John and David put on their reading glasses and get into Jack Kirby’s Galactic Bounty Hunters, Steve Ditko’s Art, The Conan Revolution, The Return of Bill Schanes, and the Uncertain Future of the Will Eisner Library.

Timestamp Segments

• [00:33] John can see clearly now.
• [02:21] It IS possible to collect all of G.I. Joe.
• [05:01] Jack Kirby: Galactic Bounty Hunters.
• [13:29] How to get through Invincible.
• [18:59] Steve Ditko: The Commerce of Art.
• [22:50] The Conan Revolution.
• [25:26] Gabe Rodriguez makes his mark.
• [29:00] The Will Eisner Library.
• [31:08] The thing about The Spirit.
• [33:37] Who will buy it?
• [36:13] Bud Plant: The Return of Bill Schanes.
• [40:48] The best company for the Eisner Library.
• [44:18] The Public Domain.
• [45:25] This is just for David.

Notable Quotes

• “Congratulations, and welcome to getting old.”
• “Remember, we live in a world where Steve Ditko did Indiana Jones comics.”
• “You’ve just been Corner Boxed.”

Books Mentioned

• A Contract with God, by Will Eisner, Dave Gibbons, Denis Kitchen, & John Lind.
• Adventures of Superman (2013-2014).
• Amazing Fantasy, by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.
• Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers, by Jack Kirby.
• Conan the Barbarian.
• Cosmochasm, by Alejandro Jodorowsky & Gabriel Rodríguez.
• Cyber Force, by Marc Silvestri.
• The Dreamer, Invisible People, by Will Eisner.
• Galactic Bounty Hunters (2006-2007), by Jack Kirby, Michael Thibodeaux, & Karl Kesel.
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
• Groo the Wonderer, by Sergio Aragones.
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2008-2010).
• Hack/Slash.
• Indiana Jones: The Further Adventures.
• Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, John Rauch, & Ryan Ottley.
• Last of the Viking Heroes, by Jack Kirby & Michael Thibodeaux.
• Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland, by Eric Shanower, Gabriel Rodriguez, & Nelson Daniel.
• Locke & Key, by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez.

Our Best of 2025 continues! We find out which comics and artists made it on to the comics industry’s most prestigious (and accurate!) awards list: The Corner Box Best of 2025! This week's awards include Best Original Graphic Novel, Best Collection and Archival Collection, Best New Series, Favorite Comeback, Favorite Artist and Cover Artist, and Best Continuing Series.

Timestamp Segments

• [00:54] The Best Best Of List.
• [01:56] Recap of last week’s Bests.
• [01:58] Best Original Graphic Novel.
• [02:17] Best Collection.
• [02:32] Best New Series.
• [02:51] Favorite Artist.
• [04:39] Best Archival Collection.
• [08:53] The self-publishing movement.
• [13:46] John’s first publication.
• [14:27] David’s comics manifesto.
• [18:40] David’s 2024/25 Best Archival Collection.
• [22:47] Favorite Cover Artist.
• [28:30] Favorite Comeback.
• [39:39] Where does John buy his comics?
• [42:32] Best Continuing Series.
• [49:46] Honorable Mentions.

Notable Quotes

• “This is the only true, valid list of Best of 2025 that’s out there.”
• “This is what we wanted. As fans of comic books, people have been screaming for this, for a while.”
• “Fletcher Hanks froze to death on a bench.”

Books Mentioned

• Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta.
• Absolute Batman 2025 Annual.
• Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.
• Aquaman, by Jeremy Adams & John Timms.
• Assorted Crisis Events.
• Bacchus, by Eddie Campbell.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller.
• Batman: Hush 2, by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, & Alex Sinclair.
• Batman: The Long Halloween, by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale.
• Batman: Year 100, by Paul Pope & Jose Villarrubia.
• Blueberry, by Jean-Michel Charlier & Moebius.
• Bone, by Jeff Smith.
• Captain Marvel (2019-2023).
• Cerebus, by Dave Sim.
• Complete Megaton Man Universe Volume 1: The 1980s, by Don Simpson & Bill Morrison.
• Cornelius: The Merry Life of a

John and David bring us their BEST OF 2025! They take a look at the comics that took the world by storm, the stories that shaped the industry, the artists that made it all possible, and a few honorable mentions (some maybe not from 2025... the fellas got a little excited).

Timestamp Segments

• [00:38] The true 2025 review.
• [04:00] John’s Favorites: New Material.
• [08:10] The story of Prometheus.
• [09:36] David’s Favorites: New Material.
• [13:25] Favorite Interior Artist of the Year.
• [17:21] OGN of the Year.
• [25:10] Best New Ongoing Series.

Notable Quotes

• “We’re probably the only truly valid Best of 2025 List that’s really going to be out there.”
• “It’s the most David Finchy thing that’s ever been drawn.”
• “Keep on comic-ing, everyone.”

Relevant Links

TheCornerbox.Club

Books Mentioned

• 20th Century Man, by Stipan Morian & Deniz Camp.
• Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta.
• Assorted Crisis Events.
• Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez.
• Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.
• Batman and Robin: Year One, by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee.
• Invincible, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast, by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, & Annalisa Leoni.
• Copra, Death of Copra, by Michel Fiffe.
• Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow, Tongues, by Anders Nilsen.
• Dreadstar, Gilgamesh II, by Jim Starlin.
• Drome, Hedra, Kaya, Man’s Best, by Jesse Lonergan.
• Fire Power, by Robert Kirkman & Chris Samnee.
• G.I. Joe.
• G.I. Joe: Real American Hero.
• Helen of Wyndhorn, by Tom King, Bilquis Evely, & Matheus Lopes.
• Hitman, by Garth Ennis & John McCrea.
• Little Bird,