helping to give it extra weight.
Masked Man - THANOS: THE INFINITY RELATIVITY, Marvel ComicsAfter some build-up setting the stage, Jim Starlin finally got to it with THANOS: THE INFINITY RELATIVITY.
Thanos and Adam Warlock are back and mixing it up with Annilhulus, plus the Guardians of the Galaxy for extra fun (Gamora and Drax were former Warlock buds). Each character was well showcased, as Thanos and Annilhulus ripped into each, all wrapped up in some good comic book artwork.
And the good news is, it ended on a cliffhanger, so there is more to come.
Masked Man - Conan / Red Sonja, CONAN/RED SONJA, Dark Horse Comics/Dynamite EntertainmentBack in the Marvel days, Conan (by Robert E. Howard) and Red Sonja (by Roy W. Thomas) would meet up all the time. Now a days their licenses are own by different companies and it’s rare for these two walking blenders to meet up. So it was very cool to see Dark Horse and Dynamite strike a deal this year to bring them back together. True be told, not their best team-ups, but they were still my favorite team this year.
Lyzard - SERVING SUPES, Devil’s Due Publishing/1First ComicsThey may not have powers themselves, but Cheech and Clive of Hero Hunters LLC have to be somewhat special (and insane) to risk serving up papers to crazed heroes and villains. The twins are a dynamic duo, though not necessarily a successful one. By dynamic I mean they are entertaining as their polar-opposite attitudes lands them in hot water again and again, resulting in hilarious attempts to survive their troubles and each other.
Ambush Bug - Team Darth Vader, DARTH VADER, Marvel ComicsMore than any other group of characters I enjoy reading in comics these days is the group of outlaws Darth Vader has gathered to sneak around behind the Empire’s back to do his dirty work. The fascinating Dr. Aphra shows how crafty she is by eluding death at the clutched hand of Vader from across the room and still manages to be likable in a Han Solo scallywag sort of way. And the droids, Triple-Zero (0-0-0) and BT-1 (Bee Tee), are amazing as the flipside of the compassionate droids we’ve come to know from the original Trilogy. Triple 0’s love for torture is only equaled by Bee Tee’s love for killing things and their banter is hilarious to witness. All together and lead by the Dark Sith Lord himself, this is one team that is both filled with character and galactically formidable.
Optimous Douche - James Robinson, Greg Hinkle, & Airboy, AIRBOY, Image ComicsI like my heroes like I like my woman, immensely flawed and with immense cocks. While this semi-biographical piece doesn't paint either man in the best light (except for Hinkle's enormous aforementioned cock), it does show how artistic torment can be assuaged by one great person entering your life. The person of greatness in AIRBOY isn't the WWII flying ace, it's each creator teaching the other to get his head out of his own pile of shit. This piece about not every endeavor being a home run was ironically the best work I've seen from both men in awhile. I don't see how I can avoid giving this team accolades when their fiction was more real than 90% of the conversations I have each day.
Lionel Putz - Uncanny Avengers, UNCANNY AVENGERS, Marvel ComicsI don’t really read many team books, so I struggled mightily for an answer here. However, it’s hard for me to not at least be mildly amused by a Deadpool-funded Avengers team, and the Steve Rogers/Deadpool dynamic remains one of the strangest, most satisfying team-ups in comic books. I’m not sure if this book is sustainable, but for the time being, these are my Avengers.
Henry Higgins is My Homeboy – Ghost Racers, GHOST RACERS, Marvel ComicsI love the Ghost Racers so much, and I’m not even a big ghost Rider fan. Robbie Reyes is the closest I’ve ever come to actually caring about him as a concept. But the sheer insanity on display with this team (cowboy centaur Ghost Rider! Cyberpunk Ghost Rider! 70’s Stunt Man Ghost Rider! GORILLA GHOST RIDER!) was one of the most entertaining books I saw all year.
Vroom Socko - X-Men, THE UNCANNY X-MEN, Marvel ComicsPart of me is disappointed that Bendis won’t be the one to give the original Five their resolution.
But he gave one hell of one to the modern-day Cyclops.
And the ride he gave these characters was fun as hell.
So yeah, team of the year.
The Kid Marvel - Andrea Sorrentino, OLD MAN LOGAN, Marvel ComicsSorrentino is by far, by far my favorite artist for 2015. Whatever story he touches is enhanced tenfold. Art is a story telling device, we all know that.
However, the way Sorrentino uses art within panels, on top of the script he’s given, it just gives it new life and could tell a story better than some can with words.
It’s god tier artwork.
Masked Man - Jason Fabok, JUSTICE LEAGUE, DC Comics,br>One of the few bright spots over at DC these days is Jason Fabok, who has been drawing the hell out of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, making the “The Darkseid War” look as awesome as it should be. He has a great sense of superhero flare with great drawing and story telling chops. He has yet to get any serious buzz, but this guy has to be set for stardom.
Lyzard - James Callahan, THE AUTEUR: SISTER BAMBI, Oni PressWhat made James Callahan worthy of Best Artist again was how he continues to find new ways to be visually creative. THE AUTEUR has always been post-modern, with a touch of meta here and there but with SISTER BAMBI #2, especially, he goes nearly full on Looney Tunes with the characters’ interactions with the comic itself, such as their manipulation of the panel layout and speech bubbles for their own service. Callahan always finds a way to create new imagery and while these tricks may have been used in other comic series, it wasn’t a technique yet seen in THE AUTEUR.
Ambush Bug - Russell Dauterman, THE MIGHTY THOR, Marvel ComicsThough I still am not completely sold on She-THOR, now that we know who she is, the story is at least more compelling. But what really draws me to this book is Russell Dauterman’s jaw-dropping art. From an elf attack involving both medieval and modern military to bolts of lightning dancing around Thor as she Uru’s it up, Dauterman is able to fill panels of any size with minuscule detailings and mythic proportions. Every Dauterman issue is filled with panels such as these with nary a weak one in the bunch. I miss the Son of Odin, but I sure like the Daughter of Ma—I mean, Dauterman in his absence.
Optimous Douche - Joelle Jones & Laura Allred, LADY KILLER, Dark Horse ComicsMy @$$ies might feel dialed in this year with another LADY KILLER, but I believe it is simply the cynicism of age. I have read thousands of comics, I need something different to wow me. This is probably unfair to the industry, but I hope it services other jaded readers as well. When Ambush Bug sends out the @$$ie signal I close my eyes to try and remember before I go back through my yearly Podcasts and reviews. LADY KILLER's beauty, perfect encapsulation of Eisenhower America and spot on juxtaposition with blood in Beaver land has stayed seared in my brain now for over a year. Laura Allred makes great comic magic with her husband Mike, but she is a femme fatale of coloring when teamed up with the amazing talents of Joelle Jones.
Humphrey Lee – James Harren, RUMBLE, Image ComicsJames Harren’s art absolutely explodes with creativity and immediately dominated my thought space for this category as I started outlining this piece. I’m not saying it was a complete lock from the get go – we are living in a hell of an era for unique comic book art – but it was definitely an uphill battle for all other comers and eventually they just could not shake my initial leaning toward Harren. What he has been doing on RUMBLE with John Arcudi this past year is just absurd. It’s a visual feast with outstanding energy every damn issue as well as featuring some of the most remarkable and distinct designs pieces on the stands. I would recommend any amount of money being spent on RUMBLE in some form just for the art alone, thankfully it is a fantastic comic from top down; Harren’s art (with proper justice done to it by Dave Stewart’s coloring talents) just takes it to another level.
Lionel Putz - Jim Mahfood, HOWARD THE HUMAN, Marvel ComicsNo other book’s art stuck with me all year quite the way this book’s did.
I’d love to see more from Mahfood in the Marvel Universe.
Henry Higgins is My Homeboy – Ben Caldwell, Mark Morales & Jeremy Lawson, PREZ, DC ComicsPREZ has been fantastic all around, but the art from Ben Caldwell, Mark Morales, and Jeremy Lawson has been a notable stand out.
The way the book is able to juggle creative framing, distinctive characters, and Simpson’s levels of background jokes.
Now it’s time to pick your own @$$ies in the Talkbacks. Thirsty for more @$$ie Awards?
Best Miniseries!
Best Publisher!
Look for more tomorrow when we share our picks for Best Comic Book TV Series, Best Comic Book Character Realized on TV/Film, Best Comic Book Movie, and we look back on the talent we have lost over the last year In Memoriam… See you tomorrow!
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
