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Introduction We’re back with another blog to start this year. And by start, I, of course, mean in the middle of February. To be fair, I did upload other things that are arguably more important than this blog. Make sure to check them out, those are probably way better than whatever this list is anyway.
This blog will be giving out awards – that are frankly meaningless – to the best media that came out last year in several categories. These awards do not, in fact, reflect the opinions of UIC Radio. All these decisions were made by yours truly so expect some truly garbage opinions.
Let’s get this started!
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Movies Film of the Year — The best film to come out in 2022 (that I know of) Winner: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Courtesy of A24 Films
Honorable Mentions: The Fire of Love, RRR, Nope (These are all movies I plan to watch at some point)
The only new film I saw last year, or at least I think it is. And thankfully it was a good one. From the warm feeling of seeing Michelle Yeoh get her big break in a major Hollywood film to the charming story, Everything Everywhere All at Once has a lot to offer. The action is solid, most of the humor lands and the cast does a great job, especially considering the variety of roles they needed to cover. The film also blends English Mandarin, and Cantonese beautifully.
That being said, the film does have some glaring flaws. Some jokes don’t land, at least not for me, yet the film insists on continuing them throughout the film. And while the multiverse travel aspect of the film is interesting both visually and plot wise, there is such thing as too much of a good thing, especially during the climax of the film where cuts to alternate worlds feel like they conflict with the emotional narrative of the film.
Still, the film is fantastic. Don’t think I’ll ever watch it again, though, unless I’m watching it with someone who hasn’t seen it before. Overall, though a big recommendation.
Favorite Film Moment — The best time I had watching a movie Winner: Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (Watched in theaters courtesy of GKIDS)
Courtesy of Studio Khara and GKIDS
Honorable Mentions: Watching movies at my friend’s apartment in Champaign
This was probably the best experience I have ever had watching something in theaters. I had already watched all the movies in the Evangelion series at my friend’s apartment over the summer, but I decided on a whim to see the final film again in theaters. If you know anything about Evangelion, you know this series is weird. And man, is this movie especially so. The third act is almost nonsensical if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve been numbed to such things.
It would have been the perfect film experience if it wasn’t for that one guy who kept making noises throughout the film two seats next to me. He smelled weird, too.
Still, I almost cried in the first 15 minutes watching this. If you are wondering if it’s worth it to watch all of Evangelion to get to this movie then let me, tell you: no, it is not. But if you were going to do so anyway, then know that this movie is a fantastic definitive ending to the series.
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Music Album of the Year — The best album of 2022 Winner: NOTHING
I didn’t listen to any albums this year. But if you would like to know about some cool albums from 2022, check out the top albums list from the UIC Radio blog. Other members who actually listen to music and have good taste made it so I’m sure there’s good music there.
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Comics (Spoiler, this is the biggest category) Best New Series — The best series that started in 2022 and will continue for the foreseeable future Winner: Rogue Sun (Image Comics)
Courtesy of Image Comics
Honorable Mentions: Poison Ivy (DC), She-Hulk (Marvel), Fantastic Four (Marvel), Public Domain (Image), Love Everlasting (Image)
Rogue Sun (Writer: Ryan Parrott & Artist: Abel) is part of Kyle Higgins’ Supermassive Universe at Image Comics and, in my opinion, is the ideal debut of a new superhero. Fun dialogue, interesting and unique characters, and a gripping, emotional plot centered around family and emotional abuse, Rogue Sun sets itself apart from even the other series in the Supermassive universe.
Best Ongoing Series — The best series that started before 2022 and will continue for the foreseeable future Winner: Action Comics (DC)
Courtesy of DC
Honorable Mentions (This will be split into two categories: Not Enough Issues and Great but not Better than Action Comics) Not Enough Issues: Saga (Image), Something is Killing the Children (Boom Studios) Great but not Better than Action Comics: Batman (DC), Detective Comics (DC), Nightwing (DC), Radiant Black (Image)
The cornerstone of DC, Action Comics continues under writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and primary artist Daniel Sampere for a seminal series starring Superman. This is the run that turned me from someone who thought Superman was okay into someone who literally cannot get enough Superman. Don’t have much else to say. Read this run!
Best Single Issue – The best singular issue of a comic Winner: “Radiant Black #18” (Image)
Courtesy of Image Comics
Honorable Mentions: Superman: “Son of Kal-El #16” (DC), “Amazing Fantasy #1000” (Marvel), “Fantastic Four #1” (Marvel)
Written with the assistance of Chicago native, Laurence Holmes, issue 18 of Radiant Black goes into the life of Wendell George AKA Radiant Yellow. A fantastic journey through the past, present and future, Holmes, series writer Kyle Higgins and artist Stefano Simeone create a unique read unlike anything else I read this year.
Best Limited Series – The best series that began and ended in 2022 (or close to that) Winner: Do a Powerbomb (Image)
Courtesy of Image Comics
Honorable Mentions: The Variants (Marvel), Ant-Man (Marvel), The New Champion of Shazam (DC)
Writer and artist Daniel Warren Johnson displays his passion for professional wrestling in this short series. After the unexpected death of her mother in the middle of a professional wrestling ring, Lona Steelrose agrees to join a magical pro wrestling tournament in order to bring her back. But to do that, she must form a team with the man who killed her. High impact action along with an excellently written story about grief makes Do a Powerbomb a cannot miss series!
Best Comic Story – The best story in comics in 2022 Winner: “Finding Batman”
Courtesy of DC
As part of DC’s annual pride comic, long-time Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy wrote about his life’s journey leading up to voicing the titular character. Emotional. Powerful. Incredibly insightful regarding the history of gay men in the United States. This is a story everyone who like Batman should read. Rest in peace, Kevin Conroy.
Best Manga – The best manga from 2022 Winner: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Courtesy of Viz Media
Honorable Mentions: Spy X Family (Viz Media), Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro (Kodansha Comics), Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (Seven Seas Entertainment)
Written by Kanehito Yamada, with art by Tsukasa Abe, Frieren is a wonderful series regarding the life of an elf after peace has been brought to a fantasy land. As the years go by, the world continues to change but she seems to stay the same. I’m only five volumes in, but it is fantastic.
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Final Thoughts
This was longer than I thought it would be. I was originally going to include a portion on wrestling, but decided against so since it would be longer than the rest of this list combined (and also nobody cares about wrestling). Hope you enjoyed my horrible opinions. If you didn’t then please make sure to listen to the “Off the Radar” podcast on RadioFX and comment to me live about how bad this list is.