I've only started getting into comics, but I've already found I enjoy a variety. if I had to pick one type that is my favorite, it would probably be adult oriented. since my time reading comics is relatively short compared to most comic nuts, I'm not going to list what I'm currently reading, but my top 10 favorites (whether I am currently reading them or have finished them.) I also only read via trade paper back, my current lack of permenant housing makes individual comic issues impractical.
10. Allstar Superman. This feels like a comic writer looked at the silver age esque awesomeness of the Christopher Reeve movies and and said, "That's pretty good, but I can do better." except said comic writer was Grant Morrison, so it is also a nuanced, multi-layered story with enough mythological symbolism to teach an entire college course on. The fact that it is a totally standalone story means it is also a great way to introduce comic readers.
9. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 and 2. I'm only referring to the first two storylines here, up through the war of the worlds bit. after that it tends to lose its way a bit, and in my opinion isn't nearly as good. bonus points for the fact that things are wrapped up enough at this point where you can treat it as an actual ending. anyways, a dark, multi-layered Alan Moore story about a sort of old school justice league made up of a who'ss who of Victorian literature. Need I say more?*
8. Deadpool Classic. Really, from what I've seen/heard, pretty much any of the major Deadpool series would earn there spot here, so I'm going with the one I've read the most of. What can I say, it's utterly insane, totally unique, and hilarious.
7. Watchmen. Yeah, yeah, I know. It's like putting Citizen Kane on a favorite movies list. It's cliche, it's expected, and there is nothing to say about it that hasn't already been said. But there's a reason for all of those things. It is really, truly a masterpiece. Not necessarily perfect like some would claim, but nothing is.*
6. The 80's Wolfman/Perez run of The New Teen Titans. Well, up through the Terror of Trigon at least. I can't help it, I just love this comic. It was a bit of a revolution in it's time with trying to right young heroes in a way that was believable, and for taking a somewhat unloved b-project and, for a time, making them a major force. Of particular note is the 4-part story "The Judas Contract", which is in my opinion one of the all-time highlights of superhero comics, period. The shear amount of material I'm talking about with this entry means that not all of it was home run worthy, but it was still consistently damn good.
5. The Brubaker run on Captain America, starting with Winter soldier. I love Captain America, and I'm not afraid to say it. I love the idea of him, I love what he stands for, and yet even I have to admit that he hasn't always been written that well or treated the best by Marvel. The came Ed Brubaker, who kickstarted a revolutionary run that finally gave an icon his do. If anyone is looking to get started on Captain America, or superhero comics in general
4. Sandman. Of all the comics on my list, I think this one has gotten the most mentions. And with good reason. the art is unique, the premise inventive, the character's and situations mind-bending, and yet for all it's layers and symbolism, it never devolves into being esoteric for it's one sake and still tells a comprehensible and emotionally resonant story.*
3. V for Vendetta. People can go on and on about his body of work all they want, but this will always be my favorite Alan Moore Comic. There's just something about it, the artwork, the atmosphere, it's just amazing. Having one of the most iconic anti-hero protagonists of all time doesn't hurt. In addition, there cannot be enough said for a story that pits a freedom fighter against British Nazi's and actually manages to maintain a stark sense of moral ambiguity.*
2. Fables. what can I say. I love Fairy Tales, and what I love almost as much is weird new interpretations of them. Whether it's Once Upon a time on tv, the faerie elements of series like the DF, whatever, old Disney movies, what ever, I love it. i also love noir, and Fables is one of the most imaginative an delightfully twisted takes and fairy tales I've seen, adding a very noirish feel.*
1. Hellboy (including what has thus far been printed for Hellboy in Hell.) This book is amazing. The story telling is amazing, Mingola's knowledge of and respect for myth and folklore rivals Jim's, the whole thing is delightfully creepy and Gothic, and it has some of my favorite artwork in all of comics. It has a great, epic since of gravity, but is still capable of having fun with it's goofier elements. The conclusion of the first series is effectively a Lovcraftian apocalypse steeped in Aurthurian lore, and yet there is also an earlier issue that features the line "Goddamn Nazi Frankenstein monkey!" If any of you have yet to check them out, give the series a shot, even if you aren't normally a comics fan.*
the * are titles I am specifically marking out as refutations that Western comics just recycle the same tired tropes and are incapable of taking real risks or breaking new and interesting ground artistically or narratively.
Poll
