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AICN COMICS: Matt Adler's Top 10 Comics of the 2000's
Welcome back to Day II of The Top Ten Comics of the 2000’s. Ambush Bug here. Today Matt Adler provides his picks for the best of the best on the racks for the last ten years. You’re on, Matt!
Matt Adler’s Top Ten Comics of the 2000’s
Matt Adler here. Wow, a Top 10 list for the ENTIRE DECADE? We must be crazy, but hey, that’s why they call us @$$holes. I think. Anyway, for me this was a particular challenge, given my comic buying habits. I’ve been buying comics since the mid ‘80s at the wee age of 7; I took a hiatus for a few years at the end of the ‘90s, having been a Marvel Zombie burnt out by the cancellations and reboots of that era.
So, for me, the 2000s were a Renaissance of sorts; with the blinders of just following certain characters or a certain universe taken off, I was open to a whole new world of comics. The rise of the Internet comic community, starting on Usenet and spreading to the Web, played no small part in that; for the first time, we had access to countless other fans whose tastes we could compare with our own, and get recommendations for comics we might not ever have considered before. It also helped that in the 2000s, the writer became the star; whereas the ‘90s had a number of very dynamic artists, the 2000s brought many writers to the forefront who reminded us that comics first and foremost have to be about telling stories that you want to follow. This attitude even took hold at a reformed Marvel, led by Joe Quesada (ironically, Marvel’s first artist EiC) ascending to the top post in editorial in the year 2000.
The industry changed dramatically and suddenly at the beginning of this new millennium, and I can still remember that feeling in 2000, returning to a comic shop for the first time in several years, and looking around to realize how many strange and radically different comics were out there; perhaps the near-apocalypse the industry had faced in the ‘90s freed creators and publishers up to do whatever they wanted. I wanted to sample everything on that first trip, and I pretty much did; I brought home dozens of comics from many different publishers that day, and some of those held up well enough to have made my decade list below, which in and of itself is surprising, given that I have read hundreds of different series since getting back into the hobby, lo those many years ago.
So it was very tough to narrow those hundreds down to a measly 10; you get conflicted, and wind up repeating the “fair and balanced” mantra more than Fox News. Could you be unjustly influenced by nostalgia? Perhaps you might be unfairly leaning towards recent books, given that they’re fresher in your mind? Honestly, just coming up with a comprehensive list of books I liked over the past 10 years was a chore in and of itself. In the end, I wound up judging them based on two criteria which I felt were as close to objective as I could get in this sort of exercise. First, how long have I followed the particular series? I figure if I’ve stuck with a series through thick and thin, that’s a pretty solid measure of my enjoyment of it. Segundo, how often have I recommended the series to friends? If I’m sticking with it, but not recommending it, maybe it’s just a guilty fanboy pleasure with little redeeming value. So without further ado, here are the 10 series that made the cut out of an entire decade.
#1. FABLES
Creators: Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Lan Medina
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Years running: 2002 – Present
FABLES takes the top spot both for its longevity (which shows no signs of slowing down; there’s already a spin-off series, JACK OF FABLES, as well as various miniseries , forays into the world of OGNs and prose novels, and more to come) and for its quality. It’s a relatively simple premise -- fairytale characters come into our world -- but the brilliance is in the execution. Bill Willingham makes these characters feel like real people, and has woven an intriguing backstory as to why they are here and how they are relate to us that frequently delves into the very roots of fiction itself, and shows Willingham to be an exceptionally thoughtful writer. He is aided most frequently by artistic collaborator Mark Buckingham, for whom it seems there is no imaginable scenario that cannot be rendered, always with the just the right mood, balancing the classical with the modern, the emotional with the whimsical, and the creepy with the absurd.
#2. Y: THE LAST MAN
Creators: Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Years running: 2002 – 2008
While it was running, Y was like crack. You HAD to have the next dose, had to find out what was going to happen next. Creator Brian K. Vaughan wiped out the male half of the human race, except for one lone young man, Yorick Brown, and proceeded to take the reader on a voyage to answer the questions raised by that situation. Vaughan never took any easy way out, including not giving in to the natural assumption of many readers that the series would consist of Yorick scoring with every female in sight. Instead, Vaughan made it an intelligent exploration of societal dynamics that had a lot more to say about our own society than you would expect from a world so far removed from our own. If there is any regret, it’s that there’s no more Y, but it takes guts to take a stand that says “This is the story I have to tell, and I’m not going to drag it out artificially just because it’s become wildly popular.” Vaughan stuck to that, and that kind of integrity has to be respected.
#3. FALLEN ANGEL
Creators: Peter David, J.K. Woodward, David Lopez
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Years running: 2003 – Present
The early part of this decade was a tumultuous time for Peter David; in 2002 he issued a public challenge to Marvel Comics to give more attention and promotion to his critically-acclaimed CAPTAIN MARVEL series, in the process generating an enormous controversy. The gamble worked; it garnered attention and reignited interest in PAD’s work, which led to DC launching his first ongoing creator-owned series, FALLEN ANGEL. Ironically, PAD’s DC ties ended as FALLEN ANGEL moved to independent publisher IDW, while Marvel and PAD mended fences, leading to the launch of the critically-acclaimed X-FACTOR and an exclusive Marvel contract (you only fight with the ones you love, I suppose!). But throughout both its DC and IDW runs, FALLEN ANGEL has remained an extremely intriguing book, and a compelling exercise in world-building that could not be done within the framework of the established universes. It effectively blends the world of noir with the world of the supernatural, and the city in which many of the stories take place, Bete Noir, is as much a character in the book as any of the players. In an impressive show of faith in PAD’s storytelling, Joss Whedon lent his Buffyverse character Illyria for the book’s most recent arc, something he has never done before. The book is currently continuing as a series of miniseries, similar to Mike Mignola’s HELLBOY.
#4. MIDNIGHT NATION
Creators: J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank
Publisher: Top Cow
Years running: 2000 – 2002
The only limited series on the list, so you know it’s not here for longevity. In short, this book is really the total package; the story by J. Michael Straczynski has an extremely moving and personal message that will be especially relevant to anyone’s who’s experienced some dark times of their own, and the art by Gary Frank is, well…it’s Gary Frank. It’s gorgeous. The book is the perfect length at 12 issues; I have countless times handed the trade paperback to people who are new to or skeptical about comics, thinking it all spandex or Sunday funnies, and they are invariably blown away. The medium really needs more books like this: pure, self-contained stories whose only goal is to make an impact on the audience. That, more than movies or TV shows or celebrities, is what will make comics a truly mainstream art form.
#5. SPIDER-GIRL
Creators: Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Pat Olliffe
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Years running: 1998 – Present
SPIDER-GIRL might not be a book that would make most critics’ “Best Of” lists; it’s pretty much the definition of a conventional superhero book. And yet perhaps in these times, that’s not so conventional. Increasingly since the ‘80s, superheroes have become deconstructed, violent, cynical, and even ashamed at the idea of being a hero. So a book that proudly waves the hero flag, a book that shows a home life which while not perfect, is not hateful or dysfunctional, a book with a lead character that we actually LIKE and would want to be friends with, fills a gap that not many others do these days. And sure, it scratches that nostalgia itch too; so many of us grew up with the tales of the wise-cracking, web-slinging teenager who had to balance a superhero career with the most mundane of personal problems, so it’s nice to see that continued with the next generation, even as the main book has become bogged down with continuity reboots and editorial decisions that ring false to many. The fact that SPIDER-GIRL is the only Marvel feature of its era to continue through this decade and beyond is a testament to the fact that it fills that niche. And its recent move to the Digital Comics form (followed by serialization in the WEB OF SPIDER-MAN print series, and continued trade paperback collections), shows that Marvel realizes its continued appeal to readers new and old.
#6. GIRL GENIUS
Creators: Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio
Publisher: Studio Foglio
Years running: 2001 – Present
GIRL GENIUS was probably the first truly independent comic I ever got hooked on; it helped that I was already a fan of Phil Foglio’s work from his art on the MAGIC: THE GATHERING card game. Like many of his pieces in MAGIC, GIRL GENIUS taps into Foglio’s love of drawing fantastic mechanical devices and bizarre creatures; along with writing and artistic collaborator, wife Kaja Foglio, GIRL GENIUS is simultaneously exciting, funny, and a pure pleasure to read. The series moved to the webcomics format in 2005, and though the entire series continues to be available to read for free online, I think once you get hooked, you’ll want to buy the collected editions as I do.
#7. CAPTAIN AMERICA
Creators: Ed Brubaker , Steve Epting, Mike Perkins, Luke Ross, et al.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Years running: 2005 – Present
Ed Brubaker’s run on CAPTAIN AMERICA spun out of a line-wide reboot of the Avengers franchise; THOR was cancelled, IRON MAN relaunched with Warren Ellis at the helm, and Brian Bendis created the NEW AVENGERS. Overall, I was not happy with the circumstances that spawned this relaunch (see “Avengers Disassembled”), nor was I impressed for the most part with the new books. Brubaker’s Cap was the exception, and for it to have blown me away as much as it did is all the more surprising, given my feeling going in that the people behind the relaunches didn’t “get” the Avengers. Well, Brubaker definitely “gets” Captain America, and equally important, he knows how to tell one hell of a thrilling ongoing story. He didn’t throw the baby out with bathwater, either; he embraced and integrated all eras of Cap history (even bringing back my personal favorite villain Crossbones), while making it all seem fresh and relevant. The biggest moves of his run were bringing back Cap’s WWII sidekick Bucky (once thought dead) and having him take over as Cap after Steve Rogers’ assassination. This is the kind of move that could easily have turned awful; there was, after all, the fact fans certainly weren’t clamoring for the return of Bucky. Yet he made Bucky an interesting character in his own right, and even now, as it seems Steve Rogers is coming back, no one is in a rush to see things returned to the status quo. To so thoroughly and successfully revitalize a 70-year old franchise is a truly rare and impressive accomplishment.
#8. AGE OF BRONZE
Creators: Eric Shanower
Publisher: Image Comics
Years running: 1998 – Present
Eric Shanower writes and draws this black & white series chronicling the story of the Trojan War. The most impressive thing about this series is the amount of research that has gone into historical accuracy: everything from the clothing to the armaments to the ships is rendered in fine detail. Shanower has even personally made trips to the historical sites involved in the Trojan War, and provides an extensive bibliography of the sources he used in research for the books. The task to capture a historically faithful recounting of the Trojan War is made more difficult by the fact that much of what we know of the tale comes not from history books, but from myths, legends of gods and goddesses interfering in the lives of mortals. Yet there is a historical basis for the Trojan War, and Shanower manages to skillfully strip away the supernatural elements to give us as close a feeling to what it would have been like to have lived in those times and through those events as possible. And there are no holds barred in terms of depicting the visceral, violent, and sexual events of the times (these are the ancient Greeks, remember), since as a creator-owned series, Shanower has complete control over content. Three trade paperback collections have been released so far, with four more expected to complete the series.
#9. THE BOYS
Creators: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Years running: 2006 – Present
This is the series that Garth Ennis famously promised would “out-PREACHER PREACHER.” That’s a great marketing tagline, but it doesn’t quite capture what’s great about this series. Sure, it’s got mind-blowing gore and outrageous sexual situations. But the core of the series really centers on a theme that Ennis has touched on before in his previous work, but really delves into here: the idea that there may be something fundamentally flawed in the concept of superheroes (which happen to dominate the American comics marketplace). Chiefly, Ennis has a problem with the idea of glorifying a select number of individuals as “above” the rest of us, and he shows us the consequences of what such individuals would do with that kind of unchecked power (and in the process has fun having a group of “ordinary guys” take them down). This isn’t the first collaboration for Ennis and Robertson, who teamed for similarly over-the-top violence with Marvel’s NICK FURY and PUNISHER. Robertson seems game for anything Ennis throws at him (working with the warped sensibilities of Warren Ellis on TRANSMETROPOLITAN probably helped) and he makes every page worth spending several minutes looking over. The series probably will not have the same level of impact as PREACHER did in the ‘90s, but it’s still an excellent exploration of important questions that have relevance beyond just capes and tights, as well as a dose of guilty pleasure fun.
#10. THE LEAGUE OF EXTAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Creators: Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Years running: 1999 – Present
We just got the first new LEAGUE comic in a while, in the form of the third volume, “Century”, which takes us on a trip through various LEAGUE incarnations in the 20th century, starting with the year 1910. Although this comic hasn’t come out with the regularity of some of the others on this list, the sheer quality and craftsmanship that goes into every issue earns it a spot for the decade. It is of course written by Alan Moore, whom many would name as the top comic writer of all time, but he doesn’t rest on his laurels with this series; every issue is so jam-packed with little details making subtle reference to the popular culture and fiction of its era that it has required outside annotators to go through and catalog them all. The series is really an exercise in watching a master at work, synthesizing the great works of fiction past and forming them into something partly resembling an adventure comic, and also in some ways slyly homaging the modern notion of a “superhero team.” Moore is aided in this effort by artist Kevin O’Neill, who won’t ever be mistaken for a conventional comics artist; he can portray elegant Victorian settings and then instantly switch modes into a fast-paced adventure. Much has been made of Moore’s difficulties with mainstream publishers; he’d sworn off working with DC Comics after numerous troubles, and LEAGUE was being published through Jim Lee’s WildStorm, then a part of Image Comics. But to Moore’s chagrin, WildStorm was bought out by DC, a situation he compared to moving away from your crazy ex-girlfriend only to find she’s bought out the block your new house is on. After more problems (not only with DC; the disastrous film adaptation of LEAGUE also comes to mind), Moore decided to move LEAGUE to independent publisher Top Shelf. Personally, I admire his commitment to the comics art form; it’s not comics he’s given up on (like some of his stature would), it’s the notion that they have to be controlled by someone other than their creator. LEAGUE embodies that attitude.Honorable Mention: There are a couple of outstanding series that I would like to make note of (and encourage you to check out) even if they didn’t quite make the best of the decade list. They are:
Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson’s ASTRO CITY (DC Wildstorm)
Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo’s FANTASTIC FOUR (Marvel Comics)
Dan Slott and Paul Pelletier’s GLA (GREAT LAKES AVENGERS) (Marvel Comics)
Todd Nauck’s WILDGUARD (Image Comics)
J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog’s ABADAZAD (Crossgen/BOOM! Studios)
Thanks for reading, and let me know your thoughts!
In most places, Matt Adler goes by the name his mother gave him, but occasionally uses the handle "CylverSaber", based on a character he created for the old DARK FORCES II: JEDI KNIGHT game (one hint of his overweening nerddom). He currently does IT and networking support for the government of Nassau County, NY, but his dream is to write for a living, and is in the process of figuring out how to get publishers to give his stuff a look. In the meantime, he passes the time by writing for AICN, CBR, and a few other places. He has also written for MARVEL SPOTLIGHT magazine.
Thanks, Matt. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow when Ambush Bug chooses his picks for the Best Comics of the last ten years. And check out Vroom Socko’s List from yesterday’s AICN Comics: Top Ten Comics of the 2000’s!
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
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Your list is not acceptable. At least Y: The Last Man is on it. You are partially redeemed. At least you're not the douche that made that other list.
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Really?
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God the idiots who can't handle an opinion that doesn't match their own (or lack the reading comprehension skills necessary to understand the banner) is just staggering.
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Captivating story and artwork that is beyond stunning.
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Midnight Nation never got the props it deserved.
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Jan 05, 2010 10:13:55 AM CST
So lemme get this straight, Spider girl gets a nod and Civil War
by stalkeye
WTF?!? Atleast we agree on Brubaker's Captain america.Great stuff even though Marvel broke the cardinal rule by having Bucky survive the explosion. What's next, uncle ben wasnt dead either but instead a skrull who impersonated ben in order to get access to parker's science hall experiments? Fucking marvel, I tell ya.
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*walks away*
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Fine selections all. DOOM can only respect some of the choices, rather than like the books directly. (Although of obvious artistic quality and intent, "The Boys" tends to make DOOM gag-gasp, rather than laugh-gasp)."Fables" is the only thing Mrs. Doom reads at the moment. And now Teen Girl Doom is sneaking into DOOM's library and taking "Fables" TPBs herself! Must reprogram the Doombots to keep better watch ...
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Where's All-Star Superman?! New X-Men? Identity Crisis was better than some of those mentioned on so many levels.
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*sigh*
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Get the fuck over yourself! AICN revolutionized the nerd rage filled talkbacks. Calling people stupid for talking back in the article's "talkback" forum seems a bit contrived.
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By posting his list, Matt's suggested that his opinion is open to debate. That's what people are doing. Why don't you add some insight on comics that top YOUR list instead of acting like some trolling dick.
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And welcome to the group of illiterate mo-tards I'm slamming since you failed reading comprehension as well. I'm not calling out people for talking back. I'm calling them out for being illiterate douches (as you seem to be at this point) that can't get their heads around the fact that these lists are personal and subjective to the author's tastes and complaining about what they DIDN'T choose to include is dumbass trolling. Kind of like what you're attempting to do In_Rainbows. *sigh*
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I'm making a list of all the trades I have to catch up on with these decade-end top 10s. I think I'm going to need another bookshelf..Oh, and *waves!* Hi Psy-fi! Happy New Year! ^_^
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HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA - How's your vagina today "Mr" Adler?
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SERIOUSLY??
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You guys should have posted one "Best of lists" article with links to all the individual lists or something. Because every damn one of these is going to be filled with "No Dark Knight Strikes Again? No Marville? No Ultimatum?" etc.
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If anyone is a troll it's you for calling fellow Tbers names because they disagree with matt's list. it's this wonderful thing called Freedom of Speech. What's next, we're assholes for suggesting or disregarding AICN's top ten movie lists of last year or decade? It's apparent that "someone" has a stick up his ass. Fucking elitists I swear.
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It deserves to be on the list, which I am in total agreement with. THE BOYS & MIDNIGHT NATION both contain wonderful and deeply moving stories. No surprise there for J. Michael but Ennis really makes you care for Wee Hughie and it not only because he a Simon Pegg incarnation
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It's the only Marvel Comic that still reads like a Marvel Comic.
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Right back at ya Lady T! *mwah!*
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Intelligence and Reading Comprehension Ability ARE often mistaken for elitism among those who generally lack it such as yourself.
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Or DK2 as the oh so hip cover called it.
Beginning of the end for Miller that book was... -
then why post it on a public site for people to scrutinize? It's an open invitation for people to post their own opinions. Arguing about Matt's list is by no means illiterate and trolling is directly instigating a fight by calling names. Pick up a dictionary you fucking self-righteous troll.
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I thought that was fantastic!
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Given that it IS a 'subjective and personal' list, slamming Matt(or Vroom or anyone else making these lists) for his choices (as some have chosen to do and I have chosen to call them out on it) is trolling at it's purest.Struck a nerve did I? Well, one has to wonder what that says about you given what I am attempting to address.
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Give it some love dammit!
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Just no one seems to care for such an inane crusade. Still, you have yet to answer my initial question, what do you suggest we do in this talkback? Praise Matt? Say nothing? Also, you haven't added anything relevant regarding comics, only criticism of other's methods of opinion. One would wonder what that says about YOU. You seem to be in the wrong place.
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W...T...F?
I could abide by The Boys (I guess...), but Spider-girl? It's the definition of "ordinary." -
...in comic book form, with awesome writing/artwork by Roger Langridge. Check it out!
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The big ones I'd add is Superman: Secret Identity about the "real world" Superman by Kurt Busiek and Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules about the "real" people the FF was based upon.
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If I hated the art and the story as well as the coloring
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Agree with Fables. Y always seemed to have Yorick running around a bit to much for me to find it plausible. I love Age of Bronze but it's been so long I'm wondering if it'll ever finish. If you want an all ages series, I would go PS238 over Spidergirl.
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Nice call on Secret Identity. Totally forgot about how great that book was.
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another fucking list from AICN...
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Wow. Two for two picking Fables as the best comic of the decade. Amazing. I must now call it "Most. Overrated. Comic. Ever."
Other than that, an interesting list. -
by Grant Morrison; New X-men, also by Grant Morrison; Ex Machina, by Brian Vaughan. Garth Ennis's phenomenal Punisher run.
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Gotta agree that by posting one's list, one is open to criticism about the choices on the list.
Um, I put Terror Titans and Modok's Eleven on my Top Ten, and no one cared enough to even insult me. And I was sincere!
Since then, I've had to nix Terror Titans due to somehow forgetting the awesomeness of X-Force during the Milligan/Allred glory days.
Plus, Fables is just so dull and militaristic. I have never regretted dropping that boring junk. -
..just another douchebag that no one respects or agree with.No you have not touched a nerve, just Matt's balls.
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Civil War? Daredevil by Bendis? EX Machina? Walking Dead? Thor by Straz.....
Agreed on Y, Cap and Midnight Nation -
and I just started the series. I think I read up until issue 19 last night. Great stuff. You gotta love the slow-burn storytelling, though. Shit is ultra de-compressed, but it works for me. Hell, I've liked Epting since his Factor-X AoA tie-in, and now firmly believe the man is a class act. He has a really nice, realistic style that isn't too stiff (like Hitch on Ultimates) and looks less reliant on photo-ref (Land!). The subdued tone of the book (both writing and penciling)is helped further along by the bold, almost frantic looking inks of Frank D'amata. All of these things have managed too finally create a realization of a Cap the can exist in the "real" world while still being the Cap that carries so many 616 trappings. These were things that the Rieber/Cassaday run failed to realize in the MK Cap series that began as a result of 9/11. Did I mention I've only read 18 issues! From what I've heard from friends and on the internet, it only gets better after Bucky Cap.
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No DMZ?! Seriously? And no CIVIL WAR? And WORLD WAR HULK? But, seriously, no DMZ?! DMZ got written up by the New York Times.
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Was great out of the gate, but really lost me after awhile.
Not sure why, because I loved the concept. It just seemed to plod after the first few issues. -
That was one of the most brave/independent comics published in the 90's. Takes guts not to follow the rest of the industry into the gutter.
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That's because Modok's Eleven RULED.
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Hey pot? Kettle here.
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I meant 00's. Point stands, though. (I guess, when talking about comics in the gutter, I just subconsciously think "90's".)
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That would have been on my list. 75 issues of incredible story telling, that ranked alongside Sandman in my opinion.
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You mean the same New York Times that completely fucked up the details of Walter Cronkite's obit among so many other things they have published? Okay then.
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on nearly every aspect. Bendis and Bagley delivered month in, month out, for over a hundred issues. Hard to accomplish in these times
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The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Promethea
Terra Obscura
Tom Strong
Top Ten
WARREN ELLIS
The Authority
Blackgas
Dark Blue
Fell
FreakAngels
Global Frequency
Gravel
Ignition City
Jack Cross
JLA: New Maps of Hell
Ministry of Space
Newuniversal
Orbiter
Planetary
Red
Reload
Ocean
Ultimate Fantastic Four
Ultimate Galactis
Ultimate Human
X-Man
Wolfskin
MARK MILLAR
The Authority
Chosen
Fantastic Four
Jenny Sparks
Kick-Ass
Superman: Red Son
The Ultimates
Ultimate Fantastic Four
Ultimate X-Men
Wanted
Wolverine
Wolverine: Old Man Logan
GRANT MORRISON
All-Star Superman
Batman and Robin
New X-Men
We3
JOSS WHEDON
Astonishing X-Men
Buffy: Season Eight
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I liked League but it's too insular and fussy to stand as a classic. Top Ten had some moments but the rest were Meh. And Mark Millar - really? C'mon, that's just being obnoxious to be obnoxious (ok the Ultimate FF with Zombies was kind of cool).
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That's an interesting call. I loved about half the run then it got to wrapped up in its own mythology with Michael, his daughter, the other angels, I never even finished the series.
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insolant swine.
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It cannot be said often enough, Modok should be Marvel's premier supervillain. No more non-stop egotistical Doctor Doom or nutty Norman Osbourne. Modok should star in a new version of super villain teamup. His current teamup with the leader is the only good thing about this fall of the hulks storyline.
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When collecting, would you go for the first omnibus or trades 1-3? It looks like the omnibus is all b/w whereas it may only be that for the first trade? I've seen some of the latest pages online and want to get as much of the story in color as possible. Insights? Preferences?
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Too bad Black Hole had to cross decades. That series (or eventual graphic novel) deserves to be recognized because it's awesome. Otherwise, good list. (Insert 'Black Hole' jokes here)
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That 'event' was what got me out of marvel comics in general. All of the jackasses acting out of character, partially so it could fit into whatever the plot point was, and because the writers were using them in whatever crossover book was being interrupted for this event. That and the absolute absurdity of both sides of the conflict, just really killed whatever I had left that cared about the characters. Hell, even Daniel Way came along to fuck up Deadpool after Nicezia tooled around with the character. Bah.
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..but I'm not the one calling people names because they don't share one's opinions. Nor am I getting backlash posts. *Ahem* Pot? if anything Matt must be smoking pot for picking anything from Tom DeFalco (The idiot responsible for the Spiderman clone saga?!?) and not to mention that an obscure title like Spidergirl gets more attention than alot of good material released throughout the decade.Atleast Hercs got it right.
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Now pick *10*!
I defy you!
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'Nuff said.
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Matt is bad. How girl get pregnant?
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No love for The Goon anyone? Really? Or Invincible?
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Why don't you two babies take your stupid fucking arguement over to a Kindercare. No one else gives a fuck about your battle of nitwits. I'd be great if either of you cunts were funny or more vicious in your exchange but you aren't. Ya'll are more boring than an improv comic and once the initial joy of watching two chimps fling shit at each other has subsided all anyone is left with is a festering stink. Quit it
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Who nominated you board parent? Can I get in on that self appointed moralistic bullshit too?
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I absolutely knew that Spider-Girl would be the most controversial pick on the list. I said as much in my write-up. What I think people are not getting, is that I wasn't going for a list of the most literary, or most ground-breaking, or anything like that. Spider-Girl made my list because I feel it fills an extremely important niche that most comics have left behind. Now, granted, that niche is not going to appeal to everyone... but I wasn't trying to do a "most popular" list either. That said, I'm a big boy, I can take the flames ;)
As for some of the other comics mentioned... 100 Bullets, I tried several issues, never got into it (not a big crime comic fan). Pretty much the same deal with Walking Dead and DMZ. Several of the comics mentioned here made my unpublished "nominations" list... FF: Unstable Molecules, Ex Machina, DC: The New Frontier, Morrison's New X-Men, All-Star Superman, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ennis' Punisher, Milligan/Allred X-Force, and Superman: Secret Identity among them.
Civil War and World War Hulk were fairly conventional "event books" to my mind, and nothing about them stood out to me, other than how much they sold. Identity Crisis struck me as a very cynical attempt to make the DCU darker, and not in a particularly original way. Marvel Zombies... fun, but nothing about it said "best of decade". I did actually dig Starlin's MU: The End, but I think that was a guilty fanboy pleasure. -
This is more of a "my favorites of the aughts" list, instead of "best" and it's off the top of my head, so it may be amended if someone reminds me of something I forgot about... ahem: 1.Planetary
2.All Star Superman
3.Walking Dead
4.Invisibles
5.Ultimate Spider-man
6.Authority
7.Powers
8.Captain America
9.Invincible
10.Secret Warriors -
Dude you're so full of shit it's coming out your ears. Your every post directed at me has been the very same things you are decrying me for. I'm a 'fucking elitist' and a 'douchebag',remember? Nice try at sophistry though, points for that. Fuckwit hypocrite much?
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What kind of dull life must you lead to be defending those whiny sissies? You were enjoying that silly shit? Or maybe I'm missing something brilliant in their exchanges. Must be because it bored me to tears, pal. More power to you if you dig it
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The idea appealed, but the art... ick. I couldn't get past it.
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Yeah, the first trade is b&w (well, sepia, really), the rest are in color, so I went for the trades (actually I bought 'em before the omnibus came out, but I still would).
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Have to believe this would be on more lists if it were still coming out.
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Another one I'm shocked no one's mentioned. I wasn't a huge fan but my kids loved it.
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Who said anything about digging it? I just hate seeing moralistic self appointed twats try to impose their will on others. Notice I didn't ask you to shut up either. I just tried to point out your weird attempts at controlling others because they don't meet your standard of whatever.
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Slott's She-Hulk. I loved that. But wasn't Bone mid to late 90s? I thought that ended like in 2001 at the latest.
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For having the balls to include THE BOYS on your list.
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I don't give a damn about forcing my standards on others. That's a fool's errand. I was just bored and told them to shut the fuck up in the same manner I'd use on a crazy hobo screaming on a bus. Sorry to have offended your gentle sensibilities, sweetheart
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Complete edition came out in late 04. I guess I'm unsure when the series itself was being published.
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WOOO! Bitches be fighting! Bitches! be! fighting!
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Obviously logic is beyond you so i'll just point and laugh at your arrogant internet dickery. Mwa-hahaha and all that.
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Right back at you and then some. After all, you've so eagerly joined us without a second thought now haven't you?
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You called it right. I have absolutely no capacity for logic. Well, I've certainly been put in my place. I think I've been swept up far enough in your knuckle-dragging wake. I'm going back to shore. Have fun setting everybody straight
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And isn't weird that it's NOT you and I for once? LOLZ
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As if anyone posting on a TB is actually above that from time to time.
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You looked busy. I'm not jealous... much.
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Wasn't that late 90s early 2000?
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Jan 05, 2010 4:09:50 PM CST
Look it up on Google, Warped, you stupid fucking shit-stain
by darkartist
There's some more aarrogant internet dickery for you. Mwa-hahaha and all that.
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Thanks for proving my point. Butthurt teenagers are so amusing when they're trying to be insulting.
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I thought you left 'for shore' and all that?
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Now I'm just having some fun with you. You can put away the knives
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Exactly.
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Super happy to see Fallen Angel and Age Of Bronze included. The Boys, I always thought, was good, but not great. I added it to my "try it from the top" list of books to re-read. Been a Phil Foglio fan since way WAAAAY back and I've never bothered reading Girl Genius. I guess I better get around to that one, too.
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Though..huh.. I was just scrolling down an Amazon search and apparently a color version of vol. 1 is due in about a month. Hmm..
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...or possibly some other ancient word that we've yet to discover. However, everything he does is not on equal ground, for me! Promethea was beyond great. Most everything else he did in the last decade was at least really good. But I stand by TLOEG, most of the time, being a bore. I understand the research behind and detail of the work, it just bores me. Lost Girls, however, was an exercise in unnecessary. Most ridiculous ending/excuse of/for an erotic retelling of fairy tale heroines ever. And there have been some really bad ones previously.
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And he can sing. Look on youtube for the Alan Moore singing with a..forgot the name but Monkey's in the title of the band I think. Alan Moore singing should be enough to find it.
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...might have a CD and/or MP3s of Alan Moore singing.... it's possible. (whistles)
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Warped: Yep, Transmet's run was 90's to 2002.
Re Girl Genius: I knew someone was going to mention "that one". Goddamn it. Girl Genius is to comics as Abney Park is to music... sure, Steampunks love it, and it's fun for its genre appeal, but the best? Not even close. -
It's amateur hour filming, the guy is moving around while filming him on stage. I'd link it from youtube but I don't know the rules about posting links here.
Wait, there's a whole CD of him singing? -
ick. It's the new Goth
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Did you leave off Transmet because it ran from 97-02, or is it really not something you dig? That, like most people I believe, is was alerted me to presence of Warren Fucking Ellis. I was stoked to see that you enjoy so many of his books. He's one of the few writers/creators these days that I make an effort to hunt down a copy of their work no matter how difficult it is to find them.
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..Chris Bachalo, Joe Kelly title Steampunk? If so, does Girl Genius have a similar look? Shit...it's free online. I guess I just need to check it out. "Steampunk is the new goth" Eehhh, yeah, maybe. But at least steampunk is creative in that you can build/mod real world items to have an antique look. Plus, I fuckin' love women in Victorian clothes. Goth was rather limited in it's code of conduct. Which is to say, wear black clothes and pasty makeup.
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Steampunks are allowed to be happy. Ya know?
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Doktor Sleepless then? If it weren't so behind schedule I'd be one of my current favorites.
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It was way too forced, soap opera-sh, and just downright boring. I don't see how that could top anybody's list of anything comic related. I honestly don't know how it has lasted so long.
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There's simply an audience for soap operas with long drawn out crap.
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Issues 1-10, so it looks like I'm a little behind (added them to the hunt list). Thankfully, I live in an area where there are still a lot of shops that cater to indie readers, or just carry as much as they can. I don't mind so much that books aren't always monthly, so long as they continue to be of a high quality. The cost of paper has pushed cover price up so high that I can't buy as many individual issues as I'd like each month anyway (because I also buy trades).
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I mean, shit, I'm the guy who doesn't like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. But I do think Fables lends itself to multi-issue reading. The trades are actually a great way to read that title.
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clearly one of the best Marvel series
of the 90's. It was written by Kurt Busiek,Roger Stern(another Spider-Man vet) and Tom Defalco.
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And the thought of doing so actually made me laugh. Him, holding the mic with a handful of rings gleaming in the lights, mess of hair flowing over his shoulder and down his chest, guy circling around the stage with camera... yeah... laughter.
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Is the lamest fucking shit. As soon as someone recommends Transmet I know they're a poseur. Which is pretty sad given we're talking about comic books.
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It's a great site. He's wearking a purple trenchcoat too.
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How is it a poseur title? Or whatever the logic is? It's a fun comic about how pretty much society has failed in every aspect, from it's religion, government, to the people themselves, to the nice little subgroups we put ourselves into. And it has a 'make you shit yourself' gun. That's just fun.
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... here are my fav's of the past decade.
Many people have probably already beat me to it, but the GL book (and GL Corps) of the past few years have been freakin' outsanding. Marvel also kicked some ass with the NOVA line they relaunched a few years back. Also, props to Marvel for Iron Fist - that was a fun read. -
Thanks a lot! I didn't know about the newest installment of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And some of these other titles I hadn't even heard of.
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Well, shit! I'm a total poseur. Thirty years of comic book collecting down the fucking drain! Whatever shall I do with my free time now? P'shaw. Silly people.
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Well, that wasn't really as painful as I expected. http://tinyurl.com/y8tt94a Sounds a lot like the studio track, but with bad live sound mixing.
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I enjoyed the hell outta Factions X-Men and Invincible Iron Man, his Iron Fist is worth picking up too then?
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At the time I was dead sick of stories about some guy who is a legend who everybody worships. The first couple volumes of Transmet to me felt like Hunter S Thompson inserted into all the worst parts of Shaft (2000 remake).
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Transmet is the book of the century!?!?!?
All Star Superman is the superman comic I've always wanted to read, now i can dump the hundreds of Supe comics cluttering my storage. -
It was Hunter S Thompson inserted into Blade Runner mostly. I got that he had a fan base, and was worshiped (which is why he left The City), but I felt the focus was more on the "JESUS CHRIST YOU PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT FUCKS! THIIIIINK OR I'LL HIT YOU WITH A STICK". Which I enjoy.
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Poser. Is it this post? I didn't actually read it.
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I also found it a bit strident. Like a first year philosophy student who hasn't learned that philosophies are not a system of directives or mandates. So stop trying to push your philosophy on me, fascist!
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It was more like the message was just non-stop. As you say the "everything is a system and all systems are bad" message was stuffed into every crevice of the bits I read (I have trades vol. 1 and 2). Come to think of it, at the time I rejected pretty much all media that was re-treading the ground covered by The Matrix. Basically anything with a "free your mind" theme has been rejected as an imitator. Maybe I'll give it another try because I'm all for make-yourself-shit gun. Can you make other people shit with it too?
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To me it seemed like he was trying to get the people to think, to do ANYTHING for themselves other than live in their own shit. In the comic world (where you can apply anything really) it was an extremist view of how lazy we will become and rely only on soundbites and tv/internet/whatever for interaction, beliefs, new ideas, etc. Kinda like Idiocracy, but with a "I'm going to fix you all at ONCE" attitude.
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was just for making people shit. "Spider's weapon of choice for most of the series is a handheld "bowel disruptor," which causes instant and painful loss of bowel control, with various settings that allow him to vary the level of pain and discomfort the device will inflict, ranging from simple diarrhea to complete rectal prolapse."
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I do believe most of what you mentioned was at least part of the point of the book. So maybe it's just not your thing. But I'm pretty sure Ellis was purposefully beating people about the head and shoulders with those message in an attempt, as mentioned, to get them to pull their heads out of their asses and think for themselves.
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I read the first trade and it was alright imo.It certainly didn't leave me craving for more.Did I miss something?Do I need to read further for it to "click"I know I'm gonna get some crap about it but I'm genuinely curious why it makes the lists.
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Weird list...I can't really see half of those books being the top of their respective years, let alone the decade.
The restoration of GREEN LANTERN was huge, Morrison's NEW X-MEN was insanely exciting, and even though I'm not a huge Bendis fan, ULTIMATE SPIDER MAN was pretty much the book of the decade. It refined comics for a new generation, ushered in the TPB era, and delivered for nearly its entire run.
The wrapping up of James Robinson's STARMAN also comes to mind. -
No hate. Quite a few people expressed their outright dislike for the book in the first 10 Best installment. Personally, I love it. And yes, I do think you would get more out of it if you read farther. But if it's not your thing, why force it? There's plenty out there to read.
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Get outtaaaa herrrrrre. lol Seriously. Sandman? Preacher? Hellblazer? Cerebus?! And a thousand others before USM that were selling MASSIVE amounts of TPBs before the spandex crowd ever got around to embracing that market.
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Shoot. Those things were printed like, five different times in collected formats.
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There is a lot of stuff I've missed.I'll be getting the first Scalped trade tomorrow after seeing a snippet of it at cbr.Thanks for not hating.
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Jaka, i'm pretty sure it was Ultimate Spider-Man that got Marvel/DC to start pumping out TPBs after every arc. Before then they didn't really do that. After that, everything became TPB fodder. And then we started getting "X Classic" instead of Black and White "Essentials"
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I was going to call the guy who said that about Ultimate Spider Man an idiot, but come to think of it, he might be right. It seems right around 2001 when it went from only special or long out-of-print things being in trades, to absolutely everything being in trades. I think the main reason is that trades are more profitable from a logistical point of view, and when circulation goes below a certain point you're not really making big money on advertising. And circulation peaked in the 70s or 80s and has been slowly declining since then as I understand. Apart from the early 90s Image bubble.
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As a writer or artist I would much rather see my work consumed in trade paperback format. Everything's better, from the lack of advertising to the fact that the entire story is sitting there in a single package. Plus it's usually cheaper than buying the issues, although lately I'm seeing this trend reverse. I'm pretty sure it would have been cheaper to buy the five issues of Irredeemable than it would have been to buy the second trade. Funny when their approach with the first trade was to practically give it away.
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Countdown to Crisis; Green Lantern: Rebirth; Dan Slott's Spider-Man & Human Torch; Waren Ellis's Next Wave; Wonder Woman; The Flash; Truth, Justin and the American Way and uh, oh yeah, Archie.
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Runaways.
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TPB were prevalent in indie and alternative genres for a good decade, if not longer, before 2001. Mainly because the issues didn't get infinite reprints. But I assure you TPB were mass produced and well loved long before then.
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I've had a moment where I've realized I've been an utter ass on the TB's these last 2 days. My sincere apologies to anyone I've been dick-ish to or towards. Accept, deride, or ignore this statement at your discretion. Everybody have a good 2010.
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We're talking about the "TPB Era" not TPBs themselves. The TPB era is when Marvel, then everyone else in the comics industry, started releasing every single story arc as a TPB months after the single issues have been released, with regularity. Before then it was a guess as to which issues might be collected, as far as regular series are concerned. Nowadays it's made the stand-alone issue something of a rare breed. Aside from a couple random issues when I have a bug up my butt, I personally entered the TPB age before the "Era" began. Starting in like 1992 when I first was special ordering Aliens comics in TPB, I preferred them that way. I wanted to scoff at the guy who said it started with Ultimate X-Men, but he's right.
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Sorry I didn't mean to say they started then during the Ultimate Era, hell I used to go to Barnes and Noble just to see what Trade Paperbacks were there. I think my first was the Marvel vs DC thing. But it was around the time of Bendis' USM that I remember they started putting that and Ultimate X-Men out only a month or two after the arcs finished so I started dropping the single issues in favor of the TPBs (they're compact, no adverts, about the same price I think). I was just saying the industry standard of TPBs started around that time because of those titles.
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But it's probably because it's in the shadow of his other works including "Y" and "Ex Machina". Nothing would make me happier than to see Pixar and Brad Bird make a solid Runaways film. I'd even forgive them not doing a sequel to The Incredibles.
Also really nice choice in picking Spider-Girl in your list, Matt. That would be one of those series I wished I'd picked up more but when I did, I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would.
And going back to BKV, I also really loved his Dr. Strange mini series, The Oath. First time I ever cared about the character (or Wong for that matter). -
In no particular order.
- Spider-Girl (Runner Up: Ultimate Spider-Man)
I wanted to give a shout out to Ultimate, but I just couldn't. Ultimate did an AWESOME job of bringing Spider-Man into the 21st century. On the other hand, Spider-Girl is truly a Spider-Man book in the classic tradition. In the landscape of Dark Reigns, Secret Invasions, and Civil Wars, this is a true rarity. Not only is it classic 80s-style fun, written by a former EIC no less, but it is also a book that is fun for all ages - without ever pandering to its audience.
Spider-Girl makes the list and Ultimate does not for 2 core reasons, fan base & supporting cast. Ultimate is a fun book. However, should it be threatened with cancellation today, I doubt that its legion of fans would rally around to save it tomorrow. That's not to say that Bendis can't write the shit out of Spidey. He's the master, second only to Stan. However, for whatever reason, Bendis' Spider fails to inspire the same rabid level of loyalty as DeFalco's. That speaks volumes about the book's quality. Nevermind the fact that, at 130+ issues, Spider-Girl is Marvel's longest lasting female lead. (She's kinda the Buffy of the comic world - a strong female role model.)
As far as supporting cast goes, Bendis' Ultimate has a great inner circle of friends in Kitty, Bobby, Johnny, Gwen, & MJ. However great they may be, they're ultimately (no pun intended) a reimagining of somebody else's work. Bendis builds on the hard work of the likes of Stan Lee & Chris Claremont for his supporting cast. More over, they're all supers, which is kinda serendipitous - if not unlikely. AND... Whenever Bendis tries to create a new character, he ends up with a Geldoff.
DeFalco's Girl, on the other hand, is full of characters you actually care about. Moose, Courtney, Davida, Jimmy, & Nancy may all be regular kids, but they're both orginal AND likable. They may not be as flashy or zany, but they build a much richer and believable world for May Parker than anything Bends could come up with. Bendis lacks originality in the supporting cast department. He builds off the hard work of Stan Lee, Chris Claremont, & (yeah) Tom DeFalco. It's hard to ignore that Kong is nothing more than a shameless rip-off of DeFalco's Moose, who was "born" 2 years earlier.
One more reason to put Spider-Girl on this list..... The successful gender bending. Swapping to gender of an old character to create a new character is a shameless cliche. Rarely ever does it work, or at least work well. Let's look at some of Marvel's notable failures here: She-Thing. Hawkeye II (Kate), Red She-Hulk, Lady Bullseye, Bucky (Rikki) Barnes, & Scorpion II. I could probably grow that list of failures even more. How many successful ones are there? 4 maybe? She-Hulk. Ms. Marvel. X-23. Spider-Girl. Of these, only Spider-Girl has been able to carry her own book past 100 issues. Spider-Girl one ups Ultimate because not only does she de-age the Spider, but also (successfully) swaps the gender.
MOVING ON....
- Morrison's New X-Men (Runner Up: Morrison's JLA)
Why do I feel like such a bastard for NOT choosing JLA? He returned the league to greatness after years of suckitude. On the other hand, Morrison turned the X-Men on their collective mutie ears. Although the bastards at Marvel would soon retcon or ignore much of his run, Morrison redefined the X-Men in a way that has still not been equaled. Quesada might have been happy to redefine Spider-Man by screwing him up the ass so hard he returned to the 1970s.
It would have been SOOOOO easy for Morrison to have done the same, rewinding the clock and rebooting the characters to their 1980s status quo. However, as BND shows us, rewinding doesn't take us forward - only back. Instead, Morrison tossed the hamster wheel aside. He brought the X-Men back to high sci-fi fantasy and infused it with a living, breathing world of a RAPIDLY growing minority. (Who no longer seemed so minor.) From Xorn's unmasking as Magneto to the drug fueled Kid Omega to the borderline unemployable cast of the "special class", Morrison reinvogorated X-Men in every way.
- Kirkman's Invincible (Runner Up: Walking Dead)
First off, everybody LOVES zombies. Even before they became the "it" thing, Kirkman was rocking the world of the undead. However, Invincible gains special mention as a key book for the 00s simply because it distilled classic Marvel fun into its purest form. Invincible was, in his earliest days, Peter Parker with Superman's powers. As his team-up with Spidey proves, Invincible has grown into something so much more.
Invincible also holds the unique distinction of being pure old school Marvel-like fun while also being UNBELIEVABLY bloody and graphic. Characters swell, bruise, have their limbs snap, teeth fly out, get torn in half, and even have their faces (literally) punched off. If Invincible were a movie, it would be NC-17 for its violence alone. With all that, it never feels as grim or as dark as one of Marvel's MAX books. The darkeness serves the book instead of the darkness serving itself. It never once overwhelms the "glass half full" outlook on the world. By contrast, Marvel's Dark Reign has dug a huge hole for Marvel, making a light at the end of the tunnel seem quite far away as the 616 loses its innocence.
Invincible earns its way onto this list for making Image Comics relevant again now that its rebel yell upstart creators have grown up and become "the man."
- Blah Blah Blah Crisis (Runner Up: None)
Not every decade defining book is on here for good reasons. DC has beaten the significance of "Crisis on the Infinite Earths" to a bloody pulp. Shrinking murderers. Demonized heroes. Mind wipes. Making a lame villain evil via the retconning of a rape scene. A lame return of a multi-verse. ... Superboy Punch ... The excesses that defined the 90s are back in spades with this series of minis. DC makes a name for itself with these huge epic storylines, but not in the way they wanted. There's no character development. No heart. No life. Blech.
- 52 (Infamous Runners Up: Countdown & ASM)
The idea of a weekly series is enough to send any editor or creative to an insane asylum. The fact that 52 managed to do it and do it WELL is nothing short of a miracle. Each storyline, brought to us one bit at a time, built up in ways that were both exciting and organic. DC could have easily turned Renee into the new Question in one issue. However, it wouldn't have felt the same. Charlie's death in 52, from cancer, was heart breaking. Thrusting Renee into both the role of a reluctant hero and bearer of the Question legacy held so much more weight. On top of that, 52 posed so many interesting new mysteries and surprises. Skeets a bad guy? Awesome. The return of mutliverse? Ultimately, annoying, but initially quite shocking. The mysterious identity of Supernova? Total fun guessing. 52 was a blast and proved to be so week in and week out.
And THAT is where both Countdown & the post-BND Amazing Spider-Man fail. Countdown was a car wreck. 52 issues of a story that went nowhere and held few lasting ramifications. Backup stories that made the garbage main stories read like Shakespeare. Some threads, like Adam Strange's, were entertaining. Others, like Jimmy Olsen's, were exercises in crotch kicking pain. There was no consistency, much like Spider-Man's thrice monthly brand new day. ASM has ranged from "okay" to utterly unreadable shit. There's no "great" and no middle ground between "okay" and "shit." The title has grown into an evil entity all its own, beyond the control of its creative staff. Worse of all, it does its evil nearly weekly.
Whereas 52 earned its place in the 00s for showing us how to do a weekly book right, Countdown & ASM have earned their way onto the list for showing us how NOT to do a weekly.
- Kick-Ass
First off, yes, I'm excited to see the movie. Second, I love what I've read of the book. Is it a deconstruction of the super hero genre? Sure. Is it a particularly unique and insightful one? Yes. Never. Both. Whatever the case may be, the book is pure popcorn fun. HOWEVER..... That is not the reason why it is a notable book for the 00s.
Kick-Ass makes my list because it demonstrates just how in-demand comics properties are in the film world. Even before the mini finished, Kick-Ass had a movie in the works. Even before the final issue has come out, the studios were duking it out for the license. Kick-Ass serves as a keen reminder that superhero movies are the new black. A comic doesn't even have to be finished for people to want it to become a movie. It blurs the line between original movie and licensed property. With the book unfinished and the movie now in post-production, which REALLY came first? Was this an comic made into a movie or a movie made into a comic. Chicken? Meet egg.
Comics have not only come of age in the movie world, they've developed a symbiotic relationship with Hollywood. While neither the movie nor issue #8 have come out, Kick-Ass is the poster child for this "new world order", so to speak. That's how it has earned its place on my list. -
The books go from simple comic events to astute and cleverly written commentaries on a post-9/11 America. The aftermath of Dark Reign may be hit or miss, but the minis leading up to it define Marvel in the 00s.
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In no particular order...
Grant Morrison's New X-Men
Whedon's Astonishing X-Men
JMS's Amazing Spidey run
Y-The Last Man
Ex Machina
The Boys
Crossed
Kick Ass
100 Bullets
And quite a few could make number 10 but I'll leave it blank - -
I thought you were appealing enough in North Shore. Nia Peoples went on to semi-stardom, hell, even the guy who played Turtle has made a living on the silver screen. But not Matt Adler, he is lost in the Triangle. Kook. Howli.
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Can't believe nobody mentions that series. Didn't anybody read it? Epic, fun superhero comics at it's best - and one of the rare instances of character (and universe) development done right in the Marvel U (htough they did of course hit the reset button later).
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Hire some of the Lost guys, get them to work
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I have never been a particular fan of Thor, he totally depends on the writer...and I don't like New Thor at all, actually.
But Jurgens may have had the best Thor run EVER! Making him a real God was awesome, Thor Girl, awesome, Thor's evolution...super awesome, although that line was obviously going to require an eventual, inevitable reboot. Fun and thought-provoking at the same time. -
Jan 06, 2010 10:39:16 AM CST
no all star superman?? all that is wrong with the comic audience
by the_one_man_gang
give me a fucking break?? as far as quality goes, it was the number 1 series.
here is my list:
1. all star superman
2. morrisons new xmen run
3. whedons astonishing x men run
4.League of extrodinary gentleman
5. planetary
6. bendis and maleevs daredevil run
7. Alex Ross's Justice series
8. Earth X
9. Invincible
10. Justice Society- New frontier
this is the definitive list... although i may be missing a few... -
i forgot The Ultimates vol 1 and 2!
damn it! changed the game along with the authority! damn another one i forgot! -
Aside from the petty bickering and name calling from all sides, there have been a few great books from last decade.One man gang reminded me of the other great stuff that should make anyone's list IMO.
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You cry like woman.
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Because your just wrong about the beginning of the TPB era. What you are referring to is clearly a MARVEL thing. But that's cool, it's not that big a deal.
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Try again.
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Though I would have found a way to place Green Lantern on there, Geoff Johns made that a must read.
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I really loved Iron Fist. It was gritty, magical, and well-versed in some amazing kung-fu... especially the 7 cities of heaven storyline. Or, at least that's what I thought...some people may disagree with me!
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You are a fucking idiot. We're talking about the start of when EVERY ISSUE started reliably coming out in trades. It started around that time. Please look up "strawman argument" logical fallacy. Nobody has even been fucking arguing with you for the last ten posts you've made about this. Due to my upbringing I often get sucked into trying to correct people like you.
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It's Like we're talking about when DVD became standard, which is right around 2001/2002, and you keep interjecting to say "Nuh UNNNHH guys, it started in 1997 because that's when the discs first came out!" We're talking about when it went from being something that happened selectively to when it became an across the board practice applied to every single printed issue. Why the fuck am I engaging with you? I'll tell you why! Being raised by two people with no concept of logic or how to argue has left me a neurotic mess who cares what you think for some reason.
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