2012 in Review: The Ten Best Ongoing Comic Book Titles

What were the best ongoing series of 2012? It’s been quite a year in comics, with a number of new titles debuting and some of the most well-received runs in recent comics history continuing on from previous years, as well–so what’s the best comic on the market?Is it Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo? Mark Waid’s Daredevil?We don’t like to split hairs like that, as quality is so subjective. Still, there’s something appealing about celebrating the accomplishments of some of the truly great comics out there.For the sake of avoiding overlap with our list of the Best New Titles of 2012, we’re only considering here books that have been in publication for all of 2012. That isn’t to say that an overall “Best Comic of 2012” list might not include things like Saga and Hawkeye…but with dozens of great books on the market, we wanted to recognize as many as possible. Besides, there were so many auspicious debuts this year but the enthusiasm of a new series sometimes gives it a leg up on existing titles.Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesIDW’s licensed titles are a blast, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the best of them. Along with Ghostbusters and Judge Dredd, the trio form some of the only licensed comic books in my lifetime that feel as essential and engaging as anything coming from a major publisher.The book has charted an ambitious new direction for the fan-favorite characters and given the audience hope even as Michael Bay spent a good chunk of the year heaping disappointment upon indignity for Shellheads.(I don’t know that TMNT fans call themselves that; I might be making it up now.)