Same as last year, this page will be about the novels, audiobooks/audio dramas, and comics that I consider to be the best among those that I’ve read for each month. As usual, drop me a line if you pick up any of them, and/or let me know what you think!
January
Top 3: Dune Chronicles #1: Dune by Frank Herbert, Leverage: The Con Job by Matt Forbeck, and War of Vengeance #1: The Great Betrayal by Nick Kyme.
Honourable Mention: Brimstone Angels #2: Lesser Evils by Erin M. Evans, Chronicles of Light and Shadow #1: A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz, and The Right Hand by Derek Haas.
Top 3 [Comics]: Marvel Now: Thor, God of Thunder #4 by Jason Aaron, Star Wars #1 by Brian Wood, and TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2 by Mateus Santolouco.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Nightwing #16 by Kyle Higgins, Vampirella Strikes #1 by Tom Sniegoski, and New 52: Aquaman #16 by Geoff Johns.
February
Top 3: Gotrek & Felix: Road of Skulls by Josh Reynolds, Cora Oglesby #2: She Returns From War by Lee Collins, and Black Dawn #1: Black Feathers by Joseph D’Lacey
Honourable Mention: No Return by Zachary Jernigan, Ack-Ack-Macaque by Gareth L. Powell, The Lays of Anuskaya #1: The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu
Top 3 [Comics]: Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison by Hayden Blackman, The Amazing Spider-Man #650 by Dan Slott, and New 52: Batgirl 2012 Annual by Gail Simone.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Justice League of America #1 by Geoff Johns, Star Wars #2 by Brian Wood, and New 52: Justice League #17 by Geoff Johns.
March
Top 3: Theirs Not To Reason Why #1: A Soldier’s Duty by Jean Johnson, Emilie and The Hollow World by Martha Wells, and, Warhammer Heroes: Van Horstmann by Ben Counter.
Honourable Mention: Split Worlds #1: Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman, The Kassa Gambit by M. C. Planck, Shotguns & Sorcery #2: Bad Times In Dragon City by Matt Forbeck.
Top 4 [Comics]: Green Lantern: Rebirth by Geoff Johns, Fables Vol.2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham, Captain America: Winter Soldier Vol.1 by Ed Brubaker, and, TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #4 by Mateus Santolouco.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: Archer & Armstrong Vol.1 by Fred van Lente, Wonder Woman: Odyssey Vol.1 by J. Michael Straczynski, Locke & Key Vol.1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill, and, Marvel Now: Thor, God of Thunder #5 by Jason Aaron.
April
Top 3: Mistborn #1: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, Legacy of Caliban #1: Ravenwing by Gav Thorpe, and, The Powder Mage Trilogy #1: Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan.
Honourable Mention: The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez, The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu, and, Dragonlance Chronicles #1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
Top 3 [Comics]: Birds of Prey Vol.3: Of Like Minds by Gail Simone, Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, and G.I.Joe Vol.2 by Chuck Dixon.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: Fairest Vol.1 by Bill Willingham, Birds of Prey Vol.4: Sensei & Student by Gail Simone, and, G.I.Joe: Cobra Vol.1 by Christos Gage and Mike Costa.
May
Top 3: Theirs Not To Reason Why #2: An Officer’s Duty by Jean Johnson, Gemsigns by Stephanie Saulter, and, Hadrumal Crisis #1: Dangerous Waters by Juliet E. McKenna.
Honourable Mention: Dangerous Games #1: How To Play by Matt Forbeck, Tales From The Cobra Wars by Max Brooks, and, Imperial Guard: Baneblade by Guy Haley.
Top 3 [Comics]: New 52: Earth 2 Annual 2013 by James Robinson, Star Wars #5 by Brian Wood, and New 52: Batgirl #16 by Gail Simone.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Aquaman #19 by Geoff Johns, Marvel Now: X-Men #1 by Brian Wood, and, New 52: The Movement #1 by Gail Simone.
June
Top 3: The Wall of Night #2: Gathering of the Lost by Helen Lowe, Star Trek: Cast No Shadow by James Swallow, and, Eli Monpress #2: The Spirit Rebellion by Rachel Aaron.
Honourable Mention: Dangerous Games #1: How To Play by Matt Forbeck, Tales From The Cobra Wars by Max Brooks, and, Dire Earth Cycle #1: The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough.
Top 5 [Comics]: New 52: Justice League #21 by Geoff Johns, Marvel Now: X-Men #2 by Brian Wood, New 52: Batgirl #21 by Gail Simone, Marvel Now: Thor, God of Thunder #9 by Jason Aaron, and, New 52: Batman #21 by Scott Snyder.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Earth 2 #13 by James Robinson, Aphrodite IX #1 by Matt Hawkins, New 52: Green Lantern #20 by Geoff Johns, Wolverine v3 Vol.1: The Brotherhood by Greg Rucka, and, New 52: The Movement #2 by Gail Simone.
July
Top 3: Crown of the Blood #2: Crown of the Conqueror by Gav Thorpe, The Death of Antagonis by David Annandale, and, Dangerous Games #2: How To Cheat by Matt Forbeck.
Honourable Mention: Spiritwalker #3: Cold Steel by Kate Elliott, Egil & Nix #2: A Discourse in Steel by Paul S. Kemp, and, Horus Heresy: Promethean Sun by Nick Kyme.
Top 3 [Comics]: New 52: Justice League #22 by Geoff Johns, Red Sonja v2 #1 by Gail Simone, and, Marvel Now: Thor, God of Thunder #10 by Jason Aaron.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: Aphrodite IX #3 by Matt Hawkins, New 52: Earth 2 #14 by James Robinson, and, Polarity #2 by Max Bemis.
August
Top 3: Dragon Apocalypse #2: Hush by James Maxey, Star Wars: Crucible by Troy Denning, and, Riyria Chronicles #1: The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan.
Honourable Mention: Sabina Kane #1: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells, Dire Earth Cycle #2: The Exodus Towers by Jason M. Hough, and, The Split Worlds #2: Any Other Name by Emma Newman.
Top 5 [Comics]: New 52: Batgirl #23 by Gail Simone, Red Sonja v2 #2 by Gail Simone, New 52: Detective Comics #23 by John Layman, Marvel Now: X-Men v2 #4 by Brian Wood, and, New 52: Flash Annual #2 by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Phantom Stranger #11 by J. M. DeMatteis, Star Wars: Legacy #3 by Corinna Bechho and Gabriel Hardman, New 52: Supergirl #23 by Michael Alan Nelson, Sheltered #1 by Ed Brisson and, New 52: Justice League Dark #23 by Jeff Lemire.
September
Top 4: Carnac Campaign Chapter 3: Spirit War by Rob Sanders,Star Wars: The Empire and The Rebellion #1 – Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells, Erevis Cale: The Twilight War #3 – Shadowrealm by Paul S. Kemp, and, Angels of Death #10: The Judges, In Their Hunger by David Annandale.
Honourable Mention: Dangerous Games #3: How To Win by Matt Forbeck, Angels of Death #4: Final Journey by Guy Haley, Erevis Cale: The Twilight War #2 – Shadowstorm by Paul S. Kemp, and, The Hunger Games #1: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Top 5 [Comics]: Red Sonja v2 #3 by Gail Simone, Aphrodite IX #3 by Matt Hawkins, New 52: Wonder Woman #23.1 by John Ostrander, Wolverine and The X-Men #36 by Jason Aaron, and, New 52: Flash #23.2 by Brian Buccellato.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: Trillium #2 by Jeff Lemire, New 52: Justice League of America #7.4 by Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates, New 52: Detective Comics #23.4 by Frank Tieri, Conan the Barbarian #2 by Brian Wood, and, New 52: Action Comics #23.1 by Michael Alan Nelson.
October
Top 3: Erevis Cale #7: The Godborn by Paul S. Kemp, Theirs Not To Reason Why #3: Hellfire by Jean Johnson, and, Paradox #1: Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach.
Honourable Mention: The Shattered Sigil #2: The Tainted City by Courtney Schafer, Chaoswar Saga #1: A Kingdom Besieged by Raymond E. Feist, and, Black Plague #2: Blighted Empire by C. L. Werner.
Top 5 [Comics]: Red Sonja v2 #4 by Gail Simone, Conan the Barbarian #6 by Brian Wood, New 52: Justice League Dark #24 by J. M. DeMatteis, Marvel Now: All-New X-Men Special #1 by Mike Costa, and, Afterlife with Archie #1 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Batgirl #24 by Gail Simone, Lazarus #4 by Greg Rucka, New 52: Earth 2 #16 by James Robinson, Rocket Girl #1 by Brandon Montclare, and, New 52: Justice League #24 by Geoff Johns.
November
Top 3: Apocalypse: Pandorax by C Z Dunn, The Sundering #3: The Adversary by Erin M. Evans, and, Books of the Raksura #1: The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells.
Top 6 [Comics]: New 52: The Phantom Stranger #13 by J. M. DeMatteis, Samurai Jack #2 by Jim Zub, New 52: Harley Quinn #0 by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, Afterlife with Archie #2 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Black Science #1 by Rick Remender, and, Red Sonja v2 #5 by Gail Simone.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: New 52: Aquaman#25 by Geoff Johns, Marvel Now: Superior Spider-Man Annual #1 by Christos Gage, Coffin Hill #2 by Caitlin Kittredge, New 52: Superman Unchained #4 by Scott Snyder, New 52: Green Arrow #25 by Jeff Lemire, and, New 52: Justice League Dark #25 by J. M. DeMatteis.
December
Top 3: Dune Chronicles #2: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert, Crash by Guy Haley, and, Star Wars: Kenobi by John Jackson Miller.
Top 6 [Comics]: New 52: Green Arrow #26 by Jeff Lemire, New 52: The Flash Volume 4 by Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul, Samurai Jack #3 by Jim Zub, Red Sonja v2 #6 by Gail Simone, New 52: Batgirl #26 by Gail Simone, and, New 52: The Phantom Stranger #13 by J. M. DeMatteis.
Honourable Mention [Comics]: Witchblade #171 by Ron Marz, Black Science #1 by Rick Remender, Unity #2 by Matt Kindt, Painkiller Jane #2 by Jimmy Palmiotti, Velvet #2 by Ed Brubaker, and, Marvel Knights: X-Men #2 by Brahm Revel.
Shadowhawk's Shade 
LEVERAGE: THE CON JOB is on my list!!! can’t wait to get.. everyone who has read it already LOVES IT!!! anything LEVERAGE gets my attention!
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Thanks for stopping by! I hear that there are at least two more novels in the works, one by Keith R. A. DeCandido and another by… Greg Cox I think? Not sure of that last name.
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Leverage: The Con Job is on my reading list. Can’t wait!
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If you need a more detailed reason than the recommendation above, feel free to check out my review as well.
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/01/leverage-con-job-matt-forbeck-book-review-shadowhawk/
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Now I wanna read the book even more!
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Cheers!
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Wow, you have The Con Job there… Good choice, Leverage is always ‘must read’.
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Matt Forbeck has never failed to impress me, which is saying something since I read 6 of his novels last year, as well as 8 comics!
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My copy of Leverage The Con Job just arrived. I am really excited to read it. I am hearing great things about the book and Matt Forbeck, and I already love the show.
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I consider it safe to say then that you will love the book!
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I loved the Leverage. Con Job. Once I started reading it I couldn’t stop. It would make a great episode of Leverage. thanks Matt Forbeck.
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Excellent sentiments!
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Anything Leverage!! can’t wait to read The Con Job have to wait abit as not yet in the UK on Kindle but as soon as it is available I will get it. Or order the hard copy now.
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Nothing beats a hard copy 😉
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Thanks A J
Will order mine tomorrow 🙂
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Enjoy!
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I have the Con Job on my kindle and I’m just trying to find time to read. Everything I have heard about it is amazing.
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Do read it soon!
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Loved The Con Job. Matt Forbeck did a beautiful job. Leverage fans will be happy that he stayed true to the characters. It is a must read even if you are not a Leverage fan.
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Well said. I need to watch the show soon!
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Read Leverage: The Con Job and could NOT put it down! It was one of the best reads I’ve found in a long time.
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Got that right!
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I read Leverage: The Con Job and it was excellent! I could not put it down. As an avid Leverage fan I found it fit well with the show and allowed just enough back story for newer fans to understand what was going on. It really did read like an episode of Leverage I could hear their voices and see their mannerisms. I highly recommend this book to experienced Grifters and newbies alike.
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Cheers!
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Read Leverage:The Con Job… have the next two on preorder… LOVED it!!! In fact, planning on reading it again at least once before the next book comes out next month. It was great being able to have a new Leverage Con even if it wasn’t on the screen. At least I could visualize it all in my head and hear the characters voices. It was awesome to see recurring villain Chaos briefly as well. The Comic Con references were amazing and humorous as well. As a Grifter and an all around geek- I couldn’t stop laughing at all the references and love the back stories created for the team. They were believable and expanded the canon so well. I definitely welcome Matt Forbeck to take another trip through the Leverage-verse any time! He is the nicest guy too.
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Matt Forbeck is an awesome guy. And an excellent author.
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I’m reading Leverage: The Con Job now and I love it! Almost like watching it on TV 😉 Matt Forbeck did an excellent job!
I will definitely buy the next two Leverage novels to be released.
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I’ve read one novel by DeCandido before, StarCraft: Ghost, and I thought that was pretty terrible. But since this is a Leverage novel, I’m inclined to forgive him for that travesty.
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Well, we’ll see. Maybe we can convince Matt Forbeck to write another one 😉
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That would be awesome!
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LOVED the Leverage book the Con Job by Matt Forbeck
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That seems to be the near universal opinion 🙂
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