Top Three Comic Story Arc's/Series

[JameO73]

I've been a fairly avid comic reader my whole life. Marvel has always been a bit more dear to me than DC but not really biased. So I propose a discussion; you're favorite three comic series or story acrs within a series/publisher.

For me I'd say:

1) The Walking Dead. And no, not because the TV series is out. The artwork is phenomenal and there are so many mouth dropping "Holy shit, that just happened" moments that it's near impossible to put down. I started reading it three years ago and read the first few volumes in a couple of hours. I've been on top of every issue since.

2) Y: The Last Man. A bit of a different route than the more common nuclear/zombie apocalypse. There's only one human male on the whole planet? Addicting, great dialogue and a badass monkey named Ampersand. What's not to love?

3) 90's to 2000 Green Lantern (Rebirth, Sinestro Corp Wars, Darkest Night, Brightest Day). The return of Hal Jordan as green lantern after fucking the universe a new butt hole? Zombie Black Lanterns? If you can't enjoy it, you don't like comics.

 

[Snail Shell]

1. Transmetropolitan (Warren Ellis/Darick Robertson, Vertigo, 1994 - 2000)
2. Empowered (Adam Warren, Dark Horse, 2006 - Present)
3. Ex Machina (Brian K. Vaughn/Tony Harris, Wildstorm, 2004 - 2010)
Others of note: Preacher, Y: The Last Man, 100 Bullets, Swamp Thing (Alan Moore), Sandman, The Dirty Pair, Danger Girl, Fables, DMZ, Scalped.

Snail Shell

 

[Goodieluver]

Only argument about green lantern is its crappy how they retconned parallax saying it was just the fear entity invading his body and not just him

Adding to this
Marvel Siege: Loki causing the govt to invade Asgard, the killing of the sentry and Ares
DMZ: Modern day civil war in the USA with the DMZ being manhattan Island

 

[JameO73]

1. Transmetropolitan (Warren Ellis/Darick Robertson, Vertigo, 1994 - 2000)
2. Empowered (Adam Warren, Dark Horse, 2006 - Present)
3. Ex Machina (Brian K. Vaughn/Tony Harris, 2004 - 2010)
Others of note: Preacher, Y: The Last Man, 100 Bullets, Swamp Thing (Alan Moore), Sandman, The Dirty Pair, Danger Girl.

Snail Shell

I hear awesome things about Preacher, I need to check it out.

 

[JameO73]

Only argument about green lantern is its crappy how they retconned parallax saying it was just the fear entity invading his body and not just him

Adding to this
Marvel Siege: Loki causing the govt to invade Asgard, the killing of the sentry and Ares
DMZ: Modern day civil war in the USA with the DMZ being manhattan Island

I wasn't TOO thrilled about that either, but it's been well written otherwise and the artwork to me is phenomenal. Siege is good? I've heard mixed reviews about it.

 

[slacker2114]

I hear awesome things about Preacher, I need to check it out.

If you don't check out Preacher before the year is up, I'm confiscating your comic collection.

Ok, let's see if I can add 3 more that haven't been mentioned...

1. Flash: Chain Lightning -- This was the series where Wally meets his mentor, Barry Allen, in the 30th century, days before Barry gives his life to save the universe in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. It's the first time Wally saw him since after Barry's manslaughter trial and he stepped up to become the Flash.

2. Planet Hulk/World War Hulk -- I don't have the words to describe how awesome this whole series was. You just have to read it.

3. The entire Spectre series from the 90's -- A horror comic in the superhero genre. Ostrander did such an epic job with the Spectre character for all 62 issues.

 

[SlaverTickler]

The Orginal Green Goblin/Spiderman stories (ending with the Death of Gwen Stacy and the "death" of Norman Osborn)

Kravens Last Hunt

The Slavers, a story arch durring Garth Ennis' run on the Punisher. Frank Castle takes out the trash dealing with an East European group who deal in human trafficking. Best Punnisher story EVER! This was before they turned him into "Frank-n-Castle" which was a very stupid thing to do.

 

[Korastus]

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War is hands down one of my favorite story arcs in any comic ever. It is epic and engaging, fantastically written, beautifully drawn, and has some of the most badass fights ever to grace the pages of any comic book.

Batman: Knightfall is another favorite. Exciting from beginning to end, and it introduces a character who not only rivaled Batman, but defeated him on every level. It's a pity what Bane was reduced to in following years...

Identity Crisis rounds out my top 3. Of the 4 DC "crisis" arcs, it is unique, because it does not revolve around a threat to the universe itself, only it's heroes. It is a deeply personal story for many of the characters involved. Sue Dibny's funeral is one of the most touching and heartbreaking moments in comic book history. I can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[slacker2114]

Identity Crisis rounds out my top 3. Of the 4 DC "crisis" arcs, it is unique, because it does not revolve around a threat to the universe itself, only it's heroes. It is a deeply personal story for many of the characters involved. Sue Dibny's funeral is one of the most touching and heartbreaking moments in comic book history. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I just picked up the TPB for this a couple weeks ago. It was a very fascinating story. Plus, if you read Flash at all, it tied in a LOT of things that dates all the way back to when Reverse Flash murdered Barry's wife and even tied in with his rogues at the time. Yeah, Identity Crisis is definitely another great one.

 

[JameO73]

2. Planet Hulk/World War Hulk -- I don't have the words to describe how awesome this whole series was. You just have to read it.

I've heard awesome things about that story line. They kind of mention it in civil war, with the Hulk wrecking Vegas and them shooting him off across the universe. Isn't that the prequel to it?

 

[JameO73]

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War is hands down one of my favorite story arcs in any comic ever. It is epic and engaging, fantastically written, beautifully drawn, and has some of the most badass fights ever to grace the pages of any comic book.

Yes. Yes it was and did. Amazing.

Another recommendation; Millar & McNiven's Nemesis. Think a super villain Batman. It's epic.

 

[slacker2114]

I've heard awesome things about that story line. They kind of mention it in civil war, with the Hulk wrecking Vegas and them shooting him off across the universe. Isn't that the prequel to it?

Yes. In fact, Civil War was going on during Planet Hulk. It was a neat little tie-in. Also makes me wonder how Civil War would have turned out had they not shot the Hulk into space.

 

[MrMidnyte]

1-Jeph Loeb and Tim Sales color series(Spiderman Blue, Hulk Gray, etc)
2-Batman-The Long Halloween and Dark Victory
3-Batman-Hush.

 

[Goodieluver]

I wasn't TOO thrilled about that either, but it's been well written otherwise and the artwork to me is phenomenal. Siege is good? I've heard mixed reviews about it.

The whole lead up i feel makes it worthy but the aftermath is shitty

But J Michael Strazynski wrote a beautiful Thor line dealing with After Ragnarok from Volume 2 and Thor trying to rebuild Asgard on earth

 

[Amnesiac]

Well I make the distinctions between them. Series are an entire title; arcs happen WITHIN the series. Yes, I am a GEEK. Fuckin' DEAL with it!

SERIES:
The Sandman - Neil Gaiman (yeah, I know...but it's so fuckin' GOOD!)
Lucifer - Mike Carey
Hellblazer - various

Honorable Mention: 100 Bullets - Brian Azzarello

ARCS:
The Sandman: "Season of Mists"
Lucifer: "Devil in the Gateway" (tie) "The Mansions of the Silence"
Hellblazer: "All His Engines" (tie) "Rake at the Gates of Hell"

Honorable Mention: Powers: "Anarchy"

I'm personally not sure if Preacher counts because I argue that it was a solid story the entire way and not broken into individual arcs with different stories contingent with the universe. It's also not my favorite series because I feel it gets too long-winded and divergent in places and wanders off track...true, you get loads of backstory, but some of that backstory could have easily fit into other collections the way "Ancient History" did.

Although if it counted, I would probably pick "Proud Americans" as my favorite Preacher "arc". Sorry all you "War in the Sun" and "Alamo" fans.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Although if it counted, I would probably pick "Proud Americans" as my favorite Preacher "arc". Sorry all you "War in the Sun" and "Alamo" fans.

^ Nice. In "Proud Americans" , we get :

- the first of two stories about Jesse's dad & Space from their Vietnam days ( SO good )

- Jesse & Tulip on their daring mission to France to save Cassidy

- we learn what the Grail is & what they're all about

- the origin of Genesis

- Cass's backstory

A great arc , indeed , m'man. Excellent choice.




My top three arcs/runs in no particular order :

- Roger Stern & John Romita , Jr.'s run on Amazing Spider-Man ... the greatest superhero EVER at his wisecrackingest best. Spidey faces off against the unstoppable Juggernaut ... & beats him! The Hobgoblin is introduced & becomes one of Spidey's toughest , most mysterious adversaries. Issue #248 contains a touching story ( penciled by Ron Frenz ) titled "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" which will tug at your mutha-effin' heartstrings.

- Chris Claremont & John Byrne's run on Uncanny X-Men ... I'm not the biggest fan of the X-Men ever , but I gotta give credit where credit is due. Not only boasting such legendary arcs like "The Dark Phoenix Saga" & "Days of Future Past" , Claremont & Byrne basically created/perfected the blueprint for many a superteam to come during their time spent together on this book.

- the "Until the End of the World" arc from Preacher ... it was while reading this particular arc of this magnificent series where I realized that I was embarking on something truly brilliant ( meaning the series as a whole ). W/the VERY FIRST PAGE of issue #8 , you know that this isn't just a comic anymore ; it's a tale that is going to change you. Nothing against the first seven issues , but it's "Until the End of the World" where I really fell in love w/Preacher.

 

[Snail Shell]

^ Nice. In "Proud Americans" , we get :

- the first of two stories about Jesse's dad & Space from their Vietnam days ( SO good )

- Jesse & Tulip on their daring mission to France to save Cassidy

- we learn what the Grail is & what they're all about

- the origin of Genesis

- Cass's backstory

A great arc , indeed , m'man. Excellent choice.

Most importantly, we get The Messiah! Humper Dumper Dee Doo!

Snail Shell

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Most importantly, we get The Messiah! Humper Dumper Dee Doo!

Snail Shell