LUCID FORGE

2. Best Artist – Steven McNiven

Waiting for Civil War was hell, but Marvel made the right call in letting McNiven bring it home instead of calling in a pinch-hitter to get it out on time. Sometimes, slow and steady does win the race.

3. Best Cover Artist – Michael Turner

Turner’s probably drawn more characters this past year than Jack Kirby drew his whole life. If you were in a comic book store for even one day out of all 365 last year than chances are extremely good that his cover art caught your eye.

4. The Cool Comeback – Paul Dini

Dini brought back that old “Batman: The Animated Series” razzle-dazzle with a tremendous run on Detective Comics. This is Batman the way he should be.

5. The Not-So-Cool Comeback – Wildstorm

Unfortunately, I can’t think of a single one of the eight relaunched Wildstorm titles that I’d want to buy on a monthly basis and considering the talent they put behind this, that’s seriously problematic.

6. Most In Need of a Comeback – Todd McFarlane

Come on Todd! Lee and Liefeld have gone monthly again, give it a try. Both Marvel and DC would sacrifice their first-born heroes to get you signed to a 12-issue deal.

7. Surprisingly Awesome – 52

When DC announced that they were going to do a mini-series that covered what happened between the events of Infinite Crisis and One Year Later week-by-week, I immediately thought: gimmick. Sometimes being wrong feels good and I, along with many others, have been grooving to 52’s mix of action, drama and conspiracy thriller storytelling.

8. Smartest Match (Marvel) – Joss Whedon & Runaways

If Whedon had to leave Astonishing X-Men for any title, I’m ever so glad it was this one. The creator of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” writing about misunderstood teenage superheroes—a little on the nose don’t you think?

9. Smartest Match (DC Comics) - Richard Donner & Action Comics

In 2006, Donner was paid tribute to in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, and saw his cut of Superman II released to the world on DVD. Writing the flagship Superman title, Action Comics made it a hat-trick for Donner and a brilliant marketing movie for DC.

10. Prolificator of the Year – Brian Michael Bendis

Between all his regular series, minis and one-shots, not to mention work outside of comics like his monthly interview series on the Wizard website, Bendis is easily one of the hardest working scribes out there.

11. Procrastinator of the Year – Allan Heinberg

If you thought waiting for Civil War was rough, then try waiting between issues of Wonder Woman. Heinberg’s first issue launched in July and it was only last month that issue number three was delivered to the corner comic book shop; Lord knows when issue four will hit though. I know Heinberg’s a busy guy, but a relaunch should capitalize on the hype, not make the people turn against it. I won’t hold my breath for the next round of Young Avengers.

12. Coolest comic scene not in a comic book – Martian Manhunter on “Smallville”

“Smallville” can be so hit-and-miss, which is why it’s always great when they do something this awesome. Clark Kent, being beaten by an escaped Phantom Zone prisoner, is saved by a mysterious bald man with glowing red eyes, the ability of flight and a taste for Oreo cookies. A future appearance by the Manhunter and a look at the prototype Justice League are the two reasons for fanboys and girls to keep watching “Smallville” in the New Year.

13. Saucyist Comic of the Year – Lost Girls

Alan Moore: pornographer? Yeah, baby! But Moore’s honest attempt to use comics to bring a touch of class back to pornography by using The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen formula got a lot of people talking in a way our “seen-it-all” society rarely does.

14. Craziest Thing Drawn in a Comic Book all year – Ninja Man-Bats from Batman

Only from the mind of Grant Morrison do ninja Man-Bats flow

15. 2006 Exclusivity Deal of the Year Award – Adam and Andy Kubert

The Kubert’s were Marvel staples for so long that it was easy to get complacent. Signing them to DC and getting two sweet gigs on Action Comics and Batman, respectively, has not only reenergized the DCU, but the artists themselves as well.

16. Hero to Watch For in ‘07 – Buffy Summers

What happened to the Scoobies after narrowly escaping Sunnydale’s plunge into the Hellmouth? Joss Whedon and some of the best writers in comics and from the “Buffy” TV series will answer this and other questions by bringing us “Season 8” starting in March from Dark Horse.

17. Villains to Watch For in ’07 – Thunderbolts

New Avengers brought together Marvel’s marquee heroes, it’s only natural that they do the same thing for the villains.

18. Still Waiting for… - Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target

Still waiting… It’s only been four years since the first issue was published, but who’s counting?

19. Biggest Thing to Happen Outside the Medium – NBC’s “Heroes”

Part “X-Files”, part Rising Stars and part “Lost”, “Crossing Jordan” creator Tim Kring has created a superhero saga accessible to anyone and run entirely outside of the comics. Of course, Kring has the help of comic mainstays Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, which has given the Batman: The Long Halloween duo a whole new audience of appreciators.

20. The Biggest Thing Coming in 2007 – The Return of Black-Suited Spidey

Cue the AC/DC because that’s what Marvel’s calling this event: “Back in Black”. As a post-Civil War marketing stunt, it’s brilliant; as a tie-in to May’s release of Spider-Man 3, which predominantly features the black costume, even better.