WORD BALLOONS: Best of 2014: Story Arc

2014 is over and there were plenty of amazing things to happen in the world of comic books over the last 12 months. Let's take a look at best story arc.

Moon Knight: From the Dead

by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, & Jordie Bellaire

I've never been what you would necessarily call a fan of the character Moon Knight. I enjoyed the Moon Knight series that came before this with Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, but it wasn't until Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire came along that I truly have enjoyed Moon Knight.

From the Dead consists of six issues, telling six different, standalone stories, taking the formula Warren Ellis perfected with Planetary. Each issue puts our protagonist in a different outlandish situation, and each issue is told perfectly. Ellis's words with Shalvey's art and Bellaire's colors is one of the most beautiful things to grace a comic book this year.

It speaks volumes on Ellis and Shalvey's storytelling abilities with just how they are able to find unique ways to tell these stories. Moon Knight's character is quickly established at the beginning of each issue. From there we are launched into something crazy, something amazing. From hunting down a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent injured in the line of duty and turned into a hideous medical experiment, to an out of this world, drug induced dream adventure, every aspect of these six issues were nothing short of extraordinary.

The star of the show is Mr. Declan Shalvey, however. The aforementioned trippy daydream is one of the most gorgeous looking sequences in comic books of the year. Huge thanks, to Jordie Bellaire's expert coloring, as well. Then there is Moon Knight #5.

Issue #5 feels a lot like the movie The Raid. Moon Knight finds himself makes his way up a five story building, all the while beautiful, bloody action takes place. The entire issue is full of non-stop action, from cover to cover, and Shalvey does wonders with bringing each page to life. Easily, this is one of my favorite single issues of the year, as well.

Who knew 2014 would bring a Moon Knight series that I enjoyed as much as I did this? Of course, with Ellis behind the wheel, I was going in with some higher expectations than if it were a lesser writer, but Shalvey's work was such a pleasant surprise.