Continuing with our annual “Looking Forward, Looking Back” feature for our big fifth anniversary, we asked various comics folks what they liked in 2013, what they’re looking forward to in 2014, and what projects they have planned for the coming year. In this edition, hear from Steve Orlando, Chris Roberson, Nick Dragotta, John Arcudi, Janet K. Lee, Kathryn Immonen, Lauren Sankovitch, Scott Allie, Valerio Schiti and Natalie Nourigat.
You can read the first two installments here and here.
Steve Orlando
Virgil, Undertow
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
Probably my favorite comic of 2013 would have to be the return of Bloodhound from Dan Jolley and Leonard Kirk. This was one of my favorite underdog books when it was at its first home, and I couldn't be more excited now that it's back. For me it's the perfect '80s/early '90s action movie in superpower comic form.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
Hard to say! I have to say I'm excited for Warren Ellis to hit Moon Knight. His X-Man run was completely underrated, and Jenny Sparks had a huge effect on me when I started reading comics in the '90s. But I'm also really excited for the books coming out from new sources like Kickstarter, like the possible second issue of Albert Einstein: Time Mason or the next volume of NOBODIES from Drawmore Inc.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
The answer has to be Undertow, my February-launching Atlantis adventure from Image Comics, drawn by my Siberian partner in crime Artyom Trakhanov. We've got the market cornered on giant monsters, underwater Clint Eastwoods, and exploration intrigues. This to me is a Ray Harryhausen adventure in 2014 -- like the Voyages of Sinbad or sword-and-planet fiction, with the perfect balance of punching and politics.
Chris Roberson
Edison Rex, Doc Savage, The Shadow, Sovereign
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
My absolute favorite comic of the year was Michel Fiffe’s COPRA, hands down. It’s just an astoundingly good piece of work. An independent art comic that is also a deeply satisfying superhero adventure. Anyone who hasn’t read it, should.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
I’m probably most looking forward to Nemo: The Roses of Berlin, the new installment in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. Whenever a new one comes out I have to immediately drop what I’m doing and read it, and I can’t imagine that this time will be any different.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
To be honest, I’m pretty excited about all of the stuff I’m working on these days. I’m crossing another item off the bucket list with Doc Savage from Dynamite, with art by Bilquis Evely, and continuing to do The Shadow with Giovanni Timpano. Patric Reynolds and I are creeping it up with ALIENS from Dark Horse. Dennis Culver and I are plugging away at Edison Rex, with the second trade collection coming out in print from IDW in March. And also out in March is the first issue of SOVEREIGN, the book that Paul Maybury and I are doing at Image.
Nick Dragotta
East of West, Howtoons
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
My favorite books of 2013 are the collections of Tsutomu Nihei's Knights of Sidonia from Vertical.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
I'm most excited to see Goran Parlov going to Image and doing sci-fi in Starlight with Mark Millar. I'm really looking forward to that one.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
It's all East of West for me in 2014, and ... a big Howtoons project for the summer with top tier talent to be announced soon.
John Arcudi
B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
Hands down, Sabertooth Swordsman by Damon Gentry and Aaron Conley, published by Dark Horse, but that's not why I love it. I love it because it's gorgeous and hilarious!
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
I'm hoping 2014 is the year Manhattan Projects finally gets a hardcover collection.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
There's one project I really wish I could talk about but I can't just yet -- however I can talk about "The Reign of the Black Flame," which is the next B.P.R.D. arc starting in January. As always, it's great playing in the Hellboy/B.P.R.D. universe, but when I get to work with rockstar James Harren, it's hard not to be really excited! You should see what he does in this book! Incredible!
Janet K. Lee
Lost Vegas, Dapper Men
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
It's just impossible to pick a favorite comic for 2013; we truly had an embarrassment of riches. But this year I found myself reading a lot of webcomics, so I'll say Out of Skin by Emily Carroll. It's one of the most haunting, horrifying, beautiful things I've read in a very long time. It's a story that stood out in a year that gave us East of West and Map of Days.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
When James Viscardi left Marvel this year, he started an extraordinary podcast called Let's Talk Comics. In the five weeks or so that it's been broadcasting this year, James has had some of the best interviews I've ever heard. It's my new favorite thing to listen to on Mondays. I'm looking forward to more!
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
I find myself in an odd place where I have a bunch of projects in play, but none announced with publication dates. I'm therefore not entirely sure what I'm most pumped about for 2014. I love all of them! I can tell you that very soon, I'll be able to answer a question about a very anticipated sequel that I haven't been able to talk about for the past two years. Very jazzed about that.
Kathryn Immonen
Avengers Annual 2013 #1, Above the Dreamless Dead
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
Without question, Ray Fawkes' Spectral Engine. The way Ray continues to produce these kinds of long form book projects, on a parallel track with his writing work with DC, is very inspiring.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
TCAF. TCAF. TCAF. Which is rapidly becoming, if it isn't already, the axis upon which the comics universe turns.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
Stuart and I are contributing to First Second's Above the Dreamless Dead, which is an anthology of responses to/collaborations with the work of the WWI trench poets. We got Thomas Hardy's "I looked up from my writing." It will be out late September 2014. I think it is possibly the most worthwhile project we're going to see this year and should be on every library's buy list.
Lauren Sankovitch
Loki: Agent of Asgard
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
In reality, there are so MANY to choose from. 2013 seemed to be a banner year for comics in general, with incredible content from all corners of the industry. Probably my most pleasing reading experience this year, though, was Lucy Knisley's Relish. Top to bottom it made me laugh, cry, snort, ponder and, above all, it made me incredibly hungry. (that and there's a yummy sketch of a half-eaten cookie by the author herself). Utterly delectable.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
A bit of a cop out, I'll admit, but I'm just really excited for WHAT'S NEXT. This year has been such a joyful explosion of talent and creativity, I'm calling out 2014 to dare to be better. What is the next Saga? The next Hawkeye? Maybe you'll be the one to write/draw/color/letter it. I know I'll be reading it.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
While I've since left my official capacity as the editor, I can't express how fantastically excited I am for Loki: Agent of Asgard #1 to launch this February. It has literally been years in the making, with a slew of awesome persons having their hand in the chaos pot. Al, Lee, Nolan, Clayton and Jenny have cooked up quite the tale...you might even say it was epic.
Scott Allie
Abe Sapien
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
Hellboy: Midnight Circus. Duncan [Fegredo] blew away all of his previous amazing work with this thing, and he and Mike [Mignola] and Dave Stewart worked so beautifully together. Outside of books I work on, though, it's Revival from Image. It's the comic I look forward to the most every month, and it's there every month …
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
I'm not sure it'll be out in 2014, but Battling Boy Vol. 2 is something I'm really looking forward to.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
The first half of the year is jam-packed with launches for us. I get to work with Greg Rucka for the first time, and Buffy Season 10 is going to be the best comics season yet. But I think the thing I'm most excited about at the moment is the Prometheus/Aliens/Predator thing we're launching. We're at a stage with it right now where everything still seems possible, and we're creating a reading experience unlike anything else out there.
Valerio Schiti
Avengers A.I., Mighty Avengers
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
Mostly I'm a Marvel guy, so I guess my favorite comic of 2013 is definitely Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja. Great writing, great art, great storytelling ... even a great soundtrack (follow David Aja on YouTube!).
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
Can't wait to read Inhuman by Fraction and Joe Madureira and All-New X-Factor by Peter David and Carmine Di Giandomenico. I'm in love with David's scripts, I'm a great Carmine's fan and I love Gambit, so I guess it'll be my "must-read" for 2014.
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
In February Mighty Avengers #6 will be out: Al Ewing's script is great, I'm trying my best and I really hope to keep up with Greg Land's legacy.
Natalie Nourigat
A Boy and A Girl
What was your favorite comic of 2013?
Adam Ellis’ first collection of Books of Adam and Madeleine Flores’ Help Us! Great Warrior.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2014?
I’m very excited to go to the festival in Angoulême for the first time this January/February. I’ve been hearing about it for years. I’m also looking forward to the release of Megagogo Vol. 1 from Wook Jin Clark (Oni Press).
What personal project are you working on for 2014 that you're especially pumped about?
I’m continuing my European tour and my mission to caricature the innocent people of every major city in the world.
