With the year almost over it is time to decide what the Best Comic Books of 2024 are. After kicking things off with Best Comic Book Storylines of 2024 it is time to pick the Best Comic Book Single Issues of the year. Creating comic books that captivate readers is not easy. Creators have one shot every month to remind the reader why they picked up your comic book. The twelve comic books here epitomize how effective monthly and one-shot storytelling is in this medium we love. With that in mind, find out what made our Best Comic Book Single Issues In 2024 below.
12) THE HORIZON EXPERIMENT: THE MANCHURIAN
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote; Artist: Terry Dodson; Inker: Rachel Dodson; Letterer: Jeff Powell
The Manchurian set the tone for what readers can expect from The Horizon Experiment as an anthology series. Pornsak Pichetshote, Terry Dodson, and Rachel Dodson create their own fully realized super spy. Right away Terry and Rachel Dodson capture the aesthetic of what readers would want from a story inspired by James Bond: Casino Royale. Pichetshote takes that to tell a great personal story that gets you emotionally connected with the lead character. By the end of The Manchurian one-shot we are left hoping this isn’t the last time we get to visit this world. Creating that feeling out of the gate also leaves the reader look forward to what other worlds will be introduced in The Horizon Experiment anthology series.
11) MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE RETURN #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson; Artist: Nico Leon; Colorists: Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli; Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #2 delivered on telling the story of how the war against Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa would’ve ended with the original six Power Rangers. Nico Leon provided big event-level energy to the final battle on the Moon. It really hit on how the Power Rangers were truly looking to end things against Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa. There was a sense that there was no ratings limitation to the story told. That doesn’t mean this was a bloody or overly violent battle. Rather, it was one where the character emotions during the final battle popped off every panel. The sacrifice that had to be made gave greater weight to the present-day storyline of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return. Ending with a big character reveal hit on making fans even more excited for what comes next.
10) BLOW AWAY #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Zac Thompson; Artist: Nicola Izzo; Colorists: Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli; Letterer: DC Hopkins
Zac Thompson and Nicola Izzon maximize every page they are given to tell the start of their story with Blow Away #1. This comic book is filled with so much amazing environmental storytelling that helps to frame the isolated setting of this story. It created a chilling tension for how the lead character, Brynne Brautigan, comes across the dark mystery she comes across. The way it is while she is on assignment to document something specific in the snowy mountains even more captivating. It added to the sense of isolation that the setting as you don’t know what Brynne’s next move should be after her discovery.
9) JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mark Waid; Artist: Dan Mora; Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain; Letterer: Ariana Maher
Justice League Unlimited #1 wastes no time in making sure the reader knew they are reading the biggest series that every DC Comics fan has on their pull list. Everything that happens in this issue had a bigger purpose that was connected to the DC All In direction. That in turn made how the heroes united under the Justice League banner a big deal. Even as there was a main mission that’s paid attention to there were also various looks into what other squads are up to. It was an excellent example of how to show rather than tell readers that this version of the Justice League is operating with the bigger picture in mind. This is by far the best use of the fallout from a big event to make what happened in Absolute Power truly consequential.
8) G.I. JOE #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson; Artist: Tom Reilly; Colorist: Jordie Bellaire; Letterer: Rus Wooton
G.I. JOE #2 has such an intense, unpredictable energy that you just let go of any thought and go down whatever road Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly are driving you on. The greatness of Reilly’s choreography can’t be talked about enough. There is so much emotion injected into the chaotic action as the JOEs are forced to deal with a battle against Cobra they were unprepared for. The back-and-forth nature of this story is reminiscent of watching wrestling match that goes beyond being a five-star classic. That unpredictability kept you on the edge of your seat until you reach the final panel of G.I. JOE #2.
7) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron; Artist: Chris Burnham; Colorist: Brian Reber; Letterer: Shawn Lee
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 delivered a type of story that I never thought we see Donatello be the lead of. But through the creative vision of Jason Aaron and Chris Burnham they were able to develop the story that was uniquely Donatello’s own. Aaron and Burnham tapped into the question that would be immediately raised if this was just set-up for Donatello to rise up from the bad state he is in at the start of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4. It made way for a compelling narrative that drove home Donatello’s current state isn’t something that can be simply solved with some magical deus ex machina that brings him back to his iconic form. It is a set-up that makes Donny the most compelling of the four turtles as we begin this new era for the TMNT franchise.
6) STORM #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Murewa Ayodele; Artist: Lucas Werneck; Colorists: Alex Guimaraes and Fer Sifuentes-Sujo; Letterer: Travis Lanham
Storm #1 is a comic book that you can hand to anyone and they will understand why Ororo Munroe is one of Marvel’s best characters. The greatest thing that Murewa Ayodele and Lucas Werneck do to accomplish this is by showcasing Storm as a hero. It is not just fighting villains that are things that show who she is as a hero. Storm is shown to use her powers to rescue as many people suffering from a natural disaster as possible. The way this is all framed just as powerful as any hero vs villain fight that could’ve kicked off this series. This goes back to the simplest way to put over a superhero is by showing them saving people. It creates immediate momentum for Storm’s character as she breaks out as solo hero along with her Avengers and X-Men duties. Executing all of this in such a grounded way made Storm’s big speech in this issue hit harder. It led to two major developments at the end that provided the strong hook ending to this debut issue.
5) ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson; Artist: Hayden Sherman; Colorist: Jordie Bellaire; Letterer: Becca Carey
Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is a complete reinvention of Diana Prince and her world that was a grand slam home run. Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman accomplish this by focusing on Diana’s origin story. Specifically, the change in Diana being the last of the Amazon, a word that is made into a curse word in the Absolute Universe, and raised by Circe was such a compelling narrative. The way this origin was framed with multiple double page spreads did an excellent job showing how Circe and Diana forged a strong, loving mother-daughter relationship. Most importantly it established how in the present-day warrior mage Wonder Woman has become. Her fighting style is completely unique with the fight against an army of demons being a strong showcase of that. It is a debut that got across the message this is a series that will be a must-have on everyone’s pull list.
4) NIGHTWING #118
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Tom Taylor; Artist: Bruno Redondo; Inker: Caio Filipe; Colorists: Adriano Lucas and Bruno Redondo; Letterer: Wes Abbott
The work Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and the rest of their collaborators did during their creative run on Nightwing was truly incredible. The conclusion of their creative run in Nightwing #118 exemplified why this was such a special period for the series. They elevated Dick Grayson’s character to the level fans knew he could reach and surpass. The way this issue spotlighted how important both Dick Grayson and Nightwing are to forming the full character was great to see. It made how Heartless was ultimately taken down a rewarding experience. How special all of this was perfectly summed up by the beautiful final page by Redondo.
3) TRANSFORMERS #12
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson; Artist: Jorge Corona; Colorist: Mike Spicer; Letterer: Rus Wooton
Transformers #12 is a masterclass in of how to deliver a memorable end to a story arc. Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona bring every piece of development in this series up to this point and deliver payoffs that are emotionally charged. The reactions to the decisions that Optimus Prime and others have to make elevated everything that took place. The final seven pages of Transformers #12 are such jaw dropping moments as you don’t know what it will mean for the Energon Universe moving forward. It was pure excellence in storytelling.
2) ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jonathan Hickman; Artist: Marco Checchetto; Colorist: Matthew Wilson; Letterer: Cory Petit
Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto embrace the fresh start the new Ultimate Universe provides to create Spider-Man series that is their own. That is showcased from the very start with Ultimate Spider-Man #1. Starting out with Peter Parker who didn’t become Spider-Man until his late thirties, after marrying Mary Jane Watson and having kids together, sent an immediate message. That created a whole different perspective of what it means for Peter to become Spider-Man. This is made strong through the presentation of the supporting cast of MJ, their kids, Uncle Ben, J. Jonah Jameson, Robby Robertson, and Harry Osborn feeling just as fresh as Peter’s presentation. It all works to drive home why every Spider-Man fan should be fully invested in Ultimate Spider-Man.
1) THE BOY WONDER #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer and Artist: Juni Ba; Colorist: Chris O’Halloran; Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
The Boy Wonder #2 is one of those comic books that as soon as you open it you know you’ll be reading one of the best comic books of the entire year. Juni Ba told such a deeply personal story between Damian Wayne and Jason Todd leaves you wondering why these two are paired up more. The character study that is done for Jason Todd made this comic book stand out as one of the best stories told with Jason’s character. It is by far the best use of what it truly meant for Jason to be resurrected in the way he was. How this feeds into Jason view himself through the not his own eyes but those of Bruce Wayne grabs you emotionally. Damian growing to understand his brother through their team-up made the heart-to-heart they end up having even more special. By the end both Damian and Jason leave The Boy Wonder #2 more compelling characters than they started.
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