CBR Forums Top 50 Comics of 2011-The List

[Brandon Hanvey]

6. Fantastic Four/FF (Marvel)
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Drawn by Steve Epting, Nick Dragotta, Mark Brooks, Barry Kitson, Greg Tocchini, Scott Hana, Scott Koblish, Jay Leisten, Mark Pennington, Juan Bobillo, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ming Doyle, Lenil Yu & Farel Dalrymple

Fantastic Four 600 was amazing. The best anniversary issue I've ever read. And putting Doom on the team was awesome! -Rheged

There has never been a better year for a franchise than it was John Hickman's run on Fantastic Four and spin-off series FF (Future Foundation). A complete fun ride hitting all the bases from the Inhumans to the Kree... Hickman has told some great stories and built the fun to a huge conclusion. -SUPERECWFAN1

More ideas per square inch than any other comic out there. Bursting with imagination and complexity, yet still completely accessible. -maniacmatt

[Brandon Hanvey]

5. Journey Into Mystery (Marvel)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Drawn by Doug Braithewaite

Matt Fraction brought kid Loki into the folds, however it was Kieron Gillen who gave him heart and purpose in JIM. Gillen balances perfectly the mix of modern and classic storytelling, and the subtle humor is balanced by the tragic undercurrent of a kid's struggle to overcome predestination and bias. -AliAle

Journey Into Mystery (Consistently, the best book Marvel puts out and probably it's most unique. It's a lovely book, especially the issues with art by Douglas Braithwaite, with a whimsical fantasy vibe that deals with some pretty deep themes. Kieron Gillen's writing is sparkling, fun, and emotionally satisfying. JiM works on many levels which makes reading it multiple times worthwhile. -Rheged

[Brandon Hanvey]

4. Daredevil Volume 3 (Marvel)
Written by Mark Waid
Drawn by Paolo Rivera & Marcos Martin

After decades of grim and gritty, going back to the original tone of silver-age swashbuckling paid off in spades. In both art and writing, it's unmistakably modern, yet charmingly retro. -maniacmatt

If you take away Mark Waid’s clever new take on Daredevil, where he takes Daredevil 180% from the grim and gritty mire that Matt Murdock has been in since “Born Again” (or at least since “Guardian Devil”) while making it clear that this is all a desperate act of a man trying to stay sane – if you take away that well-though-out attempt to reconcile Daredevil’s past with Waid’s charming approach to the character, you still have a great comic book due to the brilliant artwork of Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin. It seems almost unfair that one comic book should have two separate pencilers this good. -Brian Cronin

[Brandon Hanvey]

3. Wolverine and the X-Men (Marvel)
Written by Jason Aaron
Drawn by Chris Bachalo

This is the most exciting and fun Marvel book out right now. With great humor and a quirky attitude, WATXM surely makes the top 10 and will likely climb next year. -countryfan2004

Wolverine & the X-Men : This one shocked me actually. I had never thought the premise would work. I had also thought Wolverine leading the school was silly of course.

But Jason Aaron shocked me. He really shocked me. Not only has the idea worked , the series reads as pure fun. Wolverine is trying to adjust to his role as teacher and has his former sidekick , sprite herself Kitty Pryde as Headmistress. It makes perfect sense Kitty would soon co-lead the school .
-SUPERECWFAN1

Pure comics fun. Hilarious writing and high-energy art in an X-Men book is incredibly refreshing. It's fun to see the more light-hearted puberty metaphor of mutants addressed after focusing on the persecuted-minority aspect for so long. -maniacmatt

one of the most enterteining books of last year, it just has too much but it doesnt feel like its spreading too thin, its just fun
-ArnoldoAAD

[Brandon Hanvey]

2. Uncanny X-Force (Marvel)
Written by Rick Remender
Drawn by Jerome Opeña, Robbi Rodriguez, Mark Brooks, Billy Tan, Rafa Sandoval and Scot Eaton

UXF is stunning, visually and textually. The character of Psylocke has shown great growth, more than we've seen from her since her return to the proper Marvel Universe. With complex stories, seeds planted for Remender's entire run, UXF never ceases to get my pumped for reading it. It's just the right dose of Deadpool, too. -countryfan2004

[Brandon Hanvey]

1. Animal Man Volume 2 (DC)
Written by Jeff Lemire
Drawn by Travel Foreman

One of the most genuinely frightening comics out there. Disturbing imagery from Travel Foreman and suspenseful plotting from Jeff Lemire make for a winning comics recipe. -maniacmatt

is just the perfect simbiosis between a superhero book and a horror book -ArnoldoAAD