2009 has gone, and it’s now 2010. I didn’t do a best-of list, but I will be pro-active and do a what-next list so that next New Years, I have reference points. First up, comics!

High Excitement:
1. Hellboy (Dark Horse): I just finished “Wild Hunt” and I am totally stoked for the a-brewing war. I love how imaginative it has become, in its mix of traditional fantasy and steampunk, with its monsters-du-jour. And it’s still funny! Deadpanning reaches high levels when you are constantly asked to become the lord of all demons, and there’s going to be a huge war, and you’re just not feeling it.
2. Battling Boy (First Second): Paul Pope’s crazy action adventure graphic novel about uh, crazy action stuff, has been pushed back and pushed back—but I have faith that it will be on my shelf sometimes this year. It’s going to be a movie soon, for god’s sake! Brad Pitt is in it!
3. Pluto Vol. 7 and Vol. 8 (Viz): Urasawa’s surreal manga was so lovely that I couldn’t wait for the US release and finished the series online—but I really can’t wait to enjoy the series’ finale again in an analog format. Urasawa’s take on classic Astro Boy is elegant, grave, and very… full… To explain its merits in a blurb is impossible, but it definitely deserves to be read, and reread, seriously, attentively, without distraction.
4. Four Eyes (Image): I was introduced to Joe Kelly only recently, and I was absolutely surprised by my delight. He writes comics about little people. Not fairies, mind you. Children. His latest has (child) protagonist Enrico entering the world of dragon fighting during the Great Depression. The book has strong characters, thoughtful (and poignant) writing, cinematic art, and unfortunately, a real spotty publishing history. Come on, Issue 4!
5. Wednesday Comics (DC): My favorite comic publishing gimmick, soon to be in a giant gimmick book! What fun!
Steadfast Soldiers of my Pull List: Fables. Proof. Conan. The Goon.

Reserved Excitement:
1. Scott Pilgrim Vol 6 (Oni): A problem with comics when the characters never quite age as quicker as the reader—I really like Scott Pilgrim, which is good, but not great, considering I used to really love Scott Pilgrim. My anticipation for the final volume is middling for Scott, and great for Mal’s new projects. (Did you know Jon sent Mal a virus? Fo’ serious!)
2. House of Mystery (Vertigo) —I’m trying to spoil as little as possible, but man, I am really curious how things are going to work with [oh-you-know] being the new proprietor of the house. I mean, he’s crazy. It could be awful. It could be really awful. But, maybe not?
3. Day Tripper (Vertigo): Despite my love for brothers Ba and Moon, I am a bit nervous about Day Tripper being boring. But crazy-hip art can probably make even middle-age angst something fanciful and adventurous.
4. King City (Image): I don’t know anything about it, but it looks kind of awesome. The evidence? They have blue hair.
Catch-Up: Can you believe I been reading the Sinestro Corps Wars for like… the third year in a row now? I’d read a couple issues and not return to it until I have no memory of what I last read. It’s been defeating. When will I ever get to Blackest Night?

Lacking Excitement:
I been a sucker for the events, 2010 aren’t looking so wow in terms of mainstream superheroics. I guessed I missed Bruce, but the grave needs to be cold before a comeback (Return of Bruce Wayne). The world’s biggest boy scout going to another war (War of the Supermen) is underwhelming in spite of its overwhelming firepower. And Marvel’s Siege? Seems like little more than a drawn out I-told-you-so from the ill-premised Dark Reign.

All in all, okay-psyched. What is everyone looking forward to in the panels?

—

Idle Eyes time-travels to the recent past and blogs on stuff that everyone else’s already seen, read, or heard. Hey, if Sirui missed it the first time around, who’s to say you didn’t?