Matt's top 10 comic-book reads, February 2023
Including comics old, new and in-between
Borrowing and adapting an idea from my friend the Food Dude, I’ve decided to try to list my top 10 comics that I’ve read monthly. I’ll select from the comics that I’ve read during the past month, whether they be old, new, or whatever, included or excluded as I see fit at the time. More rules may present themselves as time goes by.
Here is my February 23 top 10 countdown.
10. Ginger #7 (1953)
I’m hoping to write more about Ginger sometime; this 1950s teen humor series features something of a genderflipped Archie Andrews, with the redheaded Ginger taking center stage, often bouncing between two (or occasionally more) boyfriends.
9. Grifter One-Shot (January 1995)
More in-depth review of this coming from me on an upcoming podcast. Former spy Grifter, left on his own from the WildC.A.T.s, must face off with a former mentor in this one-shot. Steven Seagle writes and Dan Norton draws.
8. Nomad #1 (1992)
Fabian Nicieza writes and S. Clarke Hawbaker draws as Captain America’s former sidekick, Nomad, crisscrosses America with a baby in tow.
7. Nomad #7 (1992)
A “Die Hard” inspired adventure as Nomad must take out a cosmic duplicate of the X-Man Gambit on a plane. A taut one-issue adventure by Nicieza and Hawbaker.
6. Captain America #106 (October 1968)
Spies steal S.H.I.E.L.D.’s newest plans for an improved Life Model Decoy; foreign agents bribe movie producers to make a film that shows Captain America in a bad light. Cap goes to meet with the studio heads, but is lured into a trap where he must fight the L.M.D. Dated and filled with some coincidences a modern audience might not accept, but still a Stan Lee-Jack Kirby joint (with Frank Giacoia inks) filled with action in the Mighty Marvel style.
5. Saga #62 (2023)
Even something of a housekeeping issue of Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ space epic is a good comic.
4. Nightwing #100 (2023)
Anniversary celebration issue of Batman’s former sidekick features tremendous art from Bruno Redundo and hefty emotional beats care of writer Tom Taylor. Guest-artists galore also contribute in an extra-sized issue that ties into “Dawn of DC” happenings, but in a natural way.
3. Local Man #1 (2023)
Interesting high concept as former big-shot 1990s-style superhero returns home to find himself no one’s favorite. A love letter to 1990s comics and a tale of potential gone wrong, this is one I’m intrigued by. Written by Tim Seeley; 1990s flip book art by Seeley; main art by Tony Fleecs.
2. Tom Strong 20-22 (2003)
Cheating a bit here and putting this story all together. Alan Moore and Chris Sprouse relate an alternate reality in their Tom Strong story, where a twist of fate means the adventurer Tom Stone is born rather than Tom Strong.
1. Superman #1 (2023)
There’s a new status quo for Superman, as Luthor is in jail, Lois runs the Daily Planet, and Superman finds himself with a Supercorp to run, thanks to the aforementioned Luthor. Writer Joshua Williamson and artist Jamal Campbell have kicked off with a first issue that hearkens back to classic Superman while leaving the door open for new stories.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.