There’s nothing like new, fresh talent to filter out the old and mundane. That’s exactly what new comic series—good or bad—bring to the table. Luckily, these Eisner nominees for Best New Series are shining examples of the next generation of comics.

Unknown Soldier, by Joshua Dysart and Alberto Ponticelli (Vertigo/DC)

In the Vertigo series Unknown Soldier, Joshua Dysart dares to bring our attention to harsh world realities while at the same time giving us the kind of story we’d expect from a comic book. Who says you can’t do both?

The vigilante fiction we’re accustomed to and the real world situations of Africa collide in Dysart and Ponticelli’s well-written comic, which bears the fruit of research on its pages. Lwanga Moses and his wife Sera decide to move back to their home of Uganda to spread a message of saving the land through peace. But when nightmares plague his dreams and Moses becomes separated from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps where they do their work, he finds himself in the middle of unexpected bloodshed. A voice of an unknown soldier haunts him, leading him away from thoughts of pacifism and instead to actions of violence dead-set on cleaning up Uganda’s terror. The nun who saves him from his own attempt at suicide bandages his face and gives him a priest’s clothes to wear, and with the angry voice within him guiding his hand, Lwanga Moses embarks on a mission quite different than the one he envisioned.

Unknown Soldier paints a gruesome picture of an all-too-real Africa, and most boldly of all, throws its main character into the heart of the problem—guns a’blazing. Will Lwanga find redemption through peace, or instill fear through power and violence? Either way, forget the cape. Bandages and religious clothes make one wicked combination. –WITA

Best New Series - Madame Xanadu, by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend (Vertigo/DC)

Madame Xanadu, rightfully nominated for several Eisner awards this year, is a gripping story from the very first issue thanks to compelling writing, engaging art and stunning covers. Featuring a strong female lead, Madame Xanadu first debuted back in the late 70s. While some key plot points and characteristics remain, this new iteration of Madame Xanadu doesn’t rest on its predecessors laurels.

Madame Xanadu, known as Nimue before donning the familiar moniker, was a wielder of great magic during the age of Camelot. A woman of the forest, Nimue lusted after little unlike her sister Morgana, who chose to use her gifts for self-satisfaction and power. Nimue’s peaceful existence was shattered when a stranger entered the picture—another being of immense power that chooses to stay shrouded in a thick cloak of mystery. This stranger warns Nimue about her lover, Merlin, and lifts the veil over her eyes to his deceit and desire for her power. At this strangers prodding, Nimue successfully confronts and defeats Merlin, although at a very high cost. In the brawl Nimue’s powers are stripped, leaving her nothing more than a mere witch. Soon after, Camelot falls because of Morgana’s quest for power, and Nimue—devoid of her home and eternal youth—flees. Drinking potions to survive, the centuries pass by as Madame Xanadu uses her parlor tricks to stay in favor of those in power across the globe. All the while, the mysterious stranger ebbs and flows out of her life—awakening curiosity, jealousy, anger and even love within Madame Xanadu.

Madame Xanadu is well deserving of it’s nomination for Best New Series, even if the character herself has been recycled. This is one series that should be on everyone’s pull list. –VirtualGirl

Air, by. G. Willow Wilson and M. K. Perker (Vertigo/DC)

At the New York Comic Con last year, G. Willow Wilson introduced her new series Air by saying, “If Umberto Eco and Hayao Miyazaki had sort of, you know, been in on Alias the TV show, it might be something like this.”

Main character Blythe may not be as skilled or fearless as Sydney Bristow from the get-go, but she’s learning as she goes. The first thing you need to know about Blythe is that she’s afraid of heights. The second thing you need to know about Blythe is that she’s a flight attendant. Odd career choice, but she deals with it the best she can until a terrorist organization called the Etisian Front hijacks her plane. A mysterious man named Zayn seems to be shadowing her every move and possibly every thought. When she finds her way to a country that’s not supposed to exist, we realize Blythe may be getting involved in something far beyond her comprehension—something she very well may be a part of herself. Wilson is a worldly individual, which gives her quite the advantage writing about another seasoned traveler. Her Cairo artist M.K. Perker gets to stretch his wings literally and figuratively in Air, drawing everything from a crowded airplane to an enormous winged serpent. And let’s not forget one very frazzled flight attendant. –Jill aka TheNerdyBird

Best New Series - Echo, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)

Terry Moore strays from the drama of his earlier works with this peculiar take on the superhero genre. Echo tells the tale of a troubled young woman in the midst of a divorce and life reassessment. She finds herself in the middle of a desert when she bears witness to an explosion that shakes the planet. Exposed to a foreign substance, Julie then discovers that a mysterious silver metal has formed into a breast plate on her shoulders and chest. More drama ensues when she finds that the plate responds violently when aggressively handled. Ultimately a lesson about self-image and the strength of friendship, Echo delivers an archetypal good vs. evil story without the accompanying commercial hype usually surrounding the superhero genre.

Illustrated in Moore’s signature black and white arrangements, the essence of Echo flows beautifully with the story’s personality. The backgrounds and characters are rendered naturally with grace and ease. Though an exaggerative story, the illustrations convey a realistic picture. Moore’s women are pretty without being overly comical.

A stunning mixture of charm and action, Moore deviates from his other works with a drama infused with a superhero theme. –Melissa Kay

Best New Series - Invincible Iron Man, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca (Marvel)

When issue #1 of Invincible Iron Man hit comic shelves in July of 2008, one of its stars was already sadly missing. Colorist Stéphane Peru died of a heart attack at age twenty-six in February, five months before seeing this series dazzle fans. He was described by those who worked with him as the type of guy that always left you laughing. Perhaps that part of his personality inspired the team to interject moments of humor into the deadly serious, terrorism-driven plot.

As a leader, Tony Stark graces many books as Iron Man. Invincible Iron Man gives him the spotlight he deserves. The series introduces a new villain for Iron Man: the son of his dead nemesis. Ezekial Stane has upgraded himself with fancy borg-like technology. He’s found ways to improve his brain’s efficiency to gain super human intelligence. He takes jobs from maligned mega-corporations; then with their own money, he destroys them.

Fans get the chance to witness Iron Man go from America’s savior leading S.H.I.E.L.D. to a pariah abandoned by his country. The government appoints the allegedly rehabilitated Green Goblin, Norman Osborn, to the role of leader of the new watchdog organization H.A.M.M.E.R.—and he’s gunning for Iron Man. Writer Matt Fraction shows us why Osborn is the kind of villain everyone loves to hate. Norman bastardizes beloved icons like Captain America and Iron Man and creates the amalgamation called Iron Patriot. Iron Man may take a brutal beating, but as seen in Invincible Iron Man, he’s not going anywhere permanently. Due to the brilliant blockbuster Iron Man movie, the character once forgotten by anyone who wasn’t a hardcore comic fan is back into the mainstream. Tony Stark’s dual lifestyle filled with sex and danger makes this series an excellent introduction to new teens+ readers of today. –Amber Love

Related Posts:

• Best Writer
• Best Coloring
• Best Cover Artist
• Best Penciller/Inker
• Best Continuing Series