“A1 Annual: The World’s Greatest Comics” (Titan Books)

An interesting collection, from a broad selection of creators and talents

Writers: RON MARZ, MATT WAGNER, DAVE JOHNSON, DAVE ELLIOTT, TOM RANEY, RUFUS DAYGLO, ANDY KUHN, DAVE DORMAN, MARK A. NELSON, W. H. RAUF AND MORE…

Artists: JIM STERANKO, DAVE WILKINS, SAMI BASRI, ALEX HORLEY, TOM RANEY, BRIAN SMITH, D’ISRAELI, GARRIE GASTONNY, MARK A. NELSON, STANLEY ARTGERM LAU, GARRY LEACH, DAVE JOHNSON, BARNABY BAGENDA, SAKTI YUWONO, DAVE DORMAN, STEVE WHITE, ANDY KUHN, KAI LIM, PHILIP TAN, RHOALD MARCELLIUS, MICHAEL T. GILBERT, SUNNY GHO, DOUG BRAITHWAITE AND MORE…

The exciting return of the award-winning graphic anthology series – for readers who want to see inside the mind of the creator, to see what truly makes them tick and witness them doing what they truly want to do!

From all around the world, the greatest comic talents are given full and free rein to explore the art of graphic storytelling.

Reviewing this book offers an interesting conundrum. It’s very bitty, as can be expected from anything referred to as an “annual”. I do, I must admit, tend to prefer a single, longer (or more substantial, at any rate) story. But there were some interesting offerings in this.

With so many people contributing, how do you select which to discuss, if not all of them? I will, therefore, keep this very short. A1: The World’s Greatest Comics is a great taster volume for all the authors and artists who have contributions printed herein. Where it’s the classic-era Kirby tale that opens the book; or Dave Elliott, Toby Cypress & Sakti Yuwono’s “Odyssey” (a Captain America analog – interesting, but sadly riddled with early typos); or Barnaby Bagenda & Jessica Kholinne’s interesting “Weirding Willows” (just three of sixteen stories included), this is an interesting volume. The artwork is varied, of course, and the stories draw from a broad range of genres. If you’re after a single story, this won’t suit, but if you’re new to comics, or want a selection of short, interesting and entertaining ‘samplers’, then this is a good option.