Comic book movie awards: The best and worst of 2018
By Mark Lynch
Credit: 20th Century Fox/Marvel Entertainment; from Deadpool 2 (2018)
It’s time to take a look back at the best and worst comic book movies had to offer in 2018.
2018 was a big year for movies. Black Panther broke pre-sale ticket records and was later beaten by Avengers: Infinity War. Deadpool 2 continued to show that R-rated movies can be a hit at the box office. And, Aquaman recently proved to the world that the King of Atlantis does more than just ride seahorses and talk to fish. This year also brought some great moments, along with a few not so great moments.
Credit: Warner Bros and DC for Aquaman (2018) – Teaser poster featuring Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman
Biggest surprise: Aquaman
It’s going to be difficult for people to realize how good this movie is. It had all of the beauty you’d want and expect when seeing Atlantis. It was also an amazing origin story that didn’t drag on too much. Maybe the most important part of this is the DCEU managed to have not one, but two great villains. Aquaman is the hero the DCEU needed. He was tough, funny, and fit the role perfectly. Aquaman sparked the momentum that could make people regain faith in the DCEU. And an added bonus is that Shazam! will benefit from the movie’s success.
Honorable mention: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Credit: Marvel Studios
Biggest standout: The Women of Wakanda
The comic book movie year began with the highly anticipated Black Panther. T’Challa may have been the star, but it was the women of Wakanda who were the standouts. Okoye was both tough and intimidating while maintaining a soft caring heart and leading the all-women Wakandan special forces, the Dora Milaje. Nakia was brave and strong-willed, and Shuri was a flat-out genius. Without these women, T’Challa would be dead (before Infinity War), and Wakanda would have been under the rule of Killmonger. These women also became popular among little girls all over the world, especially young girls of color, who now have heroes to look up. And, not just the ones who have powers and could fight. They were also smart women, who weren’t stifled for their intelligence.
Honorable mention: Mera (Aquaman)