This year, more than any other in my adult life, it’s been really important for me to have lots of media to consume to escape the harshness of the real world. Thankfully there has been plenty to watch, read and listen to and it was very hard to narrow down each section to a Top 3 for 2019, but I just about managed it in the end. So here is my list of the things I liked most during the year, not necessarily the ‘best’ but what I personally enjoyed the most. You can check out my 2018 list here (it was reshared in the Summer as the original version accidentally got deleted!).
TV Drama –
1. Cobra Kai (S2)
I think this is the first time that the same TV show has been my favourite two years in a row, so well done YouTube and the makers of the Karate Kid continuation. I wasn’t sure the magic had lasted during parts of the first couple of episodes of Season 2, but once it got back into its stride I wasn’t disappointed. Can you revisit a film series this much later as a TV show, without it just being a rehash of what went before or so different that it undoes the original material? The answer is a resounding yes, as this show builds on the legacy of the original movies and makes it work for a modern audience by ensuring you care about the next generation as much as the original cast. Other productions could learn a lot from this show and I can’t wait for Season Three, especially given to how this season ended.
2. Chernobyl
I had no interest in this show whatsoever when I first heard about it. I thought it would be extremely depressing to watch and also felt that it was disrespectful to make a real-life tragedy into the kind of TV series I presumed this was. Months after it aired lots of critics were fawning over the show, it had the highest ever IMDB rating and people I trusted were saying very good things about it indeed. So, in the end, I bit the bullet and watched it on NowTV. I needn’t have worried, this was a meticulously constructed, beautiful piece of television. Yes, it was harrowing and devastatingly sad, a really uncomfortable watch throughout, but it also said a lot about the human spirit and the importance of speaking up against all odds too. As someone with an interest in both history and politics, seeing how such a large scale catastrophe could happen and getting an insight into the role of propaganda in the spread of information was as fascinating as it was shocking. Jared Harris, who I knew from The Expanse, was phenomenal, as were Emily Watson and one of my favourite actors Stellan Skarsgard. If this was a “best of” list, this would probably be at the top. The fact that such a somber, thought-provoking show was one of those I enjoyed most is a testament to all those involved in its production.
3. The Expanse (S4)
I really like the first two seasons of this series on Netflix and I watched both the third and fourth season on Amazon in 2019. As it as the fourth season that was actually released this year, that’s the one that takes the third place honours. This is the best sci-fi show in a very long time, blending the crew dynamic of Firefly with the intrigue of Battlestar Galactica. This is the show Game of Thrones wishes it was in many ways and it deserves the same level of attention and viewers. I can totally see where every character and faction is coming from, even if I don’t agree with them. That’s masterful storytelling and the casting is excellent too. A must-see for any genre fan.
Honourable mentions –
Returning shows came back strongly in 2019 on the whole. The Punisher followed up on its phenomenal first season with a very good second season, although it did lack some of the original magic. It also got a little stuck in a rut by having a returning villain rather than a totally new story. The Orville went from strength to strength in Season Two and built on the comedy and familiarity on show in the first season and added a lot more character-based stories and pathos. Some of the standout episodes were among the best in any show this year. Star Trek Discovery was solid second time out, but it felt like they were trying so hard to course correct and realign what had been less popular in the first season that you could see their workings out, which robbed you of some of your suspension of disbelief. Game of Thrones’ final season went out with a bit of a whimper and some moments I didn’t quite buy as someone who’d watched the show from the start. It was still great telly though, despite the few misgivings I had and it leaves a huge legacy from eight consistent seasons. Happy! Season Two was just as good as the first one, which considering there was no comic to draw from was impressive. Legion was back for a third and final season which didn’t quite hit the stellar heights of the pitch-perfect first season, but it gave the story a satisfying ending. Animated series Final Space returned for a second season and seemed to have Red Dwarf syndrome where at first they forgot what made the series so compelling. The second half of the season was back to its character lead best and all the better for it. The third and penultimate season of Stranger Things was really good and kept us the high standards of what went before and I’m interested to see how the finish the series.
There were some excellent new shows this year too. The Boys was in the third place slot until the latest series of The Expanse came out. I drifted away from the comic series, but this first season of the TV adaptation was recommended highly to me and it really lived up to the praise. Worzel Gummidge came very close to making my top three, but I couldn’t quite justify it for a two-part show. I’m a big fan of Detectorists and someone who grew up watching the original show and this version was just as good as I hoped it would be. It was funny and heartfelt in equal measure.. Wu Assassins started well and had an old school action-adventure feel that is missing from most modern TV, but I felt that it faded away in the second half of the series when some odd plotting decisions dominated proceedings. Animated series Seis Manos also blended martial arts and the supernatural, but did it in 70s Mexico and did it in style, putting most live-action shows to shame.
Matt Berry starring comedy-drama Year of the Rabbit was hilarious, while also keeping you invested in the overarching story. Living with yourself filled the gap left by Maniac in some ways, it started very strongly and the always excellent Paul Rudd was ably matched by Aisling Bea. Criminal UK, Criminal Spain, Criminal Germany, Criminal France was a very clever show which I knew nothing about it until it was recommended to me. It blew me away, thanks to some superb scripting, direction, and performances in the versions from all four countries. The premise, which is to let us into a police interrogation room, while also getting to know the teams of detectives was deft in its simplicity and this show has been hovering in my top three at various points across the year. Dark Crystal - Age of Resistance was beautiful to look at and had the perfect voice cast, but it was slow going and could have done with a real injection of pace and fewer episodes.
I didn’t manage to get to Watchmen, which I have mixed feelings about in general, so don’t have an opinion on that and we haven’t made it to Jessica Jones and Iron Fist’s final seasons yet either. It’s a shame that The Mandalorian doesn’t show in the UK until next year as from what I hear from friends in the US it may well have taken the top slot this year.
Away from the scripted drama I ended up enjoying some heartfelt friendship focussed shows this year and loved new shows Strongest man in history, Drag SOS, and the second series of Mortimer and Whitehouse go fishing. I also rewatched all of Robin of Sherwood and absolutely loved it, which was no surprise.
Film –
1. Avengers: Endgame
Bags of Action discussion on Avengers: Endgame
I went into this film thinking I knew exactly what to expect and I was wrong. Within fifteen minutes the rug had been pulled out from under my feet and I was left scratching my head and wondering what would happen next. At first, I found that frustrating, but ultimately that was a masterstroke by the film-makers. If Infinity War felt like a big crossover event, this felt like an ongoing Avengers series more than a conventional movie. It wasn’t perfect, but they balanced humour and pathos well and more than anything did a brilliant job of giving every character their own story and some kind of closure. They had already embraced so much Marvel lore in the previous film, they weren’t afraid to throw in things you wouldn’t have dreamt of including in a movie for mainstream audiences even a few years ago. The most Marvel of all the Marvel movies in many ways and one I will watch lots more in the future. We discussed it on the Bags of Action podcast at length, that episode is above.
2. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
I absolutely love this series of films and I was very excited to get to see it on the big screen and I’ve watched it again at home since. While lacking the purity of concept of the first film I think I enjoyed this more than the second outing. The mythos has become less and less plausible as these films have gone on and the back story elements they introduced kind of spoiled a lot of what went before. Having said that, for a film to look this good and have so many ridiculous action sequences with no compromise makes it very special indeed. My mini-review on Facebook on the day I saw it was:
““Hard Boiled/Raid Redemption vibe in a mainstream Hollywood film with exquisite cinematography and meticulous shot composition. Never thought I’d see the day.” ”
And that pretty much sums it up, a film that is beautiful to look at with some amazing fight scenes starring one of my favourite leading men, I couldn’t really ask for much more.
3. Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Spider-Man: Far from Home was just as good as I hoped it would be. They did a deft job of moving things forward, while still bringing the events of Endgame into play and Jake Gyllenhaal’s casting was a masterstroke. Fun and funny, this is just what a Spidey movie should be like. I’m pleased to hear that the character I’ve followed most of my life will still be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after all too.
Honourable mentions –
The Joker, more than anything else, showcased the breathtaking acting talent of Joaquin Phoenix and he deserves lots of awards for his captivating performance. It felt like Taxi Driver or Mean Streets through a modern lens, but tying it so much into the Batman myth felt extremely forced and robbed the movie of some of its impact. Then again a film just called Clown Man with no DC links at all woudn’’t have taken such a crazy amount at the box office. I applaud the work that went into making this movie, but I’m not sure I’ll be going out of my way to see it again, as it is so relentless.
Star Wars; Rise of the Skywalker was good fun. They threw everything but the kitchen sink into the final film in the latest trilogy and it suffered a little because of how hard they were trying to unpick The Last Jedi. I hated the decision they made about one of the characters from that movie, but overall this felt the most like a Star Wars movie of any of the main films of recent years. The character moments and main story were enough to maintain the interest.
Captain Marvel was a competent, if largely forgettable entry into the Marvel canon, it suffered by being set in the past and retconning the character into such a well-established series. Even the Marvel movies I like less are always good fun and I preferred this one more on second viewing. There were some excellent moments though and story decisions that I really liked and I always enjoy Ben Mendelsohn's performances.
I think Jumanji: The Next Level would have made it on this list, if I’d managed to squeeze it in before the year was over. Aside from Rambo: Last Blood all the films I saw this year ended up on the list. It’s a shame that it didn’t make it as I expected a Logan style movie with that one, not the film they made. There were lots of non-blockbusters I really wanted to see and didn’t get round to like Midsommar, Knives Out, Motherless Brooklyn, and Ford v Ferrari. I can’t believe how few films I saw on the big screen this year, I’ll be making sure I see a lot more in 2020 probably starting with Jo Jo Rabbit.
Album –
1. Ramagehead by O.R.k
I first heard O.R.k on the Prog Report podcast and was surprised to hear Serj Tankian (System of a Down) on guest vocals for lead single Black Blooms. I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not and the same applied to the album initially, but suddenly it clicked and I listened to it a lot in 2019. Considering the pedigree of players involved—bassist Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree, Tim Bowness), vocalist/film composer Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari (LEF for short), guitarist Carmelo Pipitone (Marta Sui Tubi), and drummer Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) I shouldn’t really be surprised that their third album resonated so much. It scratched my prog itch, along with my alt-rock and alt-metal interests too. Imagine a prog album with occasional bursts of Chris Cornell like vocals from the Badmotorfinger era of Soundgarden and you’ll have an idea of what this sounds like. This album shifts across the full range of emotions and stays with you long after it’s finished. The band is supporting System of a Down on their European tour next year, so that could mean a chance to hear Serj accompanying them live.
2. Third Degree by Flying Colors
My second favourite album of 2019 came courtesy of another supergroup, but this time one whose previous albums I was aware of. Third Degree, their aptly titled third album, was the first Flying Colors record I listened to on release, rather than retrospectively. The stellar pop-prog line-up consists of singer Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev), multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard) on keyboards, guitar legend Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) on bass and incredibly prolific Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums.
On paper I shouldn’t really like this band, their songs are accessible, mainstream, anthemic, heavily pop-influenced and there are some strong religious overtones in the lyrics, which is usually an instant turn off for me. When the songwriting is this strong, the production this precise and the playing this euphoric it’s impossible not to be swept along for the ride and every time I play the album I leave it happier than I arrived. I think this is probably their strongest and most diverse album, from the epic prog sweep of Crawl to the Jellyfish style pop of Love Letter and everything in between. Getting to hear much of this album played live in London was a great way to end the year gigwise too, but more on that later.
3. Pitfalls by Leprous
This one was a real surprise, I heard the single Alleviate on The Prog Report podcast and was immediately smitten so had to check out the sixth album by this Norwegian band. The album itself was a bit of a grower, I liked it but didn’t love it on the first few listens and it was sitting in the highly commended category until I gave it a few more spins and then I realised how much I liked it. Melancholy, but with memorable hooks, this album really hit the spot for me in the end, emotional and packed with resonance as it focuses on the singer’s battle with depression and anxiety. The truth behind the concept makes this a very special album and not just a collection of songs. I plan to check out their five other studio albums in 2020.
Honourable mentions –
Choosing my favourite album this year was very hard and the Top 3 has shifted across the year more than ever before. The three bands I anticipated taking the podium places were some of my all-time favourite bands Big Big Train, Zervas & Pepper and Opeth. They all released excellent albums in 2019, but as I listen to them all so much their new LPs slotted into their back catalogues with ease, leaving some surprise offerings to give me goosebumps for the longest and edge them out as a result. Let’s call it a three-way joint 4th place.
Some of my favourite sonic moments came from the long waited offering from Tool (the song Pneuma is mind-blowing) and the latest long-player from Slipknot. Both those albums, the supremely eclectic Empathy by Devin Townsend and You know what they mean by Bent Knee have been in and out of the top three across the year as they all push the envelope in their own way. Other albums that I really liked this year came from the likes of The Mute Gods, Steve Hackett, Focus, Baroness, Cosmograf, Haken guitarist Richard Henshall, Nad Sylvan, Ava, The Who and No-Man.
Song -
This category has become harder each year. Last year, with Paul McCartney in the top slot was very much about songs that I’d heard that weren’t on albums I loved. This year the stand out singles all came from albums I was a big fan of and it became more and more difficult to work out what constituted a single in these fragmented streaming led times. I opted for songs that were available to hear before an album dropped and/or are listed on Wikipedia as singles.
1. You are not alone by Flying Colors
My number one song from 2019 came from my number two album, from American supergroup Flying Colors. This song was written based on singer Casey McPherson’s experience helping rescue people during the floods caused by Hurricane Harvey. I didn’t know that until I saw Flying Colors perform it live, so had been listening to it with my own interpretation. It’s a heartfelt, beautifully optimistic song which I fell in love with as soon as I heard it. It leans more into Casey’s singer/songwriter territory but still features the magic you get from the band playing together. An instrumental version of the song played as the audience was leaving the Shepherds Bush gig earlier this month, prompting a great big singalong. A younger, more pretentious version of me would have written this song off as almost a power ballad, but it hits the right spot with me right now for many reasons.
2. Alleviate by Leprous
I heard this song on an episode of The Prog Report podcast and was very impressed, it reminds me a bit of Guilt Machine in some ways. Others have described it as a move into pop territory for the Norwegian prog metal outfit and it really is an immaculately produced earworm. The whole album is superb and works best when listened to in one sitting, but there is still something about this song that makes me keep coming back to it.
3. Catch Light by Bent Knee
I could easily have picked any of the three singles from American art-rockers Bent Knee’s excellent fifth album. They were amazing when I saw them live and this song showcases their overall vibe well. Catchy, spiky and beautiful in equal measure, like vintage PJ Harvey or Sonic Youth in many ways. They should be huge, with the Guardian and BBC6Music all over them, hopefully, that will come to pass.
To get their full energy across, here’s the live video too.
Honourable Mentions - all the singles from all the albums I mentioned in the album list are worth a listen in their own right ( check out the Devin Townsend ones in particular, as they encompass all that music can offer). Above and beyond that Island of Doom by Agnes Obel deserves a mention, as that’s a captivating track too.
Gig–
1. Flying Colors, 02 Shepherds Bush Empire, London.
The lead up to this London gig at the O2 Shepherds gig Empire in Shepherds Bush wasn’t ideal, the general election result was the day before and I was rather hungover after the studio’s Christmas do. Add a four hour Megabus journey to that equation, complete with a twenty minute delay that meant I paid £12 in waiting charges for my pre-booked cab and this gig had disaster written all over it. The reality was as far removed from that as possible. I went to the meet and greet before the show, though my shyness meant I didn’t do as much greeting as I should have and I forget to tell Steve Morse I’d worked on the video for The Surprising for his other band, Deep Purple. Support band Dilemma were very good, especially considering their stand in singer Wudstick had only rehearsed with them a few times. The main show itself was amazing, quite possibly the best gig I’ve ever experienced. Every single song felt like the encore, as they are all so anthemic and memorable and that made the whole show truly euphoric. I had a huge smile on my face from the first note to the end of the encore and felt like I was walking on air for ages. Getting to see such talented musicians playing at relatively close quarters was something I’ll never forget. The show was filmed for a future DVD/Blu-Ray release and I can’t wait to relive it again.
2. Magenta, Arlington Arts, Newbury
This was in first place right up until December with very good reason and not just as it was the day after my birthday in May. I had a VIP ticket, so got to see the soundcheck, some extra performances and a Q&A but it was the main show that will live long in the memory. Before this show I’d seen Magenta twice at The Globe in Cardiff rocking out and twice at Acapela in Pentyrch being much more laid back, this 20th anniversary Angels and Demons gig was the best of both worlds as they turned the prog dial up to eleven. With extra musicians, including a percussionist, Tiger Moth Tales’ Peter Jones and on Spectral Mornings Big Big Train’s David Longdon to augment the line-up and a deep dive into the album Home and a variety of tracks from the band’s history this was something very special. Added to all that was some full on theatrics with actors joining the band for additional storytelling moments alongside some well crafted AV work. This was like a full on West End show and was all the better for it. My VIP experience continued after the show, as I hung out with the band before getting a lift back to Cardiff with drummer Jiffy Griffiths. Magenta shows usually get filmed and if this was I’ll be lining up to buy a copy.
3. Marillion, St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Marillion are one of those bands I never expected to become a fan of, they were the epitome of uncool when I was growing up and with Fish as their singer I had consigned them to the dreaded ‘soft rock’ category. Thanks to the amazing 2016 album F E A R and a retrospective listen to all their eighteen studio albums became a fan, particularly of the Steve Hogarth era of the band. Once I’d watched the Blu-Ray of their Royal Albert Hall show for the FEAR tour I’d been very keen to see them live.
This time out they had friends from the orchestra with them to add to their sound, which suited me down to the ground. Support act singer songwriter Harry Pane was ok, a bit too much in the Ed Sheeran camp for my tastes and an odd fit, but he obviously has talent. The eleven song set, which contained three fifteen minute plus epics was something else. A band at the height of their powers, playing exactly what they wanted to a rabid fan base. In Steve Hogarth they are blessed with one of the best frontmen around, oozing charisma to match his distinctive vocal style. I wa very pleased to hear their rant song New Kings played live too.
Honourable mentions –I was meant to be cutting down on my gig going in 2019, but I’ve said that before. All the gigs I went to were good enough to be on this list.
Focus at the Earl Haig in Cardiff has been in and out of my top three across the year. When I saw the seminal Dutch prog band at the same venue last year the experience was different, as I only knew some of their songs. In 2019 I’ve bought most of their back catalogue on vinyl and have been playing it during a lot of my writing time, so I was even more invested in the show. They put on an amazing performance and I had a brilliant seat right down the front.
Big Big Train brought their Grand Tour tour to Newport as they made their way around the UK. I had some involvement with the tour programme, writing an article called ‘Be More Train’ and commissioning artist Azim Akberali’s work on the back cover. I expected this to be my gig of the year, but the combination of my daughter deciding not to come with me (BBT shows have been a thing for us over the years), my favourite songs from the new album not making the setlist and the lack of Underfall Yard tracks played took the edge of it a bit. It was still a brilliant show, with superb playing and Sweet Billy Pilgrim, who dedicated a song to me after I requested it on Twitter, were a great support too. I think I also had envy for various friends who managed to go to every show on the tour too and having seen them three times before I kind of knew what to expect too.
I made a last minute decision to head to Stourport-on-Severn for one day of the Fusion: music without boundaries weekender mainly to see I am the Manic Whale. The whole line up was impressive on the Saturday, Hats Of Gentlemen, It’s Adequate and Encircled set things up well before I am the Manic Whale, Final Coil’s heavier sound wasn’t for everyone but I really liked it, Dec Burke was great too. The Book of Genesis were just as good as The Musical Box at showcasing the 70s Genesis sound but the real highlight was saved for the headliners. England, lead by keyboard player Robert Webb performed a one-off show, playing live for the first time In 40 years with help from some members of The Gift. who had played the night before. Their set gave me goosebumps, as they showcased songs from their 1977 album Garden Shed. I’ve thought about that set a lot since and listened to that album an awful lot too and it’s my first prog gig where someone wore an actual cape.
Having seen The Zombies last year, I got to see their lead singer Colin Blunstone at the Earl Haig in 2019, he has a great band playing with him and played some excellent songs from his solo work, The Zombies and my personal favourite Old and Wise from the Alan Parsons Project. One particularly drunk woman seemed to think the whole show was for her benefit and he handled that like a true professional.
Haken at The Fleece in Bristol was another very good show, the venue was jam-packed and the atmosphere was electric, with a much younger crowd than most shows I get to. Bent Knee were brilliant as the opening support act, their music works really well in a live setting and their energy is relentless. I wasn’t that keen on the next act Vola really, but once Haken were on stage the place lit up again as they are a ridiculously talented live band.
Adam Ant at St David’s Hall in Cardiff was the biggest surprise of the year. I got a last-minute invite from my friend and fellow writer Jamie Lambert and this gig almost made my Top Three in the end. Support band Glam Skanks were pretty good, but Adam and his band blew the roof off the place playing the whole of debut solo album Friend or Foe, followed by a collection of hits and then an encore filled with B-Sides. Much like at Marillion, I was surrounded on all sides by superfans (and casuals who filmed the whole thing or just played Solitaire on their phone) including one rather intimidating guy who was completely off his face. It was meant to be a seated gig, but when the band put on such a good show it soon became a standing one. This is one show I won’t forget in a hurry and I’ve been playing a lot of Adam Ant music since I went.
I saw Zervas & Pepper twice this year, which makes it six times in under three years. The gig prior to their new album launch at St John’s Church in Cardiff was great and Acapela in Pentyrch suited the band very well too.
Magenta at Acapela was as mesmerising as it was in 2017 and 2018 (I now have the 2016 and 2017 shows on DVD) and if it weren’t for the Newbury show would probably have earned a top-three spot too. I think it’s the best vocal performance I’ve heard from lead singer Christina Booth and the cover of Man with the child in his eyes by Kate Bush was something special. I could happily attend this show every year for the rest of my life if they keep putting it on.
Circus 5, I am the Manic Whale and Let’s Swim, Get Swimming at Level III in Swindon was superb and all three bands put on brilliant sets. I didn’t know the third on the bill band who veered towards the math-rock end of instrumental prog, but I left the show with a t-shirt and a copy of their album on vinyl. I am the Manic Whale put on a great show, as expected and it was good to finally get to see Circus5 play especially as they threw in a Tin Spirits song now that Mark Kilminster is in the band.
The Who at the Wembley Stadium in London was an unexpected treat, as I was gifted tickets by my friend Lee Wood a few days before the show. I ended up taking my brother in law and making a day of it. Imelda May was good and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Kaiser Chiefs too, as their anthemic mod pop stylings suit being played live with room for some audience sing-along. My first time seeing Eddie Vedder live solo, was as captivating as I had expected, and the addition of a string quartet and Glen Hansard made it all the more magical. Sadly the vast majority of the crowd couldn’t handle the change of pace and made it hard to hear above their constant talking. The Who themselves, complete with an orchestra, were spellbinding and if the crowd hadn’t been constantly baying for hits I would have enjoyed the Tommy and Quadrophenia sections even more (especially The Rock). Eddie Vedder joined them for The Punk and the Godfather which worked brilliantly and hearing Baba O’Reilly and Love Reign o’er me live was something special. I just wish Won’t get fooled again hadn’t been a stripped-back acoustic version. A better crowd would easiy have made this a top three show.
Instrumental duo Ava, with support from All Strung Out, was another very good night at Acapela too and their delicate, filmic music translates well to a live setting.
I go into 2020 with tickets to see Magenta in Newbury and Pentyrch again and I’m provisionally booked for the Summer’s End prog festival in Chepstow. Other than that I may have to curb my gig-going a bit to free up some money and time, then again I’ve been saying that for ages.
Comic –
1. Assassin Nation (Skybound/Image Comics)
Following on from Slots another Skybound book has taken top honours in 2019, this time written by Kyle Starks with art by Erica Henderson. I picked up the issue in a grab bag in Forbidden Planet in London and then had the trade collection for Christmas.
“Hot off her breakout success at Marvel, two-time Eisner award winner ERICA HENDERSON (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Jughead) teams up with KYLE STARKS (writer of sales beast Rick and Morty) for a hilarious twist on the hitman trope that will have readers laughing in the aisles over ASSASSIN NATION.The World’s Former Greatest Hitman hires the 20 best assassins in the world to be his bodyguards. These mean-as-hell hired guns and murderers must work together to keep the new crime boss safe while attempting to solve the mystery of who’s trying to off him.With the same laugh-until-you-cry spirit of action-comedies like Hot Fuzz, Tropic Thunder, and Deadpool, ASSASSIN NATION is the bombastic, side-splitting murder-fest you’ve been waiting for.”
This action-comedy series is pretty perfect, it’s funny, it’s OTT, it throws so much at you that it shouldn’t work but it really does. Uses the medium perfectly and I’d recommend anyone who enjoys comics to read it.
2. American Carnage (Vertigo)
This book took second place last year too, despite only two issues having come out at the time. The series, which felt like a real return to the Vertigo books of old just in time for the imprint to come to an end, ran for a nine issues and ended this year. The only thing I didn’t like about Brian Hill and Leandro Fernandez’s story was that it ended so quickly, it meant the final few issues felt a bit rushed and I’ve have loved it to run longer. If you like gritty crime stories, this is well worth a read
3. Daredevil (Marvel)
This is the first big two comic I’ve read monthly in some time and fifteen issues of the book came out in 2019. There’s something very interesting about Chip Zdarsky’s almost back to basics take on the character and the art, especially when main artist Marco Checchetto is on an issue. I’m excited to see where they take Matt Murdoch in 2020 as their run continues.
Honourable Mentions - The same three books as last year from Image Comics are the ones I’m still reading monthly. Bitter Root maintained its strong start with three more regular issues in 2019 and a Summer Special one shot and has been optioned by Legendary Pictures. Despite the quarterly schedule when we do get an issue of Lazarus it is always worth the wait. I’m a little hot and cold on Die as it’s not that cohesive as an overall story, but
Podcast –
1. The Prog Report
For the second year in a row, The Prog Report has come out on top in the podcast stakes. It’s becoming easier and easier to pick this show, as whenever a new episode pops up on my feed I’ll always stop whatever I’m listening to so I can check it out instead. Roie Avin is an excellent host, laid back and knowledgable across a variety of different show formats. going solo, interviewing musicians or in a roundtable picking favourite songs by a particular band. Two of my top three albums this year were by bands I hadn’t heard until they appeared on this show, so it’s become an important place to discover new music as well as find out more about the process behind the music, I’d be rather lost without it.
2. The Chernobyl Podcast
The last time I followed along with a TV by listening to a podcast after each episode, was when Fuzzy Typewriter covered the first series of True Detective. The difference with this podcast was that it was actually featured the show’s creator Craig Mazin, being interviewed by Peter Sagal. It wasn’t just the process of making such a successful TV series that made this companion piece compelling, it was also the fact that the series was based on a harrowing true story. By listening to this show you understood where the show deviated from reality and got to understand even more about the real events. If you’ve seen the show but haven’t listened to this, I’d highly recommend checking it out to round off the experience.
3. Wolverine - The Lost Trail.
The second Marvel Wolverine audio drama series was even better than the first one, mainly due to them making Wolverine himself the focal point rather than those investigating him. Richard Armitage is pitch-perfect in the main role and he’s supported by a very adept cast, excellent audio production and a well-crafted script by Ben Percy.
Honourable mentions – I’m still enjoying many of my long term favourites like iFanboy, The Writers Panel, Geek Syndicate, Grouchy Old Geeks, World Balloon, Tabletop Genesis along with dipping into specific shows that have guests or subject interest occasionally too.
Here’s to another year of excellent entertainment in 2020!!
