Meanwhile . . . as a lifelong fan of comics, it was only a matter of time before I generated a Top 5 with that particular medium at the forefront. I thought it best to begin by ranking the top storylines, as I have always felt that comics offer one of the most unique forms of storytelling available. The abundance of formats that make the most of these compelling tales depicted with pictures and text gives the artists behind the curtain so many different avenues to explore. I love the way a story can be contained within a single issue or trade paperback or spread out over the course of several issues, sometimes stretching on for as long as a year or more. That opens up so many possibilities so far as scope and composition are concerned, and the comics medium is always populated by an abundance of daring visionaries who are looking to tweak the formula. The pool of characters with rich histories and intriguing connections to both one another and the various universes they inhabit are another potent aspect of this utterly unique artform with a wealth of riches.
For this article, I focused on stories composed of more than one issue, so stories contained within a single issue or stories published in trade formats weren’t considered. Additionally, I found it easier to rank landmark publishing events on a grand scale than smaller, intimate stories, so many of my choices were major crossovers that saw numerous heroes and villains joining together for epic confrontations. As always, it was a tough debate, and many of my personal favorites didn’t find their way onto this list. Regardless, here is a look at my Top 5 Comic Storylines.
1) Watchmen (DC) 1986/1987
No surprise here. Watchmen is perhaps the medium’s most treasured accomplishment, a singular tale comprised of 12 issues that has been garnering rave reviews and convincing literary snobs of the merits of this format for decades. Alan Moore was at his brilliant and unconventional best when he conceived this riveting look at an alternative version of America where costumed heroes are real. Moore is equally interested in examining how “real” heroes might behave and probing the effects that the very presence of such beings would have on a modern society. This is accomplished within a complex and mature mystery packed with action, twists, and enough cynicism to give the piece a noir feel. The main story is intertwined with a gruesome tale about pirates that stands as a metaphor for the motivations and actions of some of the characters Watchmen focuses on. There are also numerous interviews and excerpts related to the universe and the characters that are interspersed within the body of the story, fleshing out the landscape that is such an important aspect of Moore’s definitive work.
Dave Gibbons provided the artwork, confining much of the tale to 9 panel pages that put Moore’s writing prowess on center stage, though that’s not to say that Gibbons doesn’t have just as much impact in the telling of the tale. Gibbons designed each of the characters and was given free range to tell the story by Moore, though he chose to stick to the writer’s vision as much as possible. The dense nature of Watchmen required Gibbons to incorporate lots of detail into minimal space, and this gave the piece more weight and solidity. The rather straightforward presentation also gives Watchmen more realism and texture, grounding the piece in reality when a typical approach might have led to a more fantastic vision. There is honesty and impact to spare in this dazzling epic that begins as an investigation into the death of a costumed hero and concludes as a tragic study of what it means to be a hero or a villain. At the end, we are left to ponder how man’s desire to protect himself and those he holds dear can yield such devastating consequences, and we are asked to weight the merits of integrity against the privilege of safety.
Watchmen is a true masterpiece, the finest example of what the industry is capable of, and it deserves a spot of honor in any comic lover’s collection.
Meanwhile . . . as a lifelong fan of comics, it was only a matter of time before I generated a Top 5 with that particular medium at the forefront. I thought it best to begin by ranking the top storylines, as I have always felt that comics offer one of the most unique forms of storytelling available. The abundance of formats that make the most of these compelling tales depicted with pictures and text gives the artists behind the curtain so many different avenues to explore. I love the way a story can be contained within a single issue or trade paperback or spread out over the course of several issues, sometimes stretching on for as long as a year or more. That opens up so many possibilities so far as scope and composition are concerned, and the comics medium is always populated by an abundance of daring visionaries who are looking to tweak the formula. The pool of characters with rich histories and intriguing connections to both one another and the various universes they inhabit are another potent aspect of this utterly unique artform with a wealth of riches.
For this article, I focused on stories composed of more than one issue, so stories contained within a single issue or stories published in trade formats weren’t considered. Additionally, I found it easier to rank landmark publishing events on a grand scale than smaller, intimate stories, so many of my choices were major crossovers that saw numerous heroes and villains joining together for epic confrontations. As always, it was a tough debate, and many of my personal favorites didn’t find their way onto this list. Regardless, here is a look at my Top 5 Comic Storylines.
1) Watchmen (DC) 1986/1987
No surprise here. Watchmen is perhaps the medium’s most treasured accomplishment, a singular tale comprised of 12 issues that has been garnering rave reviews and convincing literary snobs of the merits of this format for decades. Alan Moore was at his brilliant and unconventional best when he conceived this riveting look at an alternative version of America where costumed heroes are real. Moore is equally interested in examining how “real” heroes might behave and probing the effects that the very presence of such beings would have on a modern society. This is accomplished within a complex and mature mystery packed with action, twists, and enough cynicism to give the piece a noir feel. The main story is intertwined with a gruesome tale about pirates that stands as a metaphor for the motivations and actions of some of the characters Watchmen focuses on. There are also numerous interviews and excerpts related to the universe and the characters that are interspersed within the body of the story, fleshing out the landscape that is such an important aspect of Moore’s definitive work.
Dave Gibbons provided the artwork, confining much of the tale to 9 panel pages that put Moore’s writing prowess on center stage, though that’s not to say that Gibbons doesn’t have just as much impact in the telling of the tale. Gibbons designed each of the characters and was given free range to tell the story by Moore, though he chose to stick to the writer’s vision as much as possible. The dense nature of Watchmen required Gibbons to incorporate lots of detail into minimal space, and this gave the piece more weight and solidity. The rather straightforward presentation also gives Watchmen more realism and texture, grounding the piece in reality when a typical approach might have led to a more fantastic vision. There is honesty and impact to spare in this dazzling epic that begins as an investigation into the death of a costumed hero and concludes as a tragic study of what it means to be a hero or a villain. At the end, we are left to ponder how man’s desire to protect himself and those he holds dear can yield such devastating consequences, and we are asked to weight the merits of integrity against the privilege of safety.
Watchmen is a true masterpiece, the finest example of what the industry is capable of, and it deserves a spot of honor in any comic lover’s collection.
2) Secret Wars (Marvel) 1984
Conceived as the basis for a toy line, this epic clash between the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe is one of the biggest and most recognizable spectacles the industry has ever provided us with. Many of the publisher’s most recognizable heroes and villains are summoned to Battleword (a bizarre landscape composed of various pieces of various planets, including swamps, deserts, and even a city block thrown in for good measure) by The Beyonder, a mysterious entity with godlike powers. The Beyonder brings the two sides to war by declaring “Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours!” It’s a relatively simple concept that allows Marvel to showcase most of their characters, and writer Jim Shooter ensures that the gathering of classic heroes and villains are treated properly and everyone has an opportunity to shine throughout the course of this 12 issue war. Personally, I feel that the Secret Wars is one of the most entertaining and exciting stories the medium has ever offered up, and it has remained a personal favorite for much of my life. The two best trades I have ever made were giving Steve Connor a dinner roll for a John Elway rookie card in the fourth grade and buying Nick Wood a six-pack of Coors Light (a lifeless beverage that roughly equates to a splash or two of real beer mixed with water) for his Secret Wars collection nearly a decade ago.
As an added bonus, the toy line was among the finest ever created, and no other line of figures ever brought this kid in an old man’s body (who was once an old man in a kid’s body) more enjoyment. There were numerous major developments that took place within this massive battle royale, including Spider-Man’s discovery of the black costume that would later become everyone’s favorite symbiote, Venom, and The Thing’s decision to stay behind when the Fantastic Four depart, leaving She Hulk to fill his spot on the team for some time. Dr. Doom stands tall in the final act, defeating The Beyonder in a grueling duel that nearly destroys Marvel’s finest villain before he takes The Beyonder’s power and obliterates most of the Marvel Universe in one fell swoop. The covers are epic, all of your favorite characters are there, and there’s enough action to make each issue must-see entertainment. Marvel’s Secret Wars is the best story ever told on this scale with this publisher’s stellar roster, and it has towered above all other crossover events for 26 years.
3) The Dark Knight Returns (DC) 1986
In all honesty, I would rather honor Miller with one of his many legendary arcs on Marvel’s Daredevil, but as significant as those stories were, they pale in comparison to the scope of this title and, more importantly, the impact it had on the medium. That’s not to say that Miller’s work on Daredevil wasn’t influential, but The Dark Knight Returns is perhaps the finest Batman tale aside from Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, and it features one of the industry’s biggest talents utilizing DC’s best characters. Within the pages of this innovative and revisionist smash hit, Miller puts Bats through one hell of a gauntlet, pitting the hero against age, a vicious gang, the Joker, and finally a government-sanctioned Superman. The action comes fast and furious and the shockers keep piling up as a new female Robin hits the scene and Batman suffers as never before.
Miller brings new ideas and startling concepts to both the format and the tale, giving us a bold and provocative take on a signature character. This recently unretired Batman is weary and less likely to pull his punches than most safer representations of the vigilante detective who preys on the criminal element of Gotham City. Given the environment and the tragic history that drives the character, this vision is far more appropriate than some of the more absurd iterations of the character, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. This is a vintage success that is both a captivating tale and a tremendous achievement so far as artwork is concerned, giving us a sensational opus that looks absolutely unique.
4) Civil War (Marvel) 2007
After spending far too long away from the medium, this is the series that brought me back over to the dark side. After years of bogus “hero vs. hero” battles wherein two good guys would have a minor skirmish before teaming up to fight the bad guys, Marvel actually sent their most recognizable heroes to war against one another. The action was top-notch, the twists were mind-boggling, and the battles were extremely compelling “minor skirmishes be damned” affairs that had the entire fanbase talking. Iron Man leads the “registered” heroes who have declared their identities and operate under government control, while Captain America and a band of renegades fight to preserve their autonomy. Friends and foes alike come to blows as the Marvel Universe tears itself apart in an epic clash. Mark Millar and Steve McNiven team up for one of the most controversial storylines ever, and the end result is a complex read with eye-popping artwork that forced Marvel fans to take sides in a gripping war that saw Spider-Man reveal his identity to the world (an event connected by One Last Day, an idiotic tale that might stand as the biggest insult to longtime Spider-Man fans ever) and led to the assassination of Captain America. The Marvel Universe is still dealing with the consequences of this conflict, and few crossover events generated as much interest or enthusiasm as the big story of 2007, Marvel’s Civil War.
5) Fearful Symmetry, a.k.a. Kraven’s Last Hunt (Marvel) 1987
This is one of the industry’s most disturbing tales, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it made my list. Fearful Symmetry also features my favorite hero facing off against one of the best B-list villains ever conceived. J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck shocked legions of comic fans by plunging Spider-Man into this horrifying tale of conquest and insanity that will probably always stand as that character’s darkest hour. 23 years later I still can’t believe the House of Ideas allowed this story to be told, and 23 years later I’m still grateful. The impact this piece delivers is positively stunning, and I’m willing to bet that no one who read each issue has ever forgotten the terror or the madness that made this so hard to bear. Spider-Man has never been a stranger to ass beatings, but black eyes, bloody noses, and a few tears in his costume hadn’t prepared the comic community for his total defeat at the hands of Kraven the Hunter.
After shooting his nemesis with tranquilizers, Kraven buried the wallcrawler and donned his costume, thrashing villains and coming to believe that he had surpassed the hero who routinely foiled his criminal efforts. Surmising that he had reached the pinnacle of success, Kraven the Hunter then blew his head off with a shotgun. Does that sound like typical “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man” material to you? I was absolutely shocked, and for the first time I realized just how powerful comics could be. With Kraven’s Last Hunt, I came to understand that while most comics were designed to be fanciful adventures that provided far more in the way of fun and games than complex accounts of emotions at work, it was still possible for the right people to tell groundbreaking tales in the format. In fact, I suddenly realized that when such stories were created with recognizable characters with intricate histories at the center of the pain and loss, the end result was far more potent than a similar story populated with new creations might have been, Watchmen* aside.
*Alan Moore actually conceived Watchmen as a way of utilizing several of the Charlton Comics characters DC had recently acquired the rights to in 1986. He was unable to do so because the editors felt that it would be unwise to “ruin” some of the characters for future use. Moore ultimately decided to create heroes based on existing characters and utilized several familiar themes and motives to make it easy for audiences to relate to his “new” characters.
As an added bonus, here are my choices for 6-10 without the benefit of commentary:
6) Wolverine Mini-Series – 4 issue limited series set in Japan (Marvel) 1982
7) Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut – from Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel) 1982
8) Kingdom Come (DC) 1997
9) The Last Iron Fist Story – from Iron Fist (Marvel) 2006
10) Emerald Twilight – from Green Lantern (DC) 1990
