And really? You thought posting an insult was a useful contribution a full four and half years later? You must be a buddy of Taylor’s.

I hope you’ve evolved beyond that.

Yeah, my wife has pointed out my knack for picking passions with little income potential! ;-)

I specifically used the word “insane” to suggest outrageous, thus humorous, exaggeration. I’m sorry the joke didn’t work for you.

As for “Best of” lists, disclaimers and equivocations simply serve to lessen one’s opinions. I prefer an authoritative voice, no matter how much I may disagree with it. (ie: I can’t stand ADD, but you’re never unsure of how he feels about his favorites.) Taylor’s pretty clear about his list being his own favorites, and his intro focuses specifically on the Big Two – suggesting, among other things, that he knows his audience – so taking him to task over his choices does come off as a bit of an unnecessary cheap shot. Comments like “This makes me wonder if Taylor is insane, even if by ‘industry’ he really means ‘superhero comics’.” when it’s clear that’s exactly what he means don’t help, either. Tch.

For instance, it’s not immediately obvious to a prose writer that in comics you can’t have someone shake their head “no” without taking up at least three panels. Or that you have to specify a clock on the wall to let people know what time it is, if that’s important.

It’s really a matter of training, and some prose writers may not realize they need it.

He’s consistently good (Namor aside), but too often overlooked.

Some of my favorites, like Linda Medley and Scott McCloud, are due to publish next year or the year after.

Did you see the announcement that plans to relaunch Castle Waiting next have been canceled? The hardcover collection will still happen, though.

I think Carla Speed McNeil is astoundingly talented.

Andi Watson is a long-standing favorite of mine, working in areas not typical of American/European comics.

Matt Madden is highly underrated because he hasn’t yet had his breakout hit.

Some of my favorites, like Linda Medley and Scott McCloud, are due to publish next year or the year after.

That said, what would your list be?

I didn’t really have much of a problem with his list so to speak, to each his own when it comes to that really.

The thing that stood out to me the most was Witchblade being one of the strongest female characters in even superheroes.

With what I read of it, writer Ron Marz has changed the character fairly significantly. And while DC and Marvel have done away with or quite frankly screwed up a number of their best female characters. There still are some that come to mind that I would have to put ahead of Witchblade.

I like what John Jakala did last year–his list of “pretty good comics I enjoyed in 2004.” It lets the writer play the listing game while admitting that his/her choices are by no means catholic. I may steal his idea and do one of my own this year.