After trawling my memory of everything I’d read in the last year for the best offerings that sprung to mind(while trying frantically to suppress the sh*ttest), I narrowed the list down to the top ten books that I thought brought some serious ass-kick to the table. So without further ado, here’s my top ten. Oh, and if you think I missed anything that should have made it on, or you disagree with my choices in any way, then I would absolutely love to hear from you. Now off ya go and check em:

S.H.I.E.L.D.

Synopsis:

The series details the secret history of an occult organization called the Brotherhood of the Shield, with a history extending back to ancient Egypt. The main story of the first issue is set in 1953, when Shield agents Nathaniel Richards and Howard Stark enlist a young man named Leonid with unspecified superpowers into the organization, taking him to Shield’s High Council in the Immortal City under Rome. The High Council reveal that they know “the final fate of Man”, and their mission is to ensure nothing threatens the world before this occurs. They have chosen Leonid because he has a destiny.

Verdict:

With S.H.I.E.D. writer Jonathan Hickman has added a depth a breadth to the Marvel universe never previously conceived of, weaving a wonderful tapestry through the pre 1960′s inception, back to the dawn of Marvel civilisation. We meet the Marvel versions of Imhotep, Zhang Heng Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Galileo, Issac Newton, Nikola Tesla and more as they form the brotherhood of the SHIELD, the greatest minds in the world fending off the greatest threats the planet has ever faced, some within their own organisation. Geek fact: The first arrival of Galactus was beat back by Galileo! In short: This book is AWESOME!

Animal Man

Synopsis:

Buddy Baker has gone from super man to family man–but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers?

Verdict:

The common mistake people make about this book is in the title; it sounds mediocre. Which is far from the case as while Jeff LeMire has created a very grounded hero, with a family and day to day woes, the dilemma’s forced upon them are anything but. AM is a Book, so clever and scary that it’ll throw you for six with writing that creates a unique family dynamic interweaved with a horror that comes from putting those innocents in horrible danger. Travel Foreman’s art is also sensational.

The Sixth Gun

Synopsis:

During the darkest days of the Civil War, wicked cutthroats came into possession of six pistols of otherworldly power. In time, the Sixth Gun-the most dangerous of the weapons-vanished. When the gun surfaces in the hands of an innocent girl, dark forces reawaken. Vile men thought long dead set their sights on retrieving the gun and killing the girl. Only Drake Sinclair, a gunfighter with a shadowy past, stands in their way. The Sixth Gun is a two-fisted adventure set in the mysterious and supernatural corners of the old west.

Verdict:

What began life as a ripping, pulpy horror/western hybrid has developed into a multi-layered character piece with more threads than a torn jumper. Cullen Bunn has created a vast world and a history filled with horror, gunfights and intrigue with well developed characters and enough twists, turns and unseen agendas to ensure you’re never comfortable or overly sure of anything or anyone. It’s a brilliant, dark and scary book that never bogs you down in the density of it’s rich plot due to incredible style and writing, which if anything, never lets up.

Batwoman

Synopsis:

Spinning out of DETECTIVE COMICS and the weekly series 52, the Batwoman Kate Kane defends the streets of Gotham City in her very own self-titled series. But between maintaining her personal life and training a new Flamebird, she’s got her work cut out for her!

Verdict:

Kate Kane could have very easily become a two dimensional legacy character, but in the hands of W.Haden Blackman and Co-writer JH Williams III, Batwoman is one of the most fully realised characters in the DCnU; plumbing the depths of a strange, unseen Gotham that even Batman rarely inhabits. Strong writing mixed with some of the most beautiful art (from Williams III) in the industry makes this title one of the most aesthetically pleasing and character driven books of the New 52. Compulsory reading.

Uncanny X-Force

Synopsis:

To hold back a new Age of Apocalypse, Wolverine and Archangel bring together Fantomex, Deadpool, and Psylocke to form The Uncanny X-Force!

Verdict:

Uncanny X-Force stands out as an X-title that absolutely refuses to play safe, whether it be thematically (they’re a squad of assassins), morally (they kill the child Apocalypse) or ethically (what would you be prepared to do to obtain the greater good). This is a book with big themes, big balls an unbelievable team dynamic composed of Marvels most flawed egocentric killers and one of the most epic stories that dominated 2011: The Dark Angel Saga. Writer Rick Remender and Artist Jerome Opena take guidance from Chris Claremont’s X-Epic’s and force them into a new dark domain, and it pays off in spades.

Action Comics

Synopsis:

Watch as Superman goes from defender of the common man to the greatest hero the DC Universe has ever known! Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to the Man of Steel, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you the story of Superman updated for the Modern Age.

Verdict:

It’s hard to argue that pre-New 52 Superman had grown stale and out of place in a world disenfranchised from the ideals of truth, justice and the American way. But under Grant Morrison; Clark Kent is back as a ‘Superman for the people’. Returning to the socialist roots that launched the character off the back of the great depression of the 30′s, this new Superman is young, angry and off the leash. This is the freshest take on the character since John Byrne’s 1980′s Man Of Steel, looking at real issues in the fictional world, with a pulp sci-fi over arc that tears along at the thundering pace and takes us by the collar from the very first page. If only all comics were this relevant and exciting!

Superior

Synopsis:

Simon, a young boy suffers from multiple sclerosis, idolizes superheroes, particularly Superior, a Superman analogue. An alien monkey appears at Simon’s bedside, informing the boy that of all the people on Earth, he has been granted the honor of being bestowed a single magic wish. Simon then transformed into Superior.

Verdict:

With Superior Mark Millar plays with the idea of ultimate wish fulfilment, but at what cost? in a tale of big scale superheroics and bigger heart. Like his masterpiece ’1985′ for Marvel, Millar once again transports us back to our childhood and the question of ‘what would you do if you had superpowers’, and succeeds in making it seem absolutely real. An ode to Superman, this is an exciting, beautiful and touching story that is as melancholy as it is inspiring. It’s Millar and Artist Leniel Yu at their absolute best.

Blue Estate

Synopsis:

On the mean streets of Los Angeles, an alcoholic hit man and a desperate starlet dodge Russian mobsters, Italian gangsters, ninjas, hippies and the L.A.P.D. in a scheme to steal millions from a psychotic action movie hero.

Verdict:

Pulpy, sleazy, boozy and insane Viktor Kalvachev excellent crime series is a welcome return to the ‘shitty gumshoe’ genre that has been so lacking since BM Bendis finished off Alias. Full of memorable characters, quick wit, quicker pacing and dialogue that cuts like a knife, this is underbelly mysteries the way you like them. Hard nosed, humorous and unforgiving.

Scarlet

Synopsis:

Scarlet is the story of a woman pushed to the edge by all that is wrong with the world. A woman who decides to stand up and fight back. A woman who will not back down. A woman who discovers within herself the power to start a modern American revolution!!

Verdict:

I don’t think I’m exagerating when I say: this is an important book. For readers, but also clearly for writer Brian Michael Bendis. This feels like catharsis on a page, albeit expertly rendered by fan favourite Alex Maleev. It’s the story of what is wrong with the world told from the forth wall breaking perspective of a woman who decides to do something about it. This is V For Vendetta with less fictional overtones, and a protagonist you’ll completely connect with. This may be Bendis most personal, opinionated work. It’s certainly some of his best.

Skull Kickers

Synopsis:

No one knows who these two mercenaries are or where they came from. The only thing that’s clear is they’re two of most ornery, trouble-making warriors that’ve ever lived. It’s action-adventure comedy, sword & sorcery-style.

Verdict:

Comic’s with dark themes and grim protagonists may be the staple diet of fans nowadays, but Edwin Huang has noticed a gap in the market for a fun, gore filled buddy comedy set in a fantasy realm of all places, that takes the fantasy convention and turns its hilariously on its head. This book is a wildly entertaining hack fest full of one liners, brutal action and a cheery disposition towards the fairly grizzly jobs that the two main merc’s revel in taking. It’s hard not to read this book and not feel secretly naughty. It’s the height of guilty pleasure.