Sir Jon’s Best of 2024
It’s been far too long since I’ve written words to be shared on this page, which is a shame for the great creations that have come across my hands over the past few years deserved more recognition. I’m rectifying that for 2024, wherein these are the most remarkable and that which I recommend to everyone that follows this program and beyond.
Monthly Comics
There are precious few monthly comics that I read regularly, as Marvel and DC and their costumed characters have left me in the dust. With that in mind, here are the most remarkable monthlies of the year.
THUNDERCATS (Dynamite Entertainment)
All right, I’ll admit that the cartoon series of the 1980s had me captured pretty hard the night I watched a two-hour premiere “movie” to introduce viewers of the local station that carried it. I am an avowed fan of Larry Kenney, who gave voice to Lion-O, and I loved the whole design of the show, from top to bottom. I own the series on DVD. I have the logo on items. Yet, the comics that have been produced over the years have been hit or miss, regardless of talent behind them. The current ongoing series from Dynamite has been a runaway hit, and while it took me some time to read the issues, I could not and have not gotten enough of them. Declan Shalvey grasps the core of the series itself while telling new stories, stories that could easily slip within those episodes of the ‘80s. It’s a ‘soft reboot’ in a sense, telling great new tales with characters well loved and well known, but giving great new life to them. Drew Moss’ excellent designs for the characters don’t hurt, easily evoking what we’ve already seen while adding to them in ways a truly good artist can. Nostalgia is a factor with a lot of these older IP’s but there is gold in this one, even if you ignore the unneeded multitude of cover choices. Declan was a guest on Pint O’ Comics in July of 2023, on episode 287.
HELLBLAZER: DEAD IN AMERICA (DC Comics)
The Sandman Presents series of mini-series have all been connected in some way, some direct sequels to the one that preceded. Because of that, and that John Constantine has been part of the overall story from early on, is why this title lands in this monthly listing. HB:DiA is a dirty, grimy story of Li’l Johnny Heckblazer and his “friends” from earlier Constantine stories in the “Sandman Presents” line, traveling across the States on a mission from the current Dream of the Endless. If that didn’t hook you the first time, you really missed out on one heck of a ride. Writer Si Spurrier really gets Constantine, picking up on all the aspects from across the 300+ issues of HELLBLAZER in the Vertigo days of yore. If you’re a lapsed Constantine reader after Vertigo ended and ignored Nu52 John, you’ll enjoy these, and I mean ALL of these. Between Spurrier’s near-desperate writing of Conjob and Aaron Campbell’s scratchy, harrowing artistry, you’ll see why the series went from six to eleven.
LOCAL MAN (Image Comics)
As of this writing, Local Man is no longer a monthly title, which is a desperately, unforgivably depressing situation. Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs created one unbelievably excellent series about characters I barely knew, much less read about. Seen as a “love letter” to 1990’s era Image Comics titles and characters, it was so, so much more than that. A truly adult tale of growth, acceptance and terrible human beings with and without exceptional powers, it was one heck of a story that should have grabbed more readers. I wasn’t a fan of the Image titles LOCAL MAN remarked on frequently, but the series hooked me regardless, giving me more than I bargained for when I picked up issue #1. Not many titles that are considered ongoing in the present market get me to plunk my money down every month right after reading the first issue and LOCAL MAN did that. Both Fleecs and Seeley are known to regular readers of comics and both did their own work within the covers in a fun, inventive “flip book” format that added to the series. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for a more adult costumed adventure. There are only 14 issues, plus a couple of specials, but all should be readily available before or after collections happen.
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE (Kenzer and Company)
Jolly Blackburn’s epic comic book – nay, comic strip! – of consummate gamers continues to impress after 300 issues. That is correct, KoDT is 300 issues (315 at this writing) strong and everything is available in collected form for interested parties. Now, the series has dropped from monthly to bi-monthly, but as that happened this year, the title shall remain on this list. The series has been organically growing in depth, characterization, humour, and creativity over these 300 issues, and if you’re as invested in them as I am, you understand the feelings you can gain for these two-dimensional personalities as you read on. Mostly overseen by Jolly and Barbara Blackburn as the rest of the KoDT “D-Team” focuses more on KenzerCo’s gaming material, the comic seems more concise and driven in ways that are more three dimensional than Jolly’s strip art sometimes shows. The characters of the “Muncieverse” as it’s become known have grown so large there is soon to be a primer introducing new readers to the comic, as well as informing older readers who some of those outliers are. It’s Who’s Who for KoDT and it’s anticipated. Both Jolly and Barb were on episode 263 of Pint O’ Comics in February of 2023, celebrating 300 issues.
Books
My reading time is preciously slim these days, with most of what I get to read in advance of a radio show topic and guest. This brief list are those that were made for constant discussion.
DIRECT CREATIVITY (Paul Kupperberg, Crazy 8 Press)
Paul Kupperberg has appeared numerous times on the radio show, and I have had the pleasure to moderate panels he’s been a part of at Terrificon. Regardless, the books he’s been releasing via Kickstarter and maintaining in print with Crazy 8 Press have been nothing short of historically important for comics as a whole. DIRECT COMMENTS was a slice of DC Comics excellence, important interviews with a large number of artists and writers long passed on. DIRECT CONVERSATIONS was a great collection of brand new discussions with Paul’s contemporaries, fellow people that were getting into the business at the time he was. DIRECT CREATIVITY, published this year, is the latest collection with people currently involved in comics, many of which have appeared on this program, too. This latest is so much fun I’ve yet to move on to Paul’s newest, PANEL TO PANEL, which would likely be here too, if I’d read it. Understand this, each of the DIRECT books are historically important for different reasons. Paul has been there bridging all of these different eras of comic book history, which places him at a pivotal point in administering these, as well as a personal style that allows for specifically driven questions adding to the great responses. I can’t get enough of them all, which implores me to send you to Paul’s site and see for yourself. https://www.paulkupperberg.net/
DISC-OVERY (Jed Rowen, Encyclopocalypse Books)
I like weird things. Unusual stories. Characters that might be seen as doomed, or at the very least, damaged in some way. Jed Rowen’s book of disc golf surrounded by science fiction, conspiracy theory, military black ops, and just about every other idea shaken into that bag sort of lands in the circle of what I like. At this point I’m still unsure if I actually like the book or if I like the concept of it, or maybe just the fact it got published at all! That Encyclopocalypse would take a chance on this crazy story has me paying more attention to them, and for that I recommend this book for anyone at all into truly bizarre books that grasp at everything and hope to connect in some way. Jed was on episode 337 in July of this year, which is still active on the home page. Listen to that, buy the book, thank everyone later.
MALORT: THE REDEMPTION OF A REVERED & REVILED SPIRIT (Josh Noel, Chicago Review Press)
Long time listeners of this show and the podcast that once shared the title, as well as friends of mine know of my… let us say “interest” in this Chicago, Illinois-based beverage. To learn that a book was being published on this bizarre drink with a lengthy, if possibly fabricated history, that was just too good to pass up for me as both reader and host of the radio show. Josh Noel is a regarded journalist in the Chicago area and his ability to get the details down in a way that is both entertaining, informative and interesting certainly helped in putting this book high on my list of the best of the year. I honestly thought a book about Malort would be horrendously boring and about as deadly as the drink is to most taste buds, but that’s why you read the book, to paraphrase from Chris Berman. From Malort’s inception to solely-held label by a strange lawyer, to curated by a singular woman, to a phenomenon that just belies, well, anything, Josh Noel got it all down for generations of readers to enjoy and scare their friends with. Even if you hate the drink, even if you despise anything that it embodies, even if you think it’s just a fad, the story itself is worthy of a read. I’m amazed at it all! Josh appeared on episode 349 in October of this year. Look for that show posted to the site soon.
Graphic Novels/Mini Series
MARY TYLER MOOREHAWK (Top Shelf)
Frequently when doing the Pint O’ Comics radio program, I’m given the opportunity to read or view things that might not be noticed by me otherwise. Dave Baker’s incredibly unusual, mind-bending, overtly “meta” graphic novel Mary Tyler MooreHawk was one of those. A hefty 300 pages of pink and ink from Top Shelf Productions, it’s the tale of a television adventure series that’s become a deep dive for an investigative journalist from the far-flung future. To say more than that might ruin some of the plot but that’s considering you can push your way through this incredibly dense story of such detail, fun, and creativity to attempt explaining it in simple terms! This book took all expectations and shattered them, shaking the description of “graphic novel” out, straight to the core and reinterpreting it. It’s smart, it’s cute, it’s unbelievably funny, and it resonates poignancy on deeper degrees than would normally be expected. It sits in the top three of the stories I read in 2024 and it deserves all the recognition it gets. Dave Baker was on episode 315 in February of this year where he explained that this book was having trouble finding a publisher until Chris Staros of Top Shelf saw the gold. Do yourself a favour and pick yourself up a copy and then tell both Dave and Chris it was meant to see print!
THE ENFIELD GANG MASSACRE (Image Comics)
It’s unusual in the current market to see many Western genre titles hit the shelves. Typically these days they’re paired up with other opposing genres to spin interest – hence the Western/Horror, the Western/Sci-Fi, the Western/Mystery, etc. Writer Chris Condon and artist Jacob Phillips nailed a straight up gunfighting Western set in Texas that hits hard and keeps hitting. The story plays out in a way that’s partly a search for survivors of the massacre while showing the truth of the matter to the reader. It’s beautifully rendered with main characters that get just enough detail to be engaging, while also being somewhat mysterious lending to a need to know more. It’s brutal, it’s shocking, it’s gruesome, and it’s wholly entertaining. I liked this one enough to read it twice, and considering how tight my reading time is, that’s notable. Chris and Jacob also worked together for the THAT TEXAS BLOOD series from Image, and Chris is currently writing GREEN ARROW for DC while Jacob is working on a project that remains unannounced. Chris was on episode 316 of the show, the week following Dave Baker, which makes me wonder how the show made it past February with all the excellence.
YOUTH GROUP (.01 Second)
Teens fighting demons from a religious youth organization is a book that would land in everyone’s “best of” list, right? Well, it should. Jordan Morris created one interesting world of good souls doing good things protecting innocents while being innocent, for the most part. It’s incredibly bright and cheery for what its underlying narrative is, which surprised me, and endeared me to the whole book. There are laugh out loud lines of dialogue as well as a positive outlook on religions of all types, which is so desperately needed in real life, much less fiction. While the central character is full of cynicism and malaise on the outset, she, like this reader, grew into the situation, accepting it as the positivity it entirely was. The bright spot in the story was the supporting character of Meg, who surprised with her sunny disposition that was heartfelt, wholesome, and absolutely real. Characters like that are unfortunately missing from most media of late, and it was a blessing. The artwork of Bowen McCurdy nails all the needs of the story, from emotion to cartoony fun, as well as the craziness of teens fighting demons. This is one for pretty much any age – it’s rated a “Teen” book you can adjust as you see fit. A truly great book that stood way, way out in a year that hasn’t been the nicest to many. Jordan Morris appeared on episode 335 in June and I am grateful for it.
NICE JEWISH BOYS (Comixology Originals)
Neil Kleid and John Broglia’s e-comic series is the last of my list for this year and it’s one that also surprised me with its subject and story. Take a family man strapped for funds and being drawn into a life of crime in an Orthodox Jewish community and you have the baseline of this tale, one jammed full of angst, ethical morality, and the desire to succeed it oozes off the screen. The central character, Jake, will have you screaming at the pages when you read some of the choices he makes, which is a wonderful experience when you’re home alone reading an e-book. There are five issues of this series, all easily read on Comixology, all hopefully collected in physical format at some point soon. Both Neil and John’s work has appeared across the comic book publishing world, which gives you an idea of the breadth of their abilities. Neil Kleid appeared on episode 320 in March and this show was all the better for it.
What will 2025 bring for Pint O’ Comics? Heading into year eight will be interesting – stick with me and find out what and where the show goes next.
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