Ryan Standfest's Top 10 Comics of 2011

This year, we asked a number of our friends who are also cartoonists and comics publishers and editors what their favorite comics of 2011 were.

Ryan Standfest is the editor of BLACK EYE and the publisher of Rotland Press.

The Man Who Grew His Beard by Olivier Schrauwen
A remarkable mélange of humor, silent interludes, beautiful pacing, coloration and composition. This is one to re-read.

Tank Tankuro: Prewar Works 1934 – 1935 by Gajo Sakamoto
Absurdity that tastes like sugar going down but ends up in the gut like steak tartar.

What the Hell Are You Doing? : The Essential David Shrigley by David Shrigley
Absurdity from a contemporary master. I’m so happy this man is on the loose.

Wilson by Daniel Clowes
Seemed slight at first, but upon numerous re-reads, reveals itself to be one helluva character study chock-full-o laugh-out-loud punchlines. This is a Clowes keeper. Looking forward to the film adaptation by Alexander Payne.

The Wolf by Tom Neely
Romanticism + Expressionism, all beautifully guided by the sure hand of Mr. Neely. The late 19th/early 20th century Viennese crowd would have loved this.

The Wrong Place by Brecht Evens
Evens elevates the medium through a true painterly approach, with a masterful use of the transparent property of watercolor and breathtaking compositions that flesh out the narrative.

The Cabbie: Volume 1 by Marti
A reprint that reminds everyone of the neo-noir adventures of “The Cabbie,” delivered with a great, black, deadpan sense of humor.

Nuts by Gahan Wilson
You want a great book that places you directly inside the psyche of a small boy confronting an insane adult world? This is it.

Pure Pajamas by Marc Bell
Such a great collection of work from one of today’s best and most inventive cartoonists. Bell knows how to handle a pen.

Forgotten Fantasy: Sunday Comics 1900-1915 edited by Peter Maresca
What to say about a book that lovingly presents McCay, Feininger, McManus and more in all their full page glory? Find this book.

Visit Ryan Standfest and Rotland Press.

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