15. Batman '66 by Jeff Parker and Jonathan Case (DC)
DC's Digital division scored big this year when they brought back the celebrated, and overly mocked, Adam West TV series, Batman '66, in comics form. Taking it's tone and appearance from the TV show, the characters are based upon the real actors' appearances from Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, to Cesar Romero as Joker, Frank Gorshin as Riddler, and Julie Newmar as Catwoman. The comics retained the campy pun-laden dialogue and theatrical plots while ramping up the action to levels outside of the TV show, thanks to comics having no budgets for spectacular set pieces like TV episodes do. Enormously fun and cheerfully silly comics, this is a Batman your father (or grandfather) loved and you will too thanks to Jeff Parker's fantastic scripts and Jonathan Case's beautiful art. Batman '66 is an enormously fun comic.
14. Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton (Marvel)
The Young Avengers accidentally summon a brainwashing alien villain called Mother leading to our teen heroes doing battle literally with a parent - after all, what teenager doesn't fight with their parents? Gillen's dialogue is snappy, witty, and perfectly suited to the teen cast while McKelvie and Norton's layouts are simply jaw-dropping. Playing with form, panels literally become prisons for the characters to break free of, battle scenes are mapped out across a splash page, pages are moulded into characters' faces, and title pages become thematically linked to that issue's story. Young Avengers features an immensely likeable cast and is brimming with creative talent, with some of the best art Marvel is publishing right now. Simply one of the gems of the Marvel NOW! relaunch.
13. Julio's Day by Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
One half of the Love and Rockets creative team, Gilbert Hernandez's remarkable graphic novel Julio's Day tells the 100 year life of Julio in 100 pages, from 1900 to 2000. Julio, his family and friends endure the hardships of life and history in this incredibly moving and beautifully told tale. Hernandez avoids using thought bubbles or narrative boxes and includes dream sequences and hallucinations amidst the story leading to a wonderful, free-flowing effect that'll enthral you throughout. Hernandez's art is always excellent but here it transforms the story's figures into horrors and saints, walking amongst the humans. An absolutely epic treat of a comic from this extraordinary artist.
12. The Property by Rutu Modan (Jonathan Cape)
Mica and her grandmother Regina take a trip from Israel to Warsaw to reclaim property that was stolen from the family during the Nazi occupation during World War 2. But what is the real purpose of the trip for Regina...? The ghosts of the past and love long lost rear their heads in this moving and beautifully written comic from the author of Exit Wounds, Rutu Modan. Mixing in real history into a story of complex characters' relationships, Modan has achieved something formidable in The Property, a comic book that's deeply human and filled with real emotion. Modan's drawing style is similar to Herge's and has developed a lot since Exit Wounds a few years ago with the scenic landscapes in particular looking just incredible. The Property is a riveting drama and a must-read comic.
11. Superman Unchained by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee (DC)
This year was Superman's 75th anniversary, having appeared for the first time in Action Comics #1 in June 1938. Superman Unchained #1 was released in June 2013 and was written by celebrated Batman writer Scott Snyder and comics legend Jim Lee. In this series, a complex plot going back decades to the bombing of Hiroshima at the end of World War 2 unfolds as Superman meets his equal in the character Wraith and a mysterious terrorist group called Ascension threatens the peace. Meanwhile, series regulars are included in a big way as Lois investigates Ascension herself and Lex Luthor escapes prison and kidnaps Jimmy Olsen. As enjoyable as Grant Morrison's Action Comics was, Superman Unchained is the Superman comic of the year. Big and bold storytelling as a character like Superman deserves, Unchained is packed with adventure, wonderful superhero action, and great characters, perfectly captured by Snyder. Lee's art too is spectacular, bringing big scenes to the larger than life story - the first print issue featured a massive fold-out page of Superman's entrance to the series! Unchained has been a delight to read in every issue and is THE Superman comic of the year.