The 10 magnificent mini-series comic books of 2024, ranked

Image Comics ruled the year of 2024 with a plethora of mini-series to prepare comic book fans for the next wave of the Energon Universe; teams have been built, unlikely alliances have been made, and there’s still more to come. Meanwhile, Marvel and DC Comics came through with great titles of their own that had readers as excited about both as ever.

But which of the countless comic book mini-series was the best of 2024? Keep reading as we dive into the top 10 of them, and rank them as we go.

Honorable mention: Hellverine

• Writer: Benjamin Percy
• Artist: Julius Ohta

I couldn’t go without putting Hellverine on the list. Benjamin Percy created a mini-series of nightmares. Plus, Julius Ohta’s horror art fits this title perfectly.

If you like horror, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider, this is the comic book for you. Here's hoping we see more of Akihiro in this form.

10. Zatanna: Bring Down the House

• Writer: Mariko Tamaki
• Artist: Javier Rodriguez

DC Black Label comics are always a must-read. They’re allowed to tell stories that wouldn’t fly in the main continuity. In this case, Zatanna becomes a magician again while solving the mystery of her father's murder and figuring out why people are trying to kill her, and why random rabbits are following her.

If that isn’t enough, Javier Rodriguez’s art is worth the price of the issues.

9. The Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!

• Writer: Ram V and Dan Watters
• Artist: Matthew Roberts and Dave Stewart

Skybound/Image Comics Universal Monsters stories have all been outstanding, but something about this one was the best. Maybe because this series was more about the protagonist overcoming her fear and getting the bad guy and the monster became a secondary thing. Or it could be the ending that left this writer sad for the hero and feeling empathy for the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Either way, it’s a damn good story.

8. Plastic Man No More!

• Writers: Christopher Cantwell
• Artist: Alex Lins and Jacob Edgar

Get ready for the darkest Plastic Man story you never knew you needed. See things through the eyes of the Justice League’s most underrated and underappreciated member as his teammates (including Batman, a.k.a. "the World's Greatest Detective") don’t realize he’s melting and dying in front of them.

All of that and see what his life is like when he isn’t saving the world. Spoiler, it’s sad and depressing.

7. Duke 

• Writer: Joshua Williamson
• Artist: Tom Reilly

This writer will admit that wasn’t overly excited about G.I. Joe entering this fight until Duke was released. As I said during our best mid-year list of last year Duke was like Steve Rogers during Captain America: The Winter Solider. Except it may have been more impressive since he wasn’t a super soldier. That feeling hasn’t changed.

Without this series, I don’t know if I would have had as much faith in the G.I. part of the Energon Universe.

6. Cobra Commander

• Writer: Joshua Williamson
• Artist: Andrea Milana and Annalisa Leoni

Bare witness to the genius of Cobra Commander! See how he gains power despite being set up to fail and always being underestimated! Behold as he defeats many enemies on his way to becoming one of the most powerful leaders on Earth as he steals Energon and converts the energy into weapons!

Was that overly dramatic? Maybe, but it’s all true. There’s no way you read this book without becoming a bigger fan of Cobra Commander. This is only a prelude to what will probably be a meteoric rise to power and fall from grace later.

5. The Displaced

• Writer: Ed Brisson
• Artist: Luca Casalanguida

Imagine losing everything and being forgotten by everyone you've met and the only way to survive is to stay around strangers. While that sounds terrifying, it gets worse. Something has swallowed the town you lived in including the people who lived here. There’s no explanation for why it happens and no one remembers them or the town that mysteriously vanished. However, while your loved ones are forgotten, you remember everything about them and your past life. And here's the kicker, it's happened many times before.

It doesn’t end with losing people and the town they love. Some of the displaced people are deplorable humans using this curse to hurt people. That leads to the displaced forming groups to stay alive.

Enjoy a quick five issues that do a fantastic job of displaying humans at their best and worst.

4. Avengers: Twilight

• Writers: Chip Zdarsky
• Artists: Daniel Acuña

The story of older superheroes fighting to take their world back isn’t new. That means any comic that attempts to reinvent it has to be interesting. It’s a good thing that Chip Zdarsky was more than ready for the challenge.

In Avengers: Twilight, he kept things simple while delivering shocking and heartfelt moments, too. A difficult task to accomplish in a mini-series, yet it was done to perfection. 

3. Absolute Power: Origins

• Writer: John Ridley
• Artist: Alitha Martinez and Norm Rapmund

As great as DC's Absolute Power was, the story of how and why Amanda Waller started her vendetta against vigilantes was more important and the pressure of writing this right must have been intense. Not only did this have to be a story that connected to Absolute Power, but the tale of Waller’s past would be her definitive origin for years to come.

Thankfully, John Ridley was chosen to bring this story to life. He made sure that Waller was much more of a three-dimensional, sympathetic character instead of just an evil villain with no motivations. There was depth to it, and that made this version of the character one of the most gripping we've ever seen.

2. Scarlett

• Writer: Kelly Thompson
• Artist: Marco Ferrari and Lee Loughridge

This is the best spy comic book in years. Kelly Thompson did incredible things in Scarlett that other, well-known publications simply couldn't. She put Scarlett in impossible situations, tested her, and allowed her overcome obstacles in breathtaking ways.

Thompson’s writing here isn’t just good. It’s motivating. She's a shining example of what a writer can and should strive to be.

1. Resurrection Of Magneto

• Writer: Al Ewing
• Artist: Luciano Vecchio

Al Ewing reminded everyone of two things. First, Magneto is more than his power. He is one of the most poetic and kindhearted characters in all of comics. And despite the horrible things he's done, he doesn't revel in them. He wishes he could take a lot of it back. Second is the lengths Storm will go to to save someone she cares about.

This is the kind of comic where you’ll get lost in the story and become attached to the characters all over again. If you're an X-Men fan or just love amazing writing and art, you should own this or make an effort to do so.

What were your favorite mini-series of the year? Are any of them not on this list? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter.