Deadman: The spirit of murdered circus aerialist Boston Brand, also known as Deadman, has been knocking around the DC Universe for over 40 years. Though he's long since found his killer, Brand is still called upon to place a finger on the scales of justice by the mysterious cosmic entity Rama Kushna. Though he's typically been presented as more of a supporting character, the past year has been something of a renaissance for him. I didn't really enjoy the series Brightest Day, in which he played a major role, but his storyline in the new anthology series DC Universe Presents (part of the "new 52") is very compelling. Also, DC has started reprinting the characters early stories in trade paperback this year, and a second volume is coming out early in 2012.
Hugo: I've heard some people say that Martin Scorsese made a lot more of the film history elements of the story than were originally in the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Not having read the book yet, I can't say, but even if that's the case it seems like it's as it should be. Emphasizing certain aspects over others is often an essential part of making a good adaptation (as opposed to transcription) of a story from one medium to another, and it's hard to argue with the results. Under Scorsese's direction, Hugo works not just as an adventure story and window into another world but also a beautiful love letter to the director's preeminent passion.
The Ladykiller (by Cee Lo Green): I was a few months late to this party, as the album came out in 2010. Maybe I didn't think there was more to it than "F--- You", but whatever my reason was I was wrong. This was the best soul record I've heard in a long while. Putting this on shuffle with my Philly Soul collection and Al Green's album Let's Stay Together us a recipe for musical happiness.
Operation Mincemeat (by Ben Macintyre): The story behind Britain's unusual World War Two plot (aka "the man who never was") to deliver faked secret documents into the hands of German leaders prior to the allied invasion of Sicily using a corpse as the courier has as many plot twists and colorful characters as a Dickens novel. The fact that it all really happened is further proof of the old saying about truth being stranger than fiction.
Thor: This was a good year for comic-book heroes jumping into the movies, even if some of the results were mixed. Green Lantern has always been a favorite of mine, but the film version was a bit lacking in some areas. Thor, on the other hand, was satisfying not just as an adaptation of the comics but also as a story in its own right. Kenneth Branagh got strong performances out of the whole cast and managed to hit the right balance between quiet character-focused moments and rousing spectacle. By the bittersweet ending, I was ready for the next chapter. It's a shame Branagh won't be directing Thor's next solo story, but I have faith that next year's film version of The Avengers won't disappoint thanks to Joss Whedon.
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