What an amazingly, unpredictably, utterly enthralling year in comics! From light to dark to horrific to stunning, comic book creators have truly embraced that nothing is off limits in their stories told. Also, I think diehard superhero fans can admit it: 2014 was the year the Big Two ran the Event Comics into the ground. Either with delays (Forever Evil) or with too many tie-ins and boring storytelling (Original Sin), there wasn’t much good coming out of either camp. Lucky for all of us, there is another out there who did it so well, they’ve become my new favorite shared universe. Here are some of my favorite stories from the last year that are absolutely worth reading over the holidays.

10. The Wake (Vertigo Comics) –

Scott Snyder’s horror / sci-fi / dystopian future ambitious is great scary fun. Sean Murphy’s art makes this story feel so fast paced that you can feel the tension hit and run throughout the series. It’s a ten issue mini-series so you can enjoy the whole thing in one collection.

9. Silver Surfer (Marvel Comics) –

Dan Slott and Mike Allred’s fantastic space voyage really pops off the page issue after issue. Slott’s love for BBC’s Doctor Who shines through in all the good ways but in the Marvel Universe. Allred makes each world and alien space travellers Norrin Radd and his companion Dawn Greenwood look utterly exceptional.

8. God Hates Astronauts (Image Comics) –

This book is completely bonkers in uproarious ways. Farmer astronauts, hybrid chicken people and cow-ghost headed heroes are only the tip of the ice burg. Creator Ryan Browne has an affinity animal headed heroes, guns, swearing and insane sound effects. This is one wonky ride worth getting on to.

7. The Life After (Oni Press) –

Purgatory, Ernest Hemingway and suicides. Sounds like a dreadful mix, doesn’t it? Thankfully, writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Gabo have mapped out an elaborate and compelling tale of transformation and hope for a brighter future even in a place where nothing is supposed to change.

6. Sinestro (DC Comics) –

Writer Cullen Bunn is doing his damn best to make readers pay attention to the corners of the DC Universe that don’t have a Bat or big “S” on them. One of the prime examples is his series on cosmic villain extraordinaire Thall Sinestro. With exceptionally creepy art by Dale Eaglesham, Rags Morales and Igor Lima (a great artist rotation to rely on), Bunn is showing readers how truly drastic and terrifying a man on a mission to save us from ourselves can truly be.

5. Starlight (Image Comics) –

Mark Millar may have gone Hollywood awhile back but he still knows how to tell a good comic book story too. With artist Goran Parlov making it feel like a classic science fiction tale, this story of one last grand adventure for an old timer is vast in its scale and fun all around. Read it first before it becomes the next summer blockbuster.

4. Grayson (DC Comics) –

Sidekicks stepped up big time in 2014 and this is a prime example of it done right. Spy-related series for both Marvel and DC showcased how fun sneaking around can be. Former superhero Dick Grayson shines in this great new book at espionage in the DC Universe goes on. Writers Tim Seeley, Tom King and artist Mikel Janin have made something special to behold here. (Honorable mention to Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier).

3. Sovereign (Image Comics) –

Merging three different genres into one big mythical and fantasy story is no small task. Writer Chris Roberson and artist Paul Maybury have crafted something truly distinctive in this book. This world-building tale takes you into this world from all different points but never makes you feel lost or overwhelmed. Things come together at a picture-perfect pace and keep you wanting more.

2. The Victories (Dark Horse Comics) –

Creator Michael Avon Oeming capped off his epic tale of flawed heroes saving a flawed world this year his way. This entire series is one more example of superhero stories done right for a modern, adult audience. Nobody is perfect here and saving the world doesn’t come without a high price to pay. Oeming makes readers see and feel every arduous step our saviours take to the point where you question if this world IS worth saving. Read the whole series and you won’t be disappointed. If you are, then you read it wrong so try again.

1. The Delinquents and everything else from Valiant (Valiant Entertainment) –

To me, Valiant comics have become the benchmark in superhero (and comedy) storytelling done right. I never got onto the Valiant train when it ran in the 1990s so I’ve come into these characters fresh. Every time I read a new book from Valiant, I just want more and more. You name it and this publisher has a book for you: Action, Sci-Fi, History, Comedy, Team Books, and Event Books. Here in beautiful South Korea, you’d say “Oh My Gas Range!” after reading every Valiant book. That’s how amazing these books are. Choose any title and you can’t go wrong. That is exactly what I did and I’m hooked and looking forward to what Valiant has planned for 2015.