The Hugo Awards are a big deal in science fiction and book circles. Last year, they added a category for Best Graphic Story, and the nominations for this year are around the corner. In response, one of our favorite people in comics, Paul Cornell (Dark Reign: Young Avengers, Captain Britain & MI:13) decided to put together a list of 30 fantastic Sci-Fi comics to help the voters along.
But this isn’t just the comic industry talking to itself, oh no. Paul is, in addition to a Marvel Comics writer, a respected author of science fiction books, as well as a writer for programs (programmes?) as Doctor Who in the UK. To follow Paul on Twitter is to see a man attend more Science Fiction and Fantasy conferences than I knew existed.
You’ll note that I gave Paul a hand and added some of my own suggestions I felt worthy of note. (Fear Agent!) I think this is a great way to once again foist comics on the unsuspecting reading populace who didn’t know such great material was there for the taking. And as we learned in Mike Romo’s post today, such ignorance still exists.
At the very least, you’ll find a competent list of 30 comics, with previews where available, and it presents a nice cross section of Science Fiction comics. Maybe you can find something you’re interested in, yes?
Thanks to Paul for including me! I note that a certain comic about Dracula, Dr. Doom, and a vampire adventure over England was graciously omitted.
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I enjoy Paul Cornell for many reasons, chief among them his tireless endorsement of other people’s work he loves and his support for the "I, Fanboy" pronuniviation. Is Ennis’ Dan Dare elligible or was that published last year?
PAX ROMANA is one I’d toss out. SUPERMAN BEYOND is another.
A big part of the reason Paul listed the books (aside from bringing some attention to some interesting new stories) is that the Hugo awards need you to put the EXACT name of the trade nominated. You can’t just nominate "Air" or "Captain Britain" you have to put the specific title in your nomination or it won’t be counted.
Can we please change all of our stationery over to the "I, Fanboy" model? I genuinely love it. More gravitas!
Once again, Paul is a rockstar. Classiest, nicest guy in comics. I love that he’s presented this list and is encouraging people to try so many diverse titles. There’s something for everybody in there.
Wow, I really enjoyed his CB&MI13, but I’m not sure what to think of Cornell’s taste in comics. X-Men: Ghost Boxes was awful and almost universally crapped upon. Chew? There have only been three issues so far, but he wants it to win the award that Watchmen did to break through for the medium in ’86?! Maybe Chew will eventually go down as a classic, but nominating it after three issues (the second one of which was nothing special) is overdoing it.
I dunno. It’s technically a "sci-fi" award, and you kind of have to lower the quality-control if you want (for whatever strange reason) to pick THIRTY contemporary comics that could be reasonably classified as "sci-fi"…
@flapjaxx The Graveyard Book won the 2009 Hugo award. It’s not Sci-Fi either. I’m relatively certain it’s a "Sci-Fi/Fantasy" novel.
Very cool. Cornell is such a cool guy. And an awesome writer.
Oh! Oh! I forgot YOUNG LIARS!
And Mike Allred’s MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS!
Great list. Probably just a great non-supes comics list by itself though I found the Ghost Box mention wierd.
@Prax – You’re right. Graveyard Book is definitely fantasy/horror.
And here’s another place I can sadly lament the passing of the outstanding Captain Britain/MI-13. Sigh…
Fear Agent, Chew, Scott Pilgrim and Secret Six are my favorite. If I had to pick one to be nominated for a Hugo, I lean towards Fear Agent but I believe Chew would perform better.
I haven’t (much to my shame) read ‘I Kill Giants’, from everything I read, I believe it would do well.
"but I’m not sure what to think of Cornell’s taste in comics. X-Men: Ghost Boxes was awful and almost universally crapped upon."
You need to read his comments before you comment, it’s not what he likes, some of it he hasn’t read. He took a bunch of suggestions, weighed them and put them on the list.
"Chew? There have only been three issues so far, but he wants it to win the award that Watchmen did to break through for the medium in ’86?! Maybe Chew will eventually go down as a classic…"
Watchmen didn’t win this award, it won a different Hugo award, I believe it was the "Other Forms Category", and much like the Oscars, they vote on what was produced in the year. Just because you get a Hugo, doesn’t mean you’ll be a classic. Casablanca wasn’t a classic the year it won an Oscar.
"I dunno. It’s technically a "sci-fi" award,"
It’s a "Best Graphic Story" award in the realms of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Last years nominees were "The Dresden Files, Fables, Schlock Mercenary, Serenity and Y. The winner was Girl Genius.
"and you kind of have to lower the quality-control if you want (for whatever strange reason) to pick THIRTY contemporary comics that could be reasonably classified as "sci-fi"."
He’s also not asking for people to pick thirty, he’s asking for people to review as many as they can and has suggested thirty, but review and inform themselves before nominating, I believe Mr.Cornell is trying to make sure that the cream rises to the top. That the most deserving get nominated. I salute him for his efforts.
science fiction has become a very board classification
seriously, i’m confused
It’s a little bit of my mistake is that the books can be classified under sci fi AND/OR fantasy.
OH!… right
@PaulMontgomery – I always thought this place had a little Asimovian quality.
Very nice list, although it doesn’t compel me to find out what my teenage daughter sees in Fruits Basket. To each their own, I don’t expect her to start reading Fear Agent any time soon either.