Long time watcher and fan of your output. After working in and running a comic-shop on and off for 27 years I was made redundant this year, as such, I've basically dropped off from reading comics almost completely. On the strength of your recommendation I've literally just bought Monsters, and really looking forward to it! Keep up the great work.
Without the guidance of the guys at my local comic store I would not have been exposed to so many great reads. I am sure you helped those at your store the same way. Who knows: maybe you inspired the next Jeff Lemire with your recommendation! Happy holidays.
You’re my number one resource for all things comics, dude. Started watching you when my store went into shutdown at the beginning of Covid. You’re the best and have opened my eyes to so many new things, new stories, new artists. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me with this channel.
This is one of my favorite channels on UA-cam, Chris. I’ve learned so much about the artistry and history of comics since I started watching. You have a gift for this, and are one of the most down-to-earth creators I watch. Thank you for bringing so much of yourself into your creations. I’m happy that you are now able to do this more often and I’m glad to be a patron. Here’s to a great 2022!
this is aa great channel. I was subbed for awhile and didnt realize i had probably watched just one video casually, now im watching way more. Glad a comic book channel not about brainless comic book movies for the normies and about actual comics, and it's damn good
I am so happy someone is talking about Asadora! It’s one of my favorites! Fun fact, an “asadora” in Japanese is a type of serial drama tv show that airs in the morning (“asa”=morning, “dora”/“dorama”=drama) that usually revolves around a young woman growing up and achieving her dreams and falling in love. It’s also usually a star-making machine for the young actress playing the heroine. Usually the heroines in asadora will be achieving their dreams of becoming a manga artist, chef, designer, etc but I love that the heroine of Asadora! is achieving her dream of piloting a plane and defeating a kaiju!
Chris you make some of the most thoughtful and carefully crafted comics videos I've seen. The growth isn't because of us, it's because you care. Thank you.
It started last year, but finished this year, but The Autumnal was probably one of my favourites. Really great 8-issue horror mini-series by Daniel Kraus and Chris Shehan.
Honestly my #1 this year is probably Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one shot “Look Back” . A great self contained story with amazing paneling and just a very relatable storyline.
fujimoto is a genuine dynamo and i can only see him becoming a superstar in the years to come given his output and style thus far. chainsaw man, fire punch, and look back are all incredibly compelling and i can't wait for anything he's got ahead
I have a problem keeping up with newer comics for some reason. I really only like to read things once they are finished so I can read the whole thing at once so for this reason, I mainly stick with older material. That said, I have read some newer stuff: -The Department of Truth: This has amazing art (very Sinkiewicz-like) with an interesting premise. Only time will tell how long they are able to keep it going though. I already feel like I need to reread it to see how much I actually enjoyed it. -Bitter Root: another book with fantastic art (reminds me of Paul Pope) and a great premise, but I’m not so sure the story lives up to it. It’s a bit confusing and not in a good way. While the back matter is good, I often wish it was more directly related to the story and reading it directly after each issue didn’t really help with reinforcing the events of the story which means I probably need to reread the story and not include the back matter next time. -Fantagraphics’ Now Anthology: a real hit and miss collection of art comics. -The Burning Hotels: a graphic novel that piqued my interest dealing with local history of a town in North Carolina. Some great print-making techniques and storytelling but art may not be my cup of tea. -Black Hammer: I recently read this entire thing and I have loved most of it. Some real fun stuff going on but you have to be heavily invested in the history of comics to really understand what the big deal is. The Barbalien: Red Planet mini-series finished this year and it was one of the best things to come out from this series. It was a Martian Manhunter story set in the time of the 80s AIDS epidemic. The Library Editions are really nice as well. -Ice Cream Man: this book seems a little overhyped for me. I wish there was more focus on the mythology behind the Ice Cream Man, which little has been shown so far. Still need to check out Haha. -Cyclopedia Exotica: this book surprised me and I liked it more than I thought I would. I’m still not sure of its shelf life and if I will revisit it but it was good on a first read. Besides Black Hammer, I mainly wanted to like this stuff more than I actually do. My favorite books I got this year were not things that were released this year at all. The two big ones for me were the Out of Print Taschen XXL Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland and Forgotten Fantasy: Sunday Comics 1900-1915. Both are collections of old Sunday newspaper comic strips but both are absolutely gorgeous in an oversized format. They’re like looking at a lovingly-preserved time capsule of the past by master artists. Another thing I spent most of the year reading was Swamp Thing volumes 1 and 2, totalling around 200 issues and I had fun with a lot of it with the highlight being the Alan Moore-written run (of course.) I had read the Moore run in the past so it was fun checking out the issues that came before and after. I cannot really recommend the Crisis on Infinite Earths event that happened in the middle of his run though. Most of that is just not for me.
RE: Bitter Root -- I had a similar experience when I picked it up when the first couple issues came out. I loved the art - I'm a sucker for comics with black people in them - but the story and to some extent the writing as a whole just didn't do enough to captivate me.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you. I have discovered a lot of really good stories and amazing art through this channel. Hardly anywhere else you can learn so much about comic history. I'm really happy that you made it through and are doing well again. The higher number of videos is a true gift from you. Thank you very much.
Man, I’m so happy to hear you came out of a tough time feeling creatively invigorated! I love your videos and your work has been one the best parts of my year.
I just recently got back into comic books, largely due to your channel. I've been too busy catching up on the last 30 years or so to read anything that new, but now you've gotten me excited to read some new stuff. Thank you so much! 🙂
Out of the dozens of comic UA-camrs I’ve watched you’ve become one of if not my favorite. And I discovered your page less than a week ago, since then I have watched like 50 of your videos. Your videos are entertaining packed with new information and perfectly paced. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for 2022.
This years beta ray bill is actually what got me into modern comics. I only used to read comics when I used to live with my dad but now I’m getting my own and I’m so happy about it. It’s ironic cause another comic I read recently was Wonder Woman dead earth and writer/artist is the same for beta ray bill.
Props to you on making lifestyle choices that will hopefully improve your overall health situation! I recently stumbled onto your channel, becoming a subscriber soon after discovering your videos. I've binged a lot of them over my holiday break. Wishing you the best for the balance of this year and a prosperous 2022!
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is so good. After watching this last night I grabbed the whole 5 issue series on ComiXology and blew through it and then woke my wife up and made her read it. It’s really well done and a great recommend for both comic fans and non-fans(especially those who think comics are all just super heroes)
Been watching for over two years now, thanks for what you do, I'm glad to hear about things going well for you. The channel is getting better and better!
Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto (fire punch, chainsaw man) was a great 120ish pg one shot that was way more accessible than his other works (even though I like them both, they can be hard to recommend to just anybody)
Congratulations on your health and success. I want to give a suggestion for one of the best comics of the year: The City of Belgium by Brecht Evans. Drawn & Quarterly seem to be a fringe publisher these days, they don't put out much that makes waves. But this book was a beaut. The story is a little obtuse and took me a little while to click, but the art carries the thing. Water-inks, like a more controlled watercolor. Hand-lettered. And prismatic design. Absolutely as gorgeous as anything I saw this year.
My favorite comic (that I read) in 2021 was Gideon Falls. I normally prefer manga in terms of story telling because I find that western comics tend to pace things too fast for my liking, but Gideon Falls really takes its time to set up an interesting mystery, and the artwork is honestly the best I've seen in western comics in a while. I especially LOVE the symbolism of the color red. Please check it out if you haven't already! Also, I look forward to another year of your channel! You have truly taught me a lot about comics and I am definately a huge fan of what you do!
Hey, I just wanted to say that I just came across your channel this morning and I’ve been going through a handful of your videos. Obviously I haven’t had time to do a deep dive, but this is a great channel you have and really feels like a breath of fresh air. I’ve been an on and off comic reader my whole life. When I was young in the early 2000s I didn’t have any comic shops around so I relied on the VERY VERY infrequent times that I could find something comic book-y in a big chain store or in a book fair at school and would read random issues and arcs to death but never knew how to follow for more. Obviously as I’ve gotten older and it’s just generally become easier to access things I began to read a bit more, but had already gotten in the habit of seeing the comic characters as the things in the movies (the MCU either hadn’t started or was just starting so mostly just the X-Men, Nolan Batman, Raimi Spider-man, and Story Fantastic Four movies) and “that was good enough for me to act like I knew everything”. So at best I would still only read like wiki articles about stories which, good for summary obviously not for actually getting stories. It hasn’t been but the last 6-7 years that I ACTUALLY started reading and following comics and even then between the cost, my own issues, and general life busyness I have wavered in and out with actually reading what I buy. I attempted to join a few communities on various social networks and such but usually the toxicity of some of the attitudes ran me off and made me not like comics so I’m only now trying to get find a new community to talk comics without constantly feeling like I’m needing to prove my knowledge and fandom. Reddit and UA-cam are basically my only ties to a comic community or social media at all and even then it often feels like shouting into a void of toxicity. However, your channel from what I can tell isn’t that, or at the very least you make an obvious effort to steer away from that and it feels so good to find channels that 1) Upload consistently, 2) The creator puts in effort, to be knowledgeable and/or entertaining 3) The creator feels like they care about comics and aren’t just doing it for money and pumping out videos on topics they don’t Care about and 4) Seem to be knowledgeable about their topics and open to discussions where possible instead of just carrying a “I know more so you’re listening to me and what I say is gospel even when factually and verifiably incorrect/mistaken. I know you mentioned that you had a scary run in with Covid and that can obviously change a person’s priorities so maybe you weren’t always that way (I haven’t went back far enough yet to get an idea) but it’s nice to see that you are that way now. I’m definitely going to be looking into supporting your Patreon and channel as a whole in any way possible in the new year, but at this moment I wanted to say hi, and thank you for what you do with making comics and the comic fandom more open and inclusive to everyone as well as accessible. Congrats on your success so far and may it continue to roll on. All fandoms, and especially comics, need more people like you.
Thank you for all you do Chris! I've been collecting comics more frequently the past 2 years. You've taught me a lot about creators and technique. Your videos are always a blast to watch. So informative and well made. Looking forward to what you'll do in 2022!
Thank you from New Zealand. Your videos are the 100% the best amongst those that deal with comics for three reasons… you credibly research (and don’t regurgitate a Wikipedia blog), you don’t blatantly rip off a comic’s content by repeating it frame-by-frame, and you’re the sole person I’ve ever come across to flesh out the underlying technicalities of producing a comic. As a draftsman I really appreciate that. I would really appreciate a video where I hear your views on UA-cam videos that republish the entity of comic books as to me that seems blatant copyright theft, even when there’s edits made or texts blanked (I have never seen one say a proportion of the video’s money profits will go back to the comic writers / artists / inkers etc. Thank you for your massive integrity in what you do and good luck for 2022… … Glyn’s top tip for next year, have a read of Batman year 200… classic!
Thanks for giving me something new to read and look forward too, I've almost given up on reading and collecting comics, tired of all the drama, so I'm always looking for something different to catch my imagination, aswell as finding new artists to follow, being an artist myself, I'm so glad I found this channel.
I read almost all the books in your 2020 list and i enjoyed them. I will do the same with your 2021 list. Keep up the good work. Let's hope for a better new year for all the world...
It’s so nice to have a channel that doesn’t just summarize comics and review releases. I’m not hating on those that do, but this channel is so fascinating. I hope this year is even better for you.
Congrats on your success this year. I really love this channel, there's a reason its the only channel I support. I'm not sure if you've had an experience with it, but I was wondering if you're ever going to deep dive into Stormwatch? it went from a cheesy 90's comic to a solid foundation for a lot of the tropes you find today. it kept evolving and trying over and over again to stay on the map in ways that weren't always cringe-inducing. I think it would not only be interesting to hear your thoughts but it might be a crazy ride.
Chris, your channel is great. You are a clear-eyed and fair reviewer of all kinds of comics, and give equal time to story and aesthetics in a very compelling way. Please keep it up!
Love your channel. I was watching your older episode on licensed comics, and I thought it might be interesting to cover the continuity issues created when the company (and I’m speaking mostly of Marvel here) loses the license! Micronauts, Shogun Warriors, Rom, and Godzilla we’re all entwined in the Marvel continuity and then just vanished, and Marvel can’t use them! I know the Godzilla storyline was wrapped up, and Marvel still uses Spaceknights, Dire Wraiths, and the Microverse. So what can’t they use?
So glad to know you recovered after your serious bout with covid. You’re easily my favorite comic analyst and comic yt channel. Looking forward to your comic book.
What a great list! Def some ones on here I need to check out, but I agree with Monsters. Never felt gravity like that from a story and a want to turn away while reading such an engrossing work. Can’t wait to see what’s coming in 2022! Thank you for giving us your time and care.
Thank you for this list. I plan on picking up Monsters and the Ed Gein books in the next few weeks thanks to your recommendations. Thanks for the content this year, even with what you went through, and I look forward to what you provide for us in 2022.
Never commented before, but hearing the announcement toward the end of the video I feel like I should!! Just recently started watching/binging your stuff and I really dig it! So glad you decided to push harder on YT bc your videos have really sparked an interest in comics for me! Keep up the good content ❤️
I found myself reading "Superman and the Authority". It caught my attention because I miss Wildstorm characters and the premise of a nerfed Superman recruiting to characters like Manchester Black is intriguing
I just discovered this channel a few weeks ago and I *love* your channel. My ComiXology account is exploding because of your content. I can’t wait to see what you have in the next year and in the future. Hearing you mention creating your own comics is really exciting! Keep up the good work!
i’m new here but i wanted to say i love how you include manga in your list as well as well as traditional comics. i think both forms have a lot in common/merits and i have friends who are well versed in manga but have never touched a comic and vice versa. it’s nice to see other people that aren’t harshly in one camp or the other
because life is so busy these are always a welcomed summary of the year for me on what comics to get and what I should not miss, hands down the best comics related channel on youtube
Glad you got through your health scare. Please make comics. Your love and understanding of this medium can only lead to wonderful things. They won't be perfect (I say that because "it has to be perfect" is a creative killer) but they will be fully yours and something new you bring in the world.
honestly Christ I love your sponsorships, I've bought every thing you've recommended and it's all been useful and stimulating, thank you for recommending such wonderful products
Thanks for recommending Monsters. I was a bit rushed in my latest video and didn't get to fully discuss it, but this wasn't something that would have been on my radar without your recommendation. Really enjoyed how the story unfolded and how all the characters ended up being connected. I think this will definitely be a book studied in University comic courses in years to come.
Monsters is simply incredible. One of the greatest graphic novels ever made, even if the story isn’t your thing the craft is unbelievable. Best of luck in 2022 Chris, can’t wait to follow your progress this coming year!
I love your videos man and excited to read new comics for the next year. The Immortal Hulk is my favorite comic book of the year, thanks for all your content.
Love your show Chris! So great to see things come good for you and your channel. Someone with the skills, near enough should come and give you a hand fixing your lighting and audio a little, it wouldn't take much.
If you’re making some comicbooks I can’t wait to read them. As good an artist as you are(I’ve seen your live streams) I don’t know why you aren’t already heavily involved in the comics industry.
I shouted out Monster on your Patreon, and I agree with your take. I think about it often. Thank you so much for a great year! Your videos always raise my spirits
13:23 I definitely recommend Far Sector. Some interesting themes like hope and grief, wrapped in an intriguing mystery set in a vibrant, original fantasy world. Here are some others from years past I discovered this year that shouldn’t be ignored: - Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles: When I first heard that a comic existed in which a pink lion from the golden age of Hanna-Barbera was rebooted as a gay playwright fighting McCarthyism and homophobia in 1950s America, I thought “that’s weird”. Little did I know that it’s one of the most beautiful and emotional things I’ve read in a long time. -Gotham Central: This is everything I wanted in a Batman comic and more. Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka team up to create a GCPD bullpen stocked with beautifully flawed characters, and much of my enjoyment came from observing how the chaos they face on a weekly basis influences their relationships. Also, Michael Lark provides some great art. -X-Men: Age of Apocalypse: Sometimes, you need a break from high art. Look no further than AoA, a creative and intense overhaul of all the 90s X-titles. The event has the high-octane 90s flavor, but the spectacle possesses a sense of purpose and gravity that was lacking at the time. - Honorable mention: Elfquest: Definitely worth a look. Fun fantasy mixed with some good character work, represented by timeless, smooth inking. I can’t recommend it as much because the plot and pacing is not so good at times, but still worth a shot. I recommend reading it online for free, as it’s less of a commitment than buying the compendium-sized collection Dark Horse is putting out these days. Hope this helps some of you!
You and Cartoonist Kayfabe are the best comic channels. Looking forward to Pros and Cons tonight. I missed the last few live feeds but hopefully I'll be there tonight
Glad you're feeling better, Chris! Barbaric is my rec! Beautiful art and great dialogue. D&D barbarian cursed to do good deeds with a literal, blood-thirsty, talking axe. Reminds me of Rat Queens, but just a bit more amputations and nudity.
Ultramega and Immortal Hulk were my favorite comics from this year. Love you Chris, wish you the best in your plans for next year, greetings from Chile!
I'm happy that you read manga along with American comics. I've heard of others not reading them at all because of the art style and their own opinions on the tropes of manga storytelling. Thank you for being open minded and having great taste!
Thanks for the recommendations, Chris. Added a couple to my list to consider in the future. As some one who exclusively reads tpbs/hardcovers and years behind on Marvel/DC due to a stint of having the finances of a full time student I haven't read much of anything first published in 2021 or even 2020 really. A couple recent enough books I would recommend are DC/Black Label's Harleen which got a hardcover this year is a great retelling of Harley Quinn's origins. And Department of Truth is one of my favourite things I've been reading. Also you're totally right about Immortal Hulk, even if I am like 2 years behind you.
I absolutely love Asadora- such an awesome spirit behind that book and wonderful storytelling. I am really excited to check out a bunch of the recommendations you made in this video- it’s like bonus Christmas!
Chris, this is not a criticism of the content, but please check your camera focus settings - you've been "fuzzy" for the last few episodes. Thank you for the great work
Thank you for all the work you put into this channel. There are so many great comics that you've introduced me and my friends to. I'm sorry to hear about the past health troubles, and I'm glad you're here to give us all this fantastic content.
Just started enjoying the content on your channel. I spend most of my time in a gaming bubble so it's nice to just tune into someone who loves another medium so much and get high off of their passion. Love your stuff!
Well if I had to make a top 10 list for UA-cam channels I’ve found this year, I can say without a doubt that comic tropes is my #1! I mean I bought my first two comics this year and I’m so amped for the reading to come. Love you man :)
I appreciate that something I read and enjoyed made it to at least a runner up. I really enjoyed the "Stray Dogs", but I acknowledge that with my Asperger's I have a bias toward animals and canids (dogs) in general. Did you know that the artist for this was one of the artists for IDW's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic did the art for this? I loved the Disney-esc style. I also started Demon Days, but forgot to tell my comic shop to continue to put it in my pull, and missed out on the rest. (I'm a bit burnt out on Marvel, but this one had an appeal to me) I'm glad you reviewed it a little and encouraged me to give it a second look.
I’m a huge Marvel fan so that’s what I mostly read, but u opened my eyes to some new stuff. The art in The Many Deaths of Laila Star looks awesome, I want to check it out now.
I definitely agree with Monsters at number 1. It was my favourite as well. Others on my (not top ten) list are Ice Cream Man, Parasomnia, Made in Korea, You Promised Me Darkness, The Picture of Everything Else, Lucky Devil. Happy New Year, Chris! Looking forward to everything you create in 2022. All the best.
Man I am such a huge fan of yours and have been for a while, it’s good to see you kicking ass and making your way, I really hope things will start and continue to thrive man. We all appreciate your hard work and commitment to making quality content and your ability to make days better.
I'm really glad that your health is in good shape, Chris! I've been watching for a couple years I believe, and you have one of the most pleasant, relaxing, and interesting channels I've been subscribed to, so my heart dropped a bit when you said you had a health scare. Here's to a better 2022! And I will try to pick up Monsters, especially since The Immortal Hulk has been a comic run I've really enjoyed.
Glad that you were able to recover from Covid and that you seem to be in good health. Best of luck with all your endeavors and with everything you want to achieve.
The comic I most remember from this year is one that is absent this year because it went on a hiatus, and how it happend, Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous). I really hope that the mangaka will resume publication after one year and not abuse this "meta-narrative".
Don't know if you're gonna read this, but having a new one of your videos show up in my home screen automatically improves my day. Have a great 2022, cheers!!
Thank you for this list. Definitely some stuff I need to hunt down. And I'm glad your channel is growing, I think you're by far my fave comics YT. Always informative, funny and balanced, all presented in a non-annoying fashion (not loud, screaming, laughing at your own jokes, hype words). Love.
I never am down with these best of lists....decided to check this video out and theres some great ones mentioned. You've convinced me to finally get Monsters.
I love your list! There were a few things I may have overlooked, so off I go to discover them! The two books I enjoyed the most were Gieger and Nice House on the Lake. Suicide Squad and Daredevil also had really fun runs this last year.
this channel is amazing, I just want you to know your hardwork and passion has not gone unnoticed by me. I've never been a comic books kind of guy, but after bingeing your videos I decided to grab a Marvel Unlimited subscription and am finally giving this medium a go. I've got a lot of time on my hands lately thanks to being stuck in quarantine, haha. So thanks again for igniting that spark of interest for me and keep up the excellent work my friend.
Thanks for the great video! Glad you're doing better! The Good Asian is amazing! As was Immortal Hulk. I would also add Hollow Heart to the list - superb comic!
I'm reading Eddy Gein Done tonight. I was wondering about monsters. I shall now check it out. I love, Nocterra, Batman Reptilian, Gung Ho and of course something killing the children. Your posts on Shane's Tuesday auction are great. Glad you're doing better now. Stay healthy.
It took me until the end of the year to finally read Monsters and I'm only kicking myself in the ass now because this was sooo Good. 10.) I Walk with Monsters by Paul Cornell and Sally Cantrino 9.) Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennent 8.) The Swamp Thing by Ram.V and Mike Perkins 7.) Sensor by Junji Ito 6.) X-Ray Robot by Mike and Laura Allred 5.) The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus and Chris Sheridan 4.) Ultra Mega by James Harren 3.)The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Felipe Andrade 2.) Beta Ray Bill by Daniel Warren Johnson 1.) Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith
Congrats on your success this year Chris. Excited to see what you accomplish in 2022 and how you inspire others to pursue their dreams. Thank you!
He needs to apologize for his racist skin color, or he will feel our wrath & dehumanization
@@drowningin lmao waiting for someone to try to start this on Twitter
Long time watcher and fan of your output. After working in and running a comic-shop on and off for 27 years I was made redundant this year, as such, I've basically dropped off from reading comics almost completely. On the strength of your recommendation I've literally just bought Monsters, and really looking forward to it!
Keep up the great work.
You have value, Sid. Stay strong and when you need a break, there will always be some good comics to read.
Without the guidance of the guys at my local comic store I would not have been exposed to so many great reads. I am sure you helped those at your store the same way. Who knows: maybe you inspired the next Jeff Lemire with your recommendation! Happy holidays.
gonna have to check it out now
Stay strong and keep reading! God bless you, sir.
"If I know my audience, you're really old." Thanks, Chris. 😅 Immortal Hulk, Beta Ray Bill, and Juggernaut were three of my favorite books of 2021.
Issue 50 of Immortal Hulk reminded me why I still read comics.
Me a 34 year old" welp he is right".
@@Redskull1411 shush it kid!
@@Redskull1411 Ha! I wish I was still 34
You’re my number one resource for all things comics, dude. Started watching you when my store went into shutdown at the beginning of Covid. You’re the best and have opened my eyes to so many new things, new stories, new artists. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me with this channel.
This is one of my favorite channels on UA-cam, Chris. I’ve learned so much about the artistry and history of comics since I started watching. You have a gift for this, and are one of the most down-to-earth creators I watch. Thank you for bringing so much of yourself into your creations. I’m happy that you are now able to do this more often and I’m glad to be a patron. Here’s to a great 2022!
this is aa great channel. I was subbed for awhile and didnt realize i had probably watched just one video casually, now im watching way more. Glad a comic book channel not about brainless comic book movies for the normies and about actual comics, and it's damn good
I am so happy someone is talking about Asadora! It’s one of my favorites!
Fun fact, an “asadora” in Japanese is a type of serial drama tv show that airs in the morning (“asa”=morning, “dora”/“dorama”=drama) that usually revolves around a young woman growing up and achieving her dreams and falling in love. It’s also usually a star-making machine for the young actress playing the heroine.
Usually the heroines in asadora will be achieving their dreams of becoming a manga artist, chef, designer, etc but I love that the heroine of Asadora! is achieving her dream of piloting a plane and defeating a kaiju!
Chris you make some of the most thoughtful and carefully crafted comics videos I've seen. The growth isn't because of us, it's because you care. Thank you.
It started last year, but finished this year, but The Autumnal was probably one of my favourites. Really great 8-issue horror mini-series by Daniel Kraus and Chris Shehan.
I've been thinking of picking this one up, and you just convinced me 🙂
Honestly my #1 this year is probably Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one shot “Look Back” . A great self contained story with amazing paneling and just a very relatable storyline.
Definitely the peak of his artwork so far, and the character is very relatable too
fujimoto is a genuine dynamo and i can only see him becoming a superstar in the years to come given his output and style thus far. chainsaw man, fire punch, and look back are all incredibly compelling and i can't wait for anything he's got ahead
I'm glad we've got other comics publishers out there that give us so many interesting stories in different genres.
I have a problem keeping up with newer comics for some reason. I really only like to read things once they are finished so I can read the whole thing at once so for this reason, I mainly stick with older material.
That said, I have read some newer stuff:
-The Department of Truth: This has amazing art (very Sinkiewicz-like) with an interesting premise. Only time will tell how long they are able to keep it going though. I already feel like I need to reread it to see how much I actually enjoyed it.
-Bitter Root: another book with fantastic art (reminds me of Paul Pope) and a great premise, but I’m not so sure the story lives up to it. It’s a bit confusing and not in a good way. While the back matter is good, I often wish it was more directly related to the story and reading it directly after each issue didn’t really help with reinforcing the events of the story which means I probably need to reread the story and not include the back matter next time.
-Fantagraphics’ Now Anthology: a real hit and miss collection of art comics.
-The Burning Hotels: a graphic novel that piqued my interest dealing with local history of a town in North Carolina. Some great print-making techniques and storytelling but art may not be my cup of tea.
-Black Hammer: I recently read this entire thing and I have loved most of it. Some real fun stuff going on but you have to be heavily invested in the history of comics to really understand what the big deal is. The Barbalien: Red Planet mini-series finished this year and it was one of the best things to come out from this series. It was a Martian Manhunter story set in the time of the 80s AIDS epidemic. The Library Editions are really nice as well.
-Ice Cream Man: this book seems a little overhyped for me. I wish there was more focus on the mythology behind the Ice Cream Man, which little has been shown so far. Still need to check out Haha.
-Cyclopedia Exotica: this book surprised me and I liked it more than I thought I would. I’m still not sure of its shelf life and if I will revisit it but it was good on a first read.
Besides Black Hammer, I mainly wanted to like this stuff more than I actually do. My favorite books I got this year were not things that were released this year at all. The two big ones for me were the Out of Print Taschen XXL Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland and Forgotten Fantasy: Sunday Comics 1900-1915. Both are collections of old Sunday newspaper comic strips but both are absolutely gorgeous in an oversized format. They’re like looking at a lovingly-preserved time capsule of the past by master artists. Another thing I spent most of the year reading was Swamp Thing volumes 1 and 2, totalling around 200 issues and I had fun with a lot of it with the highlight being the Alan Moore-written run (of course.) I had read the Moore run in the past so it was fun checking out the issues that came before and after. I cannot really recommend the Crisis on Infinite Earths event that happened in the middle of his run though. Most of that is just not for me.
RE: Bitter Root -- I had a similar experience when I picked it up when the first couple issues came out. I loved the art - I'm a sucker for comics with black people in them - but the story and to some extent the writing as a whole just didn't do enough to captivate me.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you. I have discovered a lot of really good stories and amazing art through this channel. Hardly anywhere else you can learn so much about comic history. I'm really happy that you made it through and are doing well again. The higher number of videos is a true gift from you. Thank you very much.
Man, I’m so happy to hear you came out of a tough time feeling creatively invigorated! I love your videos and your work has been one the best parts of my year.
I just recently got back into comic books, largely due to your channel. I've been too busy catching up on the last 30 years or so to read anything that new, but now you've gotten me excited to read some new stuff. Thank you so much! 🙂
Out of the dozens of comic UA-camrs I’ve watched you’ve become one of if not my favorite. And I discovered your page less than a week ago, since then I have watched like 50 of your videos. Your videos are entertaining packed with new information and perfectly paced. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for 2022.
This years beta ray bill is actually what got me into modern comics. I only used to read comics when I used to live with my dad but now I’m getting my own and I’m so happy about it. It’s ironic cause another comic I read recently was Wonder Woman dead earth and writer/artist is the same for beta ray bill.
Props to you on making lifestyle choices that will hopefully improve your overall health situation! I recently stumbled onto your channel, becoming a subscriber soon after discovering your videos. I've binged a lot of them over my holiday break. Wishing you the best for the balance of this year and a prosperous 2022!
Going to have to check out these books. My personal favorites this year are; The Nice House on the Lake, Radient Black, and Echo Lands.
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is so good. After watching this last night I grabbed the whole 5 issue series on ComiXology and blew through it and then woke my wife up and made her read it. It’s really well done and a great recommend for both comic fans and non-fans(especially those who think comics are all just super heroes)
Been watching for over two years now, thanks for what you do, I'm glad to hear about things going well for you. The channel is getting better and better!
Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto (fire punch, chainsaw man) was a great 120ish pg one shot that was way more accessible than his other works (even though I like them both, they can be hard to recommend to just anybody)
We all adore you, Chris! For us comic book lovers, your channel contributes with so much joy. Happy new year!
Congratulations on your health and success.
I want to give a suggestion for one of the best comics of the year: The City of Belgium by Brecht Evans. Drawn & Quarterly seem to be a fringe publisher these days, they don't put out much that makes waves. But this book was a beaut. The story is a little obtuse and took me a little while to click, but the art carries the thing. Water-inks, like a more controlled watercolor. Hand-lettered. And prismatic design. Absolutely as gorgeous as anything I saw this year.
My favorite comic (that I read) in 2021 was Gideon Falls. I normally prefer manga in terms of story telling because I find that western comics tend to pace things too fast for my liking, but Gideon Falls really takes its time to set up an interesting mystery, and the artwork is honestly the best I've seen in western comics in a while. I especially LOVE the symbolism of the color red. Please check it out if you haven't already!
Also, I look forward to another year of your channel! You have truly taught me a lot about comics and I am definately a huge fan of what you do!
Hey, I just wanted to say that I just came across your channel this morning and I’ve been going through a handful of your videos. Obviously I haven’t had time to do a deep dive, but this is a great channel you have and really feels like a breath of fresh air.
I’ve been an on and off comic reader my whole life. When I was young in the early 2000s I didn’t have any comic shops around so I relied on the VERY VERY infrequent times that I could find something comic book-y in a big chain store or in a book fair at school and would read random issues and arcs to death but never knew how to follow for more. Obviously as I’ve gotten older and it’s just generally become easier to access things I began to read a bit more, but had already gotten in the habit of seeing the comic characters as the things in the movies (the MCU either hadn’t started or was just starting so mostly just the X-Men, Nolan Batman, Raimi Spider-man, and Story Fantastic Four movies) and “that was good enough for me to act like I knew everything”. So at best I would still only read like wiki articles about stories which, good for summary obviously not for actually getting stories. It hasn’t been but the last 6-7 years that I ACTUALLY started reading and following comics and even then between the cost, my own issues, and general life busyness I have wavered in and out with actually reading what I buy. I attempted to join a few communities on various social networks and such but usually the toxicity of some of the attitudes ran me off and made me not like comics so I’m only now trying to get find a new community to talk comics without constantly feeling like I’m needing to prove my knowledge and fandom. Reddit and UA-cam are basically my only ties to a comic community or social media at all and even then it often feels like shouting into a void of toxicity. However, your channel from what I can tell isn’t that, or at the very least you make an obvious effort to steer away from that and it feels so good to find channels that 1) Upload consistently, 2) The creator puts in effort, to be knowledgeable and/or entertaining 3) The creator feels like they care about comics and aren’t just doing it for money and pumping out videos on topics they don’t Care about and 4) Seem to be knowledgeable about their topics and open to discussions where possible instead of just carrying a “I know more so you’re listening to me and what I say is gospel even when factually and verifiably incorrect/mistaken. I know you mentioned that you had a scary run in with Covid and that can obviously change a person’s priorities so maybe you weren’t always that way (I haven’t went back far enough yet to get an idea) but it’s nice to see that you are that way now.
I’m definitely going to be looking into supporting your Patreon and channel as a whole in any way possible in the new year, but at this moment I wanted to say hi, and thank you for what you do with making comics and the comic fandom more open and inclusive to everyone as well as accessible. Congrats on your success so far and may it continue to roll on. All fandoms, and especially comics, need more people like you.
So refreshing to see someone who actually reads and enjoys comics.
Thank you for all you do Chris! I've been collecting comics more frequently the past 2 years. You've taught me a lot about creators and technique. Your videos are always a blast to watch. So informative and well made. Looking forward to what you'll do in 2022!
Can't believe I've been watching this channel for two years
Thank you for making my love for comics grow
Thank you from New Zealand. Your videos are the 100% the best amongst those that deal with comics for three reasons… you credibly research (and don’t regurgitate a Wikipedia blog), you don’t blatantly rip off a comic’s content by repeating it frame-by-frame, and you’re the sole person I’ve ever come across to flesh out the underlying technicalities of producing a comic. As a draftsman I really appreciate that. I would really appreciate a video where I hear your views on UA-cam videos that republish the entity of comic books as to me that seems blatant copyright theft, even when there’s edits made or texts blanked (I have never seen one say a proportion of the video’s money profits will go back to the comic writers / artists / inkers etc. Thank you for your massive integrity in what you do and good luck for 2022…
… Glyn’s top tip for next year, have a read of Batman year 200… classic!
Thanks for giving me something new to read and look forward too, I've almost given up on reading and collecting comics, tired of all the drama, so I'm always looking for something different to catch my imagination, aswell as finding new artists to follow, being an artist myself, I'm so glad I found this channel.
I read almost all the books in your 2020 list and i enjoyed them. I will do the same with your 2021 list. Keep up the good work. Let's hope for a better new year for all the world...
It’s so nice to have a channel that doesn’t just summarize comics and review releases. I’m not hating on those that do, but this channel is so fascinating. I hope this year is even better for you.
Congrats on your success this year. I really love this channel, there's a reason its the only channel I support. I'm not sure if you've had an experience with it, but I was wondering if you're ever going to deep dive into Stormwatch? it went from a cheesy 90's comic to a solid foundation for a lot of the tropes you find today. it kept evolving and trying over and over again to stay on the map in ways that weren't always cringe-inducing. I think it would not only be interesting to hear your thoughts but it might be a crazy ride.
Chris, your channel is great. You are a clear-eyed and fair reviewer of all kinds of comics, and give equal time to story and aesthetics in a very compelling way. Please keep it up!
Blood on the Tracks is my favorite of this year, definitely worth checking out and becomes a scary read later on
Love your channel. I was watching your older episode on licensed comics, and I thought it might be interesting to cover the continuity issues created when the company (and I’m speaking mostly of Marvel here) loses the license! Micronauts, Shogun Warriors, Rom, and Godzilla we’re all entwined in the Marvel continuity and then just vanished, and Marvel can’t use them! I know the Godzilla storyline was wrapped up, and Marvel still uses Spaceknights, Dire Wraiths, and the Microverse. So what can’t they use?
So glad to know you recovered after your serious bout with covid. You’re easily my favorite comic analyst and comic yt channel. Looking forward to your comic book.
We are truly fortunate to keep enjoying your superior and entertaining analysis. We can feel your high quality love for comics.
Congrats on your success. So glad you made it through your battle with Covid. I had it about the same time. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.
That beta ray bill comic sounds like Scott pilgrim mixed with star wars Norse mythology and a bit of flcl I'm definitely going to check it out
What a great list! Def some ones on here I need to check out, but I agree with Monsters. Never felt gravity like that from a story and a want to turn away while reading such an engrossing work.
Can’t wait to see what’s coming in 2022! Thank you for giving us your time and care.
Thank you for this list. I plan on picking up Monsters and the Ed Gein books in the next few weeks thanks to your recommendations. Thanks for the content this year, even with what you went through, and I look forward to what you provide for us in 2022.
Never commented before, but hearing the announcement toward the end of the video I feel like I should!! Just recently started watching/binging your stuff and I really dig it! So glad you decided to push harder on YT bc your videos have really sparked an interest in comics for me! Keep up the good content ❤️
I found myself reading "Superman and the Authority". It caught my attention because I miss Wildstorm characters and the premise of a nerfed Superman recruiting to characters like Manchester Black is intriguing
I just discovered this channel a few weeks ago and I *love* your channel. My ComiXology account is exploding because of your content. I can’t wait to see what you have in the next year and in the future. Hearing you mention creating your own comics is really exciting! Keep up the good work!
I could use some shower renovations. Thank you much for the recommendation.
I remember when this channel was still called skunkape, what a crazy and interresting ride it has been so far, keep up the good work
i’m new here but i wanted to say i love how you include manga in your list as well as well as traditional comics. i think both forms have a lot in common/merits and i have friends who are well versed in manga but have never touched a comic and vice versa. it’s nice to see other people that aren’t harshly in one camp or the other
because life is so busy these are always a welcomed summary of the year for me on what comics to get and what I should not miss, hands down the best comics related channel on youtube
Glad you got through your health scare. Please make comics. Your love and understanding of this medium can only lead to wonderful things. They won't be perfect (I say that because "it has to be perfect" is a creative killer) but they will be fully yours and something new you bring in the world.
Thank you for doing these Chris, it’s so hard to keep up with releases these days.
honestly Christ I love your sponsorships, I've bought every thing you've recommended and it's all been useful and stimulating, thank you for recommending such wonderful products
Thanks for recommending Monsters. I was a bit rushed in my latest video and didn't get to fully discuss it, but this wasn't something that would have been on my radar without your recommendation. Really enjoyed how the story unfolded and how all the characters ended up being connected. I think this will definitely be a book studied in University comic courses in years to come.
Monsters is simply incredible. One of the greatest graphic novels ever made, even if the story isn’t your thing the craft is unbelievable. Best of luck in 2022 Chris, can’t wait to follow your progress this coming year!
Just read this. Its utterly fantastic. Easy top5 comic of all time for me.
I love your videos man and excited to read new comics for the next year. The Immortal Hulk is my favorite comic book of the year, thanks for all your content.
Love your show Chris!
So great to see things come good for you and your channel.
Someone with the skills, near enough should come and give you a hand fixing your lighting and audio a little, it wouldn't take much.
I love this channel, I always end up with dozens of good stories to read
Sorry you got sick! Glad you're better and drawing your own comics! I'm working on mine!
If you’re making some comicbooks I can’t wait to read them. As good an artist as you are(I’ve seen your live streams) I don’t know why you aren’t already heavily involved in the comics industry.
I shouted out Monster on your Patreon, and I agree with your take. I think about it often. Thank you so much for a great year! Your videos always raise my spirits
13:23 I definitely recommend Far Sector. Some interesting themes like hope and grief, wrapped in an intriguing mystery set in a vibrant, original fantasy world. Here are some others from years past I discovered this year that shouldn’t be ignored:
- Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles: When I first heard that a comic existed in which a pink lion from the golden age of Hanna-Barbera was rebooted as a gay playwright fighting McCarthyism and homophobia in 1950s America, I thought “that’s weird”. Little did I know that it’s one of the most beautiful and emotional things I’ve read in a long time.
-Gotham Central: This is everything I wanted in a Batman comic and more. Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka team up to create a GCPD bullpen stocked with beautifully flawed characters, and much of my enjoyment came from observing how the chaos they face on a weekly basis influences their relationships. Also, Michael Lark provides some great art.
-X-Men: Age of Apocalypse: Sometimes, you need a break from high art. Look no further than AoA, a creative and intense overhaul of all the 90s X-titles. The event has the high-octane 90s flavor, but the spectacle possesses a sense of purpose and gravity that was lacking at the time.
- Honorable mention: Elfquest: Definitely worth a look. Fun fantasy mixed with some good character work, represented by timeless, smooth inking. I can’t recommend it as much because the plot and pacing is not so good at times, but still worth a shot. I recommend reading it online for free, as it’s less of a commitment than buying the compendium-sized collection Dark Horse is putting out these days.
Hope this helps some of you!
You and Cartoonist Kayfabe are the best comic channels. Looking forward to Pros and Cons tonight. I missed the last few live feeds but hopefully I'll be there tonight
I think you knocked it out of the park this year, thanks for everything that you do!
Glad you're feeling better, Chris! Barbaric is my rec! Beautiful art and great dialogue. D&D barbarian cursed to do good deeds with a literal, blood-thirsty, talking axe. Reminds me of Rat Queens, but just a bit more amputations and nudity.
Ultramega and Immortal Hulk were my favorite comics from this year. Love you Chris, wish you the best in your plans for next year, greetings from Chile!
Monsters topped my list too! Off the hook.
I thoroughly enjoyed Red Room, loving Ed and Jim's channel Cartoonist Kayfabe too.
Cartoonist Kayfabe and this channel are the best things to happen to comics in my lifetime.
I'm happy that you read manga along with American comics. I've heard of others not reading them at all because of the art style and their own opinions on the tropes of manga storytelling.
Thank you for being open minded and having great taste!
You're a cool guy, Chris. Keep being awesome.
Thanks for the recommendations, Chris. Added a couple to my list to consider in the future.
As some one who exclusively reads tpbs/hardcovers and years behind on Marvel/DC due to a stint of having the finances of a full time student I haven't read much of anything first published in 2021 or even 2020 really.
A couple recent enough books I would recommend are DC/Black Label's Harleen which got a hardcover this year is a great retelling of Harley Quinn's origins. And Department of Truth is one of my favourite things I've been reading.
Also you're totally right about Immortal Hulk, even if I am like 2 years behind you.
Happy to hear you’re healthier and better! Best of luck to you. Love your comic
Dude, I'm excited to read and own your work! You actually got me to pick up some comic books and I've enjoyed them! I know your work will be awesome!
I absolutely love Asadora- such an awesome spirit behind that book and wonderful storytelling. I am really excited to check out a bunch of the recommendations you made in this video- it’s like bonus Christmas!
Chris, this is not a criticism of the content, but please check your camera focus settings - you've been "fuzzy" for the last few episodes. Thank you for the great work
Thank you for all the work you put into this channel. There are so many great comics that you've introduced me and my friends to. I'm sorry to hear about the past health troubles, and I'm glad you're here to give us all this fantastic content.
Just started enjoying the content on your channel. I spend most of my time in a gaming bubble so it's nice to just tune into someone who loves another medium so much and get high off of their passion. Love your stuff!
Well if I had to make a top 10 list for UA-cam channels I’ve found this year, I can say without a doubt that comic tropes is my #1! I mean I bought my first two comics this year and I’m so amped for the reading to come. Love you man :)
I appreciate that something I read and enjoyed made it to at least a runner up. I really enjoyed the "Stray Dogs", but I acknowledge that with my Asperger's I have a bias toward animals and canids (dogs) in general. Did you know that the artist for this was one of the artists for IDW's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic did the art for this? I loved the Disney-esc style. I also started Demon Days, but forgot to tell my comic shop to continue to put it in my pull, and missed out on the rest. (I'm a bit burnt out on Marvel, but this one had an appeal to me) I'm glad you reviewed it a little and encouraged me to give it a second look.
I’m a huge Marvel fan so that’s what I mostly read, but u opened my eyes to some new stuff. The art in The Many Deaths of Laila Star looks awesome, I want to check it out now.
I definitely agree with Monsters at number 1. It was my favourite as well. Others on my (not top ten) list are Ice Cream Man, Parasomnia, Made in Korea, You Promised Me Darkness, The Picture of Everything Else, Lucky Devil.
Happy New Year, Chris! Looking forward to everything you create in 2022. All the best.
Man I am such a huge fan of yours and have been for a while, it’s good to see you kicking ass and making your way, I really hope things will start and continue to thrive man.
We all appreciate your hard work and commitment to making quality content and your ability to make days better.
I'm really glad that your health is in good shape, Chris! I've been watching for a couple years I believe, and you have one of the most pleasant, relaxing, and interesting channels I've been subscribed to, so my heart dropped a bit when you said you had a health scare. Here's to a better 2022! And I will try to pick up Monsters, especially since The Immortal Hulk has been a comic run I've really enjoyed.
UA-cam would be a much better place if more comic book channels were like yours
Glad that you were able to recover from Covid and that you seem to be in good health. Best of luck with all your endeavors and with everything you want to achieve.
ULTRAMEGA was a wild ride, i loved every number of it, i cant wait to read more from the creators in the future
It's not over. Simply on hiatus.
The comic I most remember from this year is one that is absent this year because it went on a hiatus, and how it happend, Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous). I really hope that the mangaka will resume publication after one year and not abuse this "meta-narrative".
Sooo happy to hear about you going part time at your job. Keep going. Hopefully you will make youtube your full time thing.
I can say there were a couple of mini siries that were surprisingly good, like Gun Honey and The Man Who F'ed Up Time
Don't know if you're gonna read this, but having a new one of your videos show up in my home screen automatically improves my day. Have a great 2022, cheers!!
Terry Moore's Serial is real good as was Mad Cave's Nottingham. Also enjoying not all robots by Mark Russell.
Hey man, I like the videos but I noticed that in more than a few you are out of focus. The image is blurry.
Commenting for the algorithm!!!! I appreciate this channel so much.
Thank you for this list. Definitely some stuff I need to hunt down. And I'm glad your channel is growing, I think you're by far my fave comics YT. Always informative, funny and balanced, all presented in a non-annoying fashion (not loud, screaming, laughing at your own jokes, hype words). Love.
I never am down with these best of lists....decided to check this video out and theres some great ones mentioned. You've convinced me to finally get Monsters.
Hope you achieve everything you set out to do in 2022, amazing show, good luck from the UK brother. 🤞🏼😉
I love seeing new videos regularly chris! Wish you brought back the comic tropes videos though. Stay Healthy 😁
I love your list! There were a few things I may have overlooked, so off I go to discover them! The two books I enjoyed the most were Gieger and Nice House on the Lake. Suicide Squad and Daredevil also had really fun runs this last year.
this channel is amazing, I just want you to know your hardwork and passion has not gone unnoticed by me. I've never been a comic books kind of guy, but after bingeing your videos I decided to grab a Marvel Unlimited subscription and am finally giving this medium a go. I've got a lot of time on my hands lately thanks to being stuck in quarantine, haha. So thanks again for igniting that spark of interest for me and keep up the excellent work my friend.
Thanks for the great video! Glad you're doing better!
The Good Asian is amazing! As was Immortal Hulk.
I would also add Hollow Heart to the list - superb comic!
I'm reading Eddy Gein Done tonight. I was wondering about monsters. I shall now check it out. I love, Nocterra, Batman Reptilian, Gung Ho and of course something killing the children. Your posts on Shane's Tuesday auction are great. Glad you're doing better now. Stay healthy.
It took me until the end of the year to finally read Monsters and I'm only kicking myself in the ass now because this was sooo Good.
10.) I Walk with Monsters by Paul Cornell and Sally Cantrino
9.) Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennent
8.) The Swamp Thing by Ram.V and Mike Perkins
7.) Sensor by Junji Ito
6.) X-Ray Robot by Mike and Laura Allred
5.) The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus and Chris Sheridan
4.) Ultra Mega by James Harren
3.)The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Felipe Andrade
2.) Beta Ray Bill by Daniel Warren Johnson
1.) Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith