35. March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
Congressman John Lewis narrates the early part of his life story, growing up in the rural south in the mid-20th century when segregation was still enforced, and, as a young man getting involved in the Civil Rights Movement, meeting Martin Luther King Jr. Lewis' story is a gripping and important one as Lewis, the last living speaker from that seminal day when Dr King gave his I Have A Dream speech, brings history to life through this wonderful comic. It illuminates what went into the sit-in protests and how Civil Rights became a national movement, as well as showing us fascinating glimpses of some 20th century icons.
34. Captain America: Living Legend by Andy Diggle, Adi Granov, and Agustin Alessio (Marvel)
A downed space station crashes in the middle of Siberia and a decades old mystery involving a former Soviet cosmonaut with a secret alerts Cap to save the day. Space monsters, Cold War craziness, and horror in the snow make Living Legend one of the best solo Captain America stories in years. Andy Diggle's script is lean and driving, confidently pushing the story through numerous times - WW2, Cold War, present day - all within the space of four issues, while Adi Granov's one issue of illustration is a welcome return to comics from the artist of Iron Man: Extremis, though Agustin Alessio's artwork is no less striking. Tons of great Cap action makes this a must-read for fans eagerly awaiting the release of next year's The Winter Soldier.
33. Action Comics, Volume 2: Bulletproof by Grant Morrison et al. (DC)
Morrison's second Action Comics book is less of a sustained narrative and more of a collection of great Superman stories. We've got President Superman (a dead ringer for Obama) along with a story that daringly resembles the litigous Shuster/Siegel relationship with DC (how that one got published is damn surprising!). The Boy Who Stole Superman's Cape is worth picking up this book by itself especially if you love classic Superman. Once more Morrison shows he understands Superman in a way few other writers can match with this volume.
32. Burn the Orphanage by Sina Grace and Daniel Freedman (Image)
What if Streets of Rage were a comic? That's basically the premise of Burn the Orphanage, a three issue mini-series from creators Sina Grace and Daniel Freedman. In issue 1, Rock and his two friends fight to find out who burned down the orphanage he grew up in, while issue 2 sees Rock transported to a mysterious island to take part in a fighting tournament for the Devil! Issue 2's plot has a lot in common with popular fight movies like Enter the Dragon, Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter: The Movie, and is as gleefully silly and fun to read. With one more issue to go in the New Year, Burn the Orphanage has quickly established itself in just two issues as one of the most fun new comics series of the year.
31. Fantastic Four by Matt Fraction and Mark Bagley (Marvel)
Reed Richards discovers the cosmic molecules that gave him and his family their superpowers is also slowly killing them - space cancer! Under the pretence of an educational trip through time and space, the Fantastic Four along with Reed and Sue's kids Franklin and Valerie, head off on adventures beyond the stars! Matt Fraction successfully brings the Fantastic Four back to what it was originally about: crazy fun adventure stories. He also gives the book a lot of unexpected heart and the way he writes Reed and Sue's relationship is especially moving. Mark Bagley's art is just tremendous and he manages to pull off drawing the Thing perfectly too. Fraction's other projects are higher profile than this series but it's definitely worth checking out as well.