With the year winding down, I was curious what everyone enjoyed most in fandom this year. It could be a comic run, a single issue, a show, a movie, a game, or even just something small you didn’t expect to like as much as you did.

I tried a lot of new things this year and ended up expanding my interests more than I expected, so it felt like a good time to look back.

Always fun to reflect before jumping into a new year of releases.

I like the release of the 10 episodes of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man season 1. Season 2 will feature Robbie Daymond as Flash Thompson, Max Mittelman as Reptil, Melenie Minichino as Priya Aggarwal, Jeannie Tirado as Mary Jane Watson and Erica Lindbeck as Gwen Stacy. Norman as green goblin or venom and more action.

KPop Demon Hunters, movie & album of the year 🔥

9 hours ago, kristyne said:

KPop Demon Hunters, movie & album of the year 🔥

This 100%. Still in my regular playlist

I did not expect to love Splinter Cell: Deathwatch as much as I did, but that show was fantastic. I also ended up playing Magic far more this year than previous years thanks to the Final Fantasy set, and ended up sticking around and trying out some of the other Universes Beyond sets too.

For me, one of the biggest surprises this year was how much my reading expanded just by listening to my local comic shop.

I ended up subscribing to a few titles I never would have picked up on my own, and some of them became regular reads. It really reminded me how easy it is to get stuck in a comfort zone and miss out on great stuff.

Curious if anyone else had a book they didn’t expect to like but ended up loving.

23 hours ago, Comicbookfan101 said:

I like the release of the 10 episodes of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man season 1. Season 2 will feature Robbie Daymond as Flash Thompson, Max Mittelman as Reptil, Melenie Minichino as Priya Aggarwal, Jeannie Tirado as Mary Jane Watson and Erica Lindbeck as Gwen Stacy. Norman as green goblin or venom and more action.

I actually haven’t seen that one yet, but thanks for the recommendation. I’ve heard good things and I’ll definitely add it to my watch list. Sounds like Season 2 has a lot to look forward to.

13 hours ago, MattAguilarCB said:

I did not expect to love Splinter Cell: Deathwatch as much as I did, but that show was fantastic. I also ended up playing Magic far more this year than previous years thanks to the Final Fantasy set, and ended up sticking around and trying out some of the other Universes Beyond sets too.

I haven’t played Magic, but one of my goals for next year is to get more involved in RPGs in general. I’ve been really interested in things like the Marvel Multiverse RPG and Dungeons & Dragons.

I actually won a D&D book recently, Dragon Delves with the red dragon figure, so I’m looking forward to finally learning and diving in. I'm hoping to find some online communities.

22 hours ago, kristyne said:

KPop Demon Hunters, movie & album of the year 🔥

I've heard a lot about that one but haven't actually watched it. I'll put it on my list!

6 minutes ago, FantasticJerome said:

I actually haven’t seen that one yet, but thanks for the recommendation. I’ve heard good things and I’ll definitely add it to my watch list. Sounds like Season 2 has a lot to look forward to.

Will you post an article about it?

2 minutes ago, Comicbookfan101 said:

Will you post an article about it?

That's a good idea! I'll watch them this week.

Just now, FantasticJerome said:

That's a good idea! I'll watch them this week.

I mean my recommendations about season 2. Will you post an article?

1 hour ago, FantasticJerome said:

I haven’t played Magic, but one of my goals for next year is to get more involved in RPGs in general. I’ve been really interested in things like the Marvel Multiverse RPG and Dungeons & Dragons.

I actually won a D&D book recently, Dragon Delves with the red dragon figure, so I’m looking forward to finally learning and diving in. I'm hoping to find some online communities.

That's awesome! I've been really wanting to get into a regular campaign again, either with D&D, Daggerheart, or the Marvel RPG. When you get a great group, a roleplaying game is really unlike anything else.

2 hours ago, FantasticJerome said:

For me, one of the biggest surprises this year was how much my reading expanded just by listening to my local comic shop.

I ended up subscribing to a few titles I never would have picked up on my own, and some of them became regular reads. It really reminded me how easy it is to get stuck in a comfort zone and miss out on great stuff.

Curious if anyone else had a book they didn’t expect to like but ended up loving.

I wouldn't have necessarily read Everything Dead & Dying without a little push, but it ended up being great, so I'm glad I actually took the time to check it out.

I watched Apothecary Diaries and Frieren this year, and both were absolute hits for me. In general, 2025 has been a year of getting back into manga and anime for me, and it's been really nice.

Also still kind of can't believe Pokemon actually announced a cozy game. Pokopia isn't what I was hoping for, exactly, but it's wild to see and I can't wait to actually play it.

16 minutes ago, Amanda Kay Oaks said:

I watched Apothecary Diaries and Frieren this year, and both were absolute hits for me. In general, 2025 has been a year of getting back into manga and anime for me, and it's been really nice.

Also still kind of can't believe Pokemon actually announced a cozy game. Pokopia isn't what I was hoping for, exactly, but it's wild to see and I can't wait to actually play it.

For Pokemon day I want a new Blu-ray release of the Classic Pokemon anime with the first 5 seasons 2 English dubs are the legacy dub (4Kids) and new dub (Studiopolis). New dub features no bad languages, no inappropriate words, error fixes, keeping English names from 4Kids and re-recording lines. Erica Lindbeck might play the Charicific Valley girl, Liza.

22 hours ago, MattAguilarCB said:

That's awesome! I've been really wanting to get into a regular campaign again, either with D&D, Daggerheart, or the Marvel RPG. When you get a great group, a roleplaying game is really unlike anything else.

I'm hoping to find or create one that can grow. I've had people on Reddit ask me to join their games, but I haven't tried it yet.