10 Best Comic Books Of 2019
7. Spider-Man: Life Story - Chip Zdarsky, Mark Bagley & Frank D'Armata
Chip Zdarsky has kept himself particularly busy this year. Daredevil was a particular highlight, but the former Spectacular Spider-Man writer hasn't just restricted himself to street-level Marvel. Zdarsky has been hard at work penning a great revival of The Invaders, while also bringing a new independent title, The White Trees, to Image Comics back in August. All have been great, but - just like in 2017 - Zdarsky's best comic this year is all about everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood web-slinger.
With art from Spider-Man legend Mark Bagley, Spider-Man: Life Story was Zdarsky's attempt to chronicle the life and times of Peter Parker in a reality free from Marvel's sliding timeline. He covers every era, from the time the wall-crawler first emerged in the 1960s all the way up to the 2010s, reappraising the character's literary history whilst integrating it with each decade's respective zeitgeist.
Life Story is a conscious effort to take Spider-Man as he would be in a world where he actually aged. In doing so, Zdarsky never once pulls his punches, with the comic exemplifying the tragedy and spirit that has defined the character's comics since his first appearance in 1962.
It's remarkably heartfelt, and doubly so, in its more reflective moments. You won't find a Spidey comic quite like it.