Much like Liam Neeson, I’m always making lists. If you’re familiar with Comic Book Herald, you know these are typically massive reading order lists, with a primary focus on Marvel comics (and some DC!).
The below list is a very different breed, and is instead a collection of all my favorite comics and graphic novels I have ever read. Every time I read a new comic book series, I add it to the list, and rank it among the substantial competition of all the best comics ever.
There are two essential notes I’d like to add before you get to the list.
1 – I do not claim to have read all the greatest comics of all time. I am literally one man (at best, a half animal, part party machine). This list is an evolving organism that will take new shape as I pick up new books. If you have a personal favorite you don’t see included here, I’d love to hear about it in the comments, on Twitter, via email, on the street, from a disembodied voice floating through my attic… you get the idea.
2 – I have read many more Marvel comics than I’ve yet included on this list. This is changing all the time as I re-read Marvel series as part of My Marvelous Year and subsequently rank the titles. Again, if you’re looking for your Marvel comics fixin’s, I’d also check out my favorite 100 stories from 1998 to 2015, or the top 25 Marvel trade collections from 1961 to 1998.
Support For Comic Book Herald:
Comic Book Herald is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a qualifying affiliate commission.
Comic Book Herald’s reading orders and guides are also made possible by reader support on Patreon, and generous reader donations.
Any size contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content. Support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards, or Donate here! Thank you for reading!
Finally, the rankings you’ll see here are almost entirely comics I like a lot. The higher a comic is ranked, the more I like it. The only real blatant exception to this is Mark Millar and J.G. Jones’ “Wanted,” which is a comic I despise beyond words, and really only want to include in perpetual last place on this list to make a point. (The point? It stinks.)
Let the superlative headlines begin, and enjoy the comics!
Last Updated: January 2020
The Best Comics Of All Time
1) Watchmen
2) The Sandman
3) Bone
4) Jonathan Hickman’s Marvel-verse (2008 – 2016)
5) Doom Patrol by Grant Morrison & Richard Case
6) Mister Miracle
7) Mind MGMT
8) Maus
9) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
10) Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1 through Vol. 3 (1-104)
11) Hawkeye
12) Y: The Last Man
13) The Bulletproof Coffin + Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred
14) From Hell
15) Scott Pilgrim
16) My Favorite Thing is Monsters
17) Miracleman
18) Blankets
19) Boxers & Saints
20) Punk Rock Jesus
21) Starman
22) All Star Superman
23) Invincible
24) Preacher
25) Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima
26) Chew
27) Gotham Central
28) Transmetropolitan
29) Batman: Year One
30) Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter
31) Fear Agent
32) Epileptic
33) Criminal
34) Batman: The Long Halloween + Dark Victory
35) Marvels
36) The Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 2 (FF 31-60)
37) Morning Glories
38) The Walking Dead: Compendium One
39) Sweet Tooth
40) Supreme: The Story of the Year
41) Uncanny X-Force (Rick Remender)
42) Infinite Kung Fu
43) Saga of the Swamp Thing
44) Saga
45) Batman (The New 52)
46) East of West
47) Fables Vol. 1 – Vol. 6
48) Dreadstar
49) Love & Rockets
50) Daytripper
51) Vision
52) 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank
53) Black Hammer
54) X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga
55) Jessica Jones: Alias
56) Hip Hop Family Tree
57) Astro City
58) The Black Monday Murders
59) The Contract with God Trilogy
60) Grendel Omnibus Vol. 1: Hunter Rose
61) The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
62) Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Vol. 1 – Vol. 5
63) Hitman
64) The Omega Men
65) Locke & Key
66) Black Panther: Panther’s Rage
67) Werewolves of Montpellier
68) Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
69) Sex Criminals
70) Multiversity
71) Shutter Volume 1: Wanderlost
72) Atomic Robo
73) Hellboy
74) Blacksad
75) JLA by Grant Morrison
76) New X-Men
77) Batman: The Black Mirror
78) Rat Queens Volume 1
79) JLA: A League of One
80) I Killed Adolf Hitler
81) John Constantine: Hellblazer – Dangerous Habits
82) Strangers In Paradise
83) Green Lantern by Geoff Johns
84) Batman: Arkham Asylum
85) Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
86) Lucifer Book One
87) Nowhere Men, Vol 1.
88) Lone Wolf and Cub
89) Bedlam
90) Six-Gun Gorilla
91) Essex County
92) Revival Vol.1 to Vol. 3
93) Astro Boy Vol. 1
94) Sheriff of Babylon
95) Achewood: The Great Outdoor Fight
96) The Life & Times Of Scrooge McDuck
97) Planetary
98) DC Metal (Complete Event)
99) The Underwater Welder
100) Dr. Strange & Dr. Doom: Triumph & Torment
101) Thor: God of Thunder
102) Ultimates
103) Murder Falcon
104) DC’s 52
105) Animal Man (Grant Morrison Run)
106) Immortal Hulk
107) The Abominable Charles Christopher
108) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
109) Acme Novelty Library #20
110) The Fade Out
111) Seconds
112) Batman & Robin (by Grant Morrison)
113) Hickman’s X-Men (House of X)
114) Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates
115) Habibi
116) Richard Stark’s Parker (by Darwyn Cooke)
117) Pride of Baghdad
118) Orion by Walt Simonson
119) Wicked + Divine
120) Little Bird
121) Superior Foes of Spider-Man
122) Superior Spider-Man
123) Fearscape
124) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
125) Gotham Academy
126) Kingdom Come
127) Black Science
128) Ms. Marvel
129) Strikeforce: Morituri
130) Grayson (The New 52)
131) Superman: Secret Identity
132) Zot!: The Complete Black and White Collection
133) Wizzywig
134) DC: The New Frontier
135) Paying for It
136) The Manhattan Projects
137) Fatale
138) Suicide Squad (John Ostrander Era)
139) The Flintstones
140) Injustice
141) Lazarus 
142) Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Miles Morales
143) Moon Knight (Ellis & Shalvey)
144) Venom by Rick Remender
145) Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin
146) Midnighter by Steve Orlando
147) Southern Cross
148) Deathstroke (DC Rebirth)
149) Wolverine & The X-Men
150) Manhunter by Goodwin & Simonson
151) Black Bolt
152) You Are Deadpool
153) Justice League International
154) Flex Mentallo
155) Batman and Son + The Black Glove
156) X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
157) Infinity Gauntlet
158) Rebirth of Thanos + Thanos Quest
159) The Umbrella Academy
160) Ice Cream Man
161) The Wild Storm
162) Bitch Planet
163) Daredevil by Mark Waid
164) Copra Round One
165) The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story
166) Bandette Volume 1
167) Birds of Prey by Simone & Benes
168) Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts
169) Wonder Woman by George Perez Vol. 1
170) Captain Britain by Alan Moore & Alan Davis
171) Zero #1 to #10
172) Low, Vol. 1
173) Monstress Vol. 1
174) Return of the Dapper Men
175) Superannuated Man
176) Nighthawk: Hate Makes Hate
177) Bacchus, Book 1: Immortality Isn’t Forever
178) 47 Ronin
179) God Country
180) Superman Rebirth
181) Deadly Class
182) The Authority (Warren Ellis)
183) The Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 1
185) Doom Patrol (Young Animal)
186) Black Badge
187) Golden Age Wonder Woman
188) Cosmic Odyssey
190) Batman: The Killing Joke
191) Star Wars: Darth Vader
192) Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys
193) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
194) Irredeemable Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
195) Paper Girls Vol.1
196) Shade The Changing Girl Vol. 1
197) Spider-Man/Human Torch: I’m With Stupid
198) Superman: Man of Steel Vol. 1
199) The Walking Dead Compendium Three
200) Batman R.I.P.
201) Thanos War – Warlock & Avengers
202) Mighty Thor (Jane Foster)
203) The Green Lantern
204) Captain Marvel by Deconnick
205) Thor (Stan and Jack) To Wake the Mangog
206) Farmhand
207) Stumptown Vol. 1
208) Superman: Last Son of Krypton
209) Alan Moore’s Writing For Comics
210) Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
211) Wytches Volume 1
212) Motor Crush
213) Barrier
214) Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars
215) Doctor Strange by Cates
216) Queen & Country Vol. 1
217) Star Wars Legacy
218) Superman: American Alien
219) JLA One Million
220) Green Lantern/Green Arrow (Denny O’Neil & Neal Adams)
221) Manifest Destiny
222) Dark Night: A True Batman Story
223) Star Wars: The Crimson Empire Saga
224) Comic Book History of Comics
225) March: Book One
226) Superman: Secret Origin
227) Private Eye
228) Southern Bastards Volume 1 and 2
229) Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom (Valiant reboot, uncollected)
230) Deadshot: Beginnings
231) Hellblazer: Original Sins
232) Emperor Doom
233) “The Life of Captain Marvel”
234) Valerian: Complete Collection Vol. 1
235) Catwoman Vol 1.
236) Secret Weapons
237) Redneck
238) X-Men: Messiah CompleX
239) Injustice 2
240) Green Arrow: Quiver
241) Attack on Titan Vol. 1
242) Cable #1 to #12
243) Batman: White Knight
244) SHIELD
245) Space Riders
246) Extremity
247) Lady Killer
248) Grass Kings
249) Hawkeye (2016)
250) Runaways Vol. 1
251) Black Magick Vol. 1
252) Infinite Crisis
253) JLA: Ultramarines
254) Outcast Volume 1
255) Star Wars: Dark Empire Trilogy
256) Injection, Vol. 1
257) Son of Hitler
258) Divinity
259) The Sixth Gun Vol. 1
260) Kill or Be Killed Vol. 1
261) X-Men Red Vol. 1
262) Cosmic Ghost Rider
263) Batman (Rebirth) + Night of the Monster Men
264) New 52 Justice League: Forever Evil
265) JLA: Tower of Babel
266) Black
267) Super Sons (Rebirth)
268) Generation X
269) Unnatural
270) Silver Surfer: Black
271) Local
272) Lost At Sea
273) BPRD: Plague of Frogs
274) Green Lantern Earth One
275) Superman/Shazam: First Thunder
276) Unity
277) Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country
278) Superman: Birthright
279) Batman: Hush
280) Empire by Waid & Kitson
281) Casanova
282) Superman for All Seasons
283) Thanos Wins
284) Buddy Does Seattle
285) I Hate Fairyland Vol.1
286) Ragnarok Vol 1: Last God Standing
287) Batman Incorporated
288) Thanos by Lemire and Deodato
289) Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne
290) Man Eaters
291) Gotham City Sirens
292) Captain America (Bucky) #601 to #616
293) Snagglepuss Chronicles: Exit Stage Left
294) Batman: Knightfall
295) Giant Days Vol. 1
296) The Dying and The Dead
297) Trillium
298) Quantum Teens Are Go
299) Doctor Fate (88 to 92)
300) Black Orchid
301) Wonder Woman: Heart of the Amazon
302) Marvel 2 in 1 Vol. 1
303) Assassin Nation Vol. 1
304) Checkmate
305) Thor Epic Collection: The God of Thunder
306) The Legend of Wonder Woman: Origins
307) Trees by Warren Ellis Vol 1 + Vol 2
308) Moon Knight: Crazy Runs in the Family
309) The Dreaming
310) Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
311) Action Comics (Bendis Era)
312) Wonder Woman Year One (Rebirth)
313) Providence, Act 1
314) Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunter
315) Batman: Under the Red Hood
316) Meet the Skrulls
317) Jessica Jones Vol. 2
318) Friendo
319) Baby Teeth Vol. 1
320) Teen Titans (Geoff Johns)
321) Archer & Armstrong
322) Blue Beetle Vol. 1
323) Harbinger
324) Ninjak
325) New Super-Man (Rebirth)
326) Shuri
327) X-O Manowar
328) Rai
329) Mother Panic Vol. 1
330) Shadowman
331) Bloodshot
332) Star Wars Tales (Anthology)
333) Letter 44 Vol. 1
334) Infinity War
335) Analog
336) Good-bye, Chunky Rice
337) Before Watchmen: Minutemen/Silk Spectre
338) Thanos: The Infinity Conflict
339) Miniature Jesus
340) Big Damn Sin City
341) Silver Surfer
342) Iron Man Epic Collection: The Golden Avenger
343) Pretty Deadly Vol 1
344) My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies
345) DC Comics Bombshells Vol. 1
346) Superman: Red Son
347) Tales of Suspense
348) Bug! The Adventures of Forager
349) Doom 2099: The Complete Collection by Warren Ellis
350) Wonder Woman (The New 52)
351) Detective Comics Vol. 1 (DC Rebirth)
352) Kim & Kim
353) Bitter Root
354) Inhumans: Once and Future Kings
355) Eternal
356) Royal City Vol. 1
357) Weatherman
358) The Dead Hand
359) All-New Wolverine
360) X-Men Grand Design
361) Identity Crisis
362) Donny Cates Venom
363) Captain America Epic Collection: Captain America Lives Again
364) Maestros Vol. 1
365) Die
366) War of the Realms (full event)
367) Skyward Vol. 1
368) Crisis On Infinite Earths
369) Captain America by Ta-Nehisi Coates
370) Spider-Gwen
371) Avengers: Celestial Madonna Saga
372) Deadpool Max: Nutjob
373) Swamp Thing By Scott Snyder (The New 52)
374) The Flash: Born to Run
375) JLA: Year One
376) Mooncop
377) Chrononauts
378) Aquaman by Kelly Sue Deconnick
379) Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka Vol. 1
380) Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes
381) Manhunter (2004) Vol. 1 + Vol. 2
382) Spider-Geddon
383) Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business
384) Lion Forge – Nobel
385) The New Teen Titans (Volume 1 & 2)
386) Batman by Denny O’Neil & Neal Adams
387) Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland
388) We3
389) The Joker
390) Valiant’s Original Unity Saga
391) The Wake
392) The Nightly News
393) Batman: The Man Who Laughs
394) Harley & Ivy
395) Batman: Year One Hundred
396) Legends of the Dark Knight: Venom
397) Seven Soldiers
398) Jack Kirby’s Captain America
399) Batman Who Laughs
400) Justice League (New Justice)
401) Captain America (Marvel Legacy)
402) The Invisibles Vol. 1
403) Nick Fury
404) Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye Vol. 1
405) Justice
406) Superman Action Comics Rebirth Vol. 1
407) iZombie Vol 1: Dead to the World
408) Black AF
409) Green Arrow: Year One
410) Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows
411) Thor (2018)
412) X-Men Second Coming
413) Lockjaw Vol. 1
414) Clandestino
415) The Unexpected
416) Luther Strode
417) Lion Forge – Superb
418) Shazam: Monster Society of Evil
419) Cemetary Beach
420) Plastic Man
421) The Power of Shazam
422) Prophet Vol. 1
423) Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps Rebirth Vol. 1
424) There’s Nothing There
425) The Dark Tower Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
426) Nightwing Rebirth Vol. 1
427) Justice League: The Darkseid War (New 52)
428) Star Wars (Brian Wood Era)
429) The Boys
430) Star Wars: Princess Leia
431) Mage: The Hero Discovered
432) New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
433) V for Vendetta
434) American Vampire Vol. 1
435) Nemo: Heart of Ice
436) Darth Vader and Son
437) Star Wars: Rebel Heist
438) Animal Man (The New 52)
439) Luthor
440) Happy!
441) The Batgirl of Burnside (The New 52)
442) Inhumans: By Right of Birth
443) All Star Western Vol. 1 The New 52)
444) Dial H For Hero
445) Mech Cadet Yu
446) Ghostbusters: The New Ghostbusters
447) Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman
448) Final Crisis
449) Hawkman: Endless Flight
450) Kamandi Challenge
451) Avengers
452) Klaus
453) Ether Vol. 1
454) New Mutants Dead Souls
455) Daredevil: Mayor Fisk
456) Despicable Deadpool
457) Storm Vol. 1
458) Deadpool by Poshen & Duggan
459) Milk Wars
460) Avengers Epic Collection: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
461) Punisher: War Machine
462) Heroes in Crisis
463) Dr. Fate #1 to #4
464) Black Panther: Long Live the King
465) Uncanny X-Men: Wolverine and Cyclops (2019)
466) The Hellblazer Rebirth Vol. 1
467) Thanos: The Infinity Siblings
468) Uncanny X-Men Disassembled
469) Booster Gold by Geoff Johns Vol. 1
470) West Coast Avengers by Kelly Thompson
471) Wonder Woman by G. Willow Wilson
472) Infinity Countdown + Infinity Wars
473) Death of the Inhumans
#REF!
I know this is almost as old as the world, but it always manages to surprise me how all best comics are supposedly American on most of the top lists compiled by Americans. What total BS 😐
Most of the European classics are missing. Valerian on place 211?!
This list is a joke.
Do you guys not realise that this is just a list of Dave’s favourite comics that he’s read? It’s not the be-all end-all, just his favourites and he hasn’t ready every good comic ever lol.
Certainly an English language bias, but American?! You do realize half of the top ten were written by Brits, right?
Even Tintin and Asterix are missing!? From list.?
Otomo? Moebius? Loisel? Corben? Torres? Miller? Hewlett & Martin? Druillet? Liberatore?
Hey, so I was wondering, at what point during this list is there a shift from the comics actually being beloved to being terrible? I know that with several of the bottommost entries I’ve seen you berate them in other places. Have you ever considered making tiers kind of like with your MCU power rankings? I enjoy your recommendations and would definitely appreciate any such additions. Thanks Dave!
That’s a good question, Gideon.
I’ve maintained for a while the top 100 is the real gold standard, but right now that probably runs to about top 107 (through Wic + Div). And then within the top 100, anything inside the top 60 is a book where I’ll stop whatever I’m doing and read without question.
The next notable tier for me comes right around book 220 (right now JLA: Ultramarines), through to book #312 (right now Identity Crisis). Starting with #359, we get into “I have very mixed feelings about this” territory. And then right now anything from #457 to the end marks comics I really wouldn’t recommend. 467 to 470 are genuine contenders for worst comic of all time.
So, agreed, tiers would be a very good idea!
Have you read Dark Knight III: The Master Race? It’s one i’ve been thinking about but with Dark Knight Strikes Again being so awful I’m skeptical. I didn’t see it your list so I wasn’t sure if you just haven’t read it or if it was really more despised than Wanted for you.
Excluding 100-bullets instantly made this list a joke.
446 entries made this list a joke. It is a shameless click link grab. Sad.
Top 10 needs to make this list
Highly recommended:-
Judge Dredd Block Mania and The Apocolypse war
2000AD – Nemesis The Warlock
2000AD – Bad Company
2000AD – Slaine the Horned God
2000AD – Song of the surfer
Judge Dredd America
Judge Dredd the pit
2000AD Halo Jones (Maybe the best thing ever written by Alan Moore)
Lone wolf and cub.
Lone wolf and cub.
I remember seeing some Bone books – the covers at least – as a child, but never knew what those were all about. When I saw it on this list, I decided to give it a try. Thank you so much for listing it here!
Have you ever read Nimona? I feel like it might make it into the list.
Sory by bad engrish.
Oh, and Asterios Polyp should absolutely be in every “best comics” list!
Hi! Have you read The Sculptor by Scott McCloud? In that case, what was it like to you?
Please check out Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther run which is current
Incredible list!! For the most part I agree it is almost perfect but it needs some eastern colours. I mean that there are not some asian series(manga etc). (Sorry if my english are not completely right)
Hope you give Sunstone by Stjepan Šejić a shot
So, I have one major criticism of this list. Why is Sex Criminals not listed as number 69? I mean it’s close enough at 62 already that I think it’s well worth the minor fudge of the numbers to place it where it belongs.
Haha this is the greatest oversight in the history of Comic Book Herald. Great call.
Good one!
Nice
Well if i have to make a suggestion. I recommend Fall of Cthulhu. Although not superheroes.. the storyline itself is worth a read. Based on the work of HP Lovecraft. SUch a shame it had to end though.
So, Y The Last Man… what is the appeal? I like Brian K. Vaughn’s stuff, love Runaways, really enjoy Saga, but I hated every moment of the 18 issues I could stand of Y. Not sure why, for some reason I felt I was reading it wrong 😛
It happens 🙂 It’s definitely a tighter focus than, say, Saga. Personally I love the characters more than the concept. If you gave it 18 issues, I’m sure just not for you… I’d suggest BKV’s Paper Girls if you haven’t already!
I had all of the Bone series and some of the side stories and I sold it all off. I kinda i wish i wouldn’t have. I would like to read it again.
It started out so strong. I read the first two volumes several times. But somewhere around volume 5 or 6 it started to fall flat. By the time i got to the end of the series it didn’t hold my interest, so i sold it. I might start buying it back…
Wow, a full run of Bone sounds amazing!
I read it all in one, so was highly invested throughout. All ages is so hard, and Bone pulls it off so well in my mind.
There’s a Bone: One Volume Edition that you can pick up on ebay for $20 or less that’s totally worth it.
No Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes or Molly and the Bear?
I agree with a couple of other posts…
You should really try Astro City if you haven’t. I assume you haven’t bc it’s not on the list. And it would be. So try it.
I agree with a couple of other posts…
You should really try Astro City if you haven’t. I assume you haven’t bc it’s not on the list. And it would be. So try it.
I have to agree with Watchmen, but does it include before watchmen?
just curious, thanks.
Nope, I include Before Watchmen separately. I’ve listed the Minutemen collection somewhere on the list (quite a bit lower than #1, though!).
I hope one day you add Marvel books to this list because I would very much like to see where certain Marvel books would fall in your overall rankings.
I think Astro City, by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson, with covers by Alex Ross (!!!!) is entirely deserving of being on this list. It is certainly my number one.
Seriously, read it. It is amazing!
I can’t believe it’s not on this list. Astro City is a fantastic series. Very few writers know how to really hit the emotions of the everyday man like Busiek. It’s such a completely original and interesting series.
Given the nice showing by Marvels and Kingdom Come, there are several other works featuring Alex Ross’ terrific art and story ideas to great effect:
Uncle Sam Issues 1 and 2 (1998) (complimented for its story by Alan F*ing Moore),
Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Shazam: Power of Hope, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, and Liberty & Justice
showcasing some of the most heartbreaking and insightful stories into DC heroes that I can find, and found in a single collection called the World’s Greatest Super Heroes
Enjoy my suggestions Dave, thanks
Dave, I want to recommend Mark Millar’s Starlight to you. It think it’s a fantastic miniseries, and the first issue is one of the best issues of comics I think I’ve ever read. And I’m not even a huge fan of Millar. Check it out!
I agree with you about most of the comics in this list but I think squadron supreme by mark Gruenwald deserves a spot there
I think it’s a lot better than Jessica jones
You must try Stray Bullets by David Lapham from the beginning. Image has been putting out all of them collected recently. It is the only one in my top five you don’t have on this list and I would love to see your opinion.
Wonder Woman: the Hiketeia
A Wrinkle in Time
So far, a wonderful and surprisingly accurate ranking
Great list! Thanks for all the good work you’re doing here, I’m just starting to use some of your reading lists to work my way through some Marvel classics on MU (literally just started on Claremont’s X-Men run yesterday).
Once upon a time I would have felt crazy recommending a Transformers title, but I think that IDW’s More Than Meets the Eye series by James Roberts (currently going strong at #52) is worthy of a place in this list. The first 22 issues (its ‘first season’) are particularly consistent; the ‘second season’ (#28 onwards, following a mediocre crossover event with a stablemate TF title) less so, though I’m reserving judgement for the final story until it reaches its conclusion.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the run, it’s definitely on the to read list!
U should also check out ‘The Punisher’ Max series by garth ennis. And Daredevil ‘Born Again’ by frank miller. I’m sure they’ll be on your list someday.
Was hopin 2 see ‘Irredeemable’ by Mark Waid. Probably my favorite ‘indie’ comic book of all time.
How about the Judas contract by Wolfman and Perez? New Teen Titans series is probably one of the most underrated comic lines in history, with the creation of Raven the daughter of an other dimensional satan. Slade Wilson the genetically modifed mercenary, Starfire, princess enslaved and escaped from an evil race of ET. Gotta love a bunch of Teen superheroes teaming up to destroy a demon that can dissipate mans atoms into the lightstream to cause eternal suffering and nothingness for the rest of time.
A bit late to comment, probably. Just wanted ti say that I think this i a good list. I haven’t read most, but now I want to try them out. Btw I think Watchmen is great, but in my opinion Cerebus the Aardvark is the end all be all of comics. It may have it’s flaws, but good far outweighs the bad and I would definitely suggest reading it if you haven’t
Great list. A few that I would add.
Boys- Garth Ennis
Batman & Robin (New 52)
Revolver – Matt Kindt
Jonah Hex – Justin Gray
Batman: Earth One Vol 1 & 2
Goliath -Tom Gauld
Transmetropolitan. Would recommend it to anyone but for someone like you who writes (and pretty well at that) it resonates even more.
Read and enjoyed the first volume and then just never made it back. It’s on the list! For as much as I love Warren Ellis’ Marvel comics and some of his novels, I’m woefully behind on his best comics.
Also, thank you 🙂
Have you read supreme blue rose? I loved it. Super weird acid take on supreme by warren ellis. Really David lynchy. There are even some suttle twin peaks Easter eggs. It’s like if alan moore’s supreme and inland empire (or whatever inserted random lynch film works) had a baby. Also the artwork is original and awesome
I have not read, but one Twin Peaks reference and I’m sold. I’ll check it out.
I’m just getting in to some Image comics this week because of the comixology special offers.
-Revival
-Postal (definite favoutrite)
-Outcast
-Birthright
-The Tithe
That should get me through the next few weeks. I was having Marvel cheesy dialogue overload.
No 100 Bullets? Get on it, it’s ace. Thanks for the list – that Inhumans trade had escaped my attention until now.
Great list! As for additions, I see another commenter mentioned Planetary. I would also add Ex Machina, The Fade Out, Sleeper, Pretty Deadly vol 1. And my daughter is chiming in from the background for Echo.
Yay, Dave’s a Dreadstar fan! I love the whole run, but I think the final 24 or so issues, the ones that Peter David wrote, are especially great. I really hope that the current omnibus collections will cover the entire run. I own it in floppies, but it’d be nice to have it on my bookshelf.
Dreadstar’s so great 🙂 I would love to see the David era better collected as well.
A lot of really great selections on this list! So pleased “Morning Glories” made the cut!
Have you ever read Archaia’s “Artesia” by Mark Smylie? A truly rich and intricate fantasy epic. Great review of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnlC8vvtoS4
Other great titles in no particular order:
— Iron Empires (Sheva’s War in particular)
— 100 Bullets
— Conan (Dark Horse)
— Preacher
— Rex Mundi
— The Metabarons
— Negation
— The Revenge of Count Skarbek
— Girls
— Scalped
— Blueberry (by Moebius)
— Meridian
— Give Me Liberty
— Drifter
— Planetary
— Mice Templar
— Marvel’s 1602 (you’ve written elsewhere this wasn’t a favorite of yours)
And no list is complete without some “GOON” by Eric Powell!!!
I appreciate all the work on your guides which are incredibly helpful. Hopefully, you might find something you like on this list that you haven’t heard of.
Awesome list, there are a handful on there I haven’t even heard of, so I will certainly explore. Thanks for sharing!
Did u leave alan moore’s swamp thing off the list? Maybe I missed it
I’ve only read (and enjoyed) the first 10 issues. Want to finish it before i rank. It will be added for sure.
I can totally understand. I’ve only read the first 9. I see it as something really amazing, but it’s so heavy. Almost on the depressing side. I would do the same thing at this point, if I was to compile a list. Just being curious.
If you had to choose a top 10 of all time, would these first 10 be the ones? (with whatever marvel events omitted mixed in)
Mixing in Marvel makes it really tricky for me. So many of my favorites are extended runs. I’m not sure any would bump anything out of my top 10 here. Bulletproof Coffin and Mind MGMT are the clearest beneficiaries of recency bias, but for the time being I absolutely love those comics. If I was going to bump From Hell out of the 10 slot, it would be for the first 40 issues of Amazing Spider-Man, the Walt Simonson run on Thor, the Claremont/Cockrum/Byrne Uncanny X-Men, or everything Hickman’s done from Secret Warriors through Secret Wars. Off the top of my head 🙂 I’ll have to make another list…
Hahaha cool, yeah, hickman’s new avengers was got me back into comics (after 20 years) so I look forward to whatever he does. Did you read god is dead? I was about 14 in and lost interest, but still might. It was intriguing that alan Moore was writing some associated stuff.
John Byrne’s Man of Steel #1-6 is a great miniseries that I would put on this list.
That’s a good call, I’ll need to reread to place.
Interesting list…I have to agree with a lot of it. I would have put Strangers in Paradise much higher. There are a lot in there that I have no knowledge of, so will have to do some research. And now you have sparked my interest in a couple that I had heard of but had not given much thought: Batman: The Black Mirror and Grayson (The New 52). Dick Grayson is on of may all time favorite characters, but I have had a hard time getting into the New 52…may be time to try again.
I wonder why Fables was left off the list…did miss it? I would have that at number one on my own list.
I actually just read the first volume of fables this week. My brothers been raving about it for years, so you can expect to see it added when i finish!
You’ll have to get up to the “The Last Castle” which is in the 4th volume, I think. That is the issue that did it for me.