1. Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo (DC)
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman would be the best comic of the year for the Death of the Family story arc alone - the story of the Joker's return to the DCU after a year away - but couple this remarkable book with Zero Year, the New 52 Batman origin? There's just no contest - this is easily the finest comic of the year, and in a year filled with great comics too! Death of the Family came to an end early this year as the Joker, who had been absent for much of the New 52 having escaped Arkham by removing his face in Detective Comics #1, returned, wearing his face like a mask, and claiming to know the identities of every member of the Bat family (but not Batman himself). He wanted Batman to be a solo act, believing that the numerous Bat characters he surrounded himself with were softening him up, and bringing him down - so he was going to thin the ranks personally and make it just him and Bats, once again! Snyder and Capullo take us on a whirlwind tour of the Joker's greatest hits, from ACE Chemicals where arguably the Joker was "born", the Gotham reservoir from The Man Who Laughs, to the iconic and one of a kind, Arkham Asylum. In writing Death of the Family, Snyder not only gave us the New 52's first Joker story but also wrote one of the best Joker stories ever. It was an amazing journey from start to finish - and what a finish! - which has recently been released in hardback, so if you want to enjoy the entire saga (and I do strongly recommend it), now's the perfect time! Death of the Family was the first part of Snyder and Capullo's year on Batman as they announced plans to go back to the beginning and tell the Batman origin story for the New 52 - and they called it Zero Year. The news was generally met with consternation as fans wondered aloud why we needed another Batman origin and wasn't the name just a bit too close to Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli's masterpiece, Year One? Snyder and Capullo showed everyone with Zero Year that not only was it completely separate from Year One but that it was challenging its status as the definitive Batman origin story. As incredible as their run on Batman has been so far with the brilliant Court of Owls and the even more amazing Death of the Family, Zero Year is Snyder/Capullo's greatest story arc yet showing us again - but in a completely new way - how Bruce Wayne became Batman, a story that by now should be familiar to millions, but with Zero Year shatters all expectations and tells you a completely new and unpredictable story. Snyder manages to take an overtold story, reference classic scenes from Detective Comics #27 and Year One, and fashion something other, a wholly remarkable and fresh take on the Batman mythos. Capullo is there with him every step of the way drawing some of the most stunning comic book art being produced in the superhero medium today with dynamic action sequences, emotional character scenes and dream-like fantasy moments. That both writer and artist are able to keep to a monthly schedule and produce work of this quality is nothing short of superhuman in itself. The rest of the New 52 may be stumbling but if nothing else the reboot gave us this incredible series for which I for one am deeply thankful for. Snyder and Capullo's Batman is already down as one of the greatest runs on the character, and it's also the best comic of 2013. * Phew! Thanks for hanging in there and making it to the end with me! Those were my picks for the best of the year in comics, but I know I left out a lot - so let me know in the comments below: what were your favourite comics this year? Have a great Christmas and New Year, everyone - go read some awesome comics!