The comic book industry has struggled through 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic bringing both publication and distribution to a standstill. Even the Big Two, Marvel and DC, wound up stopping publication for a while. As a result, there are books originally solicited for April 2020 that still haven't come out. Some - such as Steve Orlando and Cian Tormey's Darkhold - sadly seem to have disappeared without a trace.
But 2020 has still seen the release of some tremendous comics, and the launch of some popular and critically acclaimed new books. It has been marked by the continued growth of the X-Men line, fresh from a relaunch last year, and by some intriguing developments over at DC - particularly in the Batman books. Plus, there have been some major new publications from Boom! Studios, notably Al Ewing's remarkable We Only Find Them When They're Dead. The future promises to be bright, with DC in particular pushing forward with a major new initiative called Future State that will effectively replace the entire line in January and February.
So here are Screen Rant's pick of the best of 2020. Some are miniseries, others are ongoing, but in all cases only a handful of issues have released to date - meaning it will be very easy to catch up on anything that catches your eye.
Hellions
The X-Men franchise was relaunched by superstar comic book writer Jonathan Hickman back in 2019, and it has gone from strength to strength in 2020. That includes some major standout new books, including Zeb Wells and Stephen Segovia's Hellions. Run by Mr. Sinister, the Hellions are essentially the mutant nation's answer to Suicide Squad, and suffice to say none of them are particularly talented when it comes to teamwork. Hellions really came into its own during the "X of Swords" event, with Wells adding a much-needed sense of humor to the narrative. As with many books in this list, there are mysteries galore - including Mr. Sinister's true agenda.
Punchline
2020 introduced comic book readers to Punchline, the Joker's newest girlfriend, who wound up arrested when the dust settled from the "Joker War." Surprisingly, Sam Johns, James Tynion IV, and Mirka Andolfo's Punchline uses the character's trial as the launchpad for its story, as Punchline attempts to use this as a way of spreading the Joker's message across the world. There's something deeply sinister about this story, which explores the dark power of social media, and consequently feels so very timely. Punchline may actually be more dangerous than Joker, because she knows how to ensure the whole world hears what she has to say.
Batman/Catwoman
Tom King and Clay Mann have made their welcome return to the Batman franchise in Batman/Catwoman, a series that explores the relationship between the two titular heroes (and which doesn't exactly seem to fit with the rest of the line in terms of continuity, despite following on from King's acclaimed Batman run). The real excitement in this story, though, comes from the comic book continuity debut of the Phantasm, the villain who featured so prominently in the animated hit Batman: Mask of the Phantasm back in the '90s. Andrea Beaumont is Bruce Wayne's ex-lover, so there are sure to be fireworks when she finally crosses paths with Catwoman.
Champions
One of the stories most directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic was Marvel's "Outlawed" event, in which teen heroes were prohibited by law in the United States. Champions, by Eve Ewing and Simone Di Meo, was delayed and then turned into a miniseries. The first few issues have finally come out, and they've been tremendous, forcing the likes of Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel and Miles Morales' Spider-Man to decide whether they'll obey the law - or instead do what they think it's right. The concept is hardly an original one - it's basically Civil War Redux - but Ewing's smart writing has turned this into an entertaining story that explores the current status quo of the Marvel Universe. It even confronts the Champions' history with the X-Men, bringing back the now-adult Cyclops for a reunion with the team.
We Live
Published by Aftershock Comics, We Live is a strange blend of dystopian nightmare and childhood innocence. Created by Inaki and Roy Miranda, it's a story full of heart and emotion set in a world that has gone horribly wrong. The Earth is doomed, but a handful of children have been given a mysterious opportunity to survive. We Live is wonderfully creative and surprisingly immersive, with the Mirandas creating a twisted future Earth that feels surprisingly real. The book is populated with beautifully designed creatures, mutated animals that now hunt humans and stand between these children and their escape. It's going to be thrilling to see what comes next.
Ravencroft/Ruins of Ravencroft
In the wake of the "Absolute Carnage" event, Frank Tieri and Angel Unzueta teamed up on two interrelated miniseries exploring the history of the Ravencroft Institute and setting it up for a thrilling new role in the Marvel Universe. Ravencroft is essentially Marvel's answer to Arkham Asylum, but Tieri revealed its history is even darker, and he added countless elements to Marvel history that will surely be developed at a later date. These two miniseries were dark and atmospheric, starring an unexpected group of characters including Misty Knight and the Man-Wolf, and Unzueta's art was tremendously creepy. Ravencroft has since become a central location in Nick Spencer's Amazing Spider-Man run, meaning these books really shouldn't be missed.
X-Factor
Another tremendous addition to the X-Men line, X-Factor is a breath of fresh air. Written by Leah Williams and featuring stunning art by David Baldeon, X-Factor stars a group of mutants who don't normally get to stand in the spotlight. The concept is a fascinating one, too, because it explores an idea that lies at the heart of Hickman's X-Men relaunch; that the X-Men have learned to resurrect the dead. This new X-Factor group is tasked with investigating reported mutant deaths in order to make sure they're genuine and qualify for resurrection. So far X-Factor has proven to be a wacky, off-beat series that's absolutely delightful.
Rorschach
DC's Black Label allows the publisher to put out content that isn't quite so traditional. A classic example is Rorschach, by Tom King and Jorge Fornes, a dark mystery set in the Watchmen universe that sees the return of Rorschach - or does it? King is a skilled writer, and he's telling a story that's full of mystery and intrigue, meaning there are undoubtedly some major twists in the tale. The first three issues have been tremendous, kicking off with an attempted assassination of a US presidential candidate by a man in a Rorschach mask. It's going to be exciting to see where things go from here, and to see this genre-defining world get the attention it deserves.
Strange Academy
Every now and again, a comic book publisher announces an idea so good readers can only wonder why nobody came up with it before now. Strange Academy is perhaps the best example of all, because the basic concept is absolutely inspired; to put Doctor Strange in charge of Marvel's version of Harry Potter's Hogwarts. The creative team is absolutely stellar, with Skottie Young and Humberto Ramos putting out a book that's full of thrills and surprises. Even better, the focus in Strange Academy is not on Doctor Strange or the teachers, but on a range of original characters. Young has dropped some ominous hints suggesting Strange has an ulterior motive, and these kids may well ultimately be called upon to protect the universe from an unknown threat.
We Only Find Them When They're Dead
Written by Al Ewing and featuring stunning art by Simone Di Meo, We Only Find Them When They're Dead is one of the most lavish, beautiful books published in the last year. Where most other entries on this list are superhero adventures, this is a science-fiction story set in a world where the gods are real - but dead. A lucrative industry has built up around carving apart the gods for food and precious substances, but that's not enough for one small crew. Plagued with existential doubt, they decide to go rogue - and find a live god. Only three issues have been released to date, but so far the story is a thrilling one, and the partnership between Ewing and Di Meo is tremendously effective. This is one book you don't want to miss.
The Other History Of The DC Universe
But the most fascinating new series of the year is undoubtedly The Other History of the DC Universe, which offers a fresh window into the familiar and beloved stories of iconic heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman. Written by John Ridley and featuring beautiful art by Alex Dos Dias, the first issue told the story of the DC Universe through the eyes of Black Lightning, one of the first black superheroes. Ridley blends superhero events and real-world history seamlessly, creating a book that explores questions of racial identity through the lens of comic books. This is one of DC's boldest initiatives, perfectly timed for 2020.