Ministry Must-Reads

The Avengers--Writer Kurt Busiek and artists George Perez and Al Vey are just getting started in their third year on Marvel's premier superteam. As nostalgic as it is modern and exciting. Published by Marvel Comics.

The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius--This outrageously funny trade paperback combines the imaginative plotting of Pinky and the Brain with the style and sensibility of Calvin and Hobbes. A real gem. Published by Oni Press.

Black Hole--Charles Burns has matured as a storyteller, and this strange, compelling tale of the unfortunate victims of a "Teen Plague" proves it. Black Hole is one of the best titles being published today. Published by Fantagraphics Books.

Blaze of Glory--John Ostrander and Leonard Manco bid farewell to the innocence of the Marvel Western heroes with this gripping post-modern tale. Buy it if only to encourage more genre experimentation by the publisher. Published by Marvel Comics.

Daredevil--New writer David Mack is even more on top of his game than the well-received Kevin Smith was. The book still has scheduling problems, but is well worth picking up when it comes out. Published by Marvel Comics.

Eightball--Dan Clowes stretches his considerable creative muscles with the three-part saga of "David Boring." The weirdness of Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron with a surprising new depth. Pick up the Ghost World TPB by Dan Clowes, too--both are excellent. Published by Fantagraphics Books.

Fortune and Glory--Brian Michael Bendis has created my odds-on favourite for best title of the year. It's the true story of how he was wooed by Hollywood and came very, very close to making his lifelong dreams come true. Bendis conveys the absurdity and emotion of the situation with the skills of a consummate storyteller. Published by Oni Press.

Gotham Knights--Writer Devin Grayson has a real handle on the characters here, and the set-up suggests DC has finally noticed that the Batman: Animated series has been getting the Dark Knight right for years. Artist Dale Eaglesham is perfect to convey the complex relationships between Batman and his assistants. The first issue was outstanding. Published by DC Comics.

JLA Earth II--Writer Grant Morrison answers his critics by delivering a focused, exciting tale of alternate worlds. Artist Frank Quitely does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life, and the production values of this hardcover are top-notch, making it well worth the cover price. Published by DC Comics.

Opus Volume One--Barry Windsor-Smith has created this impressive coffee-table art book that serves both as a career overview and stream-of-consciousness autobiography. To be continued in future volumes, the text piece "Time Rise" by BWS will reveal experiences that have inspired and informed his work and had a deep, ongoing effect on his life. Published by Fantagraphics Books.