CBR's Reader's Choice: Best New Series of 2011

[Dark Chris]

this just proves to me that democracy is a failed system

Or that you can't stand the fact that your pick didn't make it.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

I feel if more people were reading "Journey into Mystery," it would have won, or at least gotten more votes.

This is a point that can't be overlooked when it comes to polls like this.

Even if you halved Batman's sales, that'd still be enough to make it a number one contender for a reader poll.

Also, chalk me up as another reader who wouldn't exactly call the book new.

[SpideyZERO]

No surprise there....Batman kicks all asses

I voted for Swamp Thing though, Bats was winning and Swampy needed more votes

[Roldan]

This is a point that can't be overlooked when it comes to polls like this.

Even if you halved Batman's sales, that'd still be enough to make it a number one contender for a reader poll.

Also, chalk me up as another reader who wouldn't exactly call the book new.

Yeah and it's not because it's of the most consistent titles around industry. The problem with books like JIM, Animal Man and Wonder Woman is that they aren't consistent. All those three had to resort to less then great artists to fill for their regular artist. Even amazing books like Daredevil and WaX, who had great fill-in artist still lack a bit because of that. That's one thing that Batman has above them all. One of the top 3 best writers right now and an artist who is not only amazing but can keep a regular monthly schedule.

Of course you can always disagree with me but i felt that's why one of the reasons why it won and not only because it's one of the biggest sellers right now.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I believe what is trying to be said is that while a majority voted for Batman, the majority of those voters probably hadn't read any or most of the other nine choices. And if they had, they wouldn't have chosen Batman. Books with much smaller readerships, such as Rachel Rising and Journey into Mystery were far superior books, but because far fewer people read them, they received fewer votes.
Batman is the most read book on the list. That doesn't equate it being the best book on the list. Revenge of the Fallen took in $400m in 2009. Hurt Locker took in $17m. Which was the better film? That's what he meant by failure of democracy. Mob mentality doesnt equal taste.
Which is probably why the Eisners eschewed this category this year.

[FailureByDesign]

Edit. 10 char.

[RandomFalls]

Batman winning isn't at all surprising.

Awesome to see that Animal Man and Wonder Woman are in the top five though. This time last year if someone had said that Wonder Woman would be a top choice in a reader's poll I would have laughed in their face. And then gone and sobbed into my pint because I so very much wanted it to be. Hurray!

[Reginleif]

you know you make absolutely zero sense 99% of the time, right? Please, explain to me how people voting for their favorite title, and the one with the most votes winning, is a failed system.

because they are wrong

[MrV]

Agreed , batman is the driving force for main stream comic fans

I must agree with this. Ever since I was little Batman was my favorite superhero and still is.

[Desaad]

I voted Animal Man, but no book here could be 'wrong' for me, they're all great.

Animal Man is the best, though.

[Zoidberg, M.D.]

Batman is the most read book on the list. That doesn't equate it being the best book on the list. Revenge of the Fallen took in $400m in 2009. Hurt Locker took in $17m. Which was the better film? That's what he meant by failure of democracy. Mob mentality doesnt equal taste.

People didn't vote Revenge of the Fallen as the Best Movie of 2009. If people vote for Batman it's because they really like it.

[FHIZ]

because they are wrong

and thank you for proving the first point in my post, yet again.

[Candid Rook]

I've tried virtually all the new 52 titles and have no problem with Batman winning. From top to bottom the creative team have killed it.

Yeah, but what about outside of the 52?

[El Sombrero]

Yeah, but what about outside of the 52?

Alright, so I haven't tried the non-new 52 ones, but out of the like 45 new DC titles I tried Batman was arguably the best. So I mean my point is that I think it's pretty damn good.

[Desaad]

Yeah, but what about outside of the 52?

I've read every book on their list, and none of them are perfect; none of them definitively deserve the win more than Batman by Snyder and Capullo.

That isn't to say I can't see an argument being made for each of the others based on preference or personal taste, mind, but none of them are breaking ground in any new way, none of them are demonstrating perfect craft every issue.

The second choice, Waid's Daredevil, is 'revolutionary' for going 'back to basics', for being solid superhero fun with some excellent cartooning that breaks from the traditional grime and grit of Daredevil post Bendis (and recalls Nocenti's run more than anything). If someone were to tell me that it was a better book, I wouldn't disagree necessarily - for me personally they're both heavily over sold - but it wouldn't be definitive either.

My personal choice, Animal Man, is the closest to a pitch perfect run of all the books that I've read, filled with density, new concepts, and character, thoughtful, innovative by degrees...but even it isn't perfect.