Your favorite comics!

[Venom65437]

Now, I don't mean your ten best comics, or your ten most expensive, I'm wondering, what are your top ten favorite comics and why? I think this could be interesting as these lists might not include classics, and it could give us some interesting ones to hunt down.

So, in no particular order

Uncanny X-Men #221 - This was right before "The Fall of the Mutants." The main reason it is on my list is because it's the first comic I ever owned. My first copy was actually a reprint, and I read the crap out of it. Reading it again, it's actually an exciting issue of the X-Men vs. the Marauders.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 - No brainer here, it's the proper debut of my favorite villian. I still don't care much for Todd McFarlane's art, but it's still a really good fight of Spidey vs. Venom.

Amazing Spider-Man #400 - I know that Marvel completely ret-conned this issue and that's too bad. It's one of the best Spider-Man issues ever made. If Marvel ever decides Aunt May needs to die again, they'll never top this book.

Web of Spider-Man #125 - It's early in the Clone Saga before it got completely out of hand. Not too much happens in this issue. Just Spidey looking through the clones or Warren Miles, and Gwen Stacy's house. I like it because it gets into Spidey's head and really focuses more on him, rather than Spider-Man.

Uncanny X-Men #308 - This is the issue that Scott and Jean get engaged. It takes place on Thanksgiving Day, with Scott and Jean going down memory lane while the rest of the X-Men play a football game. It shows the family aspect of the X-Men that hasn't been seen nearly as much since Chris Claremont left the book in '91.

Spider-Man Unlimited #13 (or is it #14?) - It's the first one with Ben Reilly as Spider-Man. This issue is full of laugh out loud moments. It's has him teaming up with Misty Knight, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage. They're fighting the Scorpion. Nothing really memorable happens, but it's a hoot, especially near the end.

Uncanny X-Men #230 - Longshot found the cave where the Reavers kept all the stuff they stole from everyone. So the X-Men decide to give it back to everyone. When people wake up Christmas morning, they find all the things that were taken from them are back! It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

Wolverine #176 - Another story with not a whole lot of action, but it gets more into Wolverine's head and what makes him tick. A very interesting read, IMO.

Spider-Man #75 - The conclusion to the Clone Saga. All thoughts about the story aside, this is an awesome issue that features the one, true Spider-Man slugging it out with the Green Goblin. Norman has everyone Spidey has ever known (well almost everyone) in danger, and Spidey has to save them all. It's a brutal battle and it finally brought an end to that forsaken storyline.

I have more, but I really should be working on a paper right now. These are the ones that jump immediately to mind. When I have more time I'll put down a few more. I can't help but notice that a lot of my favorite issues aren't very noteworthy for much of anything, and they tend to focus more on the character than fighting.

[hector]

You need to read less Marvel.

[Venom65437]

Never!!! Almost all of those are 10+ years old anyway!

[Elliot Kane]

Not sure I can get to ten.... and there's no way in heck I'll remember numbers. But still, in no particular order:

The issue of New Mutants that deals with teen suicide. In one issue, Claremont created this really nice young man with a power to create beautiful sculptures out of light. Then he had him kill himself in utter despair. With one issue, Claremont drove home the tragedy of all that wasted potential on every level. This probably is the best single issue of any series I own.

The Captain America issue where Cap goes on a date with Diamondback. Mark Gruenwald manages to capture Cap perfectly - flaws and foibles as well as strengths. And Rachel Leighton remains the best GF he ever had by a long way. The relationship is pitch perfect, and this proves it.

The issue of USM where Peter tells MJ he is Spidey. One of the few times when USM was not just recycling old Spidey stories but actually dared to step to the side and do its own thing - and is far the better for it. This is where Bendis made his name - on the character driven stuff that just rings so true to life you can't help but love it.

Ruse #1. What if Sherlock Holmes took Irene Adler as his partner instead of John Watson? Well - you'd have gotten Ruse. The only way to improve on Conan Doyle's formula was to add a dash of romance, and this Mark Waid did. To my mind, Ruse is his finest work ever, and this set the tone for the whole series.

War Story: Condors. Strictly speaking a one shot in a series of one shots, but close enough to qualify by my reckoning Simply one of the best war stories ever told in the comic medium, with Garth Ennis looking at the Spanish Civil War. It's just four guys caught in a foxhole and the stories of what brought them there - and it's great. Carlos Ezquerra on art doesn't hurt either

The issue of Hawk & Dove where Hank & Dawn discover where their powers come from... and start asking themselves what it all means... Great issue by the Kesels in one of DC's best ever ongoing series.

All Star Superman #1. This really reminded me why I love reading comics, and there's not much that does that Grant Morrison writes the Superman stories I always wanted to read without quite knowing what it was I wanted. I know now

That's it for now... I might add more, later

[Gray Lensman]

Hmm... not an easy list to compile for me. I'll stick to single-issue, self-contained stories, though, just to make things easier for me.

The New Mutants suicide issue, which I believe was NM #45. Really a powerful, compelling story that struck right in the gut. Claremont made me care about Larry Bodine, and it made his death that much more sudden and tragic. I also think that Kitty Pryde's memorial speech at the end of the issue is one of her strongest personal moments. A really great issue that explored death as well as what life is about.

Impulse #3: Probably one of the single funniest issues I've read. A young Bart Allen goes to high school... and then proceeds to annoy every single person at school. (All unintentionally, too, which I love. ) Mark Waid at his most hilarious, and Humberto Ramos back when his art was readable. Really great stuff.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" from Sandman. There are so many great single-issue stories that Neil Gaiman wrote in that series, but that one's one of my favorites. That and "Ramadan" are up there for best in the series, for me.

Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #60: Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo's first issue on the FF, and it is exactly what a first issue should be. It explores and introduces who the characters are, what they're about, and at the same time tells us something new about them. A textbook way to begin a great run on a series.

All Star Superman #1: Because Grant Morrison finally found the core of what makes Superman work, and showed it flawlessly from start to finish. Actually, it's hard to pick a favorite issue of this series... I love just about all of them.

X-Factor #87: Peter David's infamous therapy issue. This was the issue that finally made Quicksilver interesting to me. It also effectively explored the rest of the cast as well. This is considered a classic for good reason.

MK Punisher (#13?): The issue where Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon take Frank Castle on a trip to Ireland. The result... well, you just have to see for yourself. IMO, the best issue to come out of Ennis' ongoing Punisher until it went MAX.

There's quite a bit more, but I'll leave it at those for now. I'll likely kick myself for forgetting something later, probably. ;D

[hector]

In case anyone is interested in the issue numbers:

The one where Kitty tries to help Larry Bodine is indeed New Mutants v.1 #45

The first date of Cap and Diamondback happened in Captain america v.1 #371

The issue when Peter tells MJ his secret is Ultimate Spider-Man #13 (which, disagreeing with Elliot, was one of the absolute worst comics I've ever read, and the first that did made me realize Bendis is a [Censored] writer)

I'd guess the Hawk and dove issue Elliot refers to is v.2 #17

"A Midsummer's Night Dream" was played by Shakespeare himself in front of the Lord of the Dreams in Sandman #19, this one is so good it's the only comic that will ever win a World Fantasy Award. One of my personal favorites is the also mentioned "Ramadan" in Sandman #50.

[Elliot Kane]

Really Hec? That and the intro of Ult Gwen convinced me Bendis could be one of the greats... If only he'd developed his talent instead of believing his own hype. I wouldn't buy anything by him at all, these days...

[hector]

Yeah. Before that issue I didn't had much of an opinion of his work, except that Ultimate Spider-Man was a passable updating of the character. That issue made me notice for the first time that whatever strenghts he has paled against his lack of any storytelling talents.

[Elliot Kane]

I think what really drove home Bendis' shortcomings to me were the previews of Avengers Disassembled. I knew he couldn't do fight scenes, of course, but that really pointed up his inability to pace, to plot coherently and to characterise established characters as opposed to his own takes on them. I'm just glad I was never an Avengers fan. I think I might have been in tears...

And yes, all that WAS apparent from just a few pages. It was that bad.

It wasn't even hilariously bad, like Phoenix: Endsong...

Not that I didn't know Bendis had a lot of problems as a writer anyway, but I never thought he was THAT awful.

[Alrik]

- Bone
- Akiko

'Nuff said.

Apart from that additional favourites :

- Asterix
- Lucky Luke
- Tintin

European comics, see ?

Out of competition :

- Little Nemo. I've actually got a new print of seemingly all comics - in one book. The German publisher "Taschen Verlag" reprinted it a few years ago.

[hector]

For hilariously bad I don't think any comic will top Civil War #4 this decade. Warsong wasn't bad, it was merely plain.

Avengers Dissassembled only cemented the opinion I had about Bendis from reading USM and Daredevil.

[peterh]

I really can't come up with ten comics offhand. I'll have to think about it

alrik said:

- Bone
- Akiko

'Nuff said.

Apart from that additional favourites :

- Asterix
- Lucky Luke
- Tintin

European comics, see ?

Well, I enjoy Tintin, Asterix and Lucky Luke too, Alrik. Tintin is probably the best European comic I've ever read and though I've grown out of reading Asterix and Lucky Luke, they're still great comics - especially for kids and young adults

alrik said:

Out of competition :

- Little Nemo. I've actually got a new print of seemingly all comics - in one book. The German publisher "Taschen Verlag" reprinted it a few years ago.

Wow, someone else knows of Little Nemo?

I've read the album sized Danish editions (equal in size to Omnibus editions) and they're incredible. To think this comic dates back 100 years is astonishing. I remember telling a few people about the book in the chat. No one had heard of it and it's quite a shame.

Here's a few pics along with the wiki article. Have a look

Wikipedia article
Pic 1
pic 2
pic 3

[hector]

Little Nemo isn't exactly oscure, Pete.

[Venom65437]

What the hell is Little Nemo?

[peterh]

hector said:

Little Nemo isn't exactly oscure, Pete.

Honestly, Alrik's one of the only people I've spoken to who knew about it. People in my lsc know of it, of course, but almost everyone I've spoken to online, didn't have a clue what it was..

[Elliot Kane]

Hec's idea of obscure isn't exactly that of normal people ;D I'd never heard of Little Nemo, either...

[Alrik]

Well, to be exact, it was Genesis who brought me to Little Nemo. They once made a somg names "Scenes from a Night's Dream" ..."

So at least one of them knows him, too.

And not knowing Little Nemo is just what I call a ... "hole in the education". You should really read that Wikipedia article !

[Gray Lensman]

I'd heard of Little Nemo. I just hadn't read any of it, and don't know a whole lot about it beyond what Peter's told me.

Really a shame, too, I must admit. There's a lot of stuff out there that doesn't get nearly enough exposure and awareness in this day and age.

[Alrik]

I found an interesting detail today.

I bought Laura Bow : The Dagger Of Amon Ra on a flea market today, and it contains a book which is very thoughtfully written so it looks like a *real* book of the museum the game takes place.

This adventure takes place in the 20s or so of the last century, so the text is written.

The detail I want to mention is that one article in that book states that few ordinary people know much about culture at all, and that the "Katzenjammer Kids of today are nearer to them than ancient cultures".

I had heard about them erlier, and what I heard, was, that they were much popular than Little Nemo, and both - Little Nemo and the Katzenjammer Kids - were printed at the same time !

Look here : Katzenjammer Kids on Wikipedia

Well, that astonished me, that the folks at Sierra bback then had done so much recherching that they actually came up with this tiny little detail ! I say it is "tiny", because nowadays very few people know about them (although Wikipedia says that they are still printed).

This Wikipedia article also tells you what the word "Katzenjammer" originally means in German language (it's odd anyway that an German-language name was used for an american comic strip).

Katzenjammer means contrition after a failed endeavour or hangover in German.

I just want to add to that that in German languag, the letter j is spoken like the letter y in English language. So, for correct spelling, just replace the j with an y in "Katzenjammer Kids" and you'll have the correct German spelling !
Apart from that, the German z isn't spoken at all like the English z. Instead, it is pronounced as an English person would pronounce the combination "ts". In some words, however, the German z is even made "harder" by adding an t (without really spelling/pronouncing it). Like in the name of that comic strip. As a result, you wouldn't pronounce the t in "Katzenjammer Kids", but instead the "ts" combination. No two t's.