Most Boring
Odyssey of the Amazons just wasn't that much fun. Since we never get any strong character work (maybe for one character but that's debatable) we never have much of a reason to care. Some are introduced and left behind making them entirely pointless. There's tons of death that never amounts to anything or leaves a lasting impression. I read the entire thing and I still don't know if the reveals about the Amazons has any actually bearing to Wonder Woman lore. I'm not sure what the point is since there's no real impact. The Amazons somehow beat fate? Okay, so how did that affect their relationship with their Gods? Are all Amazons immortal and demigods? Why should I be invested in it?
Best Use of Canon
I know the Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual 1 vol. 2 has a questionable timeline for the Bizarro stuff and had a new version of the first Dick and Jason meeting. But there's one particular bit I was so glad to have mentioned. The fact Dick Grayson wasn't a good big brother to Jason Todd. This is extremely important for both characters. Both have been mischaracterized for awhile with different aspects of their personalities, etc. Their relationship has barely been touched on in any real significant way since Jason was Robin. Sure they have interacted since then but it never really addressed the fact Dick messed up.
Previously it always made it look like Jason was just jealous, Dick was either seen as perfect or allowed to talk badly about Jason. Whether it was the usual victim blaming, seeing him nothing but a criminal or in one case wishing he stayed dead. The fact of the matter was that Jason was a stressed out kid with no one to really talk to and Dick wasn't there for Jason like he is for his other adopted brothers. (*1) Dick admits some things he admired about Jason and the fact Bruce replaced him then basically tried to mold Jason into Dick 2.0. (Post-Crisis Jason Todd I know about Pre-Crisis.) The two care about each other but ultimately don't know how to build a better relationship.
The Annual actually has Dick try to make excuses not to help out before Artemis calls bull on the whole thing. I never expected the story to end with Dick admitting Jason is a better big brother to Bizarro than Dick was to him. The situation was more complex than the oversimplification most put on it by blaming Jason. I like that the story remembers that Jason really isn't the "bad boy" type and has a lot of good points. But I'm just as thrilled that Dick wasn't perfect and acknowledges his past failings. It was extremely refreshing in light of the negative depictions we usually get and served to better humanize both characters. Yes Jason shrugs the whole thing off but that just shows his own personal growth.
I know the Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual 1 vol. 2 has a questionable timeline for the Bizarro stuff and had a new version of the first Dick and Jason meeting. But there's one particular bit I was so glad to have mentioned. The fact Dick Grayson wasn't a good big brother to Jason Todd. This is extremely important for both characters. Both have been mischaracterized for awhile with different aspects of their personalities, etc. Their relationship has barely been touched on in any real significant way since Jason was Robin. Sure they have interacted since then but it never really addressed the fact Dick messed up.
Previously it always made it look like Jason was just jealous, Dick was either seen as perfect or allowed to talk badly about Jason. Whether it was the usual victim blaming, seeing him nothing but a criminal or in one case wishing he stayed dead. The fact of the matter was that Jason was a stressed out kid with no one to really talk to and Dick wasn't there for Jason like he is for his other adopted brothers. (*1) Dick admits some things he admired about Jason and the fact Bruce replaced him then basically tried to mold Jason into Dick 2.0. (Post-Crisis Jason Todd I know about Pre-Crisis.) The two care about each other but ultimately don't know how to build a better relationship.
The Annual actually has Dick try to make excuses not to help out before Artemis calls bull on the whole thing. I never expected the story to end with Dick admitting Jason is a better big brother to Bizarro than Dick was to him. The situation was more complex than the oversimplification most put on it by blaming Jason. I like that the story remembers that Jason really isn't the "bad boy" type and has a lot of good points. But I'm just as thrilled that Dick wasn't perfect and acknowledges his past failings. It was extremely refreshing in light of the negative depictions we usually get and served to better humanize both characters. Yes Jason shrugs the whole thing off but that just shows his own personal growth.
Most Annoying Disregard of Canon
There were a lot of things this year but this one annoyed me so very much and showed how blatantly no one researched anything. Granted I got the vibe that other aspects weren't researched in Trinity like what was up with the new 52 styled Circe and the fact Jason has a means to fight magic not just his guns. But if you even read one Rebirth issue of RHATO with Bizarro you'd know he doesn't use the annoying opposite talk. I'd be willing to ease up for Trinity not using smart Bizarro but neither version seen in RHATO talks like he did in Trinity !
Biggest Disappointment
Trinity. It should have made the first official meeting between the Trinity and the Dark Trinity have some impact. It didn't. Superman didn't even seem to know who Artemis is or that she's an Amazon. Diana never explains anything and only speaks directly with her when Artemis returns her lasso. No one really interacts with Bizarro (who's not written like he is in his own title) and none of them have even met him. Only Bruce ever shows an emotional bond with Jason and even then it's the demon he's dealing with. The demon goes over the same old issues and in the end it's not even addressed again.
The fact that Bruce has to technically kill the Outlaws is given no real weight. Everyone except Batman--who somehow figures out how to beat magic--is pretty much useless. Sure Wonder Woman gets a nice moment but it makes you question what the point was when there's too many characters to really have anyone shine. Well outside Batman.
Most Hopeful
Kara provides hope in Gotham City Garage in the Mad Max world that needs heroes. She dreams of meeting Wonder Woman thinking she alone can set things right. It's pretty clear though that Kara is giving others a lot of much needed hope including Diana herself.
Most WTF Moment
You know it really says something that in a year when I read a crossover one shot between Green Lantern and Colonel Sanders that I read a more WTF comic. That being another crossover, Booster Gold/Flintstones. There was a lot WTF moments in this one. Booster screwing with time for his own short term benefit, using a dead alien as a puppet to try to fool other aliens and the fact it features a line with the characters talking about a way to get...well basically the affects of Viagra. Again this is a comic featuring the Flintstones ! It has Booster Gold and maybe this stuff would be done with Giffin/DeMatteis but I still can't believe it made print. What did I read?
Biggest Surprise
I lost interest with Bombshells pretty quick so I didn't expect to enjoy Gotham City Garage so much. I always wanted a post apocalyptic setting for an Elseworlds story and this one manages to be hopeful. There are some things I'm not sure how to feel about yet but it's a fresh take.
Best Supporting Character
Dolphin from Aquaman has been great and she doesn't even talk. What's notable about her is that this is a character that as far as I know hasn't gotten much positive attention in a while. She's mute yet her facial expressions make it clear what she's conveying. Dolphin encourages Aquaman when he doubts he can inspire his people anymore which is pretty impressive since he does struggle a little in understanding her.
Worst Villain/Anti-Villain
This year made me realize just how unappealing I find Harley Quinn when I previously didn't care one way or the other. Yes, I know she's not always depicted as a villain but that's part of my problem with her: I don't know what she is ! Some might say "that's the point" due to her chaotic nature but if that's the case then shouldn't it have other characters be more uneasy with her? In different media (movies, video games, comics) she's done some truly horrendous things to kids. Is this ever properly addressed? Do people like Selina and Bruce ever react to it? Or rather treat her any differently? No, she's just that goofy Harley. It doesn't matter that she blew up kids or tortured them she's just so wacky.
I don't track down titles with her so I didn't realize I've been having problems with her character until I read some recent books with her. The 25th anniversary issue special she had and her appearance in RHATO. The special mostly bored me but I thought the Robin story was decent. In RHATO Jason Todd alludes to "sessions" he had with her. This isn't clarified and he shows clear disgust when she touches him. These things should be addressed in general and incorporated into how every character interacts with her. I want it to be addressed instead of constantly sweeping it under a rug. Ignoring it just makes Harley look like a flat character with no depth.
Which is probably why I found the special so boring. She's better written in Gotham City Garage but I still feel that take needs more depth too since it can still be taken further. At least her dynamic with Joker has changed in that universe.
Best Villian (Sorta?)
It's strange but there wasn't many stand out moments in of all the books I read this year. The villains don't really have many interactions with the heroes or they don't really have an impact. The only one that truly does is one that's not a villain in the conventional sense. Akila isn't who she was anymore and has been driven over the edge. She's still sympathetic as we've seen her prior to her becoming the Shim'Tar and she obviously cares about Artemis.
She also proves to be challenging to the protagonists in ways other villains weren't. I suppose Oz would be the closest but in comparison it was barely a battle. Akila personally takes on the whole team while forcing Artemis to make a hard choice for the second time in her life.
She also proves to be challenging to the protagonists in ways other villains weren't. I suppose Oz would be the closest but in comparison it was barely a battle. Akila personally takes on the whole team while forcing Artemis to make a hard choice for the second time in her life.
Worst Character
Sadly this once again goes to Damian Wayne who can never truly progress as a character without taking several steps back almost immediately. This year he nonsensically messed with time to harm Wally West (red head version) to the point history changed and Wally got a pace maker due to the new timeline. No one, not even Wally 's best friend Dick Grayson said anything to Damian about it. Damian was an absolutely horrible leader and I can say that without any of the NU Wally stuff in the plot.
At this point it feels like the only reason he's in the TT/leading is because of the higher ups and hanging around Jon because their dads are forcing them to spend time together. Even Jor-El sees this as he actually says Jon is forced to be friends with Damian which Jon doesn't dispute. I haven't read anything that convinced me any of these characters like him or his choices. The only saving grace for Damian Wayne that I read this year was his portrayal in Gotham Academy when he inspires Maps to be a hero and not give up on Olive. That's who he should be at this point.
At this point it feels like the only reason he's in the TT/leading is because of the higher ups and hanging around Jon because their dads are forcing them to spend time together. Even Jor-El sees this as he actually says Jon is forced to be friends with Damian which Jon doesn't dispute. I haven't read anything that convinced me any of these characters like him or his choices. The only saving grace for Damian Wayne that I read this year was his portrayal in Gotham Academy when he inspires Maps to be a hero and not give up on Olive. That's who he should be at this point.
Best Female Character
As refreshing as I found Gotham City Garage I can't say Kara impressed me as much as Artemis. One of the problems I had with GCG is the rushed pacing while Artemis' character work was done better. In 2017 Artemis had to deal with Akila returning, letting go off her chance to claim the Shim'Tar title, growing distrustful of Bizarro and opening up more now that she has the freedom to be herself. She's grown some as she has opened up more while Kara is pretty much the same character throughout GCG.
Best Male Character
It's true that Bizarro hasn't had his current plot explored entirely. I put him in this spot because his story is going in directions I never would have suspected prior to Rebirth. In the previous incarnations of the character I saw he was pretty one note. There might have been heart but he was always trapped in a creative box that didn't allow for much growth. This year Bizarro knew he was dying yet still fought because he loved his friends. Luthor saved him and upped his intelligence which has shaken up the dynamics of the group.
Bizarro has done questionable things they don't know about. Like taunting the DET team and telling Gunn not to give Jason letters she found from Willis Todd. Artemis is suspicious of his behavior while Jason is supportive. It looks like it's all going to blow up in their faces in 2018.
Bizarro has done questionable things they don't know about. Like taunting the DET team and telling Gunn not to give Jason letters she found from Willis Todd. Artemis is suspicious of his behavior while Jason is supportive. It looks like it's all going to blow up in their faces in 2018.
*1 Yes Dick gave Jason his number to contact him in old canon but would you really talk to someone you didn't feel close to? Especially if you're constantly compared to them? It was a nice gesture just not enough. Dick seemed to realize this enough to be a better brother to Tim and Damian though.
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