By Captain Orion, an explorer or great reads though the Stranger Worlds…

I look back in awe to at an awesome 2023 year of sequential art enjoyment where my habits changed in reading. Much less did I indulge in single issue monthly comic books, for reasons of cost cutting and seeing my favorite reads show up on my bookshelf then confined to boxes.

This year was no short of great storytelling and awesome art on new shelves, from publishers big and small. The comic stores, podcasts, channels, friends dished out plenty of great reccomendations where nearly every week I felt something fresh and exciting wated for me on the shelves. I spent a lot of money, mostly at comic book stores and conventions. I took my time to read on work commutes on the city rail and during lunch. Many times, I felt that time was best spent, as I thrilled to some fantastic reads that were not quick to read. That coming from my push in readiing comics, usually from big collected volumes or graphic novel forms.

So here were my favorite reads released to shelves in 2023, and should be remembered as still fresh reads for 2024…

Best superhero storytelling: Local Man:,Volume: Heartland 1 by Tim Seeley (author) and Tony Fleece (artist).

Best supernatural storytelling: Damn Them All Volume 1 by Simon Spurrier (author) and Charlie Adlard (artist).

Best metaphysical storytelling: Star seeds 3 by Charles Glaubitz

Best science fiction storytelling: The Forged, Volume 1 by Greg Rucka (author), Eric Trautmann (artist).

Best action storytelling: Do a Power Bomb, Volume 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson

Best historical graphic novel: Last on his Feet by Youssef Daoudi

Best fantasy storytelling; Wonder Woman Historia, The Amazons by Kelly Sue DeConnick (author), Phil Jimenez (artist).

Best manga release, and omnibus: Berserk: Deluxe Edition Volume 13, 14.

Best new series: Earthdrivers, Volume 1: Kill Columbus by Stephen Graham Jones (author) and Davide Gianfelice (artist).

Best overall storytelling: Eight Billion Genies by Charles Soul (author) and Ryan Browne (artist).

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