Continuing with our annual “Looking Forward, Looking Back” feature, we asked some creators and other industry figures what they liked in 2014, what they’re looking forward to in 2015, and what projects they have planned for the coming year.
In this installment, hear from Greg Rucka, Stuart Moore, Rico Renzi, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Miss Lasko-Gross, Aaron Kuder, Jimmie Robinson, Curt Pires, Eleanor Davis, Shof and Shobo Coker, Amber Love and Keith Dallas!
Be sure to check out Part 1, and don’t forget to come back later today for more.
Greg Rucka
Lazarus, Stumptown, Lady Sabre & the Pirates of the Ineffable Aether
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
This is a hard one for me, because there was a lot that I read this year that I loved. Just truly loved. I’ve tried to pick just one thing, but I can’t narrow it down. There are three Image titles that really stood out to me — Wytches, Bitch Planet and Southern Bastards. I also really enjoyed The Fuse and United States of Murder Inc. And I’ve got a horse in this race, but I thought Doctor Mirage was frankly excellent [written by Rucka's spouse, Jen Van Meter].
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Honestly? The Powers television show.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
Absolutely nothing I can talk about right now.
Stuart Moore
EGOs, Convergence: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, Captain Ginger
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
I've been more into prose this year! But it's probably a tie: Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, which is hilarious and insightful and has the best letters page in comics, and Rover Red Charlie by Garth Ennis and Michael Dipascale, which is also hilarious and touching and nasty.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Marvel's Secret Wars sounds very cool. I also like the fact that DC is branching out a bit, experimenting with different kinds of comics.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
EGOs returns in February with Issue 5, the first of a five-part extravaganza called "Crunched" — it's half space opera and half crime drama, and it's probably the most ambitious comics story I've ever attempted. Art, as always, by Gus Storms.
It's not quite comics, but the first volume of The Zodiac Legacy by me, Stan Lee and artist Andie Tong hits in January. It's the first of an all-new series of middle-reader novels about a group of super-powered people inspired by the Chinese Zodiac.
I'm writing DC's Convergence: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, which lets me play with a team I've always loved.
And then there's Captain Ginger, which hasn't been announced yet. By me and the astonishing June Brigman. You will hear more about this.
Rico Renzi
Spider-Gwen, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Twitter | Tumblr | Flickr | Etsy
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
WRENCHIEEEEES!! Farel Dalrymple is so freaking good at comics and this is the best thing he's made so far. Michael Cho's Shoplifter, if I can have a top two.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Doc Shaner and Jeff Parker doing Shazam sounds cool. The Complete Eightball is going to be glorious.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
I'm crazy-psyched about Spider-Gwen and Squirrel Girl!
Elizabeth Breitweiser
Velvet, The Fade Out, Outcast
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
The Punisher illustrated by my buddy, Mitch Gerads. His colors and sense of design make me drool!
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Well, Mitch Breitweiser is working on his first creator-owned material for late 2015, and I am very excited about it. He is doing some really beautiful, experimental stuff with the art and will be co-writing for the first time as well. I don’t think I will be coloring it, though, so hopefully this answer still counts.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
All of them! Impossible to pick just one. I am super-excited to be on the creative teams for Velvet, The Fade Out, and Outcast. Can’t wait to see how these darlings develop in 2015.
Miss Lasko-Gross
Henni
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
Ed Piskor's Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2 was equal parts well-researched and fun. I also finally read Moebius and Jodorowsky's Madwoman of the Sacred Heart; super-twisted and wonderful.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Scott McCloud's The Sculptor. From the preview I've seen, it promises to be a dynamic intersection between McCloud's mastery of theory and art.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
Jan. 6 is the release of my new graphic novel adventure series Henni. I'm also in the home stretch of drawing Henni Book 2.
Aaron Kuder
Action Comics
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
Favorite? Jeez, I get so little time to read ... Off the top of my head (which means that I'll be thinking of other great titles long after this article has run): Wake, Saga (only picked up the first trade this year), Dan Slott's Spidey stuff; oh, yeah Wraith was awesome, Low, loving Batman, and almost forgot I REALLY dig Azzarello and Chiang's Wonder Woman ... on and on.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what's on the radar. These three questions are making me feel very out of touch. I know there's going to be another chapter of Stuff of Legend out in '15, I'm huge fan of that book.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
Aww, man, I can't talk about that ... heck, I'm not even sure. Yes, there is something brewing that does sound 1000 percent awesome-fun-sauce, but the practical side of me won't believe it until it's printed and in my hands.
Jimmie Robinson
The Empty
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
Alex + Ada was a real treat this year. It’s not just that it’s good — we have a wealth of good books out right now; it’s a great time for comics -- Alex + Ada succeeds in a genre that normally fails to make a dent in the industry: romance. Granted, it is built on a sci-fi platform, but even the untrained eye can see it for what it is. On that level I applaud it, welcome it, and give it a cut above other comics on the shelf. Seriously, we need more genres in the comic industry. If Alex+ Ada can make it then perhaps others can, too.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
I am quite excited for San Diego Comic-Con in 2015, because I will be a guest of the 2015 show. This is a first for me. It marks my 20 years in the industry, and I couldn’t be more honored that I was selected this year.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
My new series called The Empty. I’m jazzed about it because I am doing all the work this time. Create, write, pencil, ink, color, letter, covers, etc. It will be a real blast. I’m especially pumped because I started early on this and I am very much ahead of schedule. Big thanks to Shadowline Comics at Image for publishing this. Not many folks would, if any, would allow such control from cover to cover.
Curt Pires
POP, Mayday
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
Wow. So many come to mind. Probably the Ellis/Shavley/Bellaire Moon Knight stuff when I think about it. Pax Americana too. That's cheating and giving two answers but, hey, rules were meant to be broken.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
I'm really just excited for all the cool new creator-owned projects that are coming out. So many cool new books are coming out from so many publishers, it's really a Golden Age right now.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
Really excited about my next book at Dark Horse, which has been a dream project for a couple years now. Excited about everything else I'm working on too. Going to be working on some film stuff, too, this coming year, and that's really exciting as well.
Eleanor Davis
How to be Happy, Flop to the Top, Unnamed project about BDSM porn actors “working within the patriarchy”
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
This One Summer by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki or Margo Maloo by Drew Weing (my husband! so I am biased, but it is wonderful!!!)
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
I'm excited to watch women cartoonists completely rule the fucking school again like they have been the last couple years (although I certainly hope I can be part of that).
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
I'm working on an adorable comic for kids with my husband Drew called Flop to the Top. It is about a dog who becomes Internet famous. I've also been working on a comic for adults about BDSM porn actors working within the patriarchy (this one is not going so great at the moment).
Shof & Shobo Coker
Outcasts of Jupiter
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
Shof: Shoplifter by Michael Cho. I've been following Michael Cho's work since college and I feel as if it's a privilege to have experienced a book that I feel elevates the art form.
Shobo: I tend not to get a hold of things till a while after they've been on shelves! I'm really enjoying P. Craig Russell's Jewels of Gwahlur (2005). I'm a massive Conan fan, and I love seeing that universe brought to life by him.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
Shof: Jake Wyatt's Necropolis. Jake posted a miniseries for Necropolis several years ago and slowly built a fan base around it while working in comics. He's working on it full-time now and has been teasing everyone with scrumptious Instagram photos of his inks. I fully expect my eyeballs to melt when I finally get to read this book.
Shobo: I'm looking forward to seeing how things like Tapastic, Patreon and Kickstarter continue to reinvigorate and shape the way we consume comics, how creators make them and sell them, and how they allow the relationship between creators and readers to evolve.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
Shof: More Outcasts of Jupiter; a webcomic miniseries based in the universe.
Shobo: Yup, lots more Outcasts of Jupiter stuff, I'll be writing issues 2, 3, 4 and 5, and Shof will be drawing them. I'll take a while to get them all done, but starting in February we're going to be releasing a series of webcomic-formatted short stories that take place in the same universe -- setting out to introduce new characters. We'll be publishing these on Tapastic and a few other places, hopefully folks will like what they see!
Amber Love
Comic Writer, Model, Host of Vodka O'Clock Podcast
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
Ongoing favorite is Princess Ugg by Ted Naifeh and Warren Wucinich from Oni Press.
Favorite OGN was I Was the Cat by Paul Tobin & Benjamin Dewey from Oni Press.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
I'm looking to check out some new mid-size cons. I really enjoyed NY's Special Edition con in the spring, but there are things they could improve. It doesn't need to be two days. That's one of my common complaints is that shows add days that cause more expense for people but they aren't worth the effort.
There are a couple of these mid-size shows that will be in Northern New Jersey in 2015 that I hope to cover for my site.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
I'm working on work-for-hire scripts for small comics that are part of books for children's reading classes. It's nothing I have rights to, so I can't get tables at cons and sell them but I'm happy to be writing. Plus all the stories are based on real historical figures, so the students get to practice their words and learn some history through comics.
I'm open to collaborating with artists that are looking for writers. I haven't had any success with that in 2014.
I've enjoyed working on a mystery novel and maybe that will go somewhere in 2015.
This year I got to be on the LGBTQ panel at Boston Comic Con, and I loved it. I hope I get asked to do more of that for queer comics or podcasting panels in 2015. Since I'm not at a booth of my own, normally I'm interested in doing whatever I can to be involved during shows.
I heard from Comic Fusion about Superhero Weekend, and we're definitely going to continue the fundraiser in 2015. We've had eight years so far and have raised around $50,000 for charity through our comic art auction & raffles.
Keith Dallas
American Comic Book Chronicles
What was your favorite comic of 2014?
While not technically not something produced within the industry, my favorite comic book "event" of 2014 was the Guardians of the Galaxy movie. It's been a LONG while since I've enjoyed a movie THIS much. Sure, the film relies on a trope plot that has its fair share of contrivances, but that doesn't diminish the wonderful character interaction or pitch perfect comedic delivery. Can't wait to watch it again.
Comic-wise, what are you most excited about for 2015?
As far as 2015 goes, I'm most looking forward to the conclusion to Jonathan Hickman's tenure on Avengers/New Avengers. While occasionally losing its focus (mostly in order to align itself with other Marvel events), Hickman's high-concept run has kept me riveted. No small feat for an arc that spans over two years. I have no idea how it's all going to end, and that's a high compliment. This will be the toughest act to follow since Frank Miller ended his seminal run on Daredevil in the early 1980s.
What personal project are you working on for 2015 that you're especially pumped about?
Former Batman/JSA artist Don Kramer and I are collaborating on a creator-owned sci-fi adventure that will be simultaneously thrilling, humorous, provocative and haunting. Sorry to be a tease, but that's as far as I'm allowed to go. Look for an announcement later this year.