2009 BOOK OF THE YEAR:  Any work by Takehiko Inoue published in the U.S. in 2009

Of course, Takehiko Inoue is not a book, but this Japanese creator should write the book on creating great comics.  Because of the gritty realism of the wheelchair basketball drama, Real; the stunning introspection of the samurai series, Vagabond; and the precisely choreographed narrative of the high school basketball comedy, Slam Dunk, I cannot pick against this genius.

The rest of this list is alphabetical, and if I have to pick a single book as “Best Comic Book of the Year,” I’d go with David Mazzuchelli’s Asterios Polyp.

2009 TOP 10 Graphic Novels, Comics, and Collections
Asterios Polyp by David Mazzuchelli – Pantheon Books
The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb – W.W. Norton & Company
Cat Burglar Black by Richard Sala – First Second Books
The Hunter by Darwyn Cooke – IDW Publishing
Love and Rockets New Stories #2 by Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez – Fantagraphics Books
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small – W.W. Norton & Company
Bob Dylan Revisited (Anthology) – W.W. Norton & Company
The Bloom County Library Volume 1: 1982-82 by Berkeley Breathed – IDW Publishing
The Surrogates (Volume 2): Flesh and Blood by Robert Venditti and Brent Weldele – Top Shelf Productions
Syncopated: An Anthology of Nonfiction Picto-Essays (Anthology) – Villard Books

TOP 10 Manga
Bleach – VIZ Media
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Intern at Your Own Risk - TOKYOPOP
Honey Hunt – VIZ Media
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation – VIZ Media
Naruto – VIZ Media
Oishinbo a la Carte – VIZ Media
Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka – VIZ Media
Suggestive Eyes – June Manga/DMP
20th Century Boys – VIZ Media
Wolverine: Prodigal Son – Del Rey Manga

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Incarnate by Nick Simmons – Radical Publishing
I had no expectations for Incarnate, and I only read the first issue because Radical Publishing sent out digital review copies.  After I finished reading the first issue, I was so surprised at how good it was that I was at a loss for words.  I look forward to more Nick Simmons and Incarnate.