My All Time Favorite Single Issues by blackmore
I love lists. I tend to throw these top eleven lists together every now and then when I think of something, so I decided to reprint this one for WFW. Enjoy!
Some things to keep in mind:
1.) I went for single issues here, not moments. There are a ton of comic moments I would have loved to include in here (Death of Gwen Stacy, Ted Knight's death, all the shocking revelations in Legion Lost, etc.), but I was really going for complete comics which I thought were just about perfect.
2) Just about every comic I read on this list I read brand new off the shelf. There are great comics that just didn't get listed (like Watchmen, DKR, Dark Phoenix Saga, Flash’s death in Crisis) because I already knew what to expect before I read them, so they didn’t quite impact me as much as they should.
So enough chit-chat, let’s get started:
11) Young Justice 15 - How often does a major change happen in a character’s life that isn’t immediately reversed? This issue takes a look at how hard it is to be a hero, and how much harder it is for a “teen hero.” After letting her anger get away from her, Arrowette almost kills someone. She realizes that she just might not cut out to be a hero and decides to call it quits. And while Cissie has shown up since, she has stuck pretty firmly to not becoming Arrowette again. This story is told with the perfect balance of drama and humor, especially Arrowette’s ramblings about becoming a vigilante with cleavage, that marks all of Peter David’s work.
10) Green Arrow (1st series) 27 - Mike Grell created such a realistic Green Arrow title that really built on the great ideas that Denny O’ Neil developed in Green Lantern/Green Arrow. During Grell’s run, Ollie didn’t fight demons or super villains, but instead he took on street crime and social issues. The book still had some humor and whimsy, but at the same time, it was a gritty and realistic read. But, in issue 27, Grell decides to have some fun with his two most popular works. The Warlord arrives in Seattle from Skartaris and is immediately assaulted by criminals who think he’s the Emerald Archer. Warlord gets so pissed by this treatment, that he tracks down Ollie just to slug him. It’s a fun read, providing some comic relief during one of the single best runs in comics.
9) Uncanny X-Men 308 - In just a few months, the X-Men had gone through X-cutioner’s Song, Fatal Attractions, and Illyana’s death. Things had been especially trying on the team, and this issue took a step back and gave the X-Men some time off from all the stress with this Thanksgiving issue. The characters are all having fun playing football and just enjoying each other's company. Xavier’s speech at the end really defines what makes the X-Men such a unique comic. Also, during this issue, Jean proposes to Cyclops. Despite a major printing error (they left out the line where Jean proposes!), this is still a great comic. It is important to remember that the X-Men are a family and still have “normal” moments every now and then. Chris Claremont used to do this very well, and Scott Lobdell did an excellent job here.
8) Squadron Supreme 12 - While Watchmen gets all the attention, I think Mark Gruenwald’s masterpiece (which came out a year earlier!) is a much better version of the same story. It is a realistic look at superheroes, which comes to a head in the most brutal fight scene in comic history. I have never seen a battle where characters were so intent and obsessed with fighting for what they believed in. The ending is tough, but reflects the real damage that super powered being could do to each other. SS is an incredible deep story, and the ending is nearly flawless.
7) Batman 497 - Knightfall was a pretty cool storyline, although I wish DC had the balls to take Bruce Wayne out of the game permanently. I would have loved for Nightwing to take over the Batman mantle for good at the end of Knightsend, but that doesn’t take away from this issue. After Bane has worn Batman down physically and mentally, he confronts him in the Batcave. I’ve never seen a character (especially Batman) take such a one-side beating before. When Bane finally breaks Batman’s back over his knee, I cringed. I was still basically a newbie to comics, and I was really expecting this to stick. Ah, the naiveté of youth…
6) G.I. Joe (1st series) 19 - A lot of people talk about issue 21, the “silent issue,” but I have always liked issue 19 much better. This issue marked the end of G.I. Joe’s first major story arc. Events that had been building from issue 2 come to a head, and the result is a comic that blew me away. This issue features the death of three major players in the G.I. Joe comic-verse, and promises the reader that this comic is not just for kids. This is something that was carried out very well throughout both the Marvel series and the current Devil’s Due series.
5) Starman 75 - There are so many great issues of Starman, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that this issue was my favorite. After the horrifying events of Grand Guignol, Jack Knight begins to doubt that he wants to be a hero anymore. He was always a reluctant hero, but he eventually grew into the role. Now it seems like he has grown out of it. Superman arrives on the scene and has a long talk with Jack which helps Jack define his role in the superhero business. While Superman almost never seems to be written well in his own book, I usually love his guest appearances. James Robinson shows exactly what Superman means to the rest of DC’s heroes, and him encouraging Jack to find his own way was an uplifting moment just when it was most needed.
4) Amazing Spider-Man 400 - During the Clone Saga, there was a subplot that involved Aunt May dying. In this issue, she has a miraculous recovery, and her and Peter are able to spend a terrific day together, which ends with her dying peacefully. It is a beautiful story that popped up in the middle of the chaos that was the Clone Saga. It was a Spider-Man story for the ages, but somehow the powers that be decided to crap on it and bring Aunt May back later. But that doesn’t take away from how great this comic is.
3) Uncanny X-Men 303 - Death of Illyana. The cover boasts: “If you read only one X-Title this month, this issue must be it!” Usually, you can just roll your eyes at these kinds of blurbs, but for this comic it was dead on! At the time, I didn’t even know who Illyana was. I had just started reading X-titles. Even still, I was heart-broken by the way this comic ended. In fact, ten years later, I still cry every time I read it. What makes this book so powerful is that it really plays with the reader’s heartstrings. Things go from happy to sad to horrifying at such a quick pace, you can’t figure out exactly where things went wrong. When Colossus returns from a mission to find his sister dead, there is just silence as we watch his reaction. I challenge anyone to read this comic and not melt.
2) Astro City ½ - The strange thing is that this isn’t even my favorite Astro City story. I enjoyed Confessions and Astra’s story more, but Astro City ½ is just about the perfect stand alone comic story. This issue features an emotionally powerful story, which takes a look at “earth shattering crossover events” from a unique perspective. During some time-sweeping disaster, a normal guy’s wife is erased from reality. This poor guy is haunted by dreams of a woman who never existed. Hanged Man offers to take these dreams away, but the guy decides he is better off this way. As I’ve said in the past, Busiek has the uncanny ability to tap into a fictional world and tells incredibly real stories. This story is short, but has as much depth as any 12 issue epic.
1) X-Factor 87 - It’s appropriate that this list begins and ends with a comic written by my favorite writer. On X-Factor, t was amazing how he took these characters that no one really knew (or cared about, quite frankly) and turned them into an interesting read. This all comes to a head in this issue, my all-time single favorite X-Men story. In this issue, X-Factor goes to see a shrink. During this issue, we learn exactly what makes these characters tick. By the end of this issue, you can’t help but like these characters. Any comic that can take six characters I just never cared about and turn them into favorites deserves special attention. It is a shame that PAD’s X-Factor run came to such an abrupt end thanks to Marvel’s constant crossovers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So that just about wraps this up. As always, e-mail me any questions, comments, or lists of your own. I love hearing from you guys.
Some things to keep in mind:
1.) I went for single issues here, not moments. There are a ton of comic moments I would have loved to include in here (Death of Gwen Stacy, Ted Knight's death, all the shocking revelations in Legion Lost, etc.), but I was really going for complete comics which I thought were just about perfect.
2) Just about every comic I read on this list I read brand new off the shelf. There are great comics that just didn't get listed (like Watchmen, DKR, Dark Phoenix Saga, Flash’s death in Crisis) because I already knew what to expect before I read them, so they didn’t quite impact me as much as they should.
So enough chit-chat, let’s get started:
11) Young Justice 15 - How often does a major change happen in a character’s life that isn’t immediately reversed? This issue takes a look at how hard it is to be a hero, and how much harder it is for a “teen hero.” After letting her anger get away from her, Arrowette almost kills someone. She realizes that she just might not cut out to be a hero and decides to call it quits. And while Cissie has shown up since, she has stuck pretty firmly to not becoming Arrowette again. This story is told with the perfect balance of drama and humor, especially Arrowette’s ramblings about becoming a vigilante with cleavage, that marks all of Peter David’s work.
10) Green Arrow (1st series) 27 - Mike Grell created such a realistic Green Arrow title that really built on the great ideas that Denny O’ Neil developed in Green Lantern/Green Arrow. During Grell’s run, Ollie didn’t fight demons or super villains, but instead he took on street crime and social issues. The book still had some humor and whimsy, but at the same time, it was a gritty and realistic read. But, in issue 27, Grell decides to have some fun with his two most popular works. The Warlord arrives in Seattle from Skartaris and is immediately assaulted by criminals who think he’s the Emerald Archer. Warlord gets so pissed by this treatment, that he tracks down Ollie just to slug him. It’s a fun read, providing some comic relief during one of the single best runs in comics.
9) Uncanny X-Men 308 - In just a few months, the X-Men had gone through X-cutioner’s Song, Fatal Attractions, and Illyana’s death. Things had been especially trying on the team, and this issue took a step back and gave the X-Men some time off from all the stress with this Thanksgiving issue. The characters are all having fun playing football and just enjoying each other's company. Xavier’s speech at the end really defines what makes the X-Men such a unique comic. Also, during this issue, Jean proposes to Cyclops. Despite a major printing error (they left out the line where Jean proposes!), this is still a great comic. It is important to remember that the X-Men are a family and still have “normal” moments every now and then. Chris Claremont used to do this very well, and Scott Lobdell did an excellent job here.
8) Squadron Supreme 12 - While Watchmen gets all the attention, I think Mark Gruenwald’s masterpiece (which came out a year earlier!) is a much better version of the same story. It is a realistic look at superheroes, which comes to a head in the most brutal fight scene in comic history. I have never seen a battle where characters were so intent and obsessed with fighting for what they believed in. The ending is tough, but reflects the real damage that super powered being could do to each other. SS is an incredible deep story, and the ending is nearly flawless.
7) Batman 497 - Knightfall was a pretty cool storyline, although I wish DC had the balls to take Bruce Wayne out of the game permanently. I would have loved for Nightwing to take over the Batman mantle for good at the end of Knightsend, but that doesn’t take away from this issue. After Bane has worn Batman down physically and mentally, he confronts him in the Batcave. I’ve never seen a character (especially Batman) take such a one-side beating before. When Bane finally breaks Batman’s back over his knee, I cringed. I was still basically a newbie to comics, and I was really expecting this to stick. Ah, the naiveté of youth…
6) G.I. Joe (1st series) 19 - A lot of people talk about issue 21, the “silent issue,” but I have always liked issue 19 much better. This issue marked the end of G.I. Joe’s first major story arc. Events that had been building from issue 2 come to a head, and the result is a comic that blew me away. This issue features the death of three major players in the G.I. Joe comic-verse, and promises the reader that this comic is not just for kids. This is something that was carried out very well throughout both the Marvel series and the current Devil’s Due series.
5) Starman 75 - There are so many great issues of Starman, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that this issue was my favorite. After the horrifying events of Grand Guignol, Jack Knight begins to doubt that he wants to be a hero anymore. He was always a reluctant hero, but he eventually grew into the role. Now it seems like he has grown out of it. Superman arrives on the scene and has a long talk with Jack which helps Jack define his role in the superhero business. While Superman almost never seems to be written well in his own book, I usually love his guest appearances. James Robinson shows exactly what Superman means to the rest of DC’s heroes, and him encouraging Jack to find his own way was an uplifting moment just when it was most needed.
4) Amazing Spider-Man 400 - During the Clone Saga, there was a subplot that involved Aunt May dying. In this issue, she has a miraculous recovery, and her and Peter are able to spend a terrific day together, which ends with her dying peacefully. It is a beautiful story that popped up in the middle of the chaos that was the Clone Saga. It was a Spider-Man story for the ages, but somehow the powers that be decided to crap on it and bring Aunt May back later. But that doesn’t take away from how great this comic is.
3) Uncanny X-Men 303 - Death of Illyana. The cover boasts: “If you read only one X-Title this month, this issue must be it!” Usually, you can just roll your eyes at these kinds of blurbs, but for this comic it was dead on! At the time, I didn’t even know who Illyana was. I had just started reading X-titles. Even still, I was heart-broken by the way this comic ended. In fact, ten years later, I still cry every time I read it. What makes this book so powerful is that it really plays with the reader’s heartstrings. Things go from happy to sad to horrifying at such a quick pace, you can’t figure out exactly where things went wrong. When Colossus returns from a mission to find his sister dead, there is just silence as we watch his reaction. I challenge anyone to read this comic and not melt.
2) Astro City ½ - The strange thing is that this isn’t even my favorite Astro City story. I enjoyed Confessions and Astra’s story more, but Astro City ½ is just about the perfect stand alone comic story. This issue features an emotionally powerful story, which takes a look at “earth shattering crossover events” from a unique perspective. During some time-sweeping disaster, a normal guy’s wife is erased from reality. This poor guy is haunted by dreams of a woman who never existed. Hanged Man offers to take these dreams away, but the guy decides he is better off this way. As I’ve said in the past, Busiek has the uncanny ability to tap into a fictional world and tells incredibly real stories. This story is short, but has as much depth as any 12 issue epic.
1) X-Factor 87 - It’s appropriate that this list begins and ends with a comic written by my favorite writer. On X-Factor, t was amazing how he took these characters that no one really knew (or cared about, quite frankly) and turned them into an interesting read. This all comes to a head in this issue, my all-time single favorite X-Men story. In this issue, X-Factor goes to see a shrink. During this issue, we learn exactly what makes these characters tick. By the end of this issue, you can’t help but like these characters. Any comic that can take six characters I just never cared about and turn them into favorites deserves special attention. It is a shame that PAD’s X-Factor run came to such an abrupt end thanks to Marvel’s constant crossovers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So that just about wraps this up. As always, e-mail me any questions, comments, or lists of your own. I love hearing from you guys.
posted by Anonymous at 4:23 PM
2 Comments:
Ah, I didn't really like the Warlord/ Ollie crossover. It felt a little rushed and thrown together quickly, for something with two of my favorite characters.
Grell was going through a tough time with the talk of GA going into Vertigo, so maybe that was a reason of his to try and do this and make the title more excited than usual (which didn't really work.)
Still, it was entertaining, but a little meh quality wise.
I don't think I could come up with my top 11 single issues of all-time, I feel like I'd have to go back through my whole collection and see what really stands out in my mind.
You did get me to dig out and re-read that Warlord/Oliie issue, and I liked it quite a bit. Great column, as always.
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