Well, 2004 is almost set for the history books. Election years are always fun. Mud gets slung. Reputations get smeared. Scandals get dug up and then spun beyond recognition. Facts get... well, actually facts get pretty much ignored. The American public loves their dirt, but lets facts it, facts are really kinda dull.

It was the year of the "Wardrobe Malfunction." That was the silly term that was used to put a positive spin on an even sillier situation. In fact, the whole fiasco says so much about our society that it could easily fill a whole sermon. A little four inch by four inch patch of exposed flesh (with virtually the entire remaining body covered in neck to toe leather) stirred up outrage and calls for stricter broadcast standards. If she had instead covered that little four inch area, and a couple of other small sections that are designated "no show zones" and instead bared the remainder of her body, it would have been just another night on TV. Of course, had that happened, she would not have gotten millions of hits on websites the next day. After all, the American public loves its' dirt.

What does all this have to do with comics? Thankfully, not much. But it does serve to provide context as we take a look at the years best and worst comics.

Dave's Worst of 2004:

10. Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee's Superman: Brian Azzarello is a solid writer who handles non-superhero comics deftly. His "Crime Noir-ish" work on 100 Bullets seemed to indicate that he would be an ideal writer for Batman, but he bombed on that title last year. Now his run on Superman is even more disappointing. It's pretentious and plodding and it just sucks the life out of comics original Man of Steel. Jim Lee's are is real pretty though.

9. Silver Surfer: Speaking of pretentious and plodding...
We should have known that this book was in trouble when its' original artist disappeared after the first issue. He probably got lost in the story that just seemed to go nowhere. Most of the few fans who bought the book commented that the Surfer didn't even speak for several issues. I think that he was just embarrassed .

8. Identity Crisis: Several years back a comic company used the slogan "These aren't your fathers superheroes." That's the problem with this series: These are your fathers superheroes. These are DC's venerable icons and this story just drags them (and us) through the mud in the seamiest way.

7. The Amazing Spider-Man: There's lots of evidence that J. Michael Straczynski is capable of better than this. The series has had its' moments, but overall it is obvious that JMS is holding his best work for his own books. The series had a spike in interest with the "Sins Past" storyline, but as usual, for all the wrong reasons. Is it we learn that not only did Gwen Stacy have children out of wedlock, but that the father was none other that Norman Osbourne. Luckily Marvel has no shame and neither do comic fans.

6. DK2: Yes, this series did not actually come out in 2004. But as long as DC is going to keep the graphic novel in print, it makes the list.

5. Stargate: SG1: I never knew that there were so many Stargate: SG1 fans out there until this series hacked them off.

4. Kevin Smith's Daredevil: Bullseye and Spider-Man/Black Cat: What's that you say? Neither of these series had issues that came out during 2004? Yep. During the misguided deification of Kevin Smith, someone forgot to tell him that good stories actually have a beginning, a middle and an end. Maybe he never took any of those classes where an incomplete paper got an "F".

3. Astonishing X-Men: Ok, I'll admit, this series did get better. But in the beginning it was crushed by it's advance expectations. Hip writer, great (if slow) artist, popular characters, what could go wrong? Somehow that "hip" dialog that sounded so fresh when he wrote it for Buffy sounded stale and trite in this series. Could there have been a sillier moment in 2004 than when the costumed group walks proudly towards trouble and Cyclops says "We have to astonish them"? Ugh! I really like John Cassaday, but his ultra realistic line work just shows how silly these guys can look in spandex.

2. Spawn: Love or hate him, Terrible Todd has proven to be a shrewd businessman. So why isn't he smart enough to know when to when to put a dead title to rest? Is there anyone still reading this book? Anyone at all?

1. Avengers "Disassembled": This is the proud and mighty team that took on both the Kree and the Skrull? This is the team that has defeated Ultron and Kang? Sure, it sold in droves, but what a mess it was. Full of gloomy dialog and murky art, the Avengers "finale" swept away the proud history of the team to make way for the "New" Avengers with Spider-Man and Wolverine (Don't get me started!). And what was the titanic menace that did in Marvel's mightiest team? The Scarlet Witch, who was real upset because she had children that didn't exist, but she didn't know about it. Really.

If that was all there was to comics in 2004, then none of us would have stuck around. But of course, there was good stuff too. In fact, there was great stuff. So much great stuff that while I had a hard time filling the "Worst" list, I had a harder time narrowing the "Best" list down to a manageable 10. So without further ado, here is the books that you should have been reading in 2004:

Dave's Best Of 2004:

10. Identity Crisis: Yes, I know I put this book in the "10 Worst" list, but frankly, it's that kind of book. For better or worse, DC has captured comic fans interest with this one and it is the one series of the year that has most everyone talking. Despite it's seamy subject, it is well written and expertly paced. With no middle ground, this is one of those books that people either love or hate.

9. Noble Causes: Sure it's a guilty pleasure, but what a tasty one! A family of superheroes with all the back stabbing and intrigue of your favorite soap opera. Actually, I don't have a favorite soap opera. I don't even watch them. But after this series, I just might start.

8. Y: The Last Man: When this series began, I thought that there was no way that Brian Vaughan could keep the story from quickly running out of steam. Almost three years later the story continues to twist and reveal new elements that keep us hanging on to find out what happens next.

7. Conan: It had been too long since Conan had disappeared from the comic racks. With the iconic barbarian gone, there was a whole genre that was unrepresented. Dark Horse not only fixed that by publishing the first Conan comic in years, they made it a surprise hit by actually hiring some great talent to produce it. The always solid Kurt Busiek sticks pretty closely to Robert E. Howards original stories and tone and the painted art by Cary Nord perfectly fits the ageless setting.

6. H.E.R.O: Hey look! A title that has already been canceled! For those of you who thought that it'd be great to have super powers of your own, this one shows them to be a nightmare. Based on the old "Dial H For Hero" series, it followed the various people who encountered a strange dial that gave them super powers when the letters H.E.R.O. were pressed. Soon to be a bargain bin classic!

5. Fables: Another surprise hit from Vertigo, this one follows the various storybook characters who fled the tyranny in their own lands to live out their days in New York. It's an interesting concept that provides plenty of room for all sorts of stories. So far the writing by long time comic veteran Bill Willingham has been top notch.

4. Fantastic Four: I really felt obligated to include one Marvel comic in the "best of" list. Some people feel that this is not Mark Waid's best work, it still provides good old fashioned cosmic superhero fun. Other than a disappointing trip into the afterlife to save Ben Grimm, it has been eminently readable and enjoyable. Surely that is enough.

3. JSA: DC's oldest heroes is a book that never skimps on plot or characterization. In between the twist and turns, it always manages to make you care about both the good guys and the bad guys both. It's superheros for grown ups.

2. The Goon:If this knuckle dragging thug isn't on your reading list, you're just a sissified square who probably just isn't man (or woman) enough for real entertainment. Easily the best comic with zombies, this is consistently the funniest, snappiest book around. Not for wimps, though.

1. Gotham Central: Batman seldom shows up in this book, and when he does, he's unwanted. It's a mature, multi-dimentional work that takes the police of Gotham City and makes them into real people, both flawed and heroic, often at the same time. Michael Lark's noir-ish art was a big part of the book. Now that he has left for Marvel, we will have to see how the title holds without him, but for 2004 this was the best monthly comic around.

There you have it. My definite, no room for argument list of the best and worst of 2004. Let's hope that 2005 is just as interesting.

Illustration by Gerald Kelley

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