Here’s Part 2 of myETVmedia’s 4 part series looking at the amazing comics hitting shelves this year. We have gone ahead and highlighted our picks for the comics and graphic novels you should be looking out for. Part 1 includes: Deva Zan and The Wake.  Part 2: Invincible, East of West, Sandman. Look for Part 3 posting next.

8. Invincible by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley

Invincible is the superhero comic that surprised by playing familiar. Seemingly a story like any other, Kirkman has played into expectation only to shock readers with a superhero story that we haven’t seen before. Kirkman’s characters are empowered by their simple drawings from Ottley who has all at once simplified the complex human characters, allowing them to become rife with expression when called upon. These are heroes that fall and can’t be saved with a simple retcon. Invincible will debut this year with a much-hyped storyline that will see the death of a major character. Don’t miss it.

7. East of West by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta 

East of West is a sci-fi Western about the US government taking on the horsemen of the apocalypse. I shouldn’t have to say more than that but I will. The writer and artist team has tenured themselves on Fantastic Four, but it is the subject matter and strong artwork that draw us in. The ‘Western’ has made a comeback in recent years and unsurprisingly creators have brought the genre bend along with it. Here we have science fiction and biblical characters and it’s that strange combination that intrigues. The design work and inks seem heavily influenced by manga, again a welcomed surprise. East of West is in so many ways an amalgamation of awesome elements and definitely one to watch this year.

6. Sandman 25th anniversary by Neil Gaiman

We are quickly approaching the 25th anniversary of Sandman, a series that would change the landscape of comic books outside the trinity of superheroes, horror and crime. Sandman dipped into the mind itself weaving a surrealist story about the master of dreams and his adventures through heaven and hell. Sandman also launched the amazing Lucifer spinoff creating a legacy for DC/Vertigo Comics that won’t soon be forgot. Now Gaiman is returning to his beloved character Morpheus with a prequel story to his original opus.

-Max Romano