Special: 2015 In Review: Best Comic Series of 2015

10. Wytches

Last year: #10
Publisher: Image Comics
Issues released last year: #4 - #6

Horror can be a difficult genre to truly pull off in the comics medium, but Scott Snyder and Jock deliver absolute dread in their first arc of Wytches. The series is packed with suspense, and the stakes climb higher and higher until the story hits a gut-wrenching, gasp-out-loud crescendo of a conclusion. Few comics can make me cry, but I'll admit I wept openly as this six-issue arc drew to a close.

9. Silver Surfer

Last year: #8
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Issues released last year: #8 - #15

Plain and simple, Silver Surfer is the most possible fun readers can have from a monthly comic book series. Dan Slott loves Norrin Radd (and his companion Dawn Greenwood) and it shows in each and every issue. And if ever there was an artist worthy of illustrating the Jack Kirby-created cosmic character, it's Mike Allred -- realizing full-well that long legacy includes industry legends John Buscema and Mœbius.

8. Batman And Robin Eternal

Last year: Unranked
Publisher: DC Comics
Issues released last year: #1 - #13

As a fan of Batman and the various versions of Robin, I've been loving this weekly series. The story is focused and the flashbacks to the early years of Batman and Robin remind me of how much fun that era of Batman can be.

7. Fight Club 2

Last year: Unranked
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Issues released last year: #1 - #8

Readers, and viewers, of 'Fight Club' probably thought there wasn't much room for a sequel, or even if there was, that it could never deliver a story with the same kind of impact. Palahniuk proves them wrong on both counts, using a different medium to tell the story of his dual personality protagonist that opens up all new storytelling potential; potential that Palahniuk uses effectively to continue and build the character's evolution. Like the novel and film, readers are made to think and question what they see, and in doing so are rewarded for it; the comic even uses elements from the original story that makes readers rethink what they thought they had already seen, skillfully applying the very same trick that the original novel and film had done so brilliantly. This comic has the distinction of being a sequel that no one thought needed to be told, until they actually read it.

6. Howard The Duck

Last year: Unranked
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Issues released last year: #1 - #5 & #1 - #2

Chip Zdarsky is one of the strongest comedic talents working in comics. Taking the reins of 'Howard the Duck' alongside series artist Joe Quinnones, Zdarsky incorporated meta, self-referential humor into the Marvel Universe, while maintaining the integrity of every character (and there were a ton) that made guest appearances. And we got to see a Howard/Rocket Raccoon team-up-- which we can all agree was long overdue.

5. All-New Hawkeye

Last year: #9
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Issues released last year: #21 - #22 & #1 - #5 & #1 - #2

The long-awaited finale to Matt Fraction and David Aja's run on 'Hawkeye' arrived this year and, boy, did it live up to expectations. The battle for Barton's apartment building reaches its bloody climax with an energy and pacing that's masterful. Along the way, every character in the book gets their chance to kick Tracksuit Dracula ass, including Pizza Dog. For fans of 'Hawkeye,' this two-part series finale was absolute perfection. Then Jeff Lemire came in and lived up to expectations even if it hasn't been quite as good as Fraction's run.

4. Batman

Last year: #2
Publisher: DC Comics
Issues released last year: #38 - #47 & 1 Annual

On the heels of what some thought to be Scott Snyder's definitive Joker story ('Death of the Family'), he delivered another with 'Endgame,' and then shook up essentially everything in the Bat-world immediately thereafter with the still-unfolding 'Superheavy.' Making no pretense that the status quo will remain forever changed, Snyder flips every Batman trope that he can, while he can, and every issue teaches readers to expect only one thing: the unexpected. Greg Capullo takes all of Snyder's larger-than-life ideas and somehow fits them into each issue, all while colorist Danny Miki makes them look even more impressive. This comic continues to demonstrate amazing writer / artist synergy, and even amidst a controversial stab at a new Batman, it's never been stronger.

3. Nailbiter

Last year: #3
Publisher: Image Comics
Issues released last year: #10 - #18

In amazing fashion, this comic seems to be riding the fine line of all the intriguing emotions that go into your questions about killers. To add a personal touch, imagine living in a place where your entire town could be in on a joke, or could possibly be covering up something. The constant fear that at any point you, or someone in your family, or one of your friends could snap simply based on the legendary history of your city. It’s almost as if due to where you are born you are condemned to fail or snap. That is something I picked up on, the conditioning and effect the town has on its residence, the ripple effect it causes making everyone a candidate for something gruesome, the fact that everyone has that dark side that at any moment could be released.

2. Grayson

Last year: #7
Publisher: DC Comics
Issues released last year: #6 - #15 & 1 Annual

The art is amazing and this James Bond-ish take on Dick Grayson works great. While I'd love to have Nightwing back, I'm really enjoying this series.

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Last year: #5
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Issues released last year: #42 - #53

After four years of top-notch storylines, twists, turns and character development, IDW’s ongoing TMNT series celebrated its 50th issue in 2015. To Eastman, Waltz, Curnow, Santolouco, Smith and anyone else who has worked on this series over the last four-plus years, I tip my hat to you.  You guys and gals have put together something truly special, and I hope you realise how much us Turtle fanboys and girls out here appreciate it.  I think I speak for everyone when I say that I absolutely cannot wait to read the next fifty issues.  Turtle power!