THE COMIX-TEN #10: TOP 10 COMIC BOOK WRITER RUNS

[Joel Phillips]

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/comix10_logo.gif" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">The Top 10 Comic Book Writer Runs


Writers: Raul Grau, Zeb Aslam, Jon Hancock, Tom Toner, and Jordan T. Maxwell
Editor: Joel Phillips

One of the best things about the comic book ongoing series is how many different creators, with many different visions, work to build up a single mythos over many years. That said, one of the worst things about the comic book ongoing series is how disconnected and complicated a franchise can become after all the years and writers and visions that clash. The best writers are those who are able to step into such a situation, tell great and original stories, and step out again, leaving the franchise richer then they found it, hopefully without complicating it unnecessarily.

What follows are the lists of five ComiX-Fan staffers of the Ten Best Comic Book Writer Runs. Note that in the spirit of the topic, these runs have been limited to characters and franchises which have existed, in one form another, under the creative vision of more than one person. With that in mind, we hope you enjoy our picks for the Ten Best Comic Book Writer Runs.

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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/custom_avatars/avatar12769_1.gif" align=left border=0 alt="Raul Grau">First up is Raul “jcknite” Grau:

To put together this list, I had to stare at my comic book collection for quite some time. Even after I made the decision to stop staring for a moment and actually take the books out of the boxes, it didn't get any easier to make my picks. I finally had to come up with some guidelines to limit my choices (I'd explain those guidelines here, but they were very complex and methodical and silly). So here are the results:

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick10.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#10: Peter David on X-Factor (v1 #70-89)

Before David, X-Factor was a continuity-saddled turtle that had long since lost its purpose. After David, it devolved into a team of former villains seeking redemption, and was ultimately cancelled. In the middle, there was David... and it was good. He proved that even minor X-characters had character, and there is no villain more powerful than a sealed jar of mayo.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick9.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#9: Grant Morrison on Animal Man (#1-26)

Existentialism for the comic fan. From a tortured animated Coyote to a peyote-laced dream walk, the former Forgotten Hero was taken all across, and even beyond, the DC Universe. In the end, Morrison even retcon'd his own retcons, putting all his toys back where he found them. Of course, the most notable moment of this run came with the creation of a particularly unique character who hasn't appeared in well over a decade... Grant Morrison himself.

Now here's another one for the X-fans in the crowd (you know who you are)...

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick8.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#8: Warren Ellis on Excalibur (v1 #83-103)

Excalibur was already a bizarre title long before he came onboard as writer... what Ellis accomplished was simply to make it brilliant as well. He took a loose confederation of heroes and turned them back into a team Yes, it was a team who despised each other, but they were a team nonetheless. And he did it all with pryde and wisdom.

{Editor’s Note: All puns are the fault of the writers, and not ComiX-Fan or its staff in general.}

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick7.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#7: Alan Moore on WildCATS (v1 #21-34)

I think the problem with the first series of Wildcats was that the title did not end immediately after Moore's run. He had delved into interstellar politics, ignited an all-encompassing crime war, and resolved the conflict that had been the basis for the whole franchise. Yet, the title kept going... it's weird really.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick6.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#6: Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatties on Justice League (Justice League #1-6, JLI v1 #7-25, and Justice League America #26-60)

The absolute zenith of character interaction. It has been said that the Giffen/Dematties years examined how heroes act when no one is looking, and like most of us, heroes are much more interesting with their pants down... sometimes literally. Simply the best Justice League ever! BWAH-HA-HA-HA!

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick5.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#5: Neil Gaiman on Sandman (#1-75)

There were Sandmen before Morpheus, and more men of sand afterwards, but not even the gas-masked vigilante could dream of being considered the Sandman after Dream came along.

Well, what can I say about this title that has not already been imprinted into our brains while we were sleeping? It's comic book poetry, pure and simple.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick4.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#4: Christopher Priest on The Ray (v2 #1-28)

I'm sure that quite a few of you believe that the best work from Priest came on a certain title about a color-coded cat with a kingdom. I apologize for just how very wrong you all are.

Ray was a typical Gen-X'er. All he ever wanted was a not-unbearable job, an apartment with a fridge, and a steady girlfriend. What he got was an obsessed villain bent on his slow destruction, a brief relationship with the Devil, and light powers. Peter Parker wishes that he had this much angst.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick3.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#3: Alan Moore on Swamp Thing (Saga of the Swamp Thing #20-45 and Swamp Thing v2 #46-64)

Not truly the birth of the retcon, though home of the first really well thought out one. Suddenly Swamp Thing was no longer just another victim of circumstance, but a golem simulating life... talk about pathos. John Constantine, a guided tour of the seedier parts of America, and all leading up to the apocalyptic battle between the forces of light and dark. All this and Pogo too.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick2.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#2: John Ney Rieber on Books of Magic (v2 #1-50)

Now Rieber did not create Tim Hunter (that honor goes to Neil Gaiman... you might recall him from #5), however, he did bring young Tim from wide-eyed innocent to jaded cynic in only 50 issues. This was not a title about a magician, it was an examination on how wonder can adversely impact a life, and Rieber clearly understood that.

Frankly, Harry Potter has got nothing on Tim Hunter.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Raulpick1.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#1: Keith Giffen and Tom & Mary Bierbaum on Legion of Super-Heroes (v4 #1-38)

Admittedly, Giffen had been involved with the Legion for several years before this, but it was the inclusion of the Bierbaums and the 5 year gap that preceded this series which set this run apart. Suddenly the Lad's and Lass's were all grown up, and they had the scars to prove it. This sort of real change is the only reason to have sequential fiction in the first place.

Lastly, a lot of writers try to go out with a big bang when they leave a book. In his last issue, Keith Giffen killed 2 billion people, and we felt for each and every one of them. Nuff said.

Rebuttals:
Zeb: This list was great. I mean, really. I couldn't find a thing wrong with it...until that is I saw that you had Ellis' Excalibur on it. I'll admit the run was good, but really, it was nowhere near Davis' epic run. The rest, I grudgingly agree is pretty good. :p
Jon: Dear, dear me. I had such high hopes from you my friend. Animal Man? You ignore Doom Patrol in favour of Animal Man? The only good part of that was Ultra the Multi Alien popping up. THE RAY?! C'mon fellah. We all have guilty pleasures but usually they involve midgets or leather (or in Jordan's case, both).
Tom: Interesting list you’ve got there, Raul. Wait a minute…you’re picking Warren Ellis’ Excalibur over Claremont’s? I know we haven’t said this on the CX10 list in a while but…you sir are an ignorant slut. I have no more to say to you, so good day sir.
Jordan: John Constantine, Timothy Hunter, Morpheus, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore...seriously dude. If you want me to make out with you, you just have to ask.

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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/custom_avatars/avatar13426_3.gif" align=left border=0 alt="Zeb Aslam">Next up was Zeb Aslam, who promised no puns:

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick10.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#10: Jerry Ordway on The Power Of Shazam (#1-47)

Captain Marvel had always been the stepchild of the DCU. Relegated to second-string status and plagued by glaring continuity errors, there seemed to be no hope for this character; until the arrival of Jerry Ordway that is. Ordway took the character and gave him new life. He introduced the 'family,' the villains, and most importantly, established him firmly as an integral part of the DCU. The Captain we see today in JSA is a direct result of the work of Jerry Ordway, and is a true testament to his great writing.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick9.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#9: George Perez on Wonder Woman (v2 #1-62)

This was the definitive run for Wonder Woman as we know her today. During the silver age, Wonder Woman had been plagued by the problems inherent with that era: an over-the-top view of feminism, deaths, rebirths, followed by more deaths, followed by doubles, etc... Her continuity as well as her character had both become completely confused. George Perez's run changed all that. He brought the character back to her mythological roots, focusing more on the mythical beasts and gods then on the villains which had plagued Wonder Woman before. He brought a reasonable and more well-rounded character to life; one who had a crush on Superman, who worshipped her gods openly, and who sought peaceful resolutions to problems rather than begin fighting outright. This is the Wonder Woman we know today...and it all started in this run.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick8.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#8: Frank Miller on Daredevil (v1 #168-191)

Many people regard Frank Miller's Born Again storyline as the definitive Daredevil. Others sing the praises of Brian Micheal Bendis and his current run. For me, the best run was the first run of Frank Miller's. This was the run which introduced Elektra to us, which brought us a greater understanding of the character of Matt Murdock, and which tweaked the origin of the character allowing it to make a little more sense. We had tragedy, romance, betrayal, death, and deception...truly a definitive run!

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick7.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#7: Warren Ellis on The Authority (v1 #1-12)

This was the book that changed the face of team books forever. Taking a team of relative unknowns to the comic world, Ellis showed us a team which acted like we would act had we the powers to do so. They saved the world sure, but at the same time they weren't afraid to take lives, they weren't afraid to speak their minds, and they weren't above presenting the true face of the government before the public. This was the team of the future, this was the team all others aspired to be, this was the Authority!

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick6.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#6: Keith Giffen and Tom & Mary Bierbaum on Legion of Super-Heroes (v4 #1-38)

As most of you already know (or at least the people who read my reviews anyway), I'm a rabid fan of the Legion of Super-Heroes. They are the reason I'm still reading comics, and often times, they are the only comic I regularly read. Over the years I've managed to amass a humongous collection of Legion comics encompassing almost all their eras, and managed to read almost all the comics they have appeared in. In that 40+ years worth of history, this was the era that truly stood out for me. Universes got destroyed, realities got altered, people died, people changed, people grew up, everything about this run was about change and moving forward. It was truly a special time for the Legion, and was one of the best consecutive runs by a writer I've ever had the privilege to read.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick5.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#5: Gail Simone on Birds Of Prey (v1 #56-present)

So what if this run is still going? It is still one of the best renditions of the characters of Black Canary, Oracle, and Huntress I have ever read! Each issue brings with it more humour, more characterisation and more slam-bang action than most books bring with 6 issue arcs! Truly the pinacle of Black Canary perfection...

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick4.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#4: Kurt Busiek on The Avengers (v3 #1-56)

The Avengers have had great writers, and as a result some truly stupendous runs. Who can forget The Kree-Skrull War, The Masters of Evil, or even Kang-Immortus confrontations? This era however showed us that while the Avengers were a team, the best team in fact, they were still capable of making mistakes, losing sight of their goals and more than anything else, finding new ways to accomplish missions when old ones failed them. This was the best rendition of the Avengers I've ever read...and it was the run that showed me who the Avengers really were.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick3.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#3: John Ostrander on The Suicide Squad (v1 #1-66)

This was a truly unique book: a team composed of super-villains who were asked to spend their sentence fulfilling missions for the US government. While this concept may seem old now (showing up most recently in Marvel's Identity Disc mini) this was the book that started it all. Each issue was a new revelation, and a new possible death. How many other books can you think of who have had both the Penguin and Capt. Boomerang in the same issue, on the same team?

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick2.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#2: Alan Moore on MiracleMan (v1 #1-16)

Alan Moore at his best. Those of you who believe that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or Promethea is his best work are sadly mistaken. Moore took a simple concept (that of a child speaking the name of a hero and becoming said hero) and turned it into an examination of the barriers between the imagination and reality. He showed how absolute power can and does corrupt, and how, regardless of what you might think, past mistakes do come back to haunt you. Captain Marvel should pray that Moore never sets his sights on him...or Hoppy the Marvel Bunny may just turn out to be an interdimensional alien bent on the destruction of the Earth...

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick1.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#1: James Robinson on Starman (v2 #1-80)

Of notable mention, there have been two Starman titles over the past couple of years, and I'll admit, this book was James Robinson's baby and he never let go of it. Yet, within these pages he accomplished what no other writer had ever been able to do with the character(s) before, which is a reconciliation of every single Starman ever to grace the pages of a DC comic, encompassing past, present, and future. Each issue of this series built on the overall mythology, and created a new tapestry with the ending of each storyline. This book was the pinacle of epic storytelling: great, believable characters; a city that was as much a part of the book as the people themselves; and supporting characters who were just as integral to the book as the main character, Jack himself. No other book has come close (well, maybe Sandman, but that's a whole 'nother story) to the perfection this particular run achieved, and thus far, it doesn't seem that any will.

Rebuttals:
Raul: I was almost tempted to leave your list alone (Giffen, Moore, Ellis... you covered all the bases), but how is having Penguin and Captain Boomerang together a selling point for anything? Also, no amount of Ordway effort could ever make the Big Red Cheese interesting.
Jon: I honestly couldn't take the list seriously after you picked a Shazam title. Egads man... is there no taste in your body? The rest of the list is like a jack in the box that has been open and then put in deep freeze: solid but unsurprising.
Tom: This is a very likeable list you’ve posted up, Zeb. I can’t see myself hating any of it. Then again, with the exception of Daredevil and Avengers, I can’t see myself reading any of it either ;)
Jordan: Solid list, bro. The only thing I can say against it is... damn you for having read all of Miracleman before me! (though that's really more Todd McFarlane's fault than yours)

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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/avatar.php?userid=3822&dateline=1063985599" align=left border=0 alt="Jonberg Hancock">Next came Jon “Jonberg” Hancock, who swears that’s his real name:

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick3.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#10: Chris Claremont on Uncanny X-Men (#94-279)
When you think of best runs you not only have to think about entertainment but longevity and originality. Another key factor I think is how successful a title can be. Chris Claremont's first run on Uncanny X-men gave original concepts, gripping characters and flowing storylines, but it also lasted for near enough twenty years and managed to turn an abandoned creation into the company's second most recognized franchise. While I may not find this run as entertaining as other titles on the list, its impact alone warrants its place here.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick9.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#9: Marv Wolfman on Teen Titans (New Teen Titans (v1) #1-41, Tales of the Teen Titans #42-91, New Teen Titans (v2) #1-49 and New Titans #50-130)

Yeah it might seem that there are four runs in this issue but they're all essentially the same book. Teen Titans started off as a place for the sidekicks to play. Marv Wolfman took that concept and radically altered it. Creating new characters and enhancing the bland sidekicks, Marv was responsible for adding so much depth to so many DC characters. Nightwing and Flash would almost certainly not have their level of popularity they enjoy today were it not for Marv's input. The Teen Titans stories were fantastic in their creation and execution with a variety of emotions showcased. Too often "teen books" are printed that actually have little to do with being a teenager. Marv managed to nail down all of the team's angst and worries, regardless of their powers, making it a book about teenagers rather than superheroes. Moreover, Marv made the Titans into DC's hottest property. For a long time it was vying for the top spot with the X-men and there was even a cross over between the two titles. His 16 year run on the title saw an unprecedented amount of character development and potential realized.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick8.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#8: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatties on Justice League (Justice League #1-6, Justice League International (v1) #7-25 and Justice League America #26-60)

My gosh, I loved these comics. This run made the Justice League into a total mockery and it was fantastic. The League had been stagnant for a long time and needed a change. ]Justice League International focused less on the baddies (though they were still there) and more on the relationships within the group and the logistics of running a global peace keeping force. Seeing the car wreck of a team manage to operate was fascinating enough. Seeing creations that were such blatant parodies of "the other company's" franchises was cheeky but lovely. Plus this title established Guy Gardener as the one true Green Lantern. You gotta be pleased with that. If you can't find these issues then at least do yourself a favor and buy the Formerly Known as the Justice League TPB.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Zebpick4.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#7: Kurt Busiek on Avengers (v3 #0-56)

Never did I think that the Avengers would interest me. They were like the JLA but with more nauseating characters. When I finally braced myself to read them I was well aware of their history and interaction. What a refreshing sight Kurt Busiek's Avengers were. The team was not about fighting the biggest and baddest foes but about working out the relationships within the team. Race, failed relationships, bad parenting. All the buttons were pushed with glorious results. Like a really well worked soap opera with added bangs and flashes.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick6.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#6: Joe Casey on Wildcats (v3 #1-present)

One of the things I love to read is a really slow burning book. Joe Casey managed with Wildcats to present a book that in its first year of print did pretty much nothing. Yet it was fascinating. The world of corporate super heroes is fascinating and seeing Jack Marlowe try to right the world’s wrongs by undoing monopolies and giving people a better option is one of the most original things I've ever read. It's a real shame this book has been cancelled as Marlowe was slowly pulling apart the industrial giants that seem to run America.

Plus it had Grifter in a female cyborg's body. That's always fun

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick5.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#5: Grant Morrison on JLA (#1-42)

The Justice League of America were formed to be a team comprised of the planet's best. How a flea bitten dog, a mangy cat, a red skier and a giant Tasmanian Devil managed to gain acceptance is a mystery in itself. Grant Morrison brought the book back to its routes and made the JLA what they ought to be, a group of the most powerful heroes fighting threats that no other team can fight. This book brought superheroing to new extremes with invasions from God himself as well as psychological attacks and alternate realities. Batman, Plastic Man, Steel and others were all drastically altered in how they were presented and all for the better. You might have guessed I love team books. JLA is different though as it focused less on the inter team dynamics and more on the spectacles that faced them. Morrison's inspiration from the Greek Pantheon of Gods is apparent and each League member excelled where they needed to. This run is fantastic due to its entertainment value and the heroic (heh) job it did of revamping a forgotten concept.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick4.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#4: Judd Winnick on Exiles (#1-25 & 31-37)

This book was a revelation to me. I still remember the first time I saw the team looking up at me from the front cover. My brother had just burst through the toilet door, thrown it at my feet and told me to enjoy the best book in ages. He wasn't wrong (apart from his seeing me taking a dump. That's all sorts of wrong.) Judd Winnick managed to take a concept from a Millennial Visions piece and turn it into something that had way more drama and intrigue than Sam and Ziggy ever had. Taking characters that were either brand new, hybrids of favorites or forgotten in the past and reinventing them gave the writer massive possibilities. Each issue brought newer realities and twists on old events but more importantly gave more development on the characters. This book is far from a glorified What If?: Winnick managed to make sure that the next issue had you wondering more about what happened to the protagonists than what scenario they would be dropped in.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick3.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#3: Geoff Johns on Flash (v2 #164-present)

This title is hard to describe. I'm not sure actually why I like Flash so much. The character is fantastic and I love Wally's combination of levity and seriousness depending on the situation he finds himself in. However, there's something more as Waid’s run previous to Geoff's seemed lacking. Geoff writes Wally in such a way that you feel like you want to be Wally's best mate. You read of his adventures with shared excitement. You share his anguish and his pain also. This run created many new characters but is truly great for its accessibility. Flash is a hero who almost everyone can relate to despite the guy getting more complex each issue.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick2.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#2: Garth Ennis on Punisher (v5 #1-12, v6 #1-37 & v7 #1-present)

What isn't to like about Garth Ennis on Punisher? Many may see the run as a cheap, gore filled title with little else to offer than violence and swearing. To those I say, fair enough. One of the main reasons I like to read Punisher so much is the fact that it is just dripping with testosterone. Maybe I should be ashamed of myself but graphic deaths and comedy explosions will always entertain me. However, Ennis is better than that. As he has shown with the Born limited series and Preacher, he is capable of writing that reaches into the core of characters and explores motivations and vendettas better than anyone else. The memorable moments of Ennis' time on Punisher aren't just the times when the Russian shows off his new "enhancements" or when Frank wipes out an entire mob family, it is also the times when Frank confronts Micro about his motivation for being the Punisher and when he interacts with Daredevil and Spacker Dave. The best word to describe this run is entertaining. I can't think of anything else to sum it up.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jonpick1.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#1: Geoff Johns on JSA (#5-present)

How surprising, another team book. So I'm running out of ways to say fantastic characterization and fascinating inter team relations. Umm...how else could I endorse this title. Well Power Girl's cleavage has been featured a lot in it. With this title Geoff showed that DC should be proud of its heritage. The characters it possesses and created are just as valid and entertaining today as they were during the war. With fresh villains and old enemies, Geoff managed to create a book that launched a bunch of has-beens and some never have-beens into the best team book around. Probably the best all-round, consistently excellent comic today is JSA. If you haven't tried it and you like to read team books then you're doing yourself a disservice.

Rebuttals:
Raul: Morrison over Giffen? Johns instead of Waid? Casey instead of Moore? I do believe that you have gone quite batty, Jon. And, please, never ever mention your bodily functions and comic books in the same breath again. By the way, I'm pretty sure that issue of Exiles can no longer be considered 'in mint condition'.
Zeb: I love Johns, but to actually pick his Flash over that of Waid's? That's just wrong man...just plain wrong. Did you even bother to read the excellent Return Of Barry Allen? Then we come to Wildcats...while an excellent comic in it's own right, no one has come close to rivaling the excellence that is Alan Moore on WildCATS. That was truly fantastic. The rest I more or less agree with...although I do feel sorry for your Exiles comics...
Tom: Jon, you’re list was so amazing…so amazing that I couldn’t even believes you’d list what you did and where. Punisher listed at number two? I mock you good sir. Mock mock…and a third mock for good measure. How can you think that Ennis’ Punisher is so much better then Claremont’s X-Men or Busiek’s Avengers? It’s great that you’ve listed them, but if you did it like this then you ought not to list them at all. With the great advice of Foamy in mind, I advise you to go buy a copy of “Every Rose Has It’s Thorns.”
Jordan: Claremont on X-Men? Casey on Wildcats? Morrison on JLA? When did we start agreeing on stuff? Hey, wait a minute...KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR OWN PAPER!!! Cheater...

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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/avatar.php?userid=3&dateline=1074932352" align=left border=0 alt="Tom Toner">Next up is Tom “2Tum” Toner, self-proclaimed beloved administrator:

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick10.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#10: Brian Wood on Generation X (#63-75)

I know that many felt that the Counter-X era of Generation X, as well as X-Man and X-Force, was the worst that had come to the comic book. I, on the other hand, felt that it was one of the best times for the book. These kids that we had known were no longer kids, they had gone through so much that changed the title completely. It's too bad that ending was rushed; I would have loved for the title to continue on. But at least that last issue was a spreading road for the kids of Generation X. From that issue, they all moved on to other things.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick9.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#9: Gail Simone on Deadpool and Agent X (Deadpool #65-69 and Agent X #1-7 & 13-15)

Yes, I realize I'm nominating two titles here. But come on, we all know it's pretty much the same time. It went straight from one to the other, the creative title changed with it, etc. Beforehand, the title had gone more towards action orientated. Sure, Wade cracked some jokes still, but it wasn't the same. I enjoyed Frank Tieri's Weapon-X arc on Deadpool, but it just wasn't the Deadpool title I'd grown to love. Gail brought humor back to the title. Once again, Deadpool had become a comedic title that I couldn't wait for every month. And only during Gail's run had Agent X been worth reading. It was such a shame that she, and the art team of UDON, had been taken off the title. The heart and soul of the title had been ripped out.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick8.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#8: Kevin Eastman on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (v1 #1-62)

I mean no disrespect when I say this, but none of the other writers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ever touched the great and groundbreaking stories that Kevin Eastman wrote when he created this great franchise. I always shook my head reading some of those out-there stories that featured characters like Bebop, Rocksteady, etc. As they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick7.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#7: Robert Weinberg on Cable (#79-96)

When Cable first started, it was such a great and original title. It was about a man with a mission. Some time during its run, it went off its original path and was lost forever more. The title just wasn't worth reading anymore. But Marvel gave a comic writing virgin the keys to a car, and off it went down the highway. Weinberg brought so many people back to Cable during his run. He gave Cable a purpose again, and a reason to read the book. Cable was boring before Weinberg, and became boring after Weinberg. But for one brief moment, Cable was great once again.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick6.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#6: Fabian Nicieza on Thunderbolts (#34-75)

I remember when Thunderbolts first came out. It was an interesting title by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. Bad guys pretending to be good guys, it had such great promise. But sadly, I could not commit to the title. Cash was low then, so I could not afford getting too many books each week. Some long time later, by the badgering of my friend Steve, I decided to give Thunderbolts a second try. By then, the creative team had changed and Fabian was on board. Wow. Just amazing and mind blowing. It's a shame how the series ended with issue #75 (well, it didn't end but true fans know exactly what I'm talking about).

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick5.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#5: Peter A. David on X-Factor (v1 #70-89)

I always saw X-Factor as just a meaningless spin-off of X-Men. But that thought changed when Peter David took the helm. The stories changed from the tales of the original X-Men members pretending to be mutant hunters to a government-sanctioned team. What I felt best was all was that David took characters that we thought of as just second rate and brought them into the spotlight. I no longer felt that Havok was just "Cyclops' brother" or that Wolfsbane was a New Mutants reject, etc. I only wish that they'd make an Essential or some type of TPB of his run. (On a side note, I was very pleased to hear David will be doing a Madrox mini series. It's almost like having X-Factor back.)

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick4.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#4: Frank Miller on Daredevil (v1 #168-191)

There's not much more that I can add that my colleagues haven't already said about Frank Miller's breathtaking run of Daredevil. Those issues were like none I had ever read before. Those epic issues with Elektra and her death were simply amazing. Just when you wanted to curse his name for killing her, you were eternally grateful that he brought her back nine issues later. I've never been a fan of resurrections, but this is a case where it was done masterfully.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick3.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#3: Kurt Busiek on Avengers (v3 #0-56)

For the longest time I was never a fan of Avengers. Even though I read X-Men, I kept saying, "I can't get into the Avengers, there's too much history to try to soak in." But one day while at the comic store with a few extra bucks to blow, I picked up an Avengers TPB. I was mesmerized at how good it was. Of all the TPB's that I had read, all of the ones that Busiek wrote were the ones I loved the most. I only wish I could have read his stories when they came out, and not long after his run had ended.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick2.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#2: Chris Claremont on Uncanny X-Men (#94-279)

Simply put, Chris Claremont is the X-Men God. If you can think of something that had happened to the X-Men, odds are it was by this man. He took a flat lining franchise and put it back on the map. Until he got on board, the title had been reprinting the stories from years past. Some of the greatest stories ever told were from this man. The Phoenix Saga, the Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of the Future Past, Mutant Massacre, Fall of the Mutant... the list goes on.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Tompick1.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#1: Larry Hama on G. I. Joe (v1 #21-118)

It was hard not giving Claremont the number one spot, but I had to go with Hama. To put it bluntly, what Claremont did to X-Men, Hama did to G. I. Joe... and more. Hama pretty much wrote the entire 1st volume of G. I. Joe that Marvel produced, but he had a couple small breaks in-between. Issues #21-118 were some of the greatest issues during his G. I. Joe run. That run started off with a bang with the silent issue of #21. At the time, it was such a taboo thing that no one had done nor dared to do. You can see people replicating that move to this day, but then it was unthinkable. Hama had the greatest impact on two of the most popular characters of the G. I. Joe universe. He introduced Storm Shadow and gave the origin of Snake-Eyes to us. These were just great issues all around. I read the current G. I. Joe issues from Devil's Due, but they will never touch the greatness that is Hama's run.

Rebuttals:
Raul: Cable was a great and interesting title? No.. no... I'll let that go, everyone is entitled to their own opinion about that particular 90s stereotype with the big guns and tiny feet. One question though, you have heard that companies besides Marvel also publish comic books, haven't you?
Zeb: The only thing I disagree with on this list is (considering I've never really read Turtles, or G.I.Joe) is Cable. That book was never particularly interesting, but if I had to pick a run on it which shone brightly among the rest of the dreck, it would be James Robinson's excellent run. Not Weinberg's. Very, very sad how people forget...
Jon: I'd never have guessed you like the 80's. I bet you had a keyboard tie on as you typed that didn't you. Can't criticize you for anything except your ludicrous suggestion that Cable is or ever could be an entertaining character.
Jordan: C'mon, man. Let's face it. The only good things to come out of the 80s were New Wave music, teen angst comedies and the amusement provided by the Reagan/Thatcher supervillain team up. Beyond that...I'm surprised to find Brian Wood on a ComiX-Ten list that I didn't put him on. So...kudos!

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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/avatar.php?userid=1126&dateline=1075825746" align=left border=0 alt="Jordan T. Maxwell">And finally, because he won’t let us NOT include him in one of these, Jordan T. Maxwell:

Well now... this title is a little misleading. It would be more apropos to say "Top Ten Runs of Writers on Books They Didn't Create." Which is why you won't see names like Gaiman, Millar, Vaughan, Smith or Clugston-Major on my list. As awesome as it is to create something wholecloth and original, there is something to be said for the ability to work with and leave your mark on established characters and concepts. To play in someone else's sandbox, as the old fanboy analogy goes...and hopefully in the process leave a few lasting toys of your own creation. So here's a list of some of my favorite sandbox players...

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick10.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#10: Grant Morrison on Justice League of America (JLA #1-17, 22-26, 28-31, 34 & 36-41 and JLA: Earth 2 GN)

I'm not a big DC fan by any means. The characters are either too goofy for me to care about or too big and iconic for me to want to sully with mere "monthly adventures." I like the big events. Give me a good Crisis on Infinite Earths or Kingdom Come any day of the week. And that's what Morrison brought to the table with his run on JLA: a big event, spread out over a few years. Within that time frame, he had a team of the DCU's heavy hitters go up against a series of villains, cosmic threats, temporal crises, psychological trials...all leading up to one final battle of biblical proportions. Literally. Massive points go to this run for one of the best portrayals of Batman I've ever read (not surprising coming from the man who wrote Arkham Asylum), the most creative use of Aquaman's powers and for doing the best job with the New Gods since Kirby created them. It's also to his credit that I...ahem...accidentally transliterated the name of his fallen angel, Zauriel, into Zuriel, the fallen angel in my play Icons. Sorry about that, Grant. Please don't sue. Oh yeah...and if you haven't read Earth 2, do so. Now!

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick9.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#9: Joe Casey on Wildcats (v2 #8-28 and v3.0 #1-present)

This almost feels like a eulogy. What's worse is it's for a good friend who's not dead yet. Let's make something clear. I've been with the Wildcats since the beginning, back when it was still an acronym. And in those early days, it was a really fun book. Very much of its time, superficial superheroes battling aliens and government conspiracies. But even then there was an edge, something progressive, something subversive. Robinson touched upon it. Moore punted it up and down the field. But it was Casey who truly found the core of this book in its second volume and started spinning a new kind of superhero story with it. It was darker, that's for sure. Sexier, yes, but also more violent. And the violence had consequences. The characters weren't safe anymore. There were no more aliens, no more vague military threats. The threats came in the form of psychotic sadists, serial killers and saboteurs. Then Casey took the next step and launched the book into its third volume...taking the idea of the Halo Corporation that had been there from the book's first issue and making it the focal point. Corporate superheroes, fighting their battles to change the world in boardrooms. Sadly, I guess, this was TOO progressive for some and the book is mere issues away from cancellation. But it's still one of the best damn comic books to ever grace the shelves.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick8.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#8: Peter David on X-Factor (v1 #70-89)

I never read much of the original X-Factor. By the time I started seriously collecting comics, Peter David was already revising, revamping and revitalizing the book and team in the wake of the Muir Island Saga. But I fell in love almost immediately with the wit of this book. And wit is the perfect word to describe it, because this was both funny AND intelligent. The set up for the book was clever and left the door open for so many possibilities. The cast consisted of entirely second stringers, so he was free to mess with their dynamics and mock them freely while also sincerely delving into their psyches. They were a government sponsored team, allowing for maximum use of political satire. Most of all, it showcased David's greatest strength: characterization. What he did with some of these characters was completely new and unexpected, yet once you looked back on their lives and pasts it made perfect sense. The man is a master storyteller, and for all his accolades truly underrated. And this particular run was far too short for my tastes. Here's looking forward to the upcoming Madrox mini, and the pseudo reunion therein.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick7.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#7: J. Michael Straczynski on Amazing Spider-Man (v2 #30-58 and v1 cont. #500-present; and be sure to thank Joe Quesada for that particular bit of confusion)

A lot of people complain about JMS's run on Amazing Spider-Man because it's incorporated a bit of magic and mysticism into Spidey's world, which up until now has been pretty rooted in the realm of science and science fiction. I, for one, applaud the move as I do all of his run thus far. As a student of folklore and mythology, I've always been more keen on Spider-Man as a totemic figure than bearer of radioactive blood anyway. But really, this is just one of many bold and daring moves JMS (if you expect me to type that name out more than once, then you've been hanging upside down too much) has made with the character. Putting Peter back in a high school environment, "outing" him to his Aunt May and the by now classic #36. The 9/11 memorial issue. Words can't express how much the story and artwork of that issue moved me. But even more than the big moves were the smaller touches. The affection between Peter and Mary-Jane. The return of Spidey's amazing sense of humor. And best of all? No clones! (hey, is that Gwen Stacy?) LOOK AWAY!

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick6.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#6: Brian Michael Bendis on Daredevil (v2 #16-19, 26-50 & 56-present)

Creating his own work or playing around with Marvel's icons, there aren't many better or more prolific writers in the industry today than Brian Michael Bendis and anyone who says different is really the type of person who puts their fingers in their ears and marches up and down hallways while loudly humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic so as not to hear the truth. His work with DD is a prime example. Not since Frank Miller has a writer brought such an amazing amount of psychological drama, body bruising action or relationship angst into the life of Matt Murdock and done it so brilliantly as Bendis. Okay, Ann Nocenti, sure...but that really lessens the rhetorical impact of what I'm trying to say here, thank you very much. The key to Bendis' success on this book lies in the fact that the focus is always, always on Matt first and the tights second. It's about the man, not the mask. There aren't gratuitous fight scenes every issue. He makes you earn those action sequences and they're all the sweeter for it. And by outing Matt as Daredevil, he managed to address one of the sillier aspects of the character (the fact that everyone and their sweet aunt Petunia already KNOWS that Matt is Daredevil) and used it to propel the drama of the book. Really, there's only one man who's ever written Daredevil better...

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick5.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#5: Frank Miller on Daredevil (v1 #168-191)

Did I telegraph that one too much? Ah well...there are certain runs that define characters. Walt Simonson on Thor, Peter David on the Hulk, Denny O'Neil on Batman. Creators who so completely "get" a character that from then on the two are connected to each other. That is the relationship between Frank Miller and Daredevil. Before Miller came on to the book with his cinematic eye and hard boiled storytelling style, DD was a second stringer, the poor man's Spidey. And everyone knew it. He was fighting Stilt-Man, for crying out loud! Miller made him tough, made him dark, made him tortured. As much as Stan Lee and Bill Everett, Frank Miller CREATED Daredevil. He also created the world that DD lived in. Think about it. When you think Daredevil, do you think yellow tights, Stilt-Man, the Owl and goofy smiles? Or do you think crimson tights in shadow, Elektra, Bullseye and heavy religious imagery? If you said the first one...go away. Miller made the character about struggle, pain and sacrifice. He imbued the entire essence of Matt Murdock and the world of Hell's Kitchen with a dark romanticism where morality existed in grey areas...where good guys dressed like devils, where bad guys wore targets or lived in penthouses and where your greatest love had a sai with your name on it. But also where heroes lived.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick4.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#4: Warren Ellis on Stormwatch and The Authority (Stormwatch v1 #37-50 & v2 #1-11 and The Authority v1 #1-12)

I'm old school Wildstorm. If that didn't get established back when i was talking about Wildcats, let's go ahead and reiterate the point now. I read Stormwatch practically from the beginning, then dropped it around the time of the atrocious Sword of Damocles crossover. Which means I dropped it right BEFORE Warren Ellis came on to the book. We in the playwriting field like to refer to that as "dramatic irony," because if I'd known the brilliance I was about to miss out on then I would've sat through Damocles and whatever other crap they could throw at me. It's no secret that Warren Ellis is one of the best writers in the field today. But this is where he REALLY established himself. He took a frank look at the inherent ridiculousness and nobility of superheroes. He shoved the realities of military politics and the new urban fascism in our faces, and he did it wrapped up in tights and bright colors. And when nobody seemed to be buying that, he gave this industry an absolute opus. An innovative masterpiece of widescreen proportions. He gave us the Authority. And nothing was ever the same...until the publishers got scared and made sure that everything WAS the same again. Still, this "uber-run" had the important underlying theme of wanting to change the world...and what that does to a person. To expand on a quote from the Midnighter, a finer world is a small thing to ask...but be careful of who you're asking it from.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick3.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#3: Chris Claremont on X-Men (Uncanny X-Men #94-279 and X-Men v2 #1-3)

Okay, if nothing else, Claremont wins the "Marathon Man" award (which, having watched that particular movie earlier today, is actually kind of a creepy award to give). I mean, just look at those numbers! That's dedication to your craft, folks. That's the sign of a true and lasting love and devotion to the characters. And I don't think anyone can argue that Claremont has built and rebuilt the world of the X-Men more times than some writers have ever sneezed. I chose to focus on his first run because I think it represents the strongest showing of his work, a mad blast of creativity where ideas flowed freely and the status quo was putty in the hands of one man and not a committee of editors and stock holders. Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past, the Brood Saga, Inferno, Proteus, the Morlocks, the Hellfire Club, the Outback era, the...leprechauns. Okay, not every idea's a winner, but the point is he was out there. Creating new ideas, forging new stories, crafting the lives of dozens of characters and doing it with a flair for adventure, drama, romance and action...for science fiction, fantasy and horror...for traditional superheroics and mind bending post modernism. And he did it without a break for fifteen years, half the life at the time of the franchise he forged into the strongest mainstream superhero title in the history of the medium. Show me another writer who's done that. I'll be waiting.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick2.jpg" align=right border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#2: Grant Morrison on New X-Men (#114-154 & Annual 2001)

Hmm... this name seems familiar somehow. It's no secret to regulars on these boards that I'm a huge Grant Morrison fan, and so many of you will use that to excuse the fact that I've listed him twice. The rest of you who are more in the know will, of course, realize the truth: it's because he's just that damn good. Now, I've been an X-Men fan for nigh on fifteen years now, since the tender age of 9. Yet by the latter half of the 90s, I'd grown bored with the books...the stale, safe storytelling, treading over the same ground over and over again, fighting the same villains month in and month out. At that point, I was just picking the books up out of habit. And then it happened. Like a lightning bolt from the dark clouds above or an optic blast opening my eyes, I was excited about the X-Men again. Grant Morrison, creator of the mad sci-fi prophecy The Invisibles, writer of modern masterpieces like Animal Man and Arkham Asylum, was writing X-Men and really shaking things up. Shattering the stagnant status quo, injecting tons of crazy fun ideas, characters and concepts, subverting all of the conventions of the X-Men and superhero comics, tearing down all of the trappings to show people what was so cool about the essence of these characters with mind bending, reality warping tales and the cleverest dialogue this side of Aaron Sorkin. Three short years...from E is for Extinction to Here Comes Tomorrow, it was absolute bliss. And over far too soon.

<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/cx10-10/Jordanpick1.jpg" align=left border=0 alt="ComiX-Ten">#1: Alan Moore on Swamp Thing (Saga of the Swamp Thing #20-64 & Annual #2)

Most comic books are written like pop songs. Short little ditties that will hopefully catch on, but in the end are usually totally trivial and disposable. Read it and move on. Sure, you occasionally get the lasting hit of a Brian K. Vaughan, the punk anthem of a Brian Wood, or the hauntingly beautiful alternative cult fave of Neil Gaiman's work. Alan Moore is another breed of creature altogether and with his groundbreaking tour de force on Saga of the Swamp Thing, he wrote an intense, gorgeous and lasting symphony with alternating themes of aching tenderness and cosmic drama. This one had it all. From Heaven to Hell, from the innermost workings of our own planet to the farthest reaches of space, from a crisis across infinite earths to the final battle between good and evil (for the record, it was a tie), at its heart Moore's work was a love story. The poetry poured out over Swamp Thing and Abigail Arcane's oddly moving relationship alone is a testament to the skill of this writer. Featuring cameos from across the DC Universe, from second stringers like Etrigan and the Phantom Stranger to big names like Batman and Lex Luthor (as intelligent and mature as you try to seem while reading these books, you WILL have a fanboy geek fit watching Swamp Thing take over Gotham City and go up against the Bat), Moore's run with this character and title broke new ground and led to the creation of the Vertigo imprint. More importantly, it introduced one of my all time favorite characters to ever cockily strut across a four color panel...mystic, trickster, con-man and chain smoker John Constantine. That right there earns the number one spot for me.

Rebuttals:
Raul: The JLA were too big and iconic... before Morrison? And here I thought it was him putting them on 'World's Greatest Heroes' (TM) brand pedestals that made them boring. Also, Ellis is clearly a brilliant writer, and nothing brings home that point better than mentioning the run where he had Aliens come and kill every interesting member of Stormwatch, leaving only the Aquaman of cities, a girl with wings, and Sparky the depressed heroine to found his new, excessively violent team. Simply brilliant.
Zeb: See my response to Jon for WildCats. You picked Straczynski's Spider-man over any other run??? What?? C'mon man, have you forgotten Tom DeFalco, Roger Stern, or even Stan Lee? Now THAT was Spider-man. This is just some guy who hangs around with people wayyy out of his league, and buys a hot dog for Loki!! Seriously...Loki.
Jon: I love it when you write because then my entries look short. I'm still struggling to understand how you can validate having two runs on the same book in your list but there you go. Also more than a little skeptical about your Spider pick but I'll just let the spider fans rip you to pieces for that one. In short, VOTE ME!!!!
Tom: :~( You had me at hello. We’ve done these lists so many times, and I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with you as much as I have this time. Our lists compliment each other very well. I don’t want to ruin this moment by saying how I disagree with listing two different writers’ run on a single title (twice!)… So I won’t.

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That’s all folks! See you all next time, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite list!

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The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers, and are not reflective of ComiX-Fan or its other staff in general.

[Kavalier]

Mark Gruenwald on D.P.7!!!

[Zachary J. Morrison]

I'm going with Jordan's list. Grant Morrison on New X-Men, Chris Claremont on Uncanny X-Men & X-Men, and Brian Michael Bendis on Daredevil. I'd also go with Gail Simone on Deadpool/Agent X & Birds of Prey, Robert Weinberg on Cable.

[Mitch Brown]

*high-fives Jordan for this one* Raul comes in a very close second.

[Dark_Phoenix]

I picked Tom because of Cable. Weinberg was awesome

[silverboy]

It's a crime that Bendis and Bagley's run on Ultimate Spider-Man wasn't mentioned. Oh...and how about a little guy named Stan Lee?

[GilSpiderig]

It was like coming back home to true comics when I saw Jordan's list....Welcome home...Except for Swamp Thing, never did read any of that stuff.

[Kirayoshi]

I can think of several glaring ommisions in your lists, so with that in mind, here are my ten best creator runs in comics history. I'm not sure about numbers, so just bear with me.

10) Mark Waid, Flash. He brought Wally West way out of the shadow of Barry Allen and proved who truly was the fastest man alive! Vandal Savage, Kobra, John Fox and everything else he did moved Flash forward into becoming more than just another speedster.

9) Erik Larsen, The Savage Dragon. First rule of Dragon; Anything can happen. Second rule of Dragon; Everything WILL happen! Third rule of Dragon; no one gets to do the main title but Erik Larsen. And that's how it should be.

8) John Byrne, Fantastic Four. His run was like the second coming of Stan and Jack. His intelligent writing style and vibrant pencils were a study in Lee/Kirby energy without aping them. He took their ideas and made them his own.

7) Walt Simonson, Thor. To fully understand the impact Simonson had on Thor, you have to read the issues that Marvel produced before him. The book was the most boring title Marvel was publishing at the time. Then Walt took over, and in one issue, knocked everything on its side! His art exploded on the page and his stories proved that he read the mythology.

6) Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise. Oh come on, it's his book, his baby! Start to finish, Terry's quirky vision has guided the lives of Francine and Katchoo through tragedy, triumph, angst and joy. He even did a cool Xena parody!

5) J. Michael Straszynski, Spider-Man. Another writer who made sweeping changes in the title character (was Peter Parker's transformation a fluke or destiny?), but kept true to the original character. He restored MJ and Aunt May to their greatest glory and made the book interesting again.

4) Chris Claremont, X-Men. There was the X-Men before Claremont took over the book, and there is the X-Men Claremont helped to shape. One era does not resemble the other. He gave the team a stronger family dynamic, he turned Magneto from a fill-in-the-blanks villain into a complex individual, and fleshed out the whole mutant/human animosity.

3) Frank Miller, Daredevil. Daredevil used to be a slightly harder-edged Spider-Man clone. Then this guy named Frank Miller shows up and turns him into one of the most conflicted, complex heroes in history. Depth, darkness and a real feel of what it means to defend the law, and at the same time go against it.

2) Alan Moore, Swamp Thing. No one since Will Eisner has done more to redefine the concept of what comics are than Alan Moore. No one has done more different styles of comics than Alan. And seldom was his imagination and his skill as a writer more evident than in his ambitious run on Swamp Thing.

1) Stan Lee and John Romita Sr, Spider-Man. Yeah, Ditko was the first artist, but Romita sr. is the guy who really spelled out who Peter Parker is, and what Spider-Man means. From the arrival of MJ to the death of Gwen, Romita's reign in Spider-Man really spelled it out.

[A.W. Pemberton]

Voted for Jordan.

Joe Casey wrote most of Wildcats volume 2 as well, not just volume 3 which it is listed as.

[Robb Welch]

Originally posted by Joel Phillips
I'm still struggling to understand how you can validate having two runs on the same book in your list but there you go. .[/size]

How can one validate it?

It's freakin DAREDEVIL thats how.

I'm just wondering how people picked the original FM run on DD over the second. Born again was simply the most amazing daredevil ever.
And I stand by my Bendis DD as my favorite COMIC ever.
I'm so confused.

[Morley83]

Weinberg's run on Cable was brilliant! All you goons are fools for berating tom for that excellent choice! Have you even read that run??? Sure, Cable was less than great on many occasions (I'm being nice here) but Robert Wienberg seriously took him to a new level.

[Patrick James]

I'm going to go with Tom on this one, although putting Fabian's Thundberolts over Kurt's is just plain ridiculous. But, for remembering Weinburg's Cable and not including Morrison's New X-Men, he'll earn just enough to nudge past "I've pulled better writing out of my...":D

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by GilSpiderig
It was like coming back home to true comics when I saw Jordan's list....Welcome home...Except for Swamp Thing, never did read any of that stuff.

you speak of true comics and yet say you have not read Swamp Thing? Return once you have read them, my friend...and bring a cheeseburger. I'm hungry. ;)

Originally posted by 2501
Voted for Jordan.

Joe Casey wrote most of Wildcats volume 2 as well, not just volume 3 which it is listed as.

huh...that's weird. I listed his volume 2 issues when i posted. I smell editorial interference.

DEAR GOD! Joel's morphed into Bob Harras!

seriously though, i did include that since it evolved into his 3.0, like i included Ellis' Stormwatch along with the progression into the Authority. Honestly, i'm a little confused. :?

Originally posted by Morley83
Weinberg's run on Cable was brilliant! All you goons are fools for berating tom for that excellent choice! Have you even read that run??? Sure, Cable was less than great on many occasions (I'm being nice here) but Robert Wienberg seriously took him to a new level.

well, to be fair, i didn't mock Tom for his Cable choice but for his idolatry of the 80s. Truly, tis the best thing to mock Tom for. Especially odd since i doubt he has the best thing to come out of the 80s, The Cure's "Disintegration" album. It's sad, really. ;)

[Morley83]

Especially odd since i doubt he has the best thing to come out of the 80s, The Cure's Disintegration album. It's sad, really. ;)

I'd have to say it was '...And Justice for All' by Metallica

[Vector]

Jordan... I'm surprised Neil Gaimen on Sandman wasn't on your list. EDIT: Nevermind... I didn't see that one part. ;)

Hmm... also Grant on Doom Patrol

[James Groves]

Well out of all the lists given its got to be Jordans.

After being told by Jordan (AGAIN) to sample Swamp thing, (thats after Hellblazer and Lucifer, Sandman to gie a read) its truly great.
A book of Gods amongst books of men.

All the others agree with:-

But Straz's Spider-Man?? Woah there man, thats just not right. Its good but there have been better!

Apart from that cant really argue the others.

And thats frustrating me!

[DeadmanWade]

a boo boo boo my favoritte run ever wasnt on there Joe Kelly on Deadpool. other wise some great stuff hard to decide which list to go with

[Dylan McKay]

No, it's Disintergration. Well...maybe Pretty Hate Machine, if I had to chose between the two, I'd probably run screaming and crying.

I vote for Jordan, I agree with his idea of not going with titles that the creator created, plus, they're all rock solid picks.

Some missing runs.

Mike Grell: Green Arrow. Anyone who says that watching a middle aged superhero go through a mid-life crisis isn't interesting, hasn't read Grell's Green Arrow.

Grant Morrison: Doom Patrol.
Peter Milligan: Human Target.
Fabian Nicieza: X-Force.
Denny O'Niel: The Question.

Ok, what's with my love of late 80's early 90's DC...

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by James Groves

But Straz's Spider-Man?? Woah there man, thats just not right. Its good but there have been better!


Spider-Man's had some amazing runs...but none of them really captured me the way JMS has. i mean, Stan Lee...Roger Stern...that's good company to be keeping. :)

to put it another way: when Patrick told me he couldn't wait to see how i could explain ranking Morrison's X-Men above Claremont's, i told him "I just personally liked it better." The only barometer i use when picking my entries is my own personal taste. That's really all i can offer. Art and entertainment are subjective, and personal resonance has to matter as much as any kind of "absolute" gauge of quality.

[James Groves]

Originally posted by Nalyd Psycho
No, it's Disintergration. Well...maybe Pretty Hate Machine, if I had to chose between the two, I'd probably run screaming and crying.

I vote for Jordan, I agree with his idea of not going with titles that the creator created, plus, they're all rock solid picks.

Some missing runs.

Mike Grell: Green Arrow. Anyone who says that watching a middle aged superhero go through a mid-life crisis isn't interesting, hasn't read Grell's Green Arrow.

Grant Morrison: Doom Patrol.
Peter Milligan: Human Target.
Fabian Nicieza: X-Force.
Denny O'Niel: The Question.

Ok, what's with my love of late 80's early 90's DC...


Fabian Nicieza: X-Force!!!!!:astound: *stunned, James falls on floor*

Shh its going to be ok, youll be alright, the men in white coats will make u better. Youve just had a small brain blow-out thats all. Youll realise your transgresion from the light to the Darkside in the morning!
:p ;) :clown:

Hey, if u did like it thats cool.:cool:

[Dylan McKay]

Originally posted by James Groves



Fabian Nicieza: X-Force!!!!!:astound: *stunned, James falls on floor*

Shh its going to be ok, youll be alright, the men in white coats will make u better. Youve just had a small brain blow-out thats all. Youll realise your transgresion from the light to the Darkside in the morning!
:p ;) :clown:

Hey, if u did like it thats cool.:cool:

keep in mind that in my book the run begins after Liefeld left the book.

It's not a smart book, but I'll be darned if it wasn't some of the most fun superhero stories I've ever read.

[Jack O'Lantern]

Jordan, I knew you had great taste in comics, but you're a Cure fan too? Perfect choices, I even agree with JMS's Spidey.

[Roberto Polanco]

I know that all of you guys are either too young and/or poor to get this but: STAN LEE/JACK KIRBY ON THE FANTASTIC FOUR
at least buy a trade infidels


goodbye

[dizfactor]

Originally posted by Morley83

I'd have to say it was '...And Justice for All' by Metallica

blasphemer! how could you pick Justice over Master of Puppets? :cuckoo:

[FreakyFlyBry]

I'd say Jordan's list was the best.

[Gat0r-ManX]

i always voted for Jordan .. for some reason... well, good list, man!

[Anand Khatri]

Tom's list was incredible (The original TMNT, G.I. Joe by Larry Hama, Agent X!!), but in the end I had to give it to Jordan.

btw...Happy Birthday Jonberg! :cheers:

[Nathan J. Wilson]

Suprised no-one picked Mark Waid on Flash in their lists.

I'm guessing stuff like Ennis on Preacher wasn't eligable?

[Anand Khatri]

Preacher was good, but in my opinion, not his best work. :hellno:

[Joel Phillips]

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
huh...that's weird. I listed his volume 2 issues when i posted. I smell editorial interference.

DEAR GOD! Joel's morphed into Bob Harras!

seriously though, i did include that since it evolved into his 3.0, like i included Ellis' Stormwatch along with the progression into the Authority. Honestly, i'm a little confused. :?

I must have accidentally cut them out when I was adjusting the issue numbers to get a uniform format. Sorry.

[Tan K.]

Tom all the way. Jordan almost got my vote, but putting GM's run in front of CC's dumbfounded me. Tom nice list. I never read GIJOE, but the other ones were cool with me even if they weren't mine. Jordan's list was pretty good. JMS minus a few snorers was a pretty good pick in my opinion especially with what he had to turn around.

Anyone who picked PAD's X-Factor got bonus points. Busiek's Avengers made great sense. Too bad Roger Stern's wasn't on anyone's list.

Anyone who did not have CC in there top 5 was utterly astounding. I couldn't take any of those lists seriously. Say what you want about his recent stuff, but there is a reason he turned that almost cancelled series into the multibillion dollar franchise single handedly.

Shazam? Ennis's Punisher?

[raul grau]

Originally posted by Roberto Polanco
I know that all of you guys are either too young and/or poor to get this but: STAN LEE/JACK KIRBY ON THE FANTASTIC FOUR

Stan is the Man (hence his nickname) and his work on FF was certainly innovative, but I only included runs that had no 'weak' issues at all. Remember Miracle Man, the Marvel magician? Or Prestor Jon? Or the fifteenth 'Sue, I must have you' speech from Namor? There were definitely some weak issues in that bunch.

And the best thing to come out of the 80s was clearly Ferris Bueller's Day Off, with leg warmers being a close second.

- Raul

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Roberto Polanco
I know that all of you guys are either too young and/or poor to get this but: STAN LEE/JACK KIRBY ON THE FANTASTIC FOUR
at least buy a trade infidels


goodbye

well, if they'd release a color trade (or more than one, really, to get all 100 issues) that was less than fifty bucks, i think we'd be far more likely too. It did enter into consideration for me...but a few REALLY good runs got nudged out. Price for only having ten slots to fill.


Originally posted by Chane
Suprised no-one picked Mark Waid on Flash in their lists.

I'm guessing stuff like Ennis on Preacher wasn't eligable?

correct. Creator owned stuff and titles that had one writer throughout their entire run were ineligible (Gaiman's Sandman was a grey area since there had been Sandman titles before, but i opted not to include him since he was the singular vision behind this incarnation that paid homage to but totally broke away from his predecessors...also why i didn't include BMB's Ultimate Spider-Man since he's the only one to have worked on it).

Originally posted by Joel Phillips


I must have accidentally cut them out when I was adjusting the issue numbers to get a uniform format. Sorry.

ah, cool deal. these things happen. Since i do talk about it, though, is there anyway we can fix that? I'd do it myself, but i'm sure i'd hit that edit button and somehow manage to crash the whole site. ;)

Originally posted by Tan K.
Tom all the way. Jordan almost got my vote, but putting GM's run in front of CC's dumbfounded me. Tom nice list. I never read GIJOE, but the other ones were cool with me even if they weren't mine. Jordan's list was pretty good. JMS minus a few snorers was a pretty good pick in my opinion especially with what he had to turn around.

Anyone who picked PAD's X-Factor got bonus points. Busiek's Avengers made great sense. Too bad Roger Stern's wasn't on anyone's list.

Anyone who did not have CC in there top 5 was utterly astounding. I couldn't take any of those lists seriously. Say what you want about his recent stuff, but there is a reason he turned that almost cancelled series into the multibillion dollar franchise single handedly.

Shazam? Ennis's Punisher?

dumbfounded as you may be, I just enjoyed Morrison's run better. It was more to my liking. Even CC's original run, as brilliant as it was, could be uneven at times and leave me a little bored. Morrison's run never did that. I was on board the whole way through. My only problems were incredibly minor, and for the most part excuseable.

Though as to your last comment, Ennis' Punisher was awesome (at least the first 12 issue series that i read...never got into the regular series. Heard about the Wolverine issues, read em in the shop and just...ugh. Not as bad as "Fury," but still not that great). And what's with all the hating on Shazam? I've always found him incredibly interesting and entertaining. Personally, i can't wait for Jeff Smith to get his hands on the character. :)

[Moonknight]

No Waid on Fantastic Four? No Bendis on Ultimate Spidey? For shame listmakers, for shame.

[Jon Hancock]

Originally posted by Chane
Suprised no-one picked Mark Waid on Flash in their lists.

I'm guessing stuff like Ennis on Preacher wasn't eligable?

I'd have put preacher in over punisher. but vote for garth anyway!!

ah who am i kidding. You're all gonna vote for Jordan and his X loving. :p

Cheers Anand

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

i really don't think it's the X loving winning it for me. let's face it...out of the five of us, two have two X titles listed (including yourself), i only have three...and Tom comes in at a whopping five!

but if that's what you need to tell yourself to get through the night, feel free my friend. i won't stop you. ;)

[Jon Hancock]

It eases the pain chum ;)

I'm actually going for the fact that all my voters have picked you out of brand loyalty. Plus your scathing rebuttal makes people think I'm a big cheaty pants.

[Alex Guillen]

Jordan, best list ever! you only missed Waid's run on Flash to round it out although I can give alot of credit to Johns for making the rogues cool again.

[Tom 2TUM Toner]

Originally posted by Moonknight
No Bendis on Ultimate Spidey? For shame listmakers, for shame.

as Jordan explained a few posts ago, the rules stated that we coudln't include any titles that only had a single writer to it. Ult X-men could have been added, since it's had many writers, but only Bendis has written Ult Spidey so it can't be added.

in other news, i didn't add it but if i was tempted to add an honorable mention to Jim Starlin for his work on Thanos.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Jonberg
It eases the pain chum ;)

I'm actually going for the fact that all my voters have picked you out of brand loyalty. Plus your scathing rebuttal makes people think I'm a big cheaty pants.

heh...the ironic thing being you posted your list first. ;) But THEY'LL never know that! MWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

::looks out at ogling crowd::

...Dammit!

[Robb Welch]

Originally posted by Morley83


I'd have to say it was '...And Justice for All' by Metallica

yeah but you would have to be wrong.

Disentigration.

[Nick Costanzo]

Wow, Jordan's kicking the ass. Nice lists guys.

[roman]

Good list guys

[Iceman X4]

Why couldn´t i find Chuck Austen run in nobody list ;)?. :sunspot:

[Jon Hancock]

they wouldn't let me put it in there :(

[Joel Phillips]

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
ah, cool deal. these things happen. Since i do talk about it, though, is there anyway we can fix that? I'd do it myself, but i'm sure i'd hit that edit button and somehow manage to crash the whole site. ;)

It's there now.

[Radiate]

HOw on earth does Jordan do it?Cos i always vote for him everytime these polls come my way:?

RADIATE!

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Perfect Methods


yeah but you would have to be wrong.

Disentigration.

ah, my armies are amassing...excellent. :)

Originally posted by Nick Costanzo
Wow, Jordan's kicking the ass. Nice lists guys.

i wasn't aware there was a singular specific ass to kick. But nice to know i'm doing so. :D

Originally posted by Jonberg
they wouldn't let me put it in there :(

yes, sadly, we told Jon he couldn't do his "funny" list this time around. :p

Originally posted by Joel Phillips


It's there now.

thanks Chief. ;)

Originally posted by Radiate
HOw on earth does Jordan do it?Cos i always vote for him everytime these polls come my way:?

RADIATE!

because you know what'll happen to you if you don't...:{

;)

[DKBatman]

my list's better:

10) Ultimate Spiderman -Bendis and Bagley- the best of the ultimates is also the best spider-man has ever been. They work together seemlessly, keep up the monthly grind, and reintroduce old ideas, mixed with new ones, into something truly timeless and special.

9) Animal Man -Morrison and Grummet and friends- Animal man was the foundation stone of what Morrison would eventually produce. Animal man mixed animal rights with superheroes with the totally insane. Morrison is da man and animal man is one of the best runs Ive ever read.

8) Punisher -Ennis and Dillon- violence is funny. Punisher made comics hilarious when everyone else was doing superheroes with grit teeth and big guns... wait that's what he did... yeah, and he was smart enough to realize it was funny.

7)Authority - Millar and Quitely and friends- this run was hardly short of amazing. Ellis had made Authority the place to be, but Millar kept it that. He did just what Ennis achieved with Punisher, he made heroes hilarious. And mean. Really, really, mean.

6) Authority -Ellis and Hitch- They started off on Stormwatch and kept going on Authority... Heroes were heroes, and the heroic stuff was over blown and bigger in special effects budget than god could have made with $300,000,000!!

5) New X-men -Claremont and Byrne and Cockrum- fun stuff that never will get old. Yes, the style is dated, but the stories arn't. Everything that comics have achieved in storytelling today is a result of claremont and byrne and cockrum.

4)JLA -Morrison and Porter- the JLA was never as incredible as when Morrison wrote it. They were cosmic heroes on a cosmic scale before authority and the ultimates even attempted it.

3) New X-men -Morrison and Quitely- this controvercial run on xmen achieved the incredible-- outdoing claremont and byrne. E is for extinction may go down as the best xmen tale since dark phoenix saga.

2)Daredevil -miller and janson- Miller made daredevil a gritty street level brawler, and set up one of the most memorable moments in comic history in the Elektra saga. The story of elektra is unforgettable, and proved a template for a million immitators in the future of comics.

1)Swampthing- Alan Moore and friends- great stories in each issue joining together to become one of the greatest and most often forgotten epics in comic history. Moore at his best, swampthing at its best. comics at their best.

[hondo]

This is a GREAT idea and all of these lists were SO good. Even tho I didn't read some of these runs, I know about them and have heard of them so at least I'm not completely in the dark.

First of all, it's not fair to include the creators in this list because THEY created the characters and were not coming in behind someone else. I'm referring to some of the other posters mentioning Erik Larsen'sSavage Dragon, Kevin Eastman's TMNT, Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise, and Stan Lee's Spider-Man.

The premise here is to see which writer came into an already established character history, did a fantastic bang up job, and definitely left their imprint on the character.

Jordan got my vote but it was so close between him and Zeb. I agreed wholeheartedly with every single item on his list. I might have included others, but what he had there made perfect sense.

Jonberg was really close too, but his inclusion of Judd on Exiles was sort of going astray from the premise, but another very strong listing.

Zeb, old pal, your list was my second choice but it came down to your choice of # 1 versus Jordan's choice. Starman was fantastic, no question, and Robinson did a great run but it still is slightly less than the complete re-imagining of Swamp Thing by Alan Moore. In fact, I can't think of who deserves the number 1 spot more than him for that particular run except perhaps Grant Morrison for either Doom Patrol or Animal Man.

[Victoronehalf]

I picked Zeb's list because it seemed the most interesting. It went for the less obvious choices.

[Vector]

What volume of JLA is that? V3 maybe?

[Jon Hancock]

it's the 1st series

here's where it gets complex. Pre crisis the book was Justice League of America
The relaunch following legends was justice league, then justice league international (1st series)
Then that changed to Justice League America and Justice League Europe
That then became the 2nd series of Justice League International
Morrison's title is JLA.

So there's almost always been different titles.

[James Groves]

Jordan - What happened to the Austen run (DRACO) you told me you were going to put ahead of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing?

Theres no need to hide your feelings, just embrace your love for that run, come out of the closet and place it where it belongs.

:clown: ;)

[TheIronYuppie]

Had to vote for Tom's list because Simone, Claremont, and PAD's runs were awesome. But above all else Weinberg on Cable was simply put the greatest written comic at the time of it's publishing.

[X-iom]

I couldn't keep it 1t 10; had to make it 15.
My list would be:
15) Mark Millar on The Ultimates
14) Kevin Smith on Daredevil
13) Brian Michael Bendis on Powers
12) Warren Ellis on Excalibur
11) Bill Willingham on Fables
10) Chris Claremont on Uncanny X-Men
9) Joe Kelly on Deadpool
8) Frank Miller on Daredevil
7) Peter Milligan on Human Target
6) J. Michael Strczynski on Supreme Powers
5) Alan Moore on Top 10
4) Scott Lobdell on Uncanny X-Men
3) Garth Ennis on Preacher
2) Peter David on X-Factor
1) Neil Gaiman on Sandman

I just know I'm going to get in trouble for choosing Lobdell over Claremont.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by James Groves
Jordan - What happened to the Austen run (DRACO) you told me you were going to put ahead of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing?

Theres no need to hide your feelings, just embrace your love for that run, come out of the closet and place it where it belongs.

:clown: ;)

i have a shotgun, a shovel and i doubt anyone would miss you. ;)

Originally posted by X-iom
I couldn't keep it 1t 10; had to make it 15.
My list would be:
15) Mark Millar on The Ultimates
14) Kevin Smith on Daredevil
13) Brian Michael Bendis on Powers
12) Warren Ellis on Excalibur
11) Bill Willingham on Fables
10) Chris Claremont on Uncanny X-Men
9) Joe Kelly on Deadpool
8) Frank Miller on Daredevil
7) Peter Milligan on Human Target
6) J. Michael Strczynski on Supreme Powers
5) Alan Moore on Top 10
4) Scott Lobdell on Uncanny X-Men
3) Garth Ennis on Preacher
2) Peter David on X-Factor
1) Neil Gaiman on Sandman

well, since a few of your choices are ineligible for entry in THIS list, you probably could've reined it in a bit closer to 10. ;)

Originally posted by X-iom
I just know I'm going to get in trouble for choosing Lobdell over Claremont.

hey, it's okay. Being wrong isn't a crime. :D

[Mitch Brown]

Its a good thing I pulled out of this one..I would've just been merging Raul and Jordan's lists essentially, with a few tweaks like removing JMS's Amazing and adding in GM's Doom Patrol.

After Jordan's "rebuttal" to Raul I would hate to think what the side-effects of that would be...

Don't know if I'd say "Disintegration" is the best thing to come out of the 80s, but it definitely rates.

[raul grau]

Mitch, there is a chance that you would have stolen all the votes that would have gone to me, and received a whopping *counts all the many votes* 7 in total. Watch out, Jordan, I'm nipping at your heels... but not in that way. ;)

- Raul

[Mitch Brown]

Originally posted by jcknite
Mitch, there is a chance that you would have stolen all the votes that would have gone to me, and received a whopping *counts all the many votes* 7 in total. Watch out, Jordan, I'm nipping at your heels... but not in that way. ;)

- Raul

I'm having trouble thinking of what "not in that way" means in this scenario...

Jordan has high heels?

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Mitch Brown


Don't know if I'd say &quot;Disintegration&quot; is the best thing to come out of the 80s, but it definitely rates.

listening to it right now...and yeah, i stand by my statement. ;)

Originally posted by Mitch Brown


I'm having trouble thinking of what &quot;not in that way&quot; means in this scenario...

Jordan has high heels?

hmm...two jokes come to mind, and i'm a bit tipsy so i'll go for both of them and let y'all choose which ya like more...

"that's not the part of me that's high."

or

"I actually prefer pumps...far more comfortable."

;)

[Lord Exodus]

I love these top tens. Make some more will ya:)

[david r]

"Disintegration" is a bloody masterpiece. Definitely the best Cure album ever. And one of my favorite records of all time. So there

But Jordan, gotta disagree with you on putting Grant Morrison's run of X-Men ahead of Chris Claremont. That's like saying John Byrne's run on FF is better than the Lee/Kirby era. It just ain't done.

Claremont defined the X-Men in a way no other writer ever has. Morrison DId NOT redefine anything. He just warped around previous stories. He has even said his run was his kiss to CC's period.

In 10-20 years, as other "hip" writers come onboard X-Men and twist it around, Morrison's run will fade. While Claremont's X-Men run will stand forever. It WILL NOT FADE!!

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by david r
&quot;Disintegration&quot; is a bloody masterpiece. Definitely the best Cure album ever. And one of my favorite records of all time. So there

But Jordan, gotta disagree with you on putting Grant Morrison's run of X-Men ahead of Chris Claremont. That's like saying John Byrne's run on FF is better than the Lee/Kirby era. It just ain't done.

Claremont defined the X-Men in a way no other writer ever has. Morrison DId NOT redefine anything. He just warped around previous stories. He has even said his run was his kiss to CC's period.

In 10-20 years, as other &quot;hip&quot; writers come onboard X-Men and twist it around, Morrison's run will fade. While Claremont's X-Men run will stand forever. It WILL NOT FADE!!

I disagree. No run is sacrosanct. Some people will like Byrne's FF more than Stan and Jack's, just as some people like CC's X-Men over Stan and Jack's...hell, at least one person in this thread has claimed to like Lobdell's run better than Claremont, which i personally find unfathomable. But there it is. We all have differing tastes that particular voices or styles speak to. And as far as X-Men is concerned, Grant's style resonated more deeply with me than CC's. And i don't think it will fade. It did redefine things...it just didn't remake them. He didn't need to reinvent the wheel, just show us some better uses for it, telling the oldest stories in the newest ways. Grant is one of a handful of truly visionary creators in the field today and he brought that cutting edge style to a book and franchise that so desperately needed it...as CC did back in the day. In the end, it comes down to taste. I like Grant Morrison's writing just a tad bit more than i like CC's writing. Sure, there may be plenty of people who disagree with that. But none of them were writing my list. ;)

heck, a lot of people think Citizen Kane is a better movie than Casablanca. I disagree with them too. :p

[S. S.]

Don't know if someone mentioned this, but i think the reason Stan Lee's stuff isnt mentioned on these lists is because, when compared to modern writing, it just isnt as good. But that's only the result of the era Stan was in, where they just told basic superhero stories. So if Lee was placed in the 90s as a 30-40 year old, who knows how good his stories might be?

[Jon Hancock]

judging from the Just Imagine.... series that DC did... not that good.

[Jim Lemoine]

Originally posted by S. S.
Don't know if someone mentioned this, but i think the reason Stan Lee's stuff isnt mentioned on these lists is because, when compared to modern writing, it just isnt as good. But that's only the result of the era Stan was in, where they just told basic superhero stories. So if Lee was placed in the 90s as a 30-40 year old, who knows how good his stories might be?

Wow... couldn't disagree more. If you go back and read Lee's Fantastic Four or Amazing runs... well, to each their own, I guess... but I personally still find them to be not only fun and very entertaining, but also dramatic and highly relevant. There's a reason Fantastic Four was called the World's Greatest Comic Magazine... because few runs can compare to that Lee/Kirby magic. And the success of the Spider-Man movies aren't based on the Spidey's of JMS or Mackie or McFarlane or even Stern and DeMatteis (did I spell that right?)... it's based on the character as envisioned and developed by Lee. Lee's characters changed, they grew, and because there was no real status quo, the comics were something really special.

If I'd written a list, Lee would have had at least two slots, for his Amazing and FF.

[david r]

It's definitely unfair to compare Stan "The Man" to modern-day writers. In my opinion, he and Jack "The King" are in a class all by themselves. They don't need to appear on these lists, because it is just assumed that they put out the best superhero stuff EVER! Marvel is the House that Stan and Jack built. So all these other Marvel runs (like Claremont's on X-Men, or Byrne on FF, or Miller on Daredevil, etc.) all have to take a backseat to their creativity and daring.

There would be no Marvel without those two. And I don't think the 60s material is too dated. (I'm reading the 1st Batman DC Archive right now, let me tell ya, that stuff seems way more dated than the Marvel 1960s material.) I actually feel part of the charm of reading Stan's dialogue from the FF and Spider-Man books is how dated it sounds. Its from a different era, and captures that time period well. If you like that time (which I do) then its enjoyable.

I don't understand thinking Scott Lobdell's run on X-Men is superior to Claremont's. Morrison I can *kinda* see, but not Lobdell. To each his own. No book that lasts decades is going to satisfy everyone. Thankfully X-Men has never had something as traumatic for the fans as the Spider-Clone was for Spidey-fans. Only 5 years of reprints must have been painful for the 6 fans of X-Men during the early 70s!!

[Lord Sun]

Here is my top ten list of books that have most affected my life over the past 30 years, in very specific order.

1) Morrison on Animal Man. Seminal stuff, got me back into the fray. Made me join PETA. Grant spoke to Buddy, Buddy spoke... to the audience!!

2) Claremont on X-Men. Got me into the fray in the first place. I was dramaticall involved in the lives of these characters, and adding he likes of Katherine "Kitty" Pryde to the mix only made the title more immediate to me as a young reader.

3) Moore on Swamp Thing. Ground-breaking and mind-altering are the two compound words that most swiftly spring to mind.

4) Gaiman on Sandman. Myth, magic, history? Death meeting Shakespeare? That stuff was just awesome.

5) Miller on Daredevil. The character was taken to depths and heights that I had never dreamt of, and that affected me in very serious and ponderous ways.

6) Morrison on Doom Patrol. Grant owned this series more completely than anyone I can recall, doing some kooky stream-of-consciousness stuff that told me as much about myself as it did about the superb characters... and about Grant.

7) Giffen/Bierbaum/Bierbaum on Legion of Super Heroes. They grew up! The wonderful thing about this book that everyone seemed to have ignored was that it was set (almost) entirely outside the regular DC continuity, so they could all grow up! And grow up they did, not just physically, but very emotionally and spiritually.

8) Giffen/DeMatties on Justice League. Gooey Gardner. Ever since the editor said that was the correct way to pronounce Guy, I've just stuck with it. Bwah-hah-haaaaah. The art, the characters, the political intrigue, Mr. Miracle and his demaons (literally) on Apokolips, Fire and Ice, Gardner's vulnerability (?) and Beetle's battles. Got to love it.

9) David on X-Factor. Just when I was about to give up the genre, along comes a book that takes some of my favourite heroes, gives them attitudes, a new mandate, and adds some creepy Government stooges to create magic.

10) TIE: Milligan on Shade The Changing Man. Intelligent, fantastic dialogue, brilliant conceptualization, the next chapter in the continued evolution of the comic as literature. And very British.

10) TIE: Bachalo on Hellblazer. Intelligent, fantastic dialogue, brilliant conceptualization, the next chapter in the continued evolution of the comic as literature. And very British.

[raul grau]

Wow, you included both of the great Giffen runs, along with a healthy sampling of pre-Vertigo Vertigo. I would definitely vote for Lord Sun's list (and not just because he overlapped with mine quite a bit). :)

- Raul

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by david r
It's definitely unfair to compare Stan &quot;The Man&quot; to modern-day writers. In my opinion, he and Jack &quot;The King&quot; are in a class all by themselves. They don't need to appear on these lists, because it is just assumed that they put out the best superhero stuff EVER! Marvel is the House that Stan and Jack built. So all these other Marvel runs (like Claremont's on X-Men, or Byrne on FF, or Miller on Daredevil, etc.) all have to take a backseat to their creativity and daring.

There would be no Marvel without those two.

Three. I'm sure you meant to mention Steve Ditko. ;) also, if we're going to mention Daredevil, we have to mention Bill Everett...who also created Submariner. I mean, as long as we're talking about the creators of the Marvel Universe...credit's gotta go to more than just one or two folks.

that said, just picked up some reprints of Lee and Kirby's original work on X-Men...and wow! Occasionally hokey, but really that's just a sign of the times. Hokey alliteration and grandiose hyperbole (including all character dialogue ending with an exclamation point) was just as much of its time back then as post modernism and deconstruction/reconstruction of superheroic archetypes are of this one. That said, i'd still personaly rank it below Claremont and Morrison.

Originally posted by Lord Sun
Here is my top ten list of books that have most affected my life over the past 30 years, in very specific order.

1) Morrison on Animal Man. Seminal stuff, got me back into the fray. Made me join PETA. Grant spoke to Buddy, Buddy spoke... to the audience!!

2) Claremont on X-Men. Got me into the fray in the first place. I was dramaticall involved in the lives of these characters, and adding he likes of Katherine &quot;Kitty&quot; Pryde to the mix only made the title more immediate to me as a young reader.

3) Moore on Swamp Thing. Ground-breaking and mind-altering are the two compound words that most swiftly spring to mind.

4) Gaiman on Sandman. Myth, magic, history? Death meeting Shakespeare? That stuff was just awesome.

5) Miller on Daredevil. The character was taken to depths and heights that I had never dreamt of, and that affected me in very serious and ponderous ways.

6) Morrison on Doom Patrol. Grant owned this series more completely than anyone I can recall, doing some kooky stream-of-consciousness stuff that told me as much about myself as it did about the superb characters... and about Grant.

7) Giffen/Bierbaum/Bierbaum on Legion of Super Heroes. They grew up! The wonderful thing about this book that everyone seemed to have ignored was that it was set (almost) entirely outside the regular DC continuity, so they could all grow up! And grow up they did, not just physically, but very emotionally and spiritually.

8) Giffen/DeMatties on Justice League. Gooey Gardner. Ever since the editor said that was the correct way to pronounce Guy, I've just stuck with it. Bwah-hah-haaaaah. The art, the characters, the political intrigue, Mr. Miracle and his demaons (literally) on Apokolips, Fire and Ice, Gardner's vulnerability (?) and Beetle's battles. Got to love it.

9) David on X-Factor. Just when I was about to give up the genre, along comes a book that takes some of my favourite heroes, gives them attitudes, a new mandate, and adds some creepy Government stooges to create magic.

10) TIE: Milligan on Shade The Changing Man. Intelligent, fantastic dialogue, brilliant conceptualization, the next chapter in the continued evolution of the comic as literature. And very British.

10) TIE: Bachalo on Hellblazer. Intelligent, fantastic dialogue, brilliant conceptualization, the next chapter in the continued evolution of the comic as literature. And very British.

Oh, we like you!

Raul...can we keep him? ;)

[david r]

And Doom says, "Bah! You pathetic fleas! You call those Top 10 lists? Doom will show you a truly GREAT Top 10 List. One that will bring you down to your peasant knees! By Word Of Doom, Read on!!"

Without further ado...

10)George Perez on "Wonder Woman". Did George write anything before this? What a masterful web he wove!! His writing pen shone as brightly as his drawing pen. Wonder Woman has never been as good, before or since.

9)Roy Thomas on "Conan the Barbarian". How has this been forgotten? Some may hoot and hollow about Conan, but since his recent succesful revival is getting new fans, let us not forget this classic run by Roy Thomas. He wrote the book from 1970-1981, (or about there), as well as launching "King Conan". Sword and sorcery may not be "en vogue" in the 21st Century, but in the 1970s, it was all the rage, and Thomas' take on Howard's creation was one of Marvel's best books of the decade. As well as relighting interest in this type of story in comic book form.

8)Peter David on "Incredible Hulk". How in the world has this one been forgotten? No one put this on their list? X-Factor was a classic, but PAD's massive 12-year run on this title (longer than any other writer has ever devoted their time to this character) is an absolute masterpiece. Peter took the green behemoth in directions I never dreamed of. When he came on the book, nobody thought there was anything left to do with the Hulk. Peter sure found some places to take him. On a journey to find gamma bombs. off to Las Vegas as Mr. Fixit. The shocking revelation of Bruce Banner's TRUE problem (child abuse). Peter may not have been the first writer to bring up child abuse, but he did more with it than any previous writer. His move as a member of the Pantheon. The reversal of the Banner/Hulk personae. Stan Lee ruled the 60s. Len Wein ruled the 70s. But PEter David ruled the Hulk during the 80s and 90s, and beyond. His ideas are all over the movie.

7)Chris Claremont/Alan Davis on "Excalibur". A gem, to be sure. Maybe even a guilty pleasure. But this is probably the best spinoff of the X-Men ever made. Definitely one of the most offbeat. I put both Chris and Alan because they both wrote the series at different times. Some truly hilarious moments on this title. While the X-Men title had become all dark and intense in the late 1980s and early 90s, this series was bright, comedic and refreshing.

6)Roger Stern on "Amazing Spider-Man". Stan Lee may be the greatest writer who ever worked on the web-slinger, but there is one man who challenges that claim. And its not JMS! It has to go to Roger Stern. His run on Spider-Man captured this character in a way no one else quite has. He succesfully juggled the relationship between Peter Parker (the man) and Spider-Man (the hero) better than even Lee did. All of Peter's girlfriends, his money problems (like trying to make his rent on his apartment), his job worries, family crisises, and trying to be your friendly, neightborhood Spider-Man. I believe his run consisted of #225-252. He created the Hobgoblin. And his "The Kid who Collected Spider-Man" is one of the few comics that have ever brought a tear to my eye. And I know many who feel the same way. Sadly, the black costume story ended his run.

5)Roy Thomas on "Avengers". Fantastic work. Mindblowing stories. Outer space adventures. Soap opera. The Vision. The Black Panther. Thomas seems to have faded as a writer, but his run on "Avengers" should be required reading for all Avengers fan. "Kree/Skrull War", nuff said.

4)John Byrne on "Fantastic Four". Stan Lee and Jack Kirby can never be forgotten on this title. I won't even put their names on this list becaue it goes without saying they have the greatest stories. But much like Roger Stern on Spider-Man, one person comes pretty close. And that is John Byrne. The man himself may be disliked by many nowadays. But he had one hell of a glory period during the 70s and 80s. And arguably the best stuff he ever did was this seminal run on FF. He somehow recaptured the magic of the early days, while still making the book feel fresh and alive. It had a retro feel, and at the same time, it didn't!!! And moments like Sue Richards' miscarriage, and the Thing discovering Alicia and Johnny's relationship, are moments that still connect with me even today. He created one of the most complicated Doctor Doom storylines I've ever read!! Byrne obviously loved this title as a fanboy. And it showed on the page. Things may have changed today, but for at least awhile on the FF, John could do no wrong.

3)Alan Moore on "Swamp Thing". Horror. Comic books. The mix has not often worked. But for a few years in the 1980s, it worked wonders under Moore's pen. He mixed a horror/love affair into one of the most exciting and shocking horror runs in comic history. "Tomb of Dracula" may be the greatest traditional horror comic book ever. But Moore's "Swamp Thing" was not traditional. This book put Moore on the map, and rightfully so. Who else at that time (1983) could reinvent this character and make it stick? Who else could get this character into the limelight? Very few. It just shows Moore's unequalled talent. Now if only Marvel could get him on their Man-Thing!!

2)Neil Gaiman on "Sandman".What more need be said that hasn't already? This series transcended comic books. Gaiman is a literary genius. The greatest comic book series of the 1990s. The best comic story since "Watchmen." It changed the way I thought of comic books. Gaiman should be knighted.

1)Chris Claremont on "Uncanny X-Men". The year is 1974. X-Men is on the verge of being cancelled. It has been nothing but a reprint for the last 4 years. It is laughable to even ponder the idea that 20 years from now it will be Marvel's savior. Editor Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum create some new mutants to spark some interest in this flagging book. Wein hires some guy named Chris Claremont to take the book over from him after only 1 issue.
Flash forward 17 years later, Claremont has turned X-Men into the most succesful comic book in modern history (with a little help from his artistic friends, admittedly). The first issue of the sister title "X-Men" #1, sells nearly 8 million copies. He has been highly influential in turning this disliked Hulk character "the Wolverine" into one of the most popular comic characters of all time. He has made Storm, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, and many others into living, breathing comic characters. That fans actually care about,and even cry over. He has co-written some of the greatest superhero stories EVER TOLD. Not too shabby, eh? I would go so far to say that Claremont's run on X-Men is in the Top 3 of the greatest superhero books ever made. Following Lee/Kirby on Fantastic Four and Stan Lee's Spider-Man. (But they are Gods already, so I don't need to mention them.) Claremont should have gotten a big raise around 1991 or so....but alas, that isn't what happened, did it? Claremont's ENTIRE unforgettable run should be required reading for all X-Men fans. Let them see how these newer stories and writers fair compared to the best.



There are many other great runs. I could mention Mark Waid on "The Flash". Another failing title that seriously got turned around. Steve Englehart's stellar run on "Captain America". Marv Wolfman on "Tomb of Dracula". David Michilenie on both "Iron Man" and "Amazing Spider-Man" (though he never gets any credit for Spider-Man or Venom. Todd hogs all the credit for that run!) Even Bill Mantlo on "Micronauts". Don't laugh, those first 12 issues are great sci-fi adventure. Steve Gerber on "Howard the Duck". John Byrne on "Superman". Alan Grant's interesting satanic take on "The Demon". Roger Stern on "Avengers." And, of course, Walt Simonson's "Thor" run. Spectacular stuff!!

[Mitch Brown]

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
hmm...two jokes come to mind, and i'm a bit tipsy so i'll go for both of them and let y'all choose which ya like more...

&quot;that's not the part of me that's high.&quot;

or

&quot;I actually prefer pumps...far more comfortable.&quot;

;)

Why am I suddenly reminded of Aerosmith?

[Shiva]

Tom's list hit the nail right on the head for me...It started off good and ended excellent!

[Fantomas]

Ah....so many greats come to mind.....Chaykin on "American Flagg".....John Ostrander on "GrimJack".....Jim Starlin on "Dreadstar". I guess many of those don't qualify for some reason or another....like Dave Sim on "Cerebus"

But I don't see Ennis' run on "Hellblazer". I agree with whomever said Grell on "Green Arrow"....there's Denny O'Neil on "Batman" and "Green Lantern/Green Arrow", Stan Lee's run on "Silver Surfer", and I might even be tempted to throw in Doug Moench's run on "Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu," cause if you haven't read that, it's a whole lot of fun.