Posted in: Comics | Tagged: best new series, Comics, countdown to the eisners, Eisner Award, eisners, entertainment

Countdown To The Eisners 2015 – Best New Series

Published Wed, 13 May 2015 18:00:24 -0500

Every year brings an onslaught of new titles. Some are relaunches, others are brand-spanking-new. All of them, no matter the publisher, are competing for your attention and money, for unless you're able/willing to read every single series ever, you need to trim a few titles to make room for the newer ones. And who doesn't love that new comic smell? Today's column will be focusing on Best New Series, and 2014 definitely saw its fair share of new series, many of which I look forward to seeing evolve into the Best Continuing Series at the Eisners next year.

Keep in mind I cannot vote for who wins (nor can you, probably), as per the rules. However, that's not keeping me from being vocal regardless!

Who is eligible to vote?
Comic book/graphic novel/webcomic creators (writers, artists, cartoonists, pencillers, inkers, letterers, colorists
All nominees in any category
Comic book/graphic novel publishers and editors
Comics historians and educators
Graphic novel librarians
Owners and managers of comic book specialty retail stores

Who is not eligible to vote?
Comics press or reviewers (unless they are nominees)
Non-creative publisher staff members (PR, marketing, assistants, etc.)
Fans

Before I get back to writing Bleeding Cool: The Comic so I can be eligible for next year, let the games begin!

Best New Series

The Fade Out, by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips (Image)

1940's Hollywoodland. A young starlet is murdered, and a screenwriter by the name of Charlie Parish awakes at the murder scene with no recollection of how he got there. What transpires next is a good old-fashioned murder mystery, with every actor and studio head a suspect, and Charlie being the prime one. Brubaker and Phillips, fresh-off their run on Fatale, once again flex their noir muscles, this time during the early rambunctious days of Hollywood.

Lumberjanes, by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson, & Brooke A. Allen (BOOM! Box)

A troop of Lumberjanes (think Girl Scouts) find themselves encountering the strangest creatures and monsters at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistte Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. Adventuring throughout the woods, they come across clues to a much bigger cosmic plan at work, involving yetis, three-eyed foxes, raptors, and a Bear Woman. Filled with action and humor, Watters, Ellis, Stevenson, and Allen bring the reader to the extreme great outdoors, wishing summer camp never ends.

Ms. Marvel, by G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona (Marvel)

16-year-old Kamala Khan is from New Jersey, and enjoys writing superhero fan-fic. After sneaking out to a party one Friday night, she stumbles into a Terrigen Mist that transforms her into whatever she can think of. What's the one thing she wants more than anything else? To be Ms. Marvel. Now she has to balance her superhero life with school and her strict Muslim family, all while finding out who has been kidnapping children and using them as sources of energy.

Rocket Raccoon, by Skottie Young (Marvel)

Rocket Raccoon, badass fighter and one of the key members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, is wanted for murder. There's video of him (or someone who looks like him) killing people, forcing him to turn himself in to figure out who this imposter is. While breaking out of jail he learns that this other Rocket isn't the only one who wants him dead—a whole fleet of his ex-girlfriends want him dead too. Young writes and illustrates, with his radical style doing a perfect job setting the tone.

The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie (Image)

Every 90 years a dozen gods return as humans, live for two years, then die. During those two years though, they're super-powered celebrities. Hated by some, loved by the majority. Superfan Laura manages to befriend one of them after a concert, and her life is forever changed as she's brought into a world she never imagined possible. At the same time someone is trying to kill the gods, which only causes more chaos and confusion about what these gods are truly capable of. Gillen and McKelvie are at it again creating another addicting series.

Who I think should win:
The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie (Image)

This was an extremely hard choice, but between Lumberjanes and The Wicked + The Divine, I gotta go Wicked. Gods being seen as celebrities in 2014 makes so much sense, and the different gods and their clashing personality's makes for an epic read. Colorful characters, an intriguing mystery, and mythology galore, all beautifully illustrated by McKelvie.

Gillen & McKelvie are (as usual) at the top of their games, and I can't wait to see this series nominated for Best Continuing Series next year.

Who I think will win:
The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie (Image)

While Phonogram volume 3 is still on the horizon, you would have thought it was released in 2014 with all the praise for Gillen & McKelvie back together on their own Image series. Everyone I've talked to loves this book, and it's been getting (well deserved) critical acclaim across the board.

Who I think should have been nominated:
Moon Knight, by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire (Marvel)

Every once in a while Moon Knight gets a relaunch worth following each month. 2014 was definitely the year to hop back onboard the Moon Knight wagon, with Ellis, Shalvey, and Bellaire bringing their A-game to this action-packed title of awesomeness.

Who do you think should win / been nominated?

Cameron Hatheway is a reviewer and the host of Cammy's Comic Corner, an audio podcast. You can snap your fingers at him on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!