With the end of E3 nearly here where KH13 is all about the cool new games that willl come out sometime in the future (especially kh 3 for some reason) and with the release of Man of Steel tomorrow. It's time to talk about some comics mostly my favourite comics ever made.
Notes - This is my opinion, I probably like different things than you do. But if you want to ask why something not on the list. Feel free as along as your respectful. - Manga's and other international comics have harder chance of being on this list due amount of those I've read, not saying their bad just haven't read as much of them. - Now my list is very modern but it fits my tastes as a reader. - So enjoy the list and hope it helps you find a cool story you might have missed.
Honorable Mentions ( in no order) - Bryan Q Miller's run on Batgirl - The Walking Dead - Batman: Year One - V for Vendetta - Blacksad
- Box Office Poison - Magneto testament - Gotham Central - Batman: the long Halloween - New York Four/Five
30) One Soul Creator: Ray Fawkes This comic is unlike any other; One Soul is set on the classic 9 panel grid. Over two pages you have 18 panels and on those 18 panel you have 18 different stories set in 18 different era's with 18 different characters with different social graces. That all work together like poem but still manage to tell each character life story though different times in their life. You can read the story anyway you want. When a character dies there panel goes black and when first time it happens it's little heartbreaking. It's very impactful story and one that can only be done in comics medium. All of the characters are connect by, yes you guessed it one soul. The comic itself is very ambitious maybe to ambitious but it's one of a kind which may lead it to be very jarring and confusing to keep up with each character but when you get swing of the story, the payoff is incredible and makes One Soul one of the finniest graphic novels out there.
29) Umbrella Academy
Writer: Gerard Way Artist :Gabriel Bá Colorist: Dave Stewart "Umbrella Academy is a series with unlimited potential and quirky, original characters that are unlike anything you’ve ever read before. With a story being told in six issue runs, we’ve only gotten two of them thus far, Apocalypse Suite and Dallas, both of which seem to be only the tip of the iceberg on where this series could be headed.
Way’s writing and Ba’s handiwork are quite literally a match made in heaven, and I hope their partnership continues through this upcoming decade as well. " - Crave Online: Joey Esposito
28) Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: "Only a Poor Old Man"
Creator: Carl Barks This collection of classic Uncle Scrooge stories is important for many reasons not only is it a showcase for what a world class talent Carl Barks is. Who was also one of the first three inductees into the The Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame with Will Eisner himself and Jack Kirby. It is also important due to the fact that it is real origin of Scrooge McDuck and what gave birth to Ducktales.
Out of the 27 stories in this collection filled with many of one-pagers, there is also such classics as “Back To the Klondike,” “Tralla La,” and the titular “Only a Poor Old Man,”. What these three stories do so well is that it takes you on exciting adventures featuring with some very well crafted storytelling. All 27 stories have one thing in common Uncle Scrooge's fortune. They range in different genres but always remain funny and for all ages but aren't afraid of having deeper meaning and theme's story like —“Tralla La”—involves him(Uncle Scrooge) moving, because his nerves are shot, to a mythical land deep in the a Himalayan mountains where the people have no money. That story then becomes about what happens when the concept of wealth is introduced to a society that did not have it previously.
27) Hey, Wait...
Creator: Jason "Hey, Wait..." marks his first solo book in the States. A story about tragedy and regret told in a sweetly simple way, it stands out as one of the most beautifully sad comix in recent memory.
Much of the book's power comes from its pacing. Jason has a gift for taking advantage of comix' unique structure of moments. On a large scale you may notice each page amounts to a singular event told in six panels — a kind of poetic meter. Events have a dramatic structure, including climax and denouement. Jon spies the cute girl from school coming down the path. He hides. She doesn't seem to notice. Or does she? On another page the boys kick the ball around until one notices something through an apartment window. It's a nudie calendar. Here then are the short dramas that amount to life's narrative. Jason has a simple brush technique that eliminates shading and texture. It's a style that lends itself to the simplified, parable-like premise of a man's life decided by a single regrettable event.
The ingenious title of "Hey, Wait ," not only relates to the story but to the act of reading the story. Panels that display a character's quiet moment likewise become our quite moment, for real. Unlike traditional literature, comix, and particularly Jason's simple style, allow the reader to fully move into the space provided. Slowly, but altogether too fast, you look back and see an entire book, and an entire life, has gone past. - Time: Andrew D. Arnold
26) Spider-man: Blue
Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Tim Sale Colorist: Steve Buccellato "As with all of Loeb and Sale’s “color” books at Marvel, Spider-Man: Blue takes a look between the panels of the hero's formative years, in this case Spidey's budding romance with Gwen Stacy – which grows complicated by his first meeting with Mary Jane Watson. While the story holds the familiar structure of a trip through Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, the series is framed around Peter speaking into an old tape recorder on Valentine’s Day, trying to capture his feelings in a recording to Gwen that she’ll never hear.
The story is honest and heartfelt, capturing one of Peter’s greatest tragedies through the eyes of the modern day incarnation of the character. It’s an area that’s traversed often, but it’s never been as personal as it is Blue. We get to witness moments from classic Spidey history (although with some continuity adjustments) – from “Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot” to Flash Thompson joining the army and more – but Loeb shows us how all of those moments are inevitably tied to Peter’s feelings for Gwen.
Best of all, the ending manages to encapsulate and reaffirm the relationship between Peter and MJ as well, when she overhears most of his recording. Instead of being angry for remembering another woman, she simply asks Peter to say “hi” to Gwen for her. It’s a sweet moment that reminds us of how important everyone in our lives can be; how every relationship contributes to, and hopefully betters, who we are as people." - IGN: Joey Esposito
25) Batman: the Black Mirror
Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Jock & Francisco Francavilla
During when Dick Grayson was Batman, it brought in a whole new dynamic to Batman as a character. He was final a much more human character that expressed his feeling and relying on a support as much as himself. Which makes me think is he the better Batman? and this story is gives helps make argument worth talking about. This story is also great tribute to past Batman stories from Year one to Death in the family, while still standing on it's own. It also brought back a long forgotten character in James Gordon. Jr that helps remind you that Gotham is city of nightmares. This story also helps make him one of the most interesting Batman villains out there.
While it's still Batman story like Year One it also has big focus on Jim Gordon dealing with his son and the past in their family. There's also excellent artwork by both Jock and Francesco Francavilla with Jock handling the Batman-centric chapters and Francavilla the Gordon installments.While both of their styles are different they work together well with their approach they take to each chapter with especially Francavilla's art adding to the creepy atmosphere of the story.
With the end of E3 nearly here where KH13 is all about the cool new games that willl come out sometime in the future (especially kh 3 for some reason) and with the release of Man of Steel tomorrow. It's time to talk about some comics mostly my favourite comics ever made.
Notes
- This is my opinion, I probably like different things than you do. But if you want to ask why something not on the list. Feel free as along as your respectful.
- Manga's and other international comics have harder chance of being on this list due amount of those I've read, not saying their bad just haven't read as much of them.
- Now my list is very modern but it fits my tastes as a reader.
- So enjoy the list and hope it helps you find a cool story you might have missed.
Honorable Mentions ( in no order)
- Bryan Q Miller's run on Batgirl
- The Walking Dead
- Batman: Year One
- V for Vendetta
- Blacksad
- Box Office Poison
- Magneto testament
- Gotham Central
- Batman: the long Halloween
- New York Four/Five
30) One Soul
Creator: Ray Fawkes
This comic is unlike any other; One Soul is set on the classic 9 panel grid. Over two pages you have 18 panels and on those 18 panel you have 18 different stories set in 18 different era's with 18 different characters with different social graces. That all work together like poem but still manage to tell each character life story though different times in their life. You can read the story anyway you want. When a character dies there panel goes black and when first time it happens it's little heartbreaking. It's very impactful story and one that can only be done in comics medium. All of the characters are connect by, yes you guessed it one soul. The comic itself is very ambitious maybe to ambitious but it's one of a kind which may lead it to be very jarring and confusing to keep up with each character but when you get swing of the story, the payoff is incredible and makes One Soul one of the finniest graphic novels out there.
29) Umbrella Academy
Writer: Gerard Way
Artist :Gabriel Bá
Colorist: Dave Stewart
"Umbrella Academy is a series with unlimited potential and quirky, original characters that are unlike anything you’ve ever read before. With a story being told in six issue runs, we’ve only gotten two of them thus far, Apocalypse Suite and Dallas, both of which seem to be only the tip of the iceberg on where this series could be headed.
Way’s writing and Ba’s handiwork are quite literally a match made in heaven, and I hope their partnership continues through this upcoming decade as well. "
- Crave Online: Joey Esposito
28) Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: "Only a Poor Old Man"
Creator: Carl Barks
This collection of classic Uncle Scrooge stories is important for many reasons not only is it a showcase for what a world class talent Carl Barks is. Who was also one of the first three inductees into the The Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame with Will Eisner himself and Jack Kirby. It is also important due to the fact that it is real origin of Scrooge McDuck and what gave birth to Ducktales.
Out of the 27 stories in this collection filled with many of one-pagers, there is also such classics as “Back To the Klondike,” “Tralla La,” and the titular “Only a Poor Old Man,”. What these three stories do so well is that it takes you on exciting adventures featuring with some very well crafted storytelling. All 27 stories have one thing in common Uncle Scrooge's fortune. They range in different genres but always remain funny and for all ages but aren't afraid of having deeper meaning and theme's story like —“Tralla La”—involves him(Uncle Scrooge) moving, because his nerves are shot, to a mythical land deep in the a Himalayan mountains where the people have no money. That story then becomes about what happens when the concept of wealth is introduced to a society that did not have it previously.
27) Hey, Wait...
Creator: Jason
"Hey, Wait..." marks his first solo book in the States. A story about tragedy and regret told in a sweetly simple way, it stands out as one of the most beautifully sad comix in recent memory.
Much of the book's power comes from its pacing. Jason has a gift for taking advantage of comix' unique structure of moments. On a large scale you may notice each page amounts to a singular event told in six panels — a kind of poetic meter. Events have a dramatic structure, including climax and denouement. Jon spies the cute girl from school coming down the path. He hides. She doesn't seem to notice. Or does she? On another page the boys kick the ball around until one notices something through an apartment window. It's a nudie calendar. Here then are the short dramas that amount to life's narrative. Jason has a simple brush technique that eliminates shading and texture. It's a style that lends itself to the simplified, parable-like premise of a man's life decided by a single regrettable event.
The ingenious title of "Hey, Wait ," not only relates to the story but to the act of reading the story. Panels that display a character's quiet moment likewise become our quite moment, for real. Unlike traditional literature, comix, and particularly Jason's simple style, allow the reader to fully move into the space provided. Slowly, but altogether too fast, you look back and see an entire book, and an entire life, has gone past.
- Time: Andrew D. Arnold
26) Spider-man: Blue
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale
Colorist: Steve Buccellato
"As with all of Loeb and Sale’s “color” books at Marvel, Spider-Man: Blue takes a look between the panels of the hero's formative years, in this case Spidey's budding romance with Gwen Stacy – which grows complicated by his first meeting with Mary Jane Watson. While the story holds the familiar structure of a trip through Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, the series is framed around Peter speaking into an old tape recorder on Valentine’s Day, trying to capture his feelings in a recording to Gwen that she’ll never hear.
The story is honest and heartfelt, capturing one of Peter’s greatest tragedies through the eyes of the modern day incarnation of the character. It’s an area that’s traversed often, but it’s never been as personal as it is Blue. We get to witness moments from classic Spidey history (although with some continuity adjustments) – from “Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot” to Flash Thompson joining the army and more – but Loeb shows us how all of those moments are inevitably tied to Peter’s feelings for Gwen.
Best of all, the ending manages to encapsulate and reaffirm the relationship between Peter and MJ as well, when she overhears most of his recording. Instead of being angry for remembering another woman, she simply asks Peter to say “hi” to Gwen for her. It’s a sweet moment that reminds us of how important everyone in our lives can be; how every relationship contributes to, and hopefully betters, who we are as people."
- IGN: Joey Esposito
25) Batman: the Black Mirror
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jock & Francisco Francavilla
During when Dick Grayson was Batman, it brought in a whole new dynamic to Batman as a character. He was final a much more human character that expressed his feeling and relying on a support as much as himself. Which makes me think is he the better Batman? and this story is gives helps make argument worth talking about. This story is also great tribute to past Batman stories from Year one to Death in the family, while still standing on it's own. It also brought back a long forgotten character in James Gordon. Jr that helps remind you that Gotham is city of nightmares. This story also helps make him one of the most interesting Batman villains out there.
While it's still Batman story like Year One it also has big focus on Jim Gordon dealing with his son and the past in their family. There's also excellent artwork by both Jock and Francesco Francavilla with Jock handling the Batman-centric chapters and Francavilla the Gordon installments.While both of their styles are different they work together well with their approach they take to each chapter with especially Francavilla's art adding to the creepy atmosphere of the story.
Edited by Deadshot