2012 - Don't Really Have a Good List

So the year's list of stuff I liked is going to be very short. Over the last couple of days I've been trying to remember what's really caught my attention and there hasn't been a lot. But here we go. Also, this is my list is going to be an all-media list. And the order isn't what I loved the most except for #1.

1. The Avengers

So, I loved this movie. It's everything I wanted in a superhero movie. By having all the origin stories out of the way, Joss Whedon could focus on solely assembling the team and setting up a fantastic alien-invading-New-York finale. That's not to say there wasn't any character development or complex humour because there was. It just the kind of comic book movie experience I was looking for.

2. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (writer) & Fiona Staple (artist)

When this is announced, it piqued my curiosity. A new series from the creator of Runaways and Y the Last Man... seems like a sure thing. I didn't know Staple`s work before but after doing some back bin diving, I've found that I enjoy her work. This series is an excellent science fiction adventure, a space opera akin to Star Wars. I have no idea where it`s heading but I`m sure as hell enjoying the ride.

3. The Dark Knight Rises

Great ending to the trilogy. I was more inclined to see the faults in this film than the Avengers which is why I like the Avengers better. Don't have much else to say that wouldn't sound like nitpicking fanboy stuff so I'll just leave at "I liked it but it was flawed."

4. Jeff the Brotherhood - Hypnotic Nights

This album is just a good time. Reminds me of what I like about music because it was energetic, catchy, and fun. Might be that in a year I won't be as fond of this album as I am right now. Oddly enough, I don't have any real desire to see these guys live. Makes me wonder...

5. Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson started making movie when I was in high school but I saw them in university. Those movies (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, etc) fit right in with how I saw the world. Also, the musical references he made lead to many discoveries of, mostly, music I hadn't heard of. But I'm getting off track. I liked this movie. It did everything I wanted it to do and a little bit more. Excellent performances and a little hooky.

6. The Walking Dead (TV series)

I've read the Walking Dead comic books and I like the television series better. It's just personal preference. Both are good, but the series handles certain plot points better than the comics. This season, or at least the first half, has corrected many of the problems of the second season. The tempo is quick, situations are dealt within three episodes, and the special effects has been stellar. I watched two episodes back-to-back and I nearly had a heart attack because it was so suspenseful and tense. Hoping for more of the same in the new year.

7. Wolverine & the X-Men by Jason Aaron (writer) & Various Artists

As a kid I loved X-Men comics. Wasn't a huge fan of the cartoon because the character did feel or sound right. I still watched it but it never sat right with me. Over the years I've continue to read the X-Men comics, but often I found they weren't very interesting, especially the "core" books. Wolverine and the X-Men renewed my love of the X-Men, mainly by reintroducing the idea of the school. Aaron's take on the relationship and school dynamics is new and interesting. And issue #17 drawn by Mike Allred was probably one of my favourite single issues of the year.

8. The Score by Darwyn Cooke

Cooke is a master cartoonist. The Score is an adaption of the Parker novel of the same name. Cooke doesn't update the setting/technology/etc and really doesn't change anything except to include his buddies has references for some of the minor characters. What I liked about it was the simplicity - not overdrawn, tri-colouring (black, white, & different hues of yellow), great pacing, etc - Cooke's Parker adaptions are a master class in what it means to make great graphic novels.

9. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music (Pitchfork Review)

Sweet Jesus I enjoyed this record. The production, lyrics, and delivery are first rate. My favourite track is Reagan (music video) not only because it reminds of good Public Enemy but also because it packs a mean left hook. This year seems to be the year that hipsters caught on to the awesomeness of R&B and Rap as evident by how much love Frank Ocean & Kendrick Lemar are getting [and rightly so].

10. Skyfall

I've seen many James Bond movies. Not all of them but many. Skyfall is one of the best. They take the best bits of the first two Daniel Craig films and just adding to it. It's visually stunning and Craig's Bond is even more vulnerable and human than any of the previous Bonds and well... that's just a much more interesting tale.

11. Justice League Dark by Peter Milligan, Jeff Lemire (writers) and Mikel Janin (artist)

Justice League Dark is a great concept but what does it for me is the artwork of Mikel Janin. But first, the concept - a team of DC superhero that deal solely with the magical threats to the universe. Bring back John Constantine to the mainstream DCU was good idea but cancelling Hellblazer is one of the worse decisions of the decade. |But back to Janin's art. His style is clean (might be due to using digital techniques) and constructs a page well. Janin isn't on the cutting edge but he got solid storytelling skills.

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There were four other things I liked but I don't feel like writing anymore about these things. It would be just more of the same (it's really good, I liked it, and basically good example of the media). So here are the final four things, which would bring

• Japandroid - Celebration Rock (music)
• Person of Interest (TV)
• The Raid: Redemption (film)
• Jim Henson's Tale of Sand (comic book)