This is my spin on the BESTEST that 2012 had to offer.

Movies:

The Avengers
A blockbuster in every sense of the word AND it doesn’t insult your intelligence. I’ve asked geeks and common folk alike, they have all said it gets better with repeated viewings. We will have to wait until 2015 for the follow up, but since Joss Whedon is directing again with the same cast in place…yeah, it’ll be worth it. Also, cough cough Thanos cough cough Infinity Gauntlet cough cough Awesome.

Looper
Sci-fi time traveling mob movie that is absolutely engrossing from start to finish. ‘Looper’ is a total mind bender of a character driven futuristic action thriller that explores themes like regret/redemption and doesn’t rely on too much CGI.

Prometheus
Not the ‘Alien’ prequel that most people thought it would be. Still, while it didn’t live up to expectations of most I thought it was a Tour De Force of EPIC proportions. Like, The Avengers (see above) it rewards with repeated viewings. Like I mentioned before in previous BSR posts, this movie catalyzes discussion. There is plenty of material to pick apart, interpret subjectively, and discuss over and over again. Plus, the film was GORGEOUS, money shot Sci-Fi porn.

Honorable mention(s)
Paranorman
Chronicle

Video Games:

The Walking Dead
The beauty of Telltale’s episodic game is in its powerful narrative, its compelling use of emotion, and its unique (by modern standards) gameplay. It really pulls you. It’s addictive, engaging, emotional, tense, tragic, and a journey in the truest sense of the word. Almost a masterpiece.

Mass Effect 3
A video game so good that Bioware had to change Errr add some DLC to ‘clarify’ the ending (i.e. the extended cut). You’ve heard it all…’Awesome game, horrible ending’ or ‘Biggest let down ever’ or ‘Brilliant disaster’. The Mass Effect trilogy is a touchstone in gaming lore and one of the best trilogies of all time. Yeah, I said it.

Dishonored
I typically HATE first person games. I find the perspective to be incredibly disorienting and difficult to control. ‘Dishonored’ changed all that. A stealth game that plays they way you want it to and you can mix and match the ways you want to fight or sneak. A love letter to ‘Thief’ & ‘Deus Ex’ fans.

Honorable mention(s) Ratchet & Clank Collection

Comics:

Saga (Brian K. Vaughan/Fiona Staples)
SAGA is a beautiful, massively entertaining space opera that keeps you invested in all of its characters, creates a incredibly rich universe for these characters to exist in and never fails to please the eye or the intellect. Fair warning though: there is quite a bit of sexual content, gratuitous violence, and “WTF’ moments. So worth it.

Locke & Key (Joe Hill/Gabriel Rodriquez)
The characters in ‘Locke & Key’ are real, well rounded, and sympathetic. The story line is suspenseful, and as certain mysteries get cleared up, new information creates new questions for the reader (and the characters) to ponder. This series is just plain creepy, in a good way. The ‘Omega’ story arc has begun.

The Unwritten (Mike Carey/Peter Gross)
‘The Unwritten’ has things to say about the nature of fame and our obsession with celebrities. And, as a nod to the roadside-accident-rubber neck syndrome, writer Mike Carey demonstrates again that, while we as a public love to build up our idols, what we love even more is tearing them down. A modern fantasy tale of literary figures, philosophy, mythological beasts, and human dreams & nightmares. It gets so much better as it goes along. If you haven’t started reading this, you need to.

Honorable mention(s)
Mind MGMT (Matt Kindt), iZombie (Chris Roberson/Michael Allred)

Novels:

Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
A novel that it involves modern computer technology, the secret of eternal life, a quest Tolkien would have admired, quirky characters from various generations, a seemingly-unbreakable code, and an author that knows how to write an ending. Simultaneously cutting edge and classic.

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
The less you know about the story going in, the better. What I can tell you is that it is post-apocalyptic fiction, but one that stands out from the crowd. It is stream of consciousness page-turner that makes you feel better about humanity.

Operation Montauk by Bryan Young
A FANTASTIC Sci-Fi, Action, YA…to be honest; the only category it falls into is EXCELLENT. It’s mos def a genre bender and breaks ‘time travel’ conventions. An intense, fast read cover to cover. The Kindle price is STILL a steal at $4.99. Highly recommended.

Honorable mention(s)
Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne, Terminal Point by K.M. Ruiz

Music

Oddisee ‘People Hear What They See’
Many times, concepts and subject matter in ‘hip-hop’ get cycled around, though that is not the case for this album. The sound is bright, all uptempo explorative b-boy breaks with a soulful edge. Oddisee can flip a four-bar loop with the best of them, his lyrics are a product of a thoughtful writer without getting too preachy. Can’t wait to hear or see what’s next.

Killer Mike ‘R.A.P. Music’
This album says something. It’s firmly rooted in the reality of living. This contrast from the domination of superficial narcissism and complete fantasy that dominate popular culture is enough to make this album stand out. ‘R.A.P. music’ is a work of art that will come to define an era and will continue to speak to generations of new listeners. Give the song ‘Reagan’ a try, than get back to me.

Large Professor ‘Professor @ Large’
The Large Professor, most famous for being a member of the hip-hop group, Main Source, will NEVER fall off. The old school appeal is evident in LP’s flow, his production, and the overall aura. ‘Professor @ Large’ is a nice, refreshing album especially if you love that late 80’s early 90’s boom bap sound.

Honorable mention(s)
Quakers ‘Quakers’
Kid Koala ’12 Bit Blues’