Matt here!
Ever since we've first known each other, Jay and I have been comic book fans. And our favorite mainstream publishers have always been at odds. Jay's favorites come from Marvel Comics. I'm a DC Comics fan. Now, we could sit and argue most of the day away as to which one we think is better. But, since there's been enough divisiveness in this country, we thought we'd just let our adoring public know which storylines are our favorite from our favorite respective publishers. So, here are our 10 favorite storylines (Jay will be providing Marvel Comics stories, and I will provide stories from DC Comics):
Jay's Picks
This was a really tough list to put together. I really tried to find a healthy balance between the Marvel storylines that I personally loved the most and also those that were truly significant in the pantheon of comic lore. I also made an effort to include some newer story arcs and not just stick to the old stuff. There are a lot of great writers doing very interesting and daring stuff with classic characters and that deserves some recognition. This list will not be for everyone, I am sure. For one thing, I'll get it out of the way right now, you will notice that I have omitted The Infinity Gauntlet from my list. Though widely considered to be one of the pinnacles of Marvel's achievements, I have a lot of problems with the story, especially towards the end which gets very muddled for me. There are several series that Thanos appeared in that are better than Infinity Gauntlet and serve his character better. One of them is on this list.
So let's get started . . .
Written by Warren Ellis, Art by Declan Shalvey
The revitalization of Marc Spector and his alter-ego the Moon Knight is one of the more fascinating creations to come out of Marvel in recent years. Suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, he would become Marvel’s first certifiably insane (or is he?) vigilante. The 6 issues for Ellis’s run would introduce us to what is essentially the 3 personalities of Moon Knight. There is the traditional costumed hero we recognize in full costume. Then there is the “detective” Moon Knight who wears an all-white 3-piece suit and a mask. Then, finally, he takes the form of a bird skeleton, who wears the Fist of Khonshu, a sort of totem or spirit animal for an Egyptian god that is suggested could actually be an alien. This is wild stuff, but so much fun and a great example of a superior writer taking a mostly forgotten and maligned character out of the vaults and approaching him from an angle that is fresh and new. The question at the core of Moon Knight is simple: is Marc Spector psychotic or is he really a denizen of the Egyptian gods? . . . . . . He’s most likely bonkers . . . . .
Written by Keith Giffen, et. al., Art by Andrea Di Vito, et. al.
This event is most directly responsible for the current resurgence in popularity of the cosmic titles and characters in the Marvel Universe (MU). This was really the beginning of the Guardians of the Galaxy as we know it today. To me, this is a far superior story when compared to the more popular and recognizable Infinity Gauntlet of the early 90’s. Fantastic Four villain, Annihilus, launches an all-out invasion on our universe from the Negative Zone, which results in the destruction of the Kyln prisons and the obliteration of the planet Xandar and the Nova Corp. The arc begins by following four characters in the aftermath of the assault: Silver Surfer (one of my favorite characters in the MU), Super Skrull, Nova, and Ronan the Accuser (the main villain of the first Guardians of the Galaxy film). Thanos also is a main character in this story and I love the way he is written and his motivations throughout. Without this event, there would have been no Guardians of the Galaxy at all.
Written by Tom DeFalco, et. al., Art by Mark Bagley
Cletus Kasady remains one of the most sadistic and evil members of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery. Like the Joker is to Batman, Kasady is pure chaos and evil rolled into one. He does not care about money or power, he just wants to burn everything down and kill as many people as he can when he does it. Unfortunately for the world, Kasady met Eddie Brock while in prison at Rykers Island and the offspring of Brock’s symbiotic Venom suit bonded with the serial killer to create Carnage, one of the most powerful and demented villains Spider-Man has ever faced. In this crossover event, Carnage escapes from a maximum security prison along with several other super-powers baddies. They embark on a killing spree across the city of New York with Spider-Man powerless to stop them without help. That help comes in the form of fan-favorite, Venom, willing to join forces with the Web-Slinger in order to stop his psychotic offspring. Spidey also gets help from Captain America, Black Cat, and Cloak & Dagger, among others. This event encapsulated everything I loved in general about Spider-Man when I was growing up. It’s action-packed and lots of fun!
Written by Garth Ennis, Art by Steve Dillon
Garth Ennis took over The Punisher after the character had been taken down some questionable paths, so to speak. So, “Welcome Back, Frank” was very much a return to the grounded version of Frank Castle that we all know and love. But not only that, it just happens to be one of the best iterations of the character in his forty year history. The story involves Frank returning to New York City and taking on the Gnocchi Crime Syndicate. Tasked with bringing Frank down, once and for all, is Detective Soap, who’s task is purely to save face at the NYPD and to at least look like they want to bring the vigilante down. The Punisher soon convinces Soap to instead help him in his mission and, along with a group of Frank’s new neighbors, they bring down the Gnocchi’s bit-by-bit. This is pure Punisher and as good as it gets. Ennis also happens to inject some humor into the story, which is welcome when dealing with such a dark character. Favorite moment: The Punisher literally punches a polar bear in order to get the beast to maul and kill to bad guys. Great stuff!
Written by Chris Claremont & John Byrne, Art by John Byrne
The Uncanny X-Men was the very first comic book series I discovered as a kid. No other comic, I would argue, had more to say about social and racial issues due to its portrayal of mutants searching for acceptance. Nobody did more for the X-Men than writer Chris Claremont. His 16-year stint on the “X Books” would take the take the title from a floundering rag that no one was reading into the best-selling books in Marvel’s catalog. It would spawn numerous spin-offs including X-Factor, New Mutants, X-Force, Excalibur, etc. Along with artist and co-plotter John Byrne, they would create the most memorable story arc involving Jean Grey’s (Phoenix) transformation from normal telepath/telekinetic to the Dark Phoenix, the most destructive and uncontrollable evil force the Marvel Universe has possibly ever known. What started out as a malicious attempt by the Hellfire Club’s resident illusionist, Mastermind, to manipulate Jean by getting inside her head and creating elaborate hallucinations soon turns disastrous as it flips a switch deep in her mind which releases her dormant full power. As the Dark Phoenix, Jean would reap destruction across the stars, ultimately destroying an entire alien solar system in the process, killing billions of innocents. No force in the universe can stop her until she tragically decides to end her own life instead of killing the man she loves more than anything, Scott Summers (Cyclops). This is the definitive X-Men storyline. Read it and please avoid its movie adaptation, X-Men: The Last Stand, quite possible the worst comic book movie ever conceived.
Written by Joss Whedon, Art by John Cassaday
Joss Whedon’s run on Astonishing X-Men is my favorite collection of of stories about everyone’s favorite family of mutant heroes. Whedon breaks the characters down to their base traits and focuses on the varied dynamics of this dysfunctional team over bombastic action. His entire run writing for the X-Men is fantastic, which makes it difficult to choose, but the first arc, “Gifted” is probably the best. Concerning the discovery of a cure for mutation, the X-Men deal with the fallout of such a discovery while trying to fit back together as a team for the first time in a while. Whedon chooses to highlight most of the action through the eye of Kitty Pryde, a character he has often cited as a primary influence on him in the creation of Buffy Summers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Joss writes the interplay between the main X-Men so well that you surprisingly long for the moments that they are just talking to each other over the ones that involve action. The focus on Emma Frost as a new leader of the X-Men -- and Scott Summers’s new lover -- creates some particularly interesting, and sometimes hysterical, conflicts.
Written by Ed Brubaker, Art by Steve Epting
By now, most everyone has seen the excellent movie adaptation of Ed Brubaker’s story of Steve Rogers’ greatest battle against his best friend who was supposed to have died decades ago during World War II (Captain America: Winter Soldier). In comic book lore, it was widely known that there were 3 deceased characters that were untouchable when it came to resurrection: Cap's Bucky Barnes, Batman's Jason Todd and Spidey's Uncle Ben Parker. Brubaker would bravely fly in the face of conformity and bring Bucky back, but not as Steve Rogers’ long-lost best friend; but rather as mysterious Russian assassin responsible for countless politically motivated killings throughout the decades. Until Brubaker came along, Captain America was mostly considered to be a corny straight-man superhero and a throwback to the golden age of comics that Marvel refused to let go. With Winter Soldier, Cap was cool again! The subsequent film adaption, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, would not only prove to be one of the best Marvel movies, but one of the very best comic book films of all time.
Written by Stan Lee, Art by Jack Kirby
We’re going “old school” with this one, but it deserves it’s place for sure. No other comic series was as influential on the cosmic side of Marvel’s universe than the Fantastic Four. Unfortunately, for such a great property rife with dramatic storylines, Hollywood has not done the FF any favors as both movie adaptations have been nothing short of awful. This is the most famous and well-known story arc in the comic's long history. Sure, there are more recent plot lines that are more intricate, well-written and dive headfirst into the psychosis of comics' “First Family,” but none of them are as influential as the story of Galactus the World Eater’s attempt to consume Earth and how he was ultimately stopped. It is mostly significant for the introduction of one of my favorite Marvel characters: the Silver Surfer. Born Norrin Radd, from the planet Zenn-La, the Surfer would assume the mantel of “Herald” of Galactus when the giant cosmic being threatened his home world. Zeno-La was saved by Norrin Radd, who was both gifted with the Power Cosmic and cursed with scouting ahead and finding new worlds for Galactus to devour in order to sustain himself. When the Surfer finds Earth and determines it is suitable for Galactus’s tastes, the Fantastic Four rise to attempt to defend the planet. They are seriously out of their league, though. It is only when the Silver Surfer comes to know the people of Earth and cannot bring himself to be part of the planet's destruction that he turns on his master and prevents Galactus from eating us entirely for lunch. The Surfer would go on to have his own comic, now released from his servitude and able to ride the cosmos on his silver surfboard.
Written by J.M. DeMatteis, Art by Mike Zeck
No other comic book character was easier to identify with than Peter Parker. Along with the X-Men, Spider-Man was the comic I read the most as a kid. For a kid who always felt like an outsider and a freak, Peter’s story of a normal geeky kid who finds himself gifted with extraordinary powers and his struggle to use them properly, seemed the most familiar. This is my favorite Spider-Man story and, along with “The Death of Gwen Stacy,” is probably the most well-known. Kraven the Hunter sets his sights on the web-slinger once again and, this time, manages to defeat our hero, shooting him and leaving him for dead, buried alive. After defeating Spider-Man, Kraven decides to take on the mantle of Spider-Man, putting on his costume and heading out into the city to stop crime. As the new “Spider-Man,” Kraven is brutal, beating thugs to a pulp in ways they most likely won’t walk away from. Eventually he finds and defeats Vermin, a bad guy that the real Spider-Man couldn’t best without help. Kraven’s disturbing plan begins to take shape as, not dead, Parker wakes up from a tranquilizer dart and crawls his way out of the grave only to find a Kraven who no longer wishes to fight him and a newly released Vermin out for revenge against the Wall-Crawler. Unable to defeat the enraged Vermin without Kraven’s help, Spider-Man is forced to accept the Hunter’s assistance. His plan to prove he could be a better Spider-Man than Parker could, Kraven defeats Vermin, lets him go, and then goes home to his mansion and kills himself with his prized rifle, content that his mission was successful. But in actuality, it was not. The point being that Kraven could never be Spider-Man as he failed to see that what makes Peter Parker such a great hero is not the costume or the powers, but the man inside.
Written by Frank Miller, Art by David Mazzucchelli
The impact Frank Miller made on the comic world in the 1980’s cannot be overstated. He is probably most well-known for his revitalization of Batman for DC Comics in 1986 when he wrote The Dark Knight Returns. But, he also would bring his darker, edgier style to Marvel characters like Wolverine and, most notably, Daredevil, a character that had been all but written off by the time Miller got his hands on him. During his run on writing the “Devil of Hell’s Kitchen,” he would be responsible for penning some of the most memorable moments in Marvel canon. The death of Elektra at the hands of Bullseye was probably the most famous, but it would be "Born Again" that would come to define his talent as comic revisionist. In the story, Daredevil’s ex-girlfriend, Karen Page, sells DD's secret identity to fuel her drug habit. Targeted by Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. The Kingpin, Matt Murdock loses everything: his friends, his practice, etc., in a free fall of epic proportions. He is then forced to rebuild himself from the ground up.
Matt's Picks:
There are simply too many great stories to choose from when it comes to DC! Again and again, you could pick any number of issues from a long box and most likely come upon one of the best storylines in comics! So it is very difficult to narrow down such a broad range of great picks, but since the assignment was to list my favorite, essential top ten stories, I thought of which stories I would recommend to anyone new to comics. However, at the same time, please note that I decided, save Crisis, to keep off entries which are obvious and on EVERY "greatest hits" countdown list, most of them timeless classics which are my favorites too, but are well-known by now (namely, Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns (1986), and Alan Moore's The Killing Joke (1988), just to name a few). So you won't see me going too old-school in this list. Here they are:
Written by Marv Wolfman, Art by George Pérez
There has long been a competition between Marvel Comics’ Infinity Gauntlet and DC Comics’ Crisis on Infinite Earths. It is no surprise that, being a DC fan, I enjoyed Crisis much more. For more of an inkling into why I think Crisis is better, you can check out my article here. This epic storyline helped establish the existence (and idea) of many different worlds in the DC Comics Universe (DCU), explaining why there were different versions of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc., as well as a world where someone like Jonah Hex exists apart from a world where Uncle Sam exists. In short, this story was a way for DC to sort out and explain all of its various characters and how they fit into the DCU. But the main drive of the plot is that the villainous Anti-Monitor is looking to destroy many of the earths and replace them with his own versions, killing billions! It's up to the heroes from the various earths to stop him. After this storyline, all of the worlds were sorted and there were repercussions (most notable are the deaths) which would resonate throughout the DCU to this day. One of my all-time favorite comic book artists, George Pérez, shines here as he captures a lot more detail and a greater variety of characters.
Written by Jeph Loeb, Art by Jim Lee
A lot of people may think Batman: A Long Halloween deserves more of a spot on this list (and it is a great one!), but “Hush” by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee takes the lead due to, first, Lee’s iconic art – he is one of my favorite Batman artists; and second, the creative use of Batman’s infamous rogues gallery, which are the best rogues in comics, period. On its face, the story is about a new villain named Hush, who comes to Gotham City, looking to ruin Batman; but what the story is also about is Bruce Wayne and a dark exploration of his relationships, from Selina Kyle/Catwoman to Commissioner Gordon to his childhood friend, Tommy Elliott. This is all mixed with a masterful use of action so there’s never a dull moment. "Hush" is a great introduction to one of Batman’s newest, most memorable villains and there are plenty of twists and turns to satisfy the biggest Batman mystery fan! A great follow-up to this story -- also definitely worth checking out -- is the "Heart of Hush" storyline!
8. “Villains United” -- The Secret Six - Various issues (2005-2006)
Written by Gail Simone, Art by Dale Eaglesham & Brad Walker
Suicide Squad, schmuicide squad! While I too am a fan of Task Force X, it is the Secret Six who are the underrated villain group to read! Like the Squad, the team was created in the silver age, but were reimagined in the 1980s; but their similarities end there. The team is made up of villains who either seem like a joke and/or you’ve never even heard of before: Cheshire, Parademon, Scandal, Catman, Rag Doll, and Deadshot (whom is also on the Suicide Squad) – but this should be no deterrent. Writer Gail Simone makes these characters even more of outcasts than the Squad, plus they’re twice as bad – and twice as fun to read! In the story, set soon after the events of item #5 on this list, Identity Crisis, the Secret Six come together after refusing to join Dr. Psycho’s The Society, a group of supervillains who are mad after realizing the Justice League of America (JLA) tampered with their minds. Soon, it is up to the Six to prevent all-out war between the Society and the heroes of the DCU. This book also has many appearances from some of the best rogues DC has to offer! When DC’s New 52 era came along, the title was slightly rebooted, and while that version is OK, it is this pre-New 52 version which is the best! Any fan of Suicide Squad should check out this book!
Written by Gail Simone, Art by Dale Eaglesham & Brad Walker
Suicide Squad, schmuicide squad! While I too am a fan of Task Force X, it is the Secret Six who are the underrated villain group to read! Like the Squad, the team was created in the silver age, but were reimagined in the 1980s; but their similarities end there. The team is made up of villains who either seem like a joke and/or you’ve never even heard of before: Cheshire, Parademon, Scandal, Catman, Rag Doll, and Deadshot (whom is also on the Suicide Squad) – but this should be no deterrent. Writer Gail Simone makes these characters even more of outcasts than the Squad, plus they’re twice as bad – and twice as fun to read! In the story, set soon after the events of item #5 on this list, Identity Crisis, the Secret Six come together after refusing to join Dr. Psycho’s The Society, a group of supervillains who are mad after realizing the Justice League of America (JLA) tampered with their minds. Soon, it is up to the Six to prevent all-out war between the Society and the heroes of the DCU. This book also has many appearances from some of the best rogues DC has to offer! When DC’s New 52 era came along, the title was slightly rebooted, and while that version is OK, it is this pre-New 52 version which is the best! Any fan of Suicide Squad should check out this book!
Written by Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, & Peter Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, & Ethan Van Sciver
I was never a big Green Lantern fan. I mean, after all, Hal Jordan is a fighter jet pilot who is lucky with the ladies, so you may think readers have a difficult time relating to him. But then I started reading Geoff Johns’ masterful arc on the character, starting with “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” and I was soon binge-buying and -reading as many titles as I could get my hands on! When Johns first took the reins of Green Lantern, he concocted a trilogy. The first entry, “Rebirth,” is great enough to get the reader hooked, and the last entry, “Blackest Night,” is the emergence of the Black Lantern Corps, raising many long-dead heroes and villains to try to kill off everyone and eliminate all emotion from the universe. All are great but it is this second entry that is the crown jewel! In "Sinestro," after the expulsion of Sinestro from the Green Lantern Corps in “Rebirth,” this entry finds him forming the Sinestro Corps with the yellow light of fear and declaring war against the Green Lanterns. “Sinestro Corps War” is a must-read for all of those looking for an action-packed story with plenty of battles. It is also the introduction of teasing the concept of more corps in the light spectrum, which leads to the creation of rings for the yellow (fear), blue (hope), red (rage), indigo (compassion), violet (love), orange (greed), and black (death). Besides the writing of Johns, Dave Gibbons & Peter Tomasi, it is the artwork by three of the best artists in comics today – Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, and Ethan Van Sciver – that makes this story arc so enjoyable! This story cements the now-legendary conflict between Hal Jordan and his one-time mentor, Sinestro, who was one of the greatest Green Lanterns, but now turned to its mightiest enemy. He believes in order to instill law and order into the universe, one must use and instill fear with brute force. This mirrors real-life law enforcement, politicians and officials who think fear is the best way to keep order; proving this story is still as relevant today as when it was written 10 years ago.
6. “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?” -- Superman/Action Comics - Issue #775 (2001)
Written by Joe Kelly, Art by Doug Mahnke & Lee Bermejo
"What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?" (an homage to the Elvis Costello song, "What's so Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?") holds the distinction as being one of the only single issues on this list. A slightly oversized issue at 37 pages, this Action Comics story points out why Superman is so important in a day and age when brutality, death, and violence seem to equate to justice in many people’s eyes. Ironically, this story was written 6 months before 9/11 but its story uncannily foreshadows the aftermath of that tragic September day when people were demanding revenge. In this story, a group of superpowered anti-heroes led by Manchester Black, calling themselves The Elite, decide to take the law into their own hands, meting out their own form of justice. While most of the population cheer and approve of The Elite’s methods, Superman sees them for what they are: petty bullies, abusing their powers to quench their bloodthirst. What follows is one of the best showdowns, with Supes using not just muscle but also his quick thinking. I know I could have picked several of the story arcs featuring various moments of Clark’s journey toward Superman (i.e., Superman For All Seasons, Secret Origin, Birthright, and American Alien) – all are great – but I wanted to choose something that spoke to Superman’s true spirit and this was it! This story is difficult nowadays to locate in collected form, but it is featured in the collection, Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years, well worth buying as it also features Supes’ 1938 origin and great recent issues like Action Comics issue #900.
"What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?" (an homage to the Elvis Costello song, "What's so Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?") holds the distinction as being one of the only single issues on this list. A slightly oversized issue at 37 pages, this Action Comics story points out why Superman is so important in a day and age when brutality, death, and violence seem to equate to justice in many people’s eyes. Ironically, this story was written 6 months before 9/11 but its story uncannily foreshadows the aftermath of that tragic September day when people were demanding revenge. In this story, a group of superpowered anti-heroes led by Manchester Black, calling themselves The Elite, decide to take the law into their own hands, meting out their own form of justice. While most of the population cheer and approve of The Elite’s methods, Superman sees them for what they are: petty bullies, abusing their powers to quench their bloodthirst. What follows is one of the best showdowns, with Supes using not just muscle but also his quick thinking. I know I could have picked several of the story arcs featuring various moments of Clark’s journey toward Superman (i.e., Superman For All Seasons, Secret Origin, Birthright, and American Alien) – all are great – but I wanted to choose something that spoke to Superman’s true spirit and this was it! This story is difficult nowadays to locate in collected form, but it is featured in the collection, Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years, well worth buying as it also features Supes’ 1938 origin and great recent issues like Action Comics issue #900.
Written by Brad Meltzer, Art by Rags Morales
Written shortly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, novelist Brad Meltzer took comics and particularly its heroes to a place readers hadn’t quite been before: torture. After Elongated Man’s wife, Sue Dibny, was raped and supposedly killed by villain Dr. Light, the JLA decides to mind wipe him in order to prevent further violent attacks from Light. But this isn’t the first time the JLA has done this. They had done it previously when the Secret Society of Super Villains switched bodies with JLA members and learned their secret identities. When Dr. Light learns of this, he escapes the JLA and soon, various loved ones of JLA members begin to be assaulted and threatened. What follows is a superb mystery with many wonderful twists and turns, all leading to a shocking ending. Even though this story is set in a world of superheroes, there is a realism about it I simply love. As stated above, this story was released soon after a time when "enhanced interrogation techniques" were being utilized by the U.S. in foreign countries, making it reflect the times but also imparting the idea that there are unintended consequences to such actions. Identity Crisis reaches Watchmen-like levels and sets the bar for contemporary storytelling in comics!
4. Flashpoint - (2011)
Written by Geoff Johns, Art by Andy Kubert
Any fans of The CW’s Flash TV series will know this is how they started off season 3, and, supposedly, DC plans on making the upcoming Flash live-action film about this story arc. But the comic book counterpart is so much better and a definitive read! This is no Elseworlds story, as it is the event that kickstarts the New 52 era. Barry Allen wakes up to find his mother was never killed by the Reverse Flash, but that’s not the only change. All of the major heroes and villains are vastly different from their well-known personas we've come to love and despise. I would go into detail but that takes all the fun out of discovering it for yourself. This new world Flash has come to is more violent, making the story go to darker places usually not seen as often in comics. When the entire world soon becomes under threat by two of Flash’s Justice League friends, he must figure out what happened and how to fix it before the war erupts. There is plenty of death in this story, but the ending is one of the most tearjerking moments in comics. DC Animation made an animated movie based on this story and it is one of their best, a must-see (although it's more brutal than the comic)! But first, read this essential story!
Written by Geoff Johns, Art by Andy Kubert
Any fans of The CW’s Flash TV series will know this is how they started off season 3, and, supposedly, DC plans on making the upcoming Flash live-action film about this story arc. But the comic book counterpart is so much better and a definitive read! This is no Elseworlds story, as it is the event that kickstarts the New 52 era. Barry Allen wakes up to find his mother was never killed by the Reverse Flash, but that’s not the only change. All of the major heroes and villains are vastly different from their well-known personas we've come to love and despise. I would go into detail but that takes all the fun out of discovering it for yourself. This new world Flash has come to is more violent, making the story go to darker places usually not seen as often in comics. When the entire world soon becomes under threat by two of Flash’s Justice League friends, he must figure out what happened and how to fix it before the war erupts. There is plenty of death in this story, but the ending is one of the most tearjerking moments in comics. DC Animation made an animated movie based on this story and it is one of their best, a must-see (although it's more brutal than the comic)! But first, read this essential story!
3. “The Black Mirror” -- Detective Comics - Issues #871-881 (2011)
Written by Scott Snyder, Art by Jock & Francesco Francavilla
I wasn’t a big fan when DC mixed things up by having Dick Grayson/Nightwing fill in for Bruce Wayne by taking up the Batman suit. I had heard of this story, but, because it was Grayson as Batman, I sort of pushed it to the back burner; however, I eventually picked up “The Black Mirror,” and it has got to be one of my favorite Batman stories out there! What I like about it is that the story revolves mostly around Commissioner Gordon and his children, Barbara and James Jr. This was one of writer Scott Snyder’s first major storylines and you can tell he has a thing for secret societies – a fact that would soon make him all the more popular with The New 52’s epic Batman story arc, “Court of Owls.” While Jock is an OK artist, it is Francesco Francavilla whose art I really admire and his work is the best here as it is perfect for conveying the crime noir story. The story starts with Batman needing to prevent new villain The Dealer from selling a mutagen that turns those who take it into monsters. While this is happening, there is a serial killer loose in Gotham and Commissioner Gordon is trying his best to capture the killer before there are more victims. I cannot rave about this book enough! If you have always enjoyed the straight-up detective-type Batman stories, hunt down this book right now and get it!
I wasn’t a big fan when DC mixed things up by having Dick Grayson/Nightwing fill in for Bruce Wayne by taking up the Batman suit. I had heard of this story, but, because it was Grayson as Batman, I sort of pushed it to the back burner; however, I eventually picked up “The Black Mirror,” and it has got to be one of my favorite Batman stories out there! What I like about it is that the story revolves mostly around Commissioner Gordon and his children, Barbara and James Jr. This was one of writer Scott Snyder’s first major storylines and you can tell he has a thing for secret societies – a fact that would soon make him all the more popular with The New 52’s epic Batman story arc, “Court of Owls.” While Jock is an OK artist, it is Francesco Francavilla whose art I really admire and his work is the best here as it is perfect for conveying the crime noir story. The story starts with Batman needing to prevent new villain The Dealer from selling a mutagen that turns those who take it into monsters. While this is happening, there is a serial killer loose in Gotham and Commissioner Gordon is trying his best to capture the killer before there are more victims. I cannot rave about this book enough! If you have always enjoyed the straight-up detective-type Batman stories, hunt down this book right now and get it!
Written by Kurt Busiek, Art by Stuart Immonen
One of my all-time favorite Superman stories and it's not actually about the main DCU Superman! "Secret Identity" takes place in the real world, starting in 1990 -- a world where Superman is a fictional character in the comics -- but there is a teenager named Clark Kent. He was named that, as he thinks, as some cruel joke by his parents, and, every birthday and holiday, he receives unsolicited Superman collectibles. Then, one day, Clark discovers that he has the same superpowers as his fictional namesake. From that point on, he decides to use his powers for good, and what ensues is a realistic parallel to the comic book version. Writer Kurt Busiek's script reads like an actual journal with substantial, realistic dialogue and situations stuffed throughout. It is artist Stuart Immonen's landscapes and grand panels that also help sell the realism of the story. This is one of the most cerebral stories on this list as it follows Kent from the beginning of his superhero career to his golden years. I can't iterate to anyone enough about needing to read this book! It's the ultimate story for those who don't care much for the bold colors and sweeping action of comic books and superheroes.
Written by Darwyn Cooke, Art by Darwyn Cooke
In May 2016, the comic book world lost one of its greats: artist and writer Darwyn Cooke. I was fortunate to have gotten to meet Mr. Cooke at the Baltimore Comic Con in late 2015. I admit, at first, I wasn’t too big a fan of Cooke’s art – harkening back to the golden age of comics. But then I read Cooke’s “Superman: Kryptonite” story arc, which he wrote and Tim Sale (a somewhat familiar-style artist) illustrated. After that, I decided to give more of Cooke’s stuff a try. Soon, I was directed by my local comic book shop to read his masterpiece, “A New Frontier.” For anyone who was a fan of Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles and/or wondered what the heroes from the Minutemen in Alan Moore’s Watchmen were like before the government ban, then “The New Frontier” is for you! The story is Cooke’s origin story of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, as well as some of the golden and silver age characters long forgotten (i.e., Adam Strange, the first incarnation of the Suicide Squad, Challengers of the Unknown, The Losers, the Blackhawks), with special guest appearances by Aquaman, Green Arrow, Spectre, Doctor Fate, Shazam. The story begins around the end of WWII and goes through the 1950s, McCarthyism, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Cold War – even telling a one-off story featuring an older version of John Henry (a.k.a. Steel) with a gut-punch of an ending – to the Justice League’s first mission together, battling the villain Starro, which was on the cover of The Brave & The Bold #28 (the first appearance of the Justice League of America). Just because this tale harkens back to a more innocent-seeming time, with artwork that screams innocence, doesn’t mean it is innocent; Cooke’s tale features tragic deaths, as well as very real, graphic scenes of violence. “New Frontier” is one of those stories that would remind any comic fan of Alan Moore’s stories: brutally real and morally important – which is what makes it SO great! What also makes this particular edition so worthy is the priceless annotations at the end which point out the homages and Easter eggs that Cooke dropped throughout the story. At 408 pages, it’s a big read … but you’ll cherish every page of it!
In May 2016, the comic book world lost one of its greats: artist and writer Darwyn Cooke. I was fortunate to have gotten to meet Mr. Cooke at the Baltimore Comic Con in late 2015. I admit, at first, I wasn’t too big a fan of Cooke’s art – harkening back to the golden age of comics. But then I read Cooke’s “Superman: Kryptonite” story arc, which he wrote and Tim Sale (a somewhat familiar-style artist) illustrated. After that, I decided to give more of Cooke’s stuff a try. Soon, I was directed by my local comic book shop to read his masterpiece, “A New Frontier.” For anyone who was a fan of Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles and/or wondered what the heroes from the Minutemen in Alan Moore’s Watchmen were like before the government ban, then “The New Frontier” is for you! The story is Cooke’s origin story of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, as well as some of the golden and silver age characters long forgotten (i.e., Adam Strange, the first incarnation of the Suicide Squad, Challengers of the Unknown, The Losers, the Blackhawks), with special guest appearances by Aquaman, Green Arrow, Spectre, Doctor Fate, Shazam. The story begins around the end of WWII and goes through the 1950s, McCarthyism, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Cold War – even telling a one-off story featuring an older version of John Henry (a.k.a. Steel) with a gut-punch of an ending – to the Justice League’s first mission together, battling the villain Starro, which was on the cover of The Brave & The Bold #28 (the first appearance of the Justice League of America). Just because this tale harkens back to a more innocent-seeming time, with artwork that screams innocence, doesn’t mean it is innocent; Cooke’s tale features tragic deaths, as well as very real, graphic scenes of violence. “New Frontier” is one of those stories that would remind any comic fan of Alan Moore’s stories: brutally real and morally important – which is what makes it SO great! What also makes this particular edition so worthy is the priceless annotations at the end which point out the homages and Easter eggs that Cooke dropped throughout the story. At 408 pages, it’s a big read … but you’ll cherish every page of it!
Well, what did you think? Were there any issues or stories we missed? Do you agree or disagree with out picks? Comment below and let us know!
