DECLAN SHALVEY’S TOP PICKS
The Punisher artist spills on his Marvel favorites! Pick up Becky Cloonan’s, Matt Horak’s and Declan’s Punisher, featuring Frank Castle as the one-man army on crime. And check out more of Declan’s signature work in Moon Knight (2014)!
Essential Reading with Declan Shalvey
'Gen X' by Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo & Steve Buccellato
In Generation X (1994) #1
I love the X-Men but Gen X came out just as I was getting into American comics. It was a great entry point for me. Bachalo’s bold character designs jumped off the page and of course, I loved seeing fellow Irishman Banshee in a starring role, t’be sure t’be sure.
Joss Whedon, John Cassaday & Laura Martin's X-Men
In Astonishing X-Men (2004) #1
A great example of creators doing a signature take on a book. I’m a massive fan of Joss’ Buffy and Angel, etc., but what was a revelation to me was just how good a comics writer he was. Prime Cassaday work here on a series that made you care and made the X-Men cool again.
Nextwave by Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen & Dave McCaig
In Nextwave: Agents of H.a.T.E. (2006) #1
This weird and hilarious book slaps you in the face and tickles your ribs while reading it. Every page is filled with bonkers ideas and visual mastery. Every single panel is a treat. This book is a testament to what can be done in the medium when you let the lunatics run the asylum.
Punisher MAX by Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov & Lee Loughridge
In Punisher Max Vol. 10: Valley Forge, Valley Forge (Trade Paperback)
Garth Ennis has had a stunning take on The Punisher and while I loved it all, I feel like he ended his run on a high note with the exceptional Goran Parlov on art. I loved the idea of Frank being hunted by an enemy he couldn’t fight: fellow marines. Parlov’s art is absolutely phenomenal; retrained yet bold, always telling the story in a compelling and dramatic way. Ennis/Parlov comics are my favorite comics, period.
Daredevil by Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark & Matt Hollingsworth
In Daredevil (1998) #82
While I grew up on the classic Miller Daredevil stories, I have a special love for Brubaker and Lark’s Daredevil run. The book was basically a crime series masquerading as a super hero book with two creators at the peak of their powers.
Vision by Tom King, Gabriel Walta & Jordie Bellaire
In Vision (2015) #1
What can I say about this run that hasn’t already been said? This series is a contemporary classic, with creators doing phenomenal work, from script, to art to colors. Vision is a great example of taking super heroes/sci-fi concepts and telling compelling human stories.
Black Widow by Chris Samnee, Matt Wilson & Mark Waid
In Black Widow (2016) #1
Samnee and co.’s Black Widow is a masterclass in sequential storytelling. What Samnee has done on this series is write a fantastic and complex character drama and deliver it in a visually compelling way. I’ve always wanted to do a Black Widow book like this and will be forever jealous that Chris did it and did it better than anyone else ever will.