Comic book movie awards: The best and worst of 2018

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)

Credit: Sony and Marvel Entertainment for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Brightest future: Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

People have been waiting for a Miles Morales movie for years, and it didn’t disappoint. Miles’ future is brighter than we could have ever imagined. An animated film may not have been everyone’s first choice, but it allowed for more options. Miles now has his own dimension to work in, and he also has his own story. Because of this, there are limitless ways that Miles’ future stories can be told. He can fight all of Spider-Man’s old villains and maybe even some new ones. Since he’s in a universe that isn’t connected to the MCU, the writers don’t have to follow any other storylines except their own. The possibilities for this franchise are endless.

Honorable mention: Arthur Curry (Aquaman)

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2018

Worst beating: Thanos VS Hulk (Avengers: Infinity War)

You may not be able to call this a fight per se. It was more of a giant butt whooping. Sure, Hulk got in a few good shots in the beginning, but Thanos just took them on the chin and then proceeded to destroy him. We’ve never seen the Hulk take a whooping like Thanos gave him. Sure, he’s lost a fight, but not like this. Thanos established himself as the big bad within the first few minutes of the movie by taking the strongest person in the MCU and then beating him like a drum. From then on, it was clear that Thanos was not someone to be messed with and that he isn’t like the other villains. He’s more than willing to get his hands dirty.

Honorable mention: Deadpool versus Juggernaut (Deadpool 2)

Venom (2018) | Credit: Sony Pictures

Worst fight scene: Ending to Venom (Venom)

It’s one thing for a scene to use too much CGI, and it’s even worse when it’s overly done and dark. The final fight scene is supposed to be either the most epic or most memorable. Well, it succeeded on being infamous rather than famous. The scene took place at night with two symbiotes who were both black except for in a couple of spots. The only moment that was clear was the part where it was in slow motion and the ending with the rocket ship. It was just poorly done. Who knows, maybe the fight scene could have been good if we could have actually seen it.

Honorable mention: Deadpool and cable versus hospital goons (Deadpool 2)

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2018

WTF Moment: Star-Lord ruins everything (Avengers: Infinity War)

Star-Lord came up with the plan. He even made a big deal about being the one to create the plan. And, guess what? Peter Quill’s plan was working. Kudos to him for coming up with a way to defeat a being with the power to destroy moons. Of course, then he had to go and ruin it. Quill found out that Thanos killed Gamora, and he got irrational. If Quill waited another 15 seconds, Spider-Man and Iron Man would have gotten the gauntlet off, and he could have beaten ten shades of purple off the Mad Titan. Instead, Quill took their best chance at beating Thanos and ruined it.

Honorable mention: The death of X-Force (Deadpool2)

Credit: Marvel Studios for Avengers: Infinity War (2018) — Thanos (Josh Brolin)

Villain of the year: Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War)

He won. Thanos set out to complete a goal and accomplished it. How many other villains can say they did that? Heck, how many heroes can boast that? Thanos is the best villain for that reason. It wasn’t just the plan or taking on and defeating the heroes, he actually won the day and did exactly what he said he was going to do. He watched the sun rise. Thanos sacrificed everything to make the universe a better place. Sure, he may have gone about it in the wrong way, but you can’t deny the results.

Honorable mention: King Orm (Aquaman)

Credit: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Pictures; from Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Saddest moment: “I don’t feel so good…” (Avengers: Infinity War)

As if seeing heroes like T’Challa and Groot fade away wasn’t bad enough, we had to see the youngest of the heroes turn to dust. When Peter Parker weakly uttered, “Mr. Stark? I don’t feel so good,” there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Come on, man! We didn’t need those feelings! On top of that, he knew it was coming. It was even worse when people started saying that he knew it was coming because of his Spider-Sense. Either way, watching a good kid fade away (thanks again, Star-Lord) was easily the saddest moment in a comic book movie this year.

Honorable mention: Vanessa dies (Deadpool 2)

Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER

L to R: Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman)

Photo: Matt Kennedy

©Marvel Studios 2018

Best line: “Bury me in the ocean.”- Killmonger (Black Panther)

Erik Killmonger was one of the best parts of Black Panther. He was smooth and one heck of a fighter. His most memorable moment arguably came at the end of the movie during his death scene. T’Challa offered to save Erik’s life, but instead, he chose to die. With his last breath he said, “Bury me in the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage.” People understood the sentiment. Since then, it’s represented what it means to go all in on what you believe.

Honorable mention: “You are a good man, with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be a king.”

Credit: Marvel Studios for Marvel’s Black Panther — Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue/Klaw

Funniest moment: The Ulysses Klaue mixtape (Black Panther)

Some funny moments fly under the radar during great movies, but not this time. Ulysses Klaue had a bunch of hilarious moments. None like his moment in the casino during Black Panther, during an exchange with Everett Ross. Ross wanted to complete his mission but made the mistake of making a joke. Due to his large entourage, Ross asked if Klaue had a mixtape coming out. Klaue said he did and then went on to try and give Ross the SoundCloud link. Ross quickly responded with, “Please don’t make me listen to your music.” The whole exchange was hilarious.

Honorable mention: Thor meets the Guardians of the Galaxy (Avengers: Infinity War)

Credit: 20th Century Fox/Marvel Entertainment; from Deadpool 2 (2018)

Most brutal fight scene: Deadpool versus Cable (Deadpool 2)

There was no finesse or anything fancy in this fight, just two guys trying to beat the heck out of each other. Deadpool’s back was literally broken by Cable, Cable was blown up and thrown through a wall, and Deadpool even tried to strangle Cable with his own broken arm. There were also all the times they fell off high landings. It’s rare that you get fight scenes like this in comic book movies. But since Deadpool 2 is rated R, they could go for the gusto. It was also great they acknowledged how brutal it was when Deadpool asked Cable if he was from the DC Universe.

Honorable mention: Arthur Curry versus Black Manta (Aquaman)

Peni (Kimiko Glen), Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage) in Sony Pictures Animation’s SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.

Best supporting character: Peter B. Parker (Into the Spider-Verse)

Best performance: Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool (Deadpool 2)

Say what you will about Deadpool 2, but Ryan Reynolds performance as Wade Wilson/Deadpool was everything you’d want it to be. He didn’t slack on Deadpool’s normal joking shenanigans, and he added some depth to the character after Vanessa’s death. Watching him grieve when he saw Vanessa in the afterlife was something the casual fan isn’t used to seeing from Wade, but it was right on the mark. A lot of times the second movie will result in the lead changing from what made them great. Not the case here. Ryan Reynolds gave the audience everything they expected and then some.

Honorable mention: Josh Brolin as Cable (Deadpool 2)

Credit: Sony Pictures for Venom (2017) — Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock

Worst performance: Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock

It should be noted beforehand that Tom Hardy was supposed to be campy and weird. However, Hardy in Venom suffered from Batman and Robin syndrome. It was too over the top. If it wasn’t for the alien symbiote, Hardy would look like a fool, well, a fool an unintentionally. He wasn’t a convincing journalist, and he wasn’t a convincing loser, two things he was billed to be. The best part was when he was acting goofy, and it was the symbiote that made those scenes. It was disappointing, considering the person in the role.

Honorable mention: Riz Ahmed as Carlton Drake (Venom)

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ {Credit: Marvel Studios}

Hero of the year: Dr. Strange (Avengers: Infinity War)

Of all the characters on this list, Dr. Strange was sacrificed the most. He did exactly what a hero was supposed to do. First, he had to see the horror of thousands of Earths where Thanos was victorious and innocent people died. Second, he had to do the one thing he was charged with doing: protecting the Time Stone. Finally, he also had to have faith that the other heroes would save the universe and bring him back to life along with half of the universe. Dr. Strange’s sacrifice is what’s going to save everyone, as he knew of the “endgame” audiences will witness in 2019.

Honorable mention: Arthur Curry (Aquaman)

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Drax (Dave Bautista), Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2018

Movie of the year: Avengers: Infinity War

There was a lot that went into making this the movie of the year. This title could have easily gone to Aquaman, considering it had a lot going against it and turned out to be great. But, Avengers: Infinity War had a lot more moving pieces that made it a success.

First, it managed all of the characters and personalities perfectly. It couldn’t have been easy to think of putting Thor and Rocket together and that may have been the best combo. Second, Thanos was surprisingly victorious and made people wonder if what he accomplished would actually help the galaxy, a feat that most comic book movies don’t typically do. Then, and this is the most important part, it was a phenomenal movie. On top of the action, there was suspense, emotion, and humor. And even with a two and a half hour-running time, the film didn’t feel as long as it was. Overall, it was everything you could want from a movie.

Honorable mention: Aquaman

Mark Lynch

Trying to become Earth's Mightiest writer or at least one that people look for. Marvel guy with a dash of DC. Find him on twitter at twitter.com/oldmanwadecom, email him at markawlynch@gmail.com, or leave a comment on everything he writes.