Horror Happy Hour's 2010 Best of Comics and Graphic Novels Awards

By Gord Locke

Disclaimers:  The opinions expressed in this article do not represent all members of HHH. Also I unfortunately havent read every comic released in 2010 so I welcome  recommendations. I also havent read any new manga in 2010 so my shamed Asian background lowers its head and stabs itself for an honorable death.

Best Graphic Novel and Comic Books of 2010:....

 Best Series (On-Going or Mini): The Walking Dead (Image Comics) by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard.

 Issue #65 from the Fear The Hunters story arc ... 

     The founders of Horror Happy Hour Dave and Krys introduced me to this wicked zombie post apocalyptic world over the summer and it pretty much sat on my face with its muff and let me toss its salad for hours at a time with utter glee. Vol. 11-13 released in 2010 "Fear The Hunters" , "Life Among Them" , "Too Far Gone" . The Walking Dead continues to break your heart and stick an adrenelain needle through it as well ..its  the best thing going in comics overall , let alone horror comics.

Biggest Bummer (disappointment): Zombies vs Cheerleaders (moonstone) by Steven Franks

 Issue #1 cover c.

    Need I explain why this title hooked me like a trout?  It was a horredy spoof I would say but I didnt laugh much. I didnt enjoy the story , the jokes , the art , nor the characters .. it was just a let down from top to bottom. It was like clicking on a thumbnail of cute topless girl only to discover its a tranny chicks with dicks video.

    This had such a ridiculous concept that it could have worked like the Japanese movie/novel "Battle Royale" .. where school kids mysteriously collected and trapped on an island are forced to kill each other for survival.. ZvC at its raw roots had the same legit teeth to it too

 Best Surprise : Whispers In The Walls ( Humanoids) by David Munoz , art: Tirso

 The cover for the unreleased #5 of the six part mini series. Its an english adaptation of a spanish comic.Thats a pretty epic antagonist dont you think?

   Yeah  this could easily be under the 'Best New Series' category(below) but I admit I created this award just for this title. It just blew me away , coming out of nowhere with zero notoriety from a small indie publisher. Post WWII Chekloslovakia , mysterious orphanage/infirmary , asshole adult emissaries, weirdo killer , creepy kids , cute little innocent protagonist ...  all the elements are there. The art is sensational , its by a one name dude , Tirso.. he's like a Brazilian soccer player or pop music star.

 Best Mini Series: Hack Slash : My First Maniac (image) by Tim Seeley , art: Daniel Leister

 cover B for My First Maniac #1by Jenny Freson

    Hack Slash moved over to Image from Devil Due Pub. and this was their kick off series. Not a reboot just a prequel .. its the story of Cassie's Hack's first slasher kill. Though My First Maniac is  worthy of 'mini series of the year' however I will say there were a few series still incomplete like Turf , Whispers in the Walls , Abattoir ,..etc that were contenders. Im forgetting a few others as well.. so much good stuff in 2010.

 Best New On-Going Series: TIE ... The Sixth Gun(oni press) and I Zombie(vertigo)

    Both bring something completely different to the table hence why I was SO split down the middle.  Morning Glories was also a major contender for this title. 


Sixth Gun by Cullen Bunn - #1 was first released on Free Comic Book Day .  Its the wild west Lord of the Rings ripoff, 6 mystical guns are created with the sixth being the most powerful and its former owner , the zombie general wants it back. Cullen Bunn could also win best name in the industry! Here's the trailer for the comic....




I Zombie by Chris Roberson- This has a total Scooby Doo aura to it , starring a hipster zombie chick , Gwen ,  whom must eat one brain a month to maintain her sanity.  She works in a cemetery as a gravedigger so she can dine on newly buried bodies. In doing so she absorbs the memories , with it comes baggage of unresolved issues. Though at first I was hesitant with the art , Micheal Allred's art grew on me issue to issue , now I cant imagine this series being drawn by anybody else. 

 Gwen having her monthly brain chow down so she doesnt turn into a mindless zombie. Kind of hot when she does it or is it just me?  Micheal Allred's pencil work is some of the most laid back stuff going.

 Best single shot: Vertigo Resurrected  (vertigo) by various writers/artists

 Many mistake the title of the book as "Shoot" as my comic book guy did. Shoot is the name of one of the short stories.

      A collection of short stories one of which "Shoot" was banned years ago because of its inappropriate content of school shootings . It was  the best single shot  I've read this year easily , in terms of sheer variety and entertainment.  Warren Ellis , Grant Morrison , Frank Quietly , Garth Ennis , Bill Willingham , ... some of the biggest hitters in the game contribute to this little gem.

Best Cover Art:  Fables #93 by Joao Ruas

I love Fable covers overall but this one in particular is jaw dropping. Its like something painted in the 19th century by some earless savant, its eerily  haunting. It just feels like there's so many layers to it , you cant stop looking. These covers just blow up off the shelves , Fables comics never fail to catch my eye on 'New Comic Book Day'. Bravo Mr. Ruas.



 The Hot Shit I Just Aint Into Award : Marvel Zombies. (vol.5 released 2010)

      Marvel Zombies has no appeal to me what so ever. I love zombies , I love super heroes , you figure this is in my wheel house but surprisingly its not. Im sorry to all the devoted readers and great talent that has worked on this title like John Layman and Robert Kirkman , only proving Im not a blind partison fanboy that will unconditionally eat Kirkman and Layman's freshly coiled shit . They can do stuff I have no interest in...like Marvel Zombies.


 Best Original Graphic Novel :Revolver (vertigo) written/art by Matt Kindt

Yes I know its not a "horror" , its more sci-fi/thriller but sci-fi/thriller can be perceived as "horror" ? cant it?

    Revolver is as much a horror as The Twilight Zone is.. whatever that means. I admit it shouldn't be in a horror awards but at the same time its not as abstract as say nominating The Smurfs.. even though one can argue those blue fuckers are scary ass bitches!

    With sporadic one hit wonders every 10 years Matt Kindt may very well be the Kylie Minogue of graphic novels , lets hope not.



Best Story Arc: The Walking Dead , Fear The  Hunter Vol.11:..  On one hand they had to deal with one of their own being a dangerous sociopath , guilty of murdering one of their own. On the other hand a new threat endangers the group when a family of cannibals stalk them like prey. We had the tragic deaths of long time characters and a revenge filled finale to satisfy that blood lust we all crave. Charlie Adlard captured the emotional roller coaster exceptionally well.

 Who can forget the harrowing storyline involving Billy and Ben , the adopted twins of Andrea and Dale. It created some of the most intense profound moments in comics for 2010.

Best Writer: Robert Kirkman. I dont read the Astonishing Wolf-Man , Haunt , Invincible ,,,,etc  this is just based on his work for The Walking Dead and also his one shot Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark piece which was a contender for best one shot and best surprise.

Best Artist: Charles Paul Wilson III (The Stuff of Legend) .. his pencil work on The Stuff of Legend is some of the best original art I've seen in some time. Again , its another guy who could win on his name alone.. he's "the third" for crying out loud! like Thurston Howe III and Edward Stratton III

 CPWIII's  "Boogeyman" from The Stuff of Legend.

Best Writer/Artist Team: John Layman/Rob Guillory (Chew).. somebody once described them as soul mates .. its true. Guillory's art style would be hard pressed to work for with anyone else but Layman and he have something special going on They are meant to work together and their masterpiece series Chew proves it.

 Layman and Guillory are a lot like their own lead detectives Chu and Colby.

Best Publisher: Image Comics. They currently produce 4 of my top 7-8 favourite titles overall not just "horror": Chew , Walking Dead , , Morning Glories , Hack Slash. Image have a smaller following than the big two(DC , Marvel) but Image's cult like status has given them a loyal following. Its like comparing The Ramones to Aerosmith with Aerosmith being DC or Marvel.

Anyhoos thats it for this year's Best Of Awards for 2010. Thanks for checking me out , please feel free to disagree , agree , recommend , suggest , rant , rave , ...  cheers!

"The biggest monsters in a world of monsters are humans themselves." - unknown