The Year of Comic Books in Review - Part Four (April)

So I'm finished with the first quarter of the year, and we've got a total of nine books on the best of 2003 list. To review, here are the contenders so far for "Best Comic Book of 2003 according to Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog": Aquaman Archive Volume One, Aquaman #2, Usagi Yojimbo #63, Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 28, Sandwalk Adventures #5, Astro City: Local Heroes #1, Amelia Rules #9, Crossovers #3, and Aquaman Secret Files 2003. Seems only natural to me that 1/3 would be Aquaman books, but then this is the blog of a major Aquaman fangirl, isn't it?

First contender for April would be PS238 #1. I described this book as being "like discovering a new Astro City or Akiko. Definitely the best book of the year so far." Hyperbole? I'm not sure. This was one of the big surprises for me, as it hit all the right notes.

Crossovers gets another nomination in as issue four was as good or better than issue three. The genres mixed, but the results were not entirely predicatable, which is what made the series so much fun.

The last nomination for April is Superman: Red Son. This was the obvious Elseworlds that hadn't yet been done, and I waited for many years to read it. The first issue did not disappoint.

For an honorable mention this month, I think JLA: Age of Wonder #1 fits. It was an Elseworlds that was about heroes besides Superman and Batman. Beautiful artwork and a solid story made it worth picking up. Oh, and let's mention Powers #30, too, as this was the issue in which everything changed.

So, the nominees for April are: PS238 #1, Crossovers #4, and Superman: Red Son #1.