Best Comic Storlines or Ideas

[Eosin the Red]

Have to add another vote for Alien Legion....I can't believe that I forgot that one.

Also add Dreadstar before Marvel got ahold of it.

 

[Tonguez]

Lone Wolf & Cub

 

[TiQuinn]

- Byrne and Claremont's run on The Uncanny X-Men
- "God Loves, Man Kills" X-Men graphic novel
- Frank Miller brings The Kingpin, Bullseye and Elektra to the forefront in Daredevil
- Adams and Giordiano's run on Green Lantern and Green Arrow
- The Killing Joke
- Watchmen
- The Infinity Gauntlet (original series only)
- Peter David's run on The Incredible Hulk

 

[diaglo]

i always liked:

Sgt Rock

 

[WizarDru]

Oh, just remembered Mr Miracle? A British story that rocked my teenaged mind with its "gritty" portrayal of super battles.

I'm guessing you're referring to Alan Moore's update of Marvelman, known in the US as Miracleman, perhaps? Because while I love Kirby's Fourth World material for it's puer mythology, none of the Mr. Miracle series I've ever seen would have been described as gritty. Moore's Marvelman material certainly pushed the limits of what comics could get away with. I remember the irony that resulted from the controversy over the realistic depiction of childbirth from one issue, but with no controversy over the following issue, wherein human skins are shown hanging from clothing line or from the previous issue, where Miracleman destroys his creator by flying through his body at supersonic speeds. Graphically.

There have been many wonderful storylines over the years, of course, many of which are mentioned above.

• Warren Ellis' runs on Stormwatch and The Authority were excellent.
• Jack Kirby's Fourth World Material
• The All-New All-Different X-men's golden years of Claremont-Byrne-Austen...get the Essential TPB's and remind yourself how good the really were.
• Powers and Astro City, two very different but equally excellent deconstructions of Superhero comics
• James Robinson's Starman and Neil Gaiman's Sandman - a testament to the writer driven storyline and to DC's willingness to let a writer carry his idea to fruition
• Matt Wagner's Mage - harbinger of a revolution in comics coloring and presentation
• JMS' Rising Stars and Midnight Nation - Excellent stories, well told.
• Giffen's Justice League, until the joke got a little stale
• Alan Moore's Watchmen - a classic who's reach may exceed it's grasp, but rarely equalled in it's ambition and impact on the public consciousness
• Mark Waid's early run on the Flash, leading up to his 'Barry Returns' storyline
• Alan Moore's Promethea and Tom Strong, comics that approach the superhero mythos from completely different angles, but both work
• Bone, reminding you why comics are good
• Akiko - a family comic that isn't dreadful, for a change
• John Byrne's run on the Fantastic Four, revitalizing Marvel's flagship team to be interesting again (Heck, he even made me like SheHulk).

There are plenty of others, of course, but those are off of the top of my head.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I would say Days of Future Past was great, but it introduced Rachel Summers to the X-Men, and I didn't like her.

Rachel summers belongs over in the other thread, but luckily her role is fairly minor (action wise) in DoFP.

My vote is for God Loves, Man Kills.

and The Boy Who Collected Spiderman. maybe I was just young and impressionable, but boy that killed me...

Kahuna burger

 

[Sherlock]

I really liked Englehart's Master of Kung Fu with Starlin and then Day as the artists.

 

[Skade]

Write this down, I agree with Kahuna Burger.

God Loves, Man Kills is my favorite piece of comicdom. It changed the meaning of villain in the Marvel Universe, and brought a level of maturity to the X-men that had only been hinted at previously.

I'm going to throw out the Dark Phoenix Saga, at least up till her death. After that, it becomes muddled and confused, but her transformation from sweet teammate, to goddess of death and rebirth and subsequent actions really shaped what the X-men, and comics were to me.

More recently, I think Sojourn is fantastic. The first year or so is wonderful, with a solid moving plot and gorgeous art. This has slowed down a bit, but the quality is still there, just not the quantity.

Rising Stars. Perfect.

New Mutants, current series. I have to admit, I am loving it. I've yet to really get the changes wrought by Grant Morrison, as I took some tiem away during his tenure, but the return of the New Mutants, including students who are barely human, really appeals to me. These characters though, young and barely developing, are poignant and interesting. Plus, I like seeing Dani Moonstar back.

 

[DanMcS]

Alan Moore's Watchmen - a classic who's reach may exceed it's grasp, but rarely equalled in it's ambition and impact on the public consciousness

So, the Watchmen. I keep hearing good things about this. Can anybody give me a rundown on the order/collection of this series? I think I've seen various hardcover and softcover books of these, but I have no idea where to jump in at, or whether to go from the beginning.

And now I look at this site and it lists only:
Watchmen #1-12
Watchmen TPB
Watchmen Hardcover Edition

I wonder what I've seen at the store? Is there really only one trade paperback of this, only 12 issues total? Cause heck, I'll pick that up today after work.

 

[buzzard]

The Darksied saga in the Legion of Superheroes is probably my favorite.

Ahh yes, the Great Darkness Saga. Truly a wonderful set of comics. Mustering everybody in the 30th century to deal with a truly awesome threat. They are still some of my favorites.

I also quite liked the Captain America run when Byrne was working on it and they had to deal with Baron Blood. The passing of the original Union Jack was quite well done.

buzzard