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The Top 5 Graphic Novels of 2009

Volume two of this amazing series completes what I think as THE best Superman story out there. Not set in current continuity, not bogged down by past horrible storylines and mullet hairdos, All Star Superman boils Superman down to the basic iconic nature of the character while still keeping a fresh approach. This Superman is strong, smart and caring, using his brain just as often as his brawn, a very silver age feel to a book ahead of its time. Grant Morrison shines here and Frank Quietly's art has never been better. In this volume, Superman struggles to complete his labors before his own body kills him, thanks to Luthor oversaturating his cells with our yellow sun. Here Superman battles fellow Kryptonians, defeats a Sun-Eater, travels and escapes from Bizarro World and of course, takes on Luthor in a climactic battle for the fate of Metropolis. Simply not to be missed and highly accessible to a non-comic reader.

2. LOCAS II
By Jaime Hernandez
Published by Fantagraphic Books
Retail Price: $39.99

Locas II compiles all of Jaime's post-Love and Rockets Vol 1 comics in this amazing looking hardcover book. Clocking in at 416 pages for only 40 bucks, Locas II follows the lives of Jaime's main characters--Maggie, Hopey, Ray, and Penny--while introducing us to some new favorites, most notably the frogmouth Vivian. They've all grown up since the first volume and I honestly think that these stories are better as we read about their lives, loves, losses, obsessions and regrets. This book is not to miss.
 

Fresh off their critically acclaimed series Criminal, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips create this amazing pulp super hero book. Zack Overkill is a super villain stuck in the witness relocation program as he struggles to come to grips with a boring, regular life--and it's killing him inside. But what happens when his powers start to come back and he begins patrolling the night and helping others just to feel something of his previous lives? As you can probably guess, things go from bad to worse as his former super villain pals seek him out. Now he struggles against being caught by the government and his former villain allies as the dark secrets of his origin begin to rise and just why does he feel the need to do good?
 

The other half of the brilliant Hernandez Bros, Gilbert gives us Luba. This beautiful hardcover gives us 600 pages of comics for only $39.99, which has to be one of the best deals in comics especially considering the quality of the stories inside. Full of everything that makes Gilbert's stories great--love, family, death, sex, violence, surrealism, quirkiness and most importantly, a massive cast of some of the best characters in storytelling. While the first book focused on the small Mexican town called Palomar and its inhabitants, this volume follows Luba's trek to America and her adventures with her half sisters and their families. It's such a massive mix of different types of stories from one page strips to graphic novellas, there's really everything in here.

It's fifty years in the future and the super villains have won, an old man named Logan lives a quiet life on his farm with his family. He has vowed never to pop his claws again, the man named Wolverine long forgotten. He owes money to the Hulk Gang who threaten his family and home unless he pays up. So starts a trek across the villain controlled America with a blind Hawkeye and an old Spidey Super Buggy to deliver a package the will ensure Logan the monetary means to save his farm. Logan's vow is tested time and time again as nothing goes right for the duo. In the end Logan delivers their package, gets his payment and pays off the Hulk Gang and lives happily ever after...no wait, that doesn't sound right does it? Know what sounds right? SNIKT! The story goes the only way it can go and there ensues one of the greatest Wolverine battles of all time as he takes on all of the Hulk Gang and finally Banner himself. Easily one, if not THE top Wolverine stories of all time.