Will 2009 be Great?

2008 was a year where I knew what to expect from comics. I knew that the Skrulls were invading the Marvel Universe, that DC's next crossover was "Final Crisis," and that there were a slew of comic-based superhero movies that were going to hit theaters. I came into the year looking forward to a new "Love & Rockets" format, Nate Powell's "Swallow Me Whole," Meathaus' "S.O.S." anthology, and the promise of several regular comic series by 1990s indie comic icons. That isn't to say that there weren't more than a few pleasant surprises in '08 like my love of "Black Jack" or "Alan's War."



2009 is a completely different story. Beyond the impending release of "Scott Pilgrim" vol. 5, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips "Incognito," and promise of a new character in the Batman cowl, I can't really think of many other books that are to be released in '09. The Avengers are scheduled to get dark this year and Marvel will be out to milk the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie with yet another series starring the ol' Canuckle head. After that, I really am clueless as to what comics have ahead for them this next year.

While I may not have to building anticipation for a catalogue of books I'm dying to read, the mystery of not knowing can be just as exciting. It gives me an opportunity to check out some new books and be excited when I hear that a cartoonist I like has a new book coming out. Here's to hoping the comic output for 2009 in general will be as strong as Top Shelf's offerings for the coming year.

-Nick