Best Comic Book Series of 2021: 11 to 25
What a year! 2021 saw countless excellent comics; far more than we could manage to read.
Our stand-outs included underrated Marvel heroes, majestic fantasies, grim thrillers, indie treasures, and even The Joker.
When it comes to comic books, there really has been something spectacular for everyone this year. Please enjoy Part Two - 11 to 25 of our Best Comic Book Series of 2021 countdown.
In case you missed it, head here for our Top Ten Best Comic Books of 2021.
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11. Hellblazer: Rise and Fall
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Darick Robertson
Publisher: DC Comics
DC titles often reside on the darker, more serious side of comics, the vast quantity of Gotham-based titles being the number one culprit. Which would be fine, except for that DC titles also need to be created so that they can be consumed by teenagers, and creating comics that are gritty and grim that still appeal to people that can’t drive a car can be a recipe for incongruous disaster.
DC’s Black Label (and Vertigo before it) has often been the solution to this, allowing creators to include swearing, nudity (Batman’s dick!), more intense violence, and generally more adult themes and behaviour.
And though the idea that these titles deserve a price mark-up is completely dubious, in 2021 alone DC Black Label delivered ‘Rorschach’, ‘Batman: Reptilian’, ‘The Nice House on the Lake’, ‘Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity’, ‘Sweet Tooth: The Return’, ‘Batman: White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn’, ‘American Vampire 1976’, ‘Superman vs. Lobo’, and a host of other titles that would have suffered if they were forced to adhere to a relative PG rating.
‘Hellblazer - Rise and Fall’ was the best of the bunch for Black Label, offering a fantastic conclusion to the run it began in late 2020. John Constantine is one of DC/Vertigo’s best characters, full of desperate self loathing and remorse, but willing to get out of bed each day to fight the worst the Underworld has to offer. Relying on his wits rather than gadgets or superhuman abilities, he never shies from getting his hands dirty.
Between ‘Rise and Fall’ and the character’s appearances in ‘DCeased: Dead Planet’ (2020), it’s clear that Tom Taylor gets what makes Constantine work. Darick Robertson’s art is a perfect pairing, keen is his ability to deliver darkness with clarity, ensuring a well paced offering.
Released in April 2021, the 200 page collection of ‘Hellblazer - Rise and Fall’ is a fantastic pick-up for longtime comic readers, particularly those who have dipped out of reading DC’s mainline titles due to waning appeal.
12. Inkblot
Writer: Emma Kubert and Rusty Gladd
Artist: Emma Kubert and Rusty Gladd
Publisher: Image Comics
‘Inkblot’ is a joy to read. You can choose to get lost in the incredible detail of its high concept fantasy, or cruise through it leisurely as merely a fun story about a mischievous cat. Or both, as it begs for repeat readings.
In a year of superb comics, ‘Inkblot’ would always be the first title we’d read any week it was released. It’s cute, fun, and silly, while understanding the core tenets of the Fantasy genre, and managing to deliver the epic-scale battles and tense stakes required to satisfy hardcore fans.
It’s the best type of all ages title, including being fit for a huge range of people that may not usually read comics. It’s a worthy starting point for a younger child you’re looking to introduce to comics, and will certainly inspire any that love to draw. It would also make for a great Christmas gift for any fans of Tolkien or Pratchett, or really anyone that has a cat.
13. Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton
Writer: Kyle Starks
Artist: Chris Schweizer
Publisher: Image Comics
Something that is regularly frustrating about Marvel and DC comic books are how beholden each title is to their wider universe.
Even worse is when they realise a limited series is a success, and decide to commission additional issues, or even turn the limited series into an ongoing title.
Story structures are stretched, superfluous material gets added, pacing gets destroyed, additional creators are needed, and excellent quality work quickly devolves into mediocrity.
Thankfully, Indie publishers avoid this pitfall by consistently creating stories that adhere to basic story structure (crazy, right!). Even their ongoing series tend to break for a couple of months, factoring in time to allow creators to be able to plan their work, before putting their heads down to write and draw.
It’s a wise sales strategy, as you can be confident when picking up an indie trade that it’s going to tell a story with a beginning, a middle, and an ending, and that the quality isn’t going to radically dissipate after the first two issues of a ten issue book.
‘Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton’ is a mystery, the exact type of story that requires meticulous planning to steadily reveal its story, and keep readers intrigued while they ponder the possibilities in-step with the characters.
And it’s funny. As a mystery, ‘Six Sidekicks’ is focused on a murder with countless suspects, with no one really genuinely caring whether or not it’s solved. It successfully introduces a fun ensemble of characters with little in common apart from their respective work as TV sidekicks with the murder victim. They’re the only ones willing to attempt to solve the murder (written off as a suicide by police) due to, really, a lack of anything better to do.
Their lack of genuine care for the solution to the murder is explored through flashbacks to the abuse and mistreatment they each received from Trigger Keaton, the titular victim. As wild action and dangerous hijinks ensue, the strangers bond and become friends, and readers will find themselves hoping that they just forget about the case and head out for a beer and pizza.
Without spoilers, the story does have a satisfying conclusion, a deserved reward for any reader willing to take a chance on it. Highly recommended.
14. Captain Marvel
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Lee Garbett, Jacopo Camagni, Sergio Davila, David Lopez, Takeshi Miyazawa
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Following great success with smaller Marvel titles, Kelly Thompson took on ‘Captain Marvel’ at the start of 2019, coinciding with the release of the hugely popular movie starring Brie Larson.
Going on three years now - a long time in comic books - across thirty four issues her work has been consistently very good, with her strongest issues ranking up there with Captain Marvel’s best ever. It’s no surprise to see Marvel trusting Thompson with their biggest characters, including recent issues of ‘Amazing Spider-Man’.
Thompson knows how to create a solid story arc, and in 2021 Captain Marvel readers were lucky enough to receive the tail end of the epic ‘Brave New World’ and the playful ‘Sorceress Supreme’.
Where Thompson shines head-and-shoulders above contemporaries is by knowing when to temper the action and bring the character to the forefront, specifically to focus on the human being behind the mask (or, in Carol’s case, photon blasts).
She knows how and when to convey the burden of heroism and the strain that it causes, particularly when in combination with everyday personal problems that can be just as hard to bear. It’s what adds weight to stories that are near non-stop action; it’s what causes readers to care, and to keep reading.
Issue #6 of Thompson’s recent run on Deadpool is about as emotionally hopeless and tragic as you’ll ever see the merc-with-a-mouth. After months as the actual King of the Monsters - a title most view as perfectly apt for Wade - he tries in vain to join the X-Men on the mutant-only island of Krakoa, and breaks down when they won’t accept him, regardless of his similarities, his long-running friendship, and the good he’s done for mutant-kind.
Equally crushing is Thompson’s first ‘Black Widow’ story arc. Natasha is free of her dark past and finally able to experience love and stability with her new husband and child. It’s all the more devastating when this happiness is ripped from her in the worst possible way, breaking the already broken Romanoff even further.
So under Thompson’s guidance, how does Carol Danvers fare in 2021? Basically exactly as you would expect. Having returned from the future where her boyfriend James Rhodes has a daughter that isn’t hers, she decides to break up with him for their own good, feeling it to be an inevitable outcome.
She’s haunted with the weight of not knowing what went wrong but feeling certain that something will, and overwhelmed by the unexplored traumas she’s faced without break as Captain Marvel. It takes hard work, friendship, denial, and an overwhelming need to punch something to get her from out under the covers and back into the world to try again. Once the action finally ramps up again, the reader’s investment in Carol is so much higher because you desperately want her to be okay.
15. I Walk With Monsters
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Sally Cantirino
Publisher: Vault Comics
Potentially flying under the radar for some, ‘I Walk With Monsters’ is one of 2021’s comic book gems. It explores the always-there nature of childhood trauma, the questionable trust of a found family, and desperation to fit into imperfect circumstances.
It shows how unhealthy it can be to fixate on one goal, especially without any thought to what comes next. It delights with characters who despite their past are committed to a path of personal growth, while facing down the hard truth that improvement isn’t linear, and that they will still face some hardship in their future, possibly always.
‘I Walk With Monsters’ is a superbly plotted story, which maintains a singular focus on the journey of its core characters and their relationship, never feeling the need to bring in superfluous material or muddying the waters by aiming for multiple pay-offs. It knows when to pause completely, when to lull in the moment, when to raise the tempo, and when to bring everything to a head, resulting in a climax that has no obvious conclusion.
It’s a beautifully drawn book as well, with the artwork doing so much to tell the story and carry the overall emotional weight of the book. With the full series of six issues now released in trade paperback, pick this up as soon as you get a chance - just be prepared not to put it down until you’ve finished reading.
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16. Beta Ray Bill
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
“Ah, sweet pity. Where would my love life have been without it?” - Homer Simpson
At its core, ‘Beta Ray Bill’ is a book driven by pity.
Bill has lost so much throughout his life. His home planet of Korbin, destroyed by Surtur and his Fire Demons. The love of his family, taken away after his selection as the Korbinite champion. His chance of normality, after being cybernetically enhanced. His chance at peace, heroic adventures placing an irremovable target on his head. His ability to change back to his normal humanoid form, Thor having destroyed his hammer, Stormbreaker.
Forever the fighter, he has managed to gain a lot. But his gains are imperfect, and nearly always bittersweet. He’s gained a home in Asgard, but one where he will never truly belong. He’s deemed worthy to lead its eternal hordes, but will do so forever in Thor’s shadow. He’s gained the love and respect of Lady Sif, Asgard’s finest hope, but she recoils at the thought of physically loving his now-permanent horse-form.
It’s a hard thing to come so far, succeed, and have your success not be enough. To remain unfulfilled. And to know that despite your pain, that you need to continue fighting - possibly endlessly - because the only other real choice is to just quit.
Readers may not be able to sympathise exactly with the painful situation of a horse-warrior in space, but anyone that reads ‘Beta Ray Bill’ is certain to be overcome with empathy and pity for his tragic plight.
As writer and artist, Daniel Warren Johnson has managed to create a fantastically cohesive work, one that readers will struggle to put down once they begin. His artistic style is distinct and inimitable. His scratchy linework can seem rushed on first viewing, like a first draft sketch, but on closer inspection there’s a phenomenal amount of detail and care present in every panel.
He’s never afraid to devote a full or three-quarter page to a vital occurrence, with the book benefiting greatly from these instances. Others that are worthy of the same are at times cropped notably or presented far smaller than they deserve, and one feels that ‘Beta Ray Bill’ would be even better if it hadn’t had to adhere to the 24-ish pages of single comic issues.
There’s such an epic majesty to many of his largest images that they’d sell out immediately if printed as posters. Complimenting this significantly, the brevity of his dialogue allows readers to maintain a concise focus on the high energy plot, particularly as he’s ever-willing to show-not-tell with the story.
Tying off the first issue is an interview between Johnson and Beta Ray Bill creator, the legendary Walter Simonson. It’s a joyous bonus inclusion, and it’s clear through his insightful questions about Simonson’s art and creative process that Johnson cares greatly about the character. It seems like he’s wanting to learn and improve even further, a great humility given the quality of ‘Beta Ray Bill’. One hopes that Marvel already has him working on something new.
17. Black Knight - Curse of the Ebony Blade
Writer: Sy Spurrier
Artist: Sergio Davila
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Marvel’s ‘Eternals’ was a chore. Not satisfied with the very difficult challenge of introducing a whole new ensemble of bizarre immortals, it shoe-horned in Dane Whitman, better known as the Black Knight, one of Marvel’s most ridiculous characters.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has made an artform out of pre-introducing characters before their own larger stories are told in future MCU movies and TV shows. Their collective output can be viewed as one continuous backdoor pilot, forever testing audience engagement to see what sticks.
Unfortunately for Black Knight fans, Whitman’s appearance in ‘Eternals’ was ham-fisted and unnecessary, a dull and pointless addition that showed nothing of the character’s potential. Kit Harington is a very talented actor, but the worst of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones has clearly shown that he can’t save low quality material.
A cursory consideration of recent cinematic duds like ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (2017), ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ (2017), and ‘The Green Knight’ (2021) shows that Arthurian legends are difficult material to translate into a two hour movie that audiences will find engaging and substantial.
The Black Knight seems like a poor choice for Marvel’s overwhelmingly integrated cinematic universe, where every story is hampered by the aftermath of the twenty six that came before it.
Which is a huge loss for fans of Dane Whitman, the silly sometimes-Avenger who has managed over 500 appearances in Marvel comics, yet only four books as the titular character since 1955. He’s an acquired taste for sure, but a positive addition to a comic universe that revels in the ridiculous.
‘Curse of the Ebony Blade’ is a superb outing for the Black Knight. The characterisation of Dane Whitman has a depth that the character deserves, and readers are certain to find themselves feeling sorry for him, but also a little scared, and fully aware of why everyone else in his life finds him a struggle to be around.
He’s inarguably a hero, but one without glory, platitudes, or even respect. He fights altruistically knowing that doing so is likely dooming his own future. ‘Curse of the Ebony Blade’ sees him forced into another seemingly unwinnable fight, right when he’s ready to give up on heroism for his own good. He takes on the challenge, even as it gets progressively harder, battling nobly through his own weaknesses.
‘Ebony Blade’ understands how to make the Black Knight work in a modern setting. Sy Spurrier has done a fantastic job creating a story that has one foot in medieval legend and one foot in the sci-fi technology of the present day, harmoniously balancing the two. It’s also a visual delight, Sergio Davila’s pencils combining with Sean Parson’s inks and Arif Prianto’s colours into something exceptional.
If ‘Eternals’ and its wasted use of Dane Whitman left you unenthusiastic for the future of the MCU, ‘Curse of the Ebony Blade’ will restore your faith in the potential appearance of the Black Knight.
18. Fishkill
Writer: Dan Fogler and Laurence Blum
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Publisher: Heavy Metal
‘Fishkill’ isn’t neat or clean, both in its narrative material and its artistic choices. It's gritty and grimy, and consistently bloody. Fishkill (the character) spends much of the story in the sewer, and at times the flecked ink and brown watercolour backgrounds make it feel like ‘Fishkill’ (the book) has as well.
Detective Fishkill isn’t an easy protagonist, his lumbering physicality, mental health difficulties, and often monosyllabic dialogue making him as challenging for readers to engage with as he is for the other characters.
He heavily contrasts with the book’s often overwhelming paragraphs of establishing copy, its cavalcade of often barely tangentially-related supporting characters, and the sinister intricacies of the wider world driving the plot.
If this sounds like a mess, that’s because it is. ‘Fishkill’ is a challenge to read, but one that’s overwhelmingly worthwhile for dedicated comic book fans. It’s not a book that does readers any favours, but once locked in to what it actually is rather than what it isn’t, it’s utterly captivating and incredibly satisfying.
19. The Picture of Everything Else
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Kishore Mohan
Publisher: Vault Comics
Placed upon shelves amongst scores of caped crusaders, ‘The Picture of Everything Else’ stands out like a sore thumb. And thankfully so, as it’s a title that is rich and rewarding to anyone curious enough to pick it up.
It’s bloody and grim, as a rash of impossible killings sweep through nineteenth century Paris, literally tearing the rich and beautiful apart in their beds. Two art thieves stumble upon portraits of the victims damaged in the exact same manner they died, and it appears the man who once painted the immortal portrait of Dorian Gray has returned with darker plans for future works.
Dan Watters is one of contemporary comics’ best writers. ‘Picture’ more than lives up to his other excellent work, such as ‘Lucifer’, ‘Coffin Bound’ and ‘Home Sick Pilots’.
It’s tense and depressing, pushing readers to turn page after page thanks to its captivating story, authentic characters, and fear that something terrible is about to happen at any moment. It lives and loves the art world that it occupies, with a veracity and earnestness that add significant depth to proceedings.
This book would have been up there with the very best of 2021, were it not for a spotty and then halted release schedule that has no doubt left every reader on tenterhooks. Thankfully, the remaining two issues are finally scheduled for release in 2022, with the fifth and final issue set for April 27th, more than sixteen months after issue one. Make sure to pick ‘The Picture of Everything Else’ up once it’s finally collected in full.
20. Eniac
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Doug Braithwaite
Publisher: Bad Idea
If you thought you saw Matt Kindt’s name pop up a lot in 2021, you’re not the only one. In addition to co-authoring the blockbuster ‘BRZRKR’ with Keanu Reeves, he released not one but two well received Dark Horse books (‘Fear Case’ and ‘Crimson Flower’), as well as other great material for Bad Idea, 2021’s best new comic book publisher.
‘ENIAC’ was the cream of the crop for Kindt, a tight blockbuster that backed up its non-stop action with a solid plot and intriguing characters. Following special ops members tasked with taking down a supercomputer bent on world destruction, it’s not a subtle book, but it’s not stupid either. Its ability to go large on base instincts of shoot-em-up-brutality and mega-explosions are anchored in reality (at least somewhat) by a grounded understanding of modern geopolitics and real life world history.
The quality of Kindt’s sharp writing is met in kind by Doug Braithwaite’s brutally graphic artwork, brought to life by Diego Rodriguez’s superb colours.
Indicative of its quality, the first run of ‘ENIAC’ #1 sold out ridiculously quick, and copies are still selling on eBay for comfortably more than $100USD. If you slept on this title because you missed it when it first went on sale, do what you can to pick it up as soon as possible.
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21. The Joker
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Guillem March
Publisher: DC Comics
An early criticism I read of ‘The Joker’ was that the book should instead be named ‘Gordon’, given retired Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon is inarguably the book’s protagonist, and the Clown Prince of Crime barely features in the title’s early issues.
I fully agree with these sentiments, though not as a criticism. Gordon is a linchpin character for ‘Batman’ and ‘Batman’-related books, often finding himself to be Gotham’s brightest light, warts and all. He’s more responsible than any other character for keeping ‘Batman’ grounded in relative reality, stopping the title from devolving into ridiculous, nonsensical tales about a billionaire dressing up like a bat.
While the potential commercial success of a ‘Gordon’ title might be questionable, DC Comics had no problem charging an exorbitant $5.99 USD per issue for ‘The Joker’. DC knows which characters keep their office lights on, and given their rough 2021 average of three titles starring Batman every week (even more when counting titles where he’s a minor character), it’s pretty clear what motivates DC’s creative output. Such is the fervour for their classic villain that DC could release ‘The Joker Goes to Camp’ or ‘The Joker Saves Christmas’ to guaranteed high sales.
But in the relatively volatile world of comics, it’s forgivable to get paid where there’s money to be made, at least to an extent. And they’re not alone. While ‘The Joker’ was being released, author James Tynion IV was simultaneously releasing ‘Batman’, ‘The Department of Truth’, ‘The Nice House on the Lake’, ‘Something is Killing the Children’ AND ‘Wynd’. It’s a staggering quantity of output for any writer to deliver at once if hoping to be completing their best quality work.
Thankfully ‘The Joker’ isn’t one of the titles that suffered and it’s a solid read throughout. He builds off his experience with the character from 2020’s major event ‘The Joker War’, understanding how to toe the line between his cool charisma and his cold-blooded, calculated-yet-chaotic brutality.
As with the main ‘Batman’ title, Tynion’s good writing is lifted significantly by Guillem March’s superb art to combine into something special. He nails the visuals for every location, from seedy bars and opulent mansions to jungle fortresses and cursed carnivals. Hugely frustrating is the fact that March isn’t the artist for every issue, with these suffering from his absence.
Cynically, you could view ‘The Joker’ as a cash-grab that exploits comic book completists and die-hards. But there’s more than enough here to be enchanted by. Maybe just head to your local library to pick it up.
22. Stray Dogs
Writer: Tony Fleecs
Artist: Trish Forstner
Publisher: Image Comics
The ‘Stray Dogs’ pre-release pitch was “Lady and the Tramp meets Silence of the Lambs”, a lamb-and-tuna-fish calibre combination that no one was asking for. The Disney-derivative preliminary pages had the look and feel of furry-art, perhaps unsurprising given the creators’ work on ‘My Little Pony’, and the partial fandom crossover.
In short, my hopes couldn’t have been lower for this book, readying myself for the worst title of 2021. Thankfully, I was extremely wrong. The book immediately landed successfully with critics and fans alike, and I was delighted to read every issue.
‘Stray Dogs’ plays well with an ensemble of canine characters who are hampered by their poor memories and unsure of, or even oblivious to, the danger they’re currently in. The warmth of the found-family of dogs is constantly shattered by violent flashbacks and grim foreboding, borne out of heinous human actions that some readers may find triggering.
It’s easy to buy into ‘Stray Dogs’ characters, and even easier to buy into their harrowing journey towards safety, especially if you’re the type that regularly asks worriedly “Does the Dog Die?”.
23. The Many Deaths of Laila Starr
Writer: Ram V
Artist: Filipe Andrade
Publisher: Boom Studios
This book was one of the most rewarding journeys of 2021.
At first, ‘The Many Deaths of Laila Starr’ feels like a lot - possibly even too much - as it takes time to lay out and define its complex world and bold ideas. Mortality, immortality, Gods’, the afterlife, magic, reality… it’s a lot to take in.
Thankfully, with the groundwork laid, the book settles into its compelling narrative. The recently fired God of Death is determined to stop the person set to crack the code for immortality, as they’re destined to forever change the course of humanity and leave Death as a redundant antique. Both journeys are partly comical and mostly heartbreaking, exploring what life and loss truly are, before coming to a head.
Elevating the big ideas and sharp plot is some truly exceptional art by Filipe Andrade (colour assists by Inês Amaro), the book’s penchant for pastel pinks and purples perfectly suiting the ethereal subject matter.
Overall, reading ‘The Many Deaths of Laila Starr’ is like having a big cry; somewhat draining, certain to make you sad, but afterwards you'll feel glad that you did.
24. Big Girls
Writer: Jason Howard
Artist: Jason Howard
Publisher: Image Comics
There’s presently no shortage of entertainment options if you’re a fan of oversized mega-beasts battling it out in the centre of a city.
2021 saw the highly anticipated release of ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’. A popcorn blockbuster, it delivered the best outing for either character in decades, as long as you were willing to completely ignore the nonsensical plot.
There were also a host of giants hitting comic book racks this year, including ‘Kaiju Score’, ‘Jenny Zero’, and ‘Ultramega’. All three are worthwhile reads for fans of the Kaiju genre, each adding an original twist on the formula.
Dwarfing those titles was ‘Big Girls’ by Jason Howard, the critically acclaimed artist of ‘Trees’, written by the legendary Warren Ellis.
As both artist and writer of ‘Big Girls’, Howard manages to create a story that successfully intrigues as it works through the ‘Why?’ behind the titular big girls, before it unleashes the imminently necessary destruction.
When critiquing a movie like ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ it can be difficult to choose specifically what to criticise, when the sad answer is “the entire plot.” It’s hugely valuable to have creations like ‘Big Girls’ that can be pointed to as examples of how to do the genre right.
Sony Pictures are currently working on a ‘Kaiju Score’ film, with Brian and Mark Gunn (brother and cousin respectively to "Guardians of the Galaxy" director, James Gunn) announced as initial writers of the movie. Given the superiority of the source material, it would be very surprising not to see a ‘Big Girls’ movie come to screens in the near future as well.
25. Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death Tales
Writer: Gerard Way and Shaun Simon
Artist: I.N.J. Culbard
Publisher: Dark Horse
Who doesn’t love a spin-off? Well, most people, given the often dramatic decrease in quality from the source material. Thankfully, ‘Tales from the Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death’ is far more ‘Frasier’ or ‘Daria’ than it is ‘Mrs. Columbo’ or ‘Baywatch Nights’.
Klaus finds himself kicked out of the Umbrella Academy, and with his allowance discontinued by the senior Hargreeves, he finds himself in Hollywood on a quest for recognition and glory, coupled with countless side-quests to get as loose as humanly possible.
The focus on Klaus allows for a much lighter tone than the ‘Umbrella Academy’ books, and it’s comparatively a far more breezy and humorous read. Sure the stakes are lower, but they’re stakes that readers will invest in all the same. He’s the kind of character for whom things are always going wrong and then quickly going right, loved by nearly all, except the unpleasant antagonists he unwittingly crosses.
I.N.J. Culbard’s art is fantastic throughout, somewhat characteristic of Gabriel Bá’s ‘Umbrella Academy’ work while feeling original to itself and to the story it’s telling. Gerard Way’s writing is on point as always, combining superbly again with Shaun Simon, his ‘The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys’ writing partner.
‘You Look Like Death’ is a fantastic read, even if it doesn’t scream for more tales about Klaus, at least not immediately. It does highlight a notable opportunity for more ‘Tales from the Umbrella Academy’, as well as an overall need for more ‘Umbrella Academy’. Fingers crossed.
Head here for our Top Ten Best Comic Books of 2021.
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