The Comics Journal #275: Best of '05

The most recent issue of The Comics Journal (#275) contains the year-end round-up of best comics from this past year. Abandoning a formal list for the magazine, The Comics Journal asked several people - critics, artists, etc. - to contribute their own lists. So, we get a nice mix from different perspectives that I think really works. I hope The Comics Journal makes this a tradition, as I really, really enjoyed it and picked up on quite a few titles I'd like to check out that I wouldn't have been exposed to with a more refined list. The stand-outs that were mentioned several times were Epileptic (David B., who is also the feature interview), Tales Designed To Thrizzle #1 (Michael Kupperman), Wimbledon Green (Seth), Acme Novelty Library (Chris Ware), Black Hole (Charles Burns), The Rabbi's Cat (Joann Sfar), Or Else #2 (Kevin Huizenga), Ice Haven (Dan Clowes), and most of all, Walt & Skeezix 1921-1922 (Frank King), who was at the top of several people's lists who actually numbered them. I was personally happy to see Nana in the mix a few times.

But anyways, I'm going to mention five books that caught my eye while going through the lists that I want to check out based on the comments:
1. Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (from Paul Gravett's list)
2. 676 Apparitions of Killoffer by Killoffer (also from Paul Gravett's list, and listed by a few other contributors also)
3. Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou or "Yokohama Shopping Trip" (available in scanlation format only in America) by Hitoshi Ashinano (from Dirk Deppey's list)
4. Pyongyang: A Journey to North Korea by Guy Delisle (from Chris Mautner's list, though several people mentioned it)
5. Pure Trance by Junko Mizuno (from Dirk Deppey)

Brother (Yuzuha Ougi) from Paul Gravett's list also sounded interesting. Anyone else pick up on other things?

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