Best Comic Book Series of 2021: 26 to 50
2021 saw the comic racks packed with stacks of quality titles.
Our favourites included insane space battles, Gotham saviours, indie blockbusters, a few Avengers, eco-warriors, medieval murders, and at least a couple of excellent Harley Quinn titles.
When it comes to comics, there’s been something incredible for every fan this year. Please enjoy Part Three: 26 to 50 of our Best Comic Book Series of 2021 countdown.
In case you missed it, head here for Part Two: 11 to 25 of our Best Comic Book Series of 2021.
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26. The Department Of Truth
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Martin Simmonds
Publisher: Image Comics
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn." - Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read (Australia's most infamous ex-criminal)
When it comes to creative endeavours, conspiracy theories are an undeniably rich source of material. Regardless of your opinions of the individual theories, the people that believe them, the psychology behind them, and their effects on present day society, they’re pure gold when measured against the majority of movie and television plots.
It’s no wonder that Hollywood has long drawn from conspiracy theories for their creative output, including Oliver Stone’s ‘J.F.K.’ (1991), Richard Donner’s ‘Conspiracy Theory’ (1997), or ‘The X-Files’ (1998) movies and television series.
It makes complete creative sense. The mystery genre is one of the best there is. A reveal that there’s an even more powerful villain behind an initial villain is a plot bombshell, which opens a piece of work up for sequels.
‘The Department Of Truth’ has much in common with its conspiracy theory subject matter. It’s a strange book, at least when focusing purely on its story. It continually breaks off on tangents, only ever revealing part of the picture, and is guilty of raising far more questions than it ever answers. It’s a mental scramble for readers to recall what occurred in previous issues, these vague and fragmented perfectly acting as a perfect compliment to the partial truths and manufactured fictions that it explores.
What makes ‘The Department Of Truth’ something special is the overall art and visual design. Much like the writing, it seems determined to give as little as possible away to readers, with blurred faces, constant shadow, and poor framing of subjects its bread-and-butter. It effectively combines images to deliver the feeling that something is always operating under the surface, and its superfluous addition of scratchy linework throughout its settings and backgrounds echoes the creations of a serial killer, ensuring readers remain extremely on edge.
This feels like the kind of series that could easily run for many series, bubbling under the surface. It might not be the first title you read when you get home with your new releases, but it’s a treat when you’re in the mood for it.
27. The Devil’s Red Bride
Writer: Sebastian Girner
Artist: John Bivens
Publisher: Vault Comics
Forever popular in its native Japan, Samurai fiction also has a long history in Western popular culture, particularly movies.
‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1960) is a much loved Wild West–style remake of Akira Kurosawa's Japanese classic ‘Seven Samurai’ (1954). Kurosawa’s work also influenced George Lucas and his creation of the first ‘Star Wars’ films. And for better or worse (worse), ‘The Last Samurai’ (2003) starring Tom Cruise grossed a very tidy $456 million.
Americans Sebastian Girner and John Bivens follow in the footsteps of Hollywood with ‘The Devil’s Red Bride’, their bloody love letter to the genre. They nail its core tenets admirably, as the fierce Ketsuko, daughter of the Lord of the Aragami Clan, carries the burden of restoring honour to her family at whatever the cost. Driven by guilt and vengeance, Ketsuko literally cuts through the harsh gender-restrictions of 16th century Japan, fearlessly taking on her family’s savage enemies and other-worldly threats that are far more sinister, all while trying not to lose her humanity in the process.
Bivens’ art is something to behold, his sharp, angular linework and costumes and weaponry delivering a seemingly very true and accurate representation of the time period. His bloody violence is graphic and delivers the impact required in key moments, potentially too gruesome for some, but certain to land with Samurai diehards.
Now available in trade paperback, ‘The Devil’s Red Bride’ is a must purchase for any fans of the genre. Anyone worried that they missed out on this title on its initial five issue release will be more than satisfied by being able to read the full book in one sitting.
28. A Man Among Ye
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Craig Cermak, Josh George
Publisher: Image Comics
2021 has been a breakthrough year for Stephanie Phillips, possibly more so than for any other comic book writer.
‘The Butcher of Paris’, ‘Artemis and the Assassin’ and ‘Descendent’ were all highly deserving of the critical acclaim they received over the previous two years, and the positive reception from in-the-know fans.
Taking on the refreshed ‘Harley Quinn’ title in 2021 was a big-enough task, given the high quality delivered by its previous long-running creators. Phillips not only met that challenge head-on, but throughout the year also managed to write basically all of DC Comics biggest characters, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batman, along with some of the worst villains Gotham City and Arkham have to offer.
About as far removed from DC as a story could be, ‘A Man Among Ye’ is a pirate period piece that’s as exciting as it is fun. Phillips seemingly has a ball playing with the tales of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two of the most famed female pirates of all time. True to the early eighteenth century time period, limited definitive truths are known about the pair, and Phillips deftly weaves her plot around their lives and myths, including their interactions with the famed pirate, Calico Jack Rackham.
Pirates in the arts and popular culture have a rich history that’s centuries long, dating back to when actual pirates still sailed the seven seas, and delivering long-standing classics like ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, ‘Treasure Island’, and ‘Peter Pan’. Twenty first century audiences may primarily relate pirates to the long-running ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie series, impossible to get away from, and increasingly wearing out their welcome with their ongoing decrease in quality.
‘A Man Among Ye’ delivers the best of the adventurous genre. Its grubby violence, ever-present dangers and journey towards glory at any cost are delivered with crisp humour, a frenzy of emotional betrayal, and thrilling action, certain to satisfy any reader.
29. Snow Angels
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Jock
Publisher: Comixology Originals
The book is beautifully designed throughout, and the action and drama are both perfect. This is what happens when you get two creators who are totally in sync with each other. The results are astounding.
Learn more about ‘Snow Angels’ here.
30. Crossover
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Publisher: Image Comics
The best way to experience it is to pick it up for yourself. Wildly ambitious and relentlessly creative, ‘Crossover’ may end up being the coolest thing Cates and Shaw have ever done, which is certainly saying something.
Find out about ‘Crossover’ here.
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31. A Comic Book History Of Animation
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Ryan Dunlavey
Publisher: IDW Publishing
If you want to know how it all began, I recommend ‘The Comic Book History of Animation’. The history is fascinating on its own, and the art makes it downright entertaining. Plus you get to learn some cool things along the way.
Learn more about ‘A Comic Book History Of Animation’ here.
32. Black Cat
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: C.F. Villa, Nina Vakueva
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Black Cat brings Felicia Hardy back with a mighty symbiotic dragon-roar, yet retaining a remarkable degree of independence. It's still the same lovably amoral heist crew from the last volume; now they're just setting their sights a little higher.
Learn more about ‘Black Cat’ here.
33. Star Wars - The High Republic
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Ario Anindito
Publisher: Marvel Comics
‘The High Republic’ has defined, interesting characters and a large cast reminiscent of the Green Lantern Corps. It’s clear that there is a dedication to strong characters and a classic fantasy tone. This book is in good hands with Cavan Scott and the amazing artistic team.
Find out about ‘Star Wars - The High Republic’ here.
34. Savage
Writer: Max Bemis
Artist: Nathan Stockman
Publisher: Valiant Comics
‘Savage’ puts a new spin on the fish-out-of-water scenario by going into how inauthentic internet influencer life can be. All of this really brings out the desire to be wild and free.
Find out about ‘Savage’ here.
35. Batman - The Adventures Continue Season Two
Writer: Alan Burnett and Paul Dini
Artist: Ty Templeton
Publisher: DC Comics
All in all, this is a great Batman book. It has the Batman: The Animated Series feel. BTAS is easily the best animated series of all time and, for many folks my age, is the definitive Batman. I read this Batman, and I hear Kevin Conroy and all the other actors in the series.
Learn more about ‘Batman - The Adventures Continue: Season Two’ here.
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36. Harley Quinn - The Animated Series - The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour
Writer: Tee Franklin
Artist: Max Sarin
Publisher: DC Comics
Franklin starts the comic on high adrenaline, taking place mere seconds after the end of the successful animated TV show’s second season. Sarin follows the style of art seen on the show allowing fans of the animated series as well as the comic fans to pick up the style and tone immediately. It’s bright, wacky and gloriously mad.
Find out about ‘The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour’ here.
37. Frontiersman
Writer: Patrick Kindlon
Artist: Marco Ferrari
Publisher: Image Comics
Perhaps the revolution will not be televised but, instead will be in the many growing independent or talent owned comics and creators who still wish to use comics as a mirror to society while still writing an entertaining and fresh plot.
Learn more about ‘Frontiersman’ here.
38. Robin
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Gleb Melnikov
Publisher: DC Comics
‘Robin’ is a love letter to Enter the Dragon and honestly, I am totally down with that. It is perfectly paced, totally action packed. It has humor AND heart, a testament to Williamson's amazing writing and Melnikov's amazing art.
Find out about ‘Robin’ here.
39. King In Black (event) / Venom
Writer: Donny Cates + Various
Artist: Ryan Stegman + Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
‘King in Black’ is the gold standard for event books, pitting the heroes of the Marvel Universe against an utterly terrifying force.
Fans of Marvel's heroes - Venom in particular - will want to read this series. Cates, Stegman, Mayer, and Martin are an immensely talented creative team.
Learn more about ‘King In Black’ here.
40. Eternals
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Esad Ribic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
‘Eternals’ clearly takes a lot of inspiration from the relaunched X-Men. The inclusion of info dump pages and the tone itself feels very inline of that entire line of comics. That's not a bad thing because it works REALLY well.
Learn more about ‘Eternals’ here.
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41. Man-Bat
Writer: Dave Wielgosz
Artist: Sumit Kumar
Publisher: DC Comics
Man-Bat is a character that is awesome from a visual and story point of view. The art and colors are jaw-dropping, and look different from any other comics out there, giving it a visual edge. Two different characters in one body that you can't help but feel sorry for.
Learn more about ‘Man-Bat’ here.
42. Thor & Loki: Double Trouble
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Gurihiro
Publisher: Marvel Comics
‘Double Trouble’ is a fun and entertaining diversion from the normal heavier plot arcs found right now. Thor and Loki are the ideal agents of chaos, regardless of what they actually intend to do.
Find out about ‘Thor & Loki: Double Trouble’ here.
43. BRZRKR
Writer: Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt
Artist: Ron Garney
Publisher: Boom Studios
‘BRZRKR’ is breathtaking. It feels like the beginning of a Keanu Reeves movie, which is fitting since he helped write it. He and Kindt’s working relationship seems to be very good. There are so many secrets in this comic, and the visual storytelling is strong, thanks to veteran artist Ron Garney.
Find out about ‘BRZRKR’ here.
44. The Good Asian
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artist: Alexandre Tefenkgi
Publisher: Image Comics
This is a fantastic mystery story and even more fantastic examination of Chinese-American life in the late 1930's. This is a book that swings for the fences and has managed to land in the stars because of its ambition and the clear amount of work that went into it.
Learn more about ‘The Good Asian’ here.
45. Nottingham
Writer: David Hazan
Artist: Shane Connery Volk
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
This is obviously not one for the kiddies, and it's probably going to piss some folks off. ‘Nottingham’ challenges idol worship and the long held practice of canonizing atrocious human beings in stories and song. It's well written, beautifully drawn, and engages the reader from the very first sequence. Well worth the price of admission.
Find out about ‘Nottingham’ here.
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46. Harley Quinn
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Publisher: DC Comics
Ultimately, ‘Harley Quinn’ is an excellent re-introduction to the series and its new status quo. This book’s success is due to Stephanie Phillips' expert approach to Harley's characterization and Riley Rossmo's beautiful artwork.
Find out about ‘Harley Quinn’ here.
47. Star Wars: Darth Vader / Star Wars - War Of The Bounty Hunters (event)
Writer: Greg Pak / Charles Soule + Various
Artist: Raffaele Ienco / Luke Ross + Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The artwork is superb. Seeing the summa-verminoth in a comic was much more intimidating as the art team shows that dealing with the crushing tentacles may be better than dealing with its other powers.
Greg Pak can weave these powerful moments throughout the series that really make the events of Return of the Jedi hit harder.
Find out about ‘Star Wars: Darth Vader’ here.
48. Detective Comics
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Dan Mora, Viktor Bogdanovic
Publisher: DC Comics
Mariko Tamaki and Dan Mora's 'Detective Comics' is a delightful romp through Gotham's corridors of power. Dan Mora delivers some stunning visuals with beautiful details throughout both in the exteriors and interiors of the world.
Learn more about ‘Detective Comics’ here.
49. Black Widow
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Elena Casagrande
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Overall, ‘Black Widow’ is an elegant masterpiece. Every moment is even more captivating than the next. The conclusion to the first arc has been so beautifully crafted, and has been well worth the wait. Treat yourself and pick this one up.
Find out about ‘Black Widow’ here.
50. The House of Lost Horizons - A Sarah Jewell Mystery
Writer: Chris Roberson
Artist: Leila Del Duca
Publisher: Dark Horse
Fans of both cosmic horror and cozy mysteries will find a lot to enjoy in The House of Lost Horizons. Even readers whose tastes don't gravitate towards one genre or the other may find this one interesting enough to be worth a read. And it goes without saying that Hellboy fans will love this one.
Learn more about ‘The House of Lost Horizons’ here.
Head here for Part Two: 11 to 25 of our Best Comic Book Series of 2021.
Want more comic book news and reviews? The Sea Shell mobile app is available worldwide as a free download on the App Store and the Play Store. Download it today.