POLL: The Best Comic Books of 2022!

It’s that time of year again when we round up the best of pop culture from the last 12 months! Join us as we answer: What were the best comic books of 2022? Then, add your own opinion to our poll at the end!

The Geeks have spoken. The following comics (plus a Sideshow Staff Pick) are some of the best comics of 2022, from immortal warriors to iconic space villains. Get to know the details of these titles as well as what makes them special enough to top this year’s first Best Of category!

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Star Wars: Darth Vader (Marvel Comics)

Writer: Greg Pak (Planet Hulk)

Artists: Raffaele Ienco (Batman: Sins of the Father, Avengers World, Fantastic Four), Luke Ross (Spider-Man, Green Lantern, Captain America, Indiana Jones)

Next Issue: Darth Vader #30 (Jan. 11, 2023)

Trade Paperbacks: Vol 1. – Dark Heart of the Sith™, Vol. 2 – Into the Fire™, Vol. 3 – War of the Bounty Hunters™, Vol. 4 – Crimson Reign™, Vol. 5 – The Shadow’s Shadow™, Star Wars: Darth Vader #29 

All Star Wars™ fans have witnessed Darth Vader™ reaching across the void, attempting to bridge a gap with his son Luke Skywalker™. Luke refuses, and we know what happens from there. But what of Vader’s rage … and his heartbreak? This Darth Vader series from Marvel Comics shows everything off-screen, in the hidden galactic corners far, far away. From the Sith Lord’s™ mission to take down the Crimson Dawn™ to his interactions with Padmé’s™ former handmaidens, this series uncovers Vader’s perilous path in serving the Emperor and confronting his own darkness.

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Immortal X-Men (Marvel Comics)

Writer: Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Star Wars, Uncanny X-Men, Young Avengers)

Artist: Lucas Werneck (Photon #1, Marvel’s Voices: Comunidades #1, X-Men: Hellfire Gala)

Next Issue: Immortal X-Men #10 (Jan. 18, 2023)

Issues Available: Immortal X-Men Vol 1., Immortal X-Men #7-9

What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to the X-Men, usually some foreshadowing. Mister Sinister has been up to some, you guessed it, sinister scheming and over the course of this series his true motives come to light. After the events of Inferno, in which Mystique resurrects her wife Destiny and brings her on board to the Quiet Council, nothing has been the same for Krakoa’s governing body. Mutantkind’s island nation has certainly proven to be a shaky paradise at best. And for the Quiet Council, things are getting pretty loud.

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The Nice House on the Lake (DC Black Label)

 

Writer: James Tynion IV (Something Is Killing the Children, The House of Slaughter, Batman: The Joker War, DC vs Vampires)

Artist: Álvaro Martínez Bueno (Batman: Detective Comics, Justice League Dark)

Next Issue: The Nice House on the Lake #12

Issues Available: The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1, The Nice House on the Lake #6-11

Wouldn’t it be nice to just get away for a little while? Escape the constant grind and hustle and, finally, relax among (sort of) friends? This invitation arrives just in time for a group of people who all know Walter, the host of the party. Sure, Walter is a little strange but the chance to hang out at his beautiful lakeside home is too good to pass up. However, even the best-laid plans can go terribly awry, terribly fast.

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BRZRKR (Boom Studios)

Writers: Matt Kindt, Keanu Reeves (yes, that one)

Artist: Ron Garney (Wolverine)

Current Issue: BRZRKR #11

Issues Available: BRZRKR Vol. 1 and BRZRKR Vol. 2, BRZRKR #9-10

Immortality always comes at a price … and sometimes that price must be paid in blood. Created by Keanu Reeves, BRZRKR follows B., a man fueled only by violent vengeance. He’s half-mortal and half-god, chained to an existence of endless fighting. He finds respite in working for the U.S. government, knowing his thirst for violence at least serves a purpose. But that purpose reveals itself to be more sinister than B. could have ever imagined.

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Grim (Boom Studios)

Writer: Stephanie Phillips (Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman)

Artist: Flaviano (New Mutants)

Next Issue: Grim #6 (Dec 2022)

Issues Available: Grim #1-5

Life’s a journey. And for Jessica Harlow, death is just the first step. This recent title from Boom Studios sold out before it was even on shelves, putting it on track to be a hit for the publisher just like Something Is Killing the Children and The House of Slaughter. In Grim, Jessica must work as a Reaper collecting souls for the Grim Reaper. The only problem? The Grim Reaper is nowhere to be found and Jessica can’t remember anything about her own death. A little mystery is always the scythe, er, slice, of life.

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Sideshow Staff Pick: Poison Ivy (DC Comics)

Writer: G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel)

Artist: Marcio Takara (Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Nightwing)

Latest Issue: Poison Ivy #7

Issues Available: Poison Ivy #1-7

At long last, Poison Ivy is on her own for a road trip across the country — though she pines for Harley Quinn while also hosting a colony of mutated fungi. With these fungi, Ivy plans to teach the world one last lesson, even if it kills her. Wilson’s series blooms between flashback and current action, letting Pamela take control of her narrative and confront the forces that seek to uproot her. Elements of fungal horror lend a psychedelic touch to Poison Ivy’s first solo series in which Gotham’s most accomplished botanist questions her autonomy and even her own humanity.

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There’s a whole wide world out there of amazing comic books that define, defy, and deconstruct every genre possible. So, did we miss your favorite? Take our poll below and then connect with other comic book fans in our Local Comics Society Facebook Group, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!