Binnies 2011: Best Mini-Series/New Series

Spotlight
Binnies 2011: Best Mini-Series/New Series
By Zak Edwards
January 2, 2012 - 18:28

If you were someone just getting into comic books, 2011 was probably one of the best years to do so. With DC reboot, hopping into new and exciting series for that publisher couldn't be easier and even Marvel, amongst their multiple events, made some of their more popular franchises pretty easy to get into. Not to mention the myriad of mini-series put out by all sorts of publishers, 2011 had something exciting and new for everyone. Here's what we thought rose to the top. Remember, more Binnie Awards are just a click away through the links to your right.

Zak Edwards: Animal Man (DC Comics)

Jeff Lemire’s Animal Man blows me away every single issue by tackling family issues, the DC reboot, and literature itself, Lemire and artist Travel Foreman have created a layered and wildly imaginative book in Animal Man. In my opinion, this book sets the highest grade every DC reboot book should aspire to. Heart-warming in its own strange way, horrifying in others, Animal Man is extremely intelligent and brilliantly constructed. Coupled with Travel Foreman's simple yet complex art, which blows me away every page if not every panel, I absolutely everything this book has done and look forward to what happens in 2012.

Dan Horn: The Infinite Vacation (Image Comics)

One miniseries in 2011 truly captured the cutting edge of sequential storytelling. That miniseries is Image Comics' The Infinite Vacation, written by Nick Spencer with art by Christian Ward. Sure, the comic book's creators took their sweet time getting readers issue three, but the read was well worth the wait. The Infinite Vacation, a thriller about things gone awry when a man vacationing in his own alternate realities throughout the multiverse becomes targeted by an evil corporation, presents classic science fiction motifs tempered with engrossing theoretical speculation and mind-bending, psychedelic interiors. It's a graphic tour de force, but may just prove to be a better read as a collection, sans long publication delays.

Andy Frisk: Wolverine and The X-Men (Marvel Comics)

It's only a handful of issues in thus far, but Jason Aaron's first Marvel Mutant team book has not only the perfect cast of characters for the witty Aaron to play with, but headlines one Marvel Mutant that Aaron has returned to the fold of being readable: Wolverine. I've been dying for Aaron to take on a gaggle of misplaced mutants and my wishes have finally come true...oh, and getting at least some of the X-Men back to basics (a la rebuilding and running a school for gifted youngsters) was badly needed. Aaron's the man for the job, and the sky is the limit with this series. Remember when Wolverine was cool? Yeah, when Aaron was (and is) writing him.

Colin Anderson: Justice League International (DC Comics)

With 52+ new or reinvented series, a DC Comics' books had a pretty good chance for this category. What did surprise me was which one managed to become one of my favorites. For this pick, I tried to avoid a series that had been going before the DC relaunch (i.e. Green Lantern Corps) and the clear winner stood out as Justice League International. Dan Jurgens has managed to create a truly international cast of characters that each come with their own distinct personalities without feeling like caricatures. Admittedly, the current plot line isn't the most ground-breaking but it does have the important element of being fun. It's a pleasure to see how these different heroes interact and behave around each other and their leader that they view as less-than-effective. It helps that Aaron Lopresti has the perfect superhero art style that makes the book of a joy to look at as well.

Philip Schweier: Aquaman (DC Comics)

Geoff Johns works his revisionist magic on the King of the Seas, long the joke of the DC Universe. It’s not what Aquaman does, it’s how he does it. He’s a King, for cryin’ out loud, and uneasy has been the head that wears that particular crown. Aquaman has now embraced his royal standing, demonstrating he’s not afraid to throw his weight around, take charge and become more than just the JLA’s resident water-breather. He’s ready to lead, and apparently isn’t likely to take no for an answer.

Leroy Douressaux: Detective Comics (DC Comics)

Rather than just being one more copy of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Tony Daniel’s take on Detective Comics is Batman as a “dark detective” rather than as a “dark knight.” Plus, the series is sinister and edgy, not simply as a matter of style, but also in the setting and characters. It has something of a seinen manga feel to it. This new Detective Comics probably owes as much or more to the film Se7en as it does to Christopher Nolan or Frank Miller’s Batman.

Hervé St-Louis: Wonder Woman (DC Comics)

Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang is impressive and one of my favourite 52 series thus far. I've never cared for Wonder Woman in the past She was bland and boring. It's still a new series, but so far, I love it.

And remember, more Binnies Awards await, just click in the top right of this very article to see them!