The years may come and go, but there’s one dependable constant in life: comic books! Once again, my Top Three of the year all come from the pages of DC comics. With a DC Black Label book, a Young Adult graphic novel and a cheeky new webcomic, my list of my favorite things in 2024 is just as diverse as DC’s offerings for all kinds of comics readers.

Let’s look back!
 

Zatanna: Bring Down the House

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Zatanna: Bring Down the House, by Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodríguez, is a DC Black Label limited series that oozes so much atmosphere you can practically smell the stale cigarette smoke wafting from every panel. Zatanna here isn’t the Justice League superhero you know, fighting alongside the heavies like Superman and Wonder Woman. Instead, she’s a stage magician who’s settled into an unexciting life in Las Vegas. She plays to bored audiences in her own show on a broken-down stage. Her past hides a secret she’s still running away from, but when it comes to Zatanna, her inner (and outer?) demons tend to catch up with her.

With bold colors harkening to vintage Vegas and vivid designs and layouts, every page in this series is a magical masterpiece. And when Zatanna’s old flame John Constantine makes his grand entrance into the story, things get even more exciting. And complicated. (It’s Constantine, after all.) Bring Down the House is a can’t-miss for fans of the backwards-speaking spellcaster and my favorite miniseries of the year.
 

Barda

Ngozi Ukazu’s Barda is the perfect entry into the Fourth World. As someone unfamiliar with the New Gods beyond their names, this Young Adult graphic novel filled in the blanks for me effortlessly with its fantastic story. Big Barda lives on Apokolips, where love is a crime and Darkseid rules over all. She’s one of the Female Furies, a fighting force under the supervision of the merciless Granny Goodness, but Granny hasn’t drilled all the kindness out of her. After Barda encounters the prisoner Scott Free, she begins to accept who she is and where she’s meant to be.

Barda is a big and beautiful story, much like its eponymous character. It left me wanting to know more about Apokolips and New Genesis and the New Gods that live there. Whether you’re looking for an introduction to that world yourself or love a good a graphic novel filled with meaningful glances, go big with Barda.
 

Nothing Butt Nightwing

Dick Grayson is no stranger to the spotlight, but it’s never been as bright as this one! In Nothing Butt Nightwing by Patrick R. Young and Moy R. Marco, Dick goes undercover in the cutthroat fashion industry to find out why models have been disappearing. No, he’s not avoiding thinking about being dumped by Barbara Gordon, and yes, he’s doing just fine, why do you ask? To blend in and investigate, Dick must learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry, from applying skincare, to managing haircare, to practicing the right way to walk, to…chasing a killer mime?! It’s one of his biggest challenges so far, and for a former Boy Wonder, that’s saying something.

This cheeky webcomic is just plain fun. Dick Grayson’s assets have been a running joke among comic book fans online, and this book embraces them unabashedly. It’s a joy to see Dick’s supportive network of friends give him advice through a rough time, and even more entertaining to see him struggle with the new blonde haircut he’s rocking. It’s literally Dick Grayson like you’ve never seen him before, and I love it.
 

Be sure to read all five of our 2024 Top Three lists!

Kelly Knox writes about all-ages comics and animation for DC.com and is the author of several nonfiction books about some of your favorite film franchises. Follow her on X at @kelly_knox and Bluesky at @kelly-knox.com to talk superheroes, comics and pop culture.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Kelly Knox and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.