I often review comics in my column at Pop Thought, and in reprints elsewhere. I might not be a great reviewer, but I am happy to say that when I recommend something I often hear back with e-mailed thanks from people who read the work for the reasons I stated and they agreed. It is true that I skew positive, but more because I like comics and want you to find your niche and area of taste than to let you know not to buy something. Anyway... I hope here to present to you with a comic from each of the major publishers as one of the very best books from that publisher and why you should be reading it. If my recommendations are not in your area of taste, start a thread in the Stl Forums and take issue. I have been wrong before, and I am certain that I will be wrong again.

DARK HORSE
CONAN as written by Kurt Busiek is fabulous. No other current title is so true to its mother source as Busiek seems to be channeling the spirit if not the whole being of Robert E. Howard. I love this title, and cannot wait to read it as it comes out.

DC COMICS
DC produces so many good books it is sometimes hard for me to choose one, but I have got to choose LUCIFER as their best title. Mike Carey perfectly captures the right tone, and attitudes of the beings in the cosmic tale. Much like a dark epic, the book refuses to follow any convention. As it is full of surprises it is a comic that I look forward to reading every month.

DEVIL'S DUE PUBLISHING
As a studio I really loved DDP's Micronauts. As a publisher I enjoy the series of titles that are not based upon licensed products, such as GI JOE. BREAKDOWN, INFANTRY, DEFEX are all from the same line at DDP and they all have solid stories, and are told by accomplished creative people in straightforward manners. I can read them without subtext and enjoy every issue for what it is, rather than have decompressed stories that go on and on and on and on...

IDW
LORE is so good I do not like reviewing it because I know I will gush. Ashley Wood is such a talented fellow who can tell a story from many different angles and from many different and unique styles... His talent is reason enough for me to buy his books, but this book has something more that appeals than just watching a genius talent creating. LORE is the story of how our normal world responds to the appearance of all the creatures and beings from our Myths and Legends. It is a roller coaster and it makes me think. This is probably my favorite title on the market today when it comes out.

IMAGE COMICS
MORA is a rich fable, told in luscious black and white, about a most powerful witch in a world where there is no such thing as normal. Fairy tales are becoming more popular as base topics to branch out from, for whatever reasons. But MORA does something new in that it is not a parody, ironic, or allegorical tale. It tells us a bright story filled with mystery. The questions it raises are about the consequences of the story, not about the how well the creator is interpreting someone else's works.

MARVEL COMICS
Marvel Comics succeeds, in my view, in telling the best Super Hero stories in the comic market. Perhaps that is true because they adore the genre and do not feel inhibited in telling their stories. To me the best comic coming from Marvel has to be either Daredevil or Captain America. Both titles are breaking new ground all the time, and present a more detailed, realistic view of characters that have both suffered in various interpretations. If forced to choose I would take Captain America, as the character of Cap is my favorite, but I am being biased (more than usual that is) there.

HELLSPAWN
By Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith
Writer Steve Niles inherited this title HELLSPAWN when Brian Bendis left the title. Ashley Wood completed the artwork from the last Bendis script and Niles worked from the artwork. Then, after a few issues Wood left and Templesmith took over art chores. Niles entered the series with some new views towards the character and the established storyline. That is, instead of Spawn being created by a sort of accident of hell's lord twisting a promise to allow Al Simmons to return to the surface world out of his love for Wanda, his wife, this Spawn of Hell does so because it is the logical outcome of a life such as a that lived by Simmons. A professional killer given the dark powers of hell (however limited or temporary) would not use them to help mankind, but instead to ensure his place of power within the kingdoms of hell. This is a dark, surreal world, one that deeply religious people might prefer not to consider, but as a Spawn work it is intelligent, worth the money, and ought to be collected and handed out to reviewers as proof that shinola can indeed come from shite.

GIANTKILLER
By Dan Brereton
This might have been a story you missed. It featured a world where giant monsters exist. Jack, known as the GiantKiller is one half monster, one half human. The two strings of DNA together allow Jack, to fight and defeat most foes. But dammit these are monsters, and they are going to do their damnedest to kill him. These monsters though are not all hellfire and anger. Some are intelligent. Some have goals beyond world conquest. Will that stop Jack? You need to read this as a true homage to the great monster movies of the 50's 60's and 70's. Beyond the wonderful collection of monsters and the story of Jack is the fine, stylized art by Brereton. His sense of art style is very unique, and while you may well not be a fan, consider how well his style is fitted to the story. I hope this book is collected in TPB form, but I have no idea if it will be. I offer this commentary as a hope for an epiphany moment in the offices of DC or elsewhere and a decision to collect it in TPB.