Thursday 10 February 2011

The 200 Best Comics of My Lifetime (The Last 20 Years): 130-121

130. 1602 #1
Marvel Knights - November 2003
Writer - Neil Gaiman
Artist - Andy Kubert
The first issue of Neil Gaiman's money-spinning mini-series about the Marvel Universe manifesting 400 years too early; the idea was genius and the execution proved to be engaging and original, incorporating elements of time subversion that made Sandman such a pleasure to read.





129. Sleeper: Season Two #12
Wildstorm - July 2005
Writer - Ed Brubaker
Artist - Sean Phillips
The final issue of Brubaker and Phillips' epic journey through the criminal element of the Wildstorm Universe wrapped up the tale of Holden Carver; the action, thrills and drama are all there, and it serves as the perfect conclusion to the series.







128. Superman: Secret Origin #1
DC - November 2009
Writer - Geoff Johns
Artist - Gary Frank
Another reimagining of Superman's origin, this time done by the dream team of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank; the issue focuses on Clark Kent's boyhood, ending with him becoming Superboy, in an ultra-deconstructed story that was marvellous to watch unfold.





127. Amazing Spider-Man #600
Marvel - September 2009
Writers - Dan Slott, Bob Gale, Joe Kelly, Marc Guggenheim, Mark Waid, Stan Lee & Zeb Wells
Artists - John Romita Jr, Colleen Doran, Derec Donovan, Marcos Martin, Mario Alberti, Max Fiumara, Mitch Breitweiser & Sebastian Fiumara
A fantastic extra-sized extravaganza that deals with the character evolution of Doctor Octopus, as well as the wedding of Peter's Aunt May; there are a good few stories inside with rotating creative teams, all of which are a lot of fun to read.





126. Starman #5
DC - March 1995
Writer - James Robinson
Artist - Tony Harris
The first issue of Starman to deal with a conversation between Jack Knight and his brother David; these would become an annual thing throughout the run of Starman, but this first one is certainly the most exciting and unique.







125. The Losers #1
Vertigo - August 2003
Writer - Andy Diggle
Artist - Jock
Andy Diggle and Jock were responsible for one of the most unique reinventions of a classic comic book to appear in the early 2000s; the Losers was an action-spy-thriller with a difference, it featured brutal violence and some insane humour.







124. Powers #1
Image - April 2000
Writer - Brian Michael Bendis
Artist - Michael Avon Oeming
Bendis and Oeming's classic superhero crime series kicked off with an intense mystery involving the murder of a super heroine; the characters are perfect right from the start, while the overly wordy dialogue is made poignant by the high level of humour within.





123. Batman #600
DC - April 2002
Writer - Ed Brubaker
Artist - Scott McDaniel
The 600th issue of Batman was the finale to the Bruce Wayne: Murderer arc, while also serving as the prologue to the Fugitive storyline that was to follow; the highlight here is the fight between Batman and Nightwing which was shocking, brutal and wonderfully emotional.



122. X-Men #1
Marvel - October 1991
Writer - Chris Claremont
Artist - Jim Lee
The best selling comic book of all time, this series kicked off with the dream team of Chris Claremont and Jim Lee and had an action-packed first issue; sure, the brilliance would only last for three issues, but this is still one of the most exciting comics of the last 20 years.





121. Spider-Man's Tangled Web #4
Marvel - September 2001
Writer - Greg Rucka
Artist - Eduardo Risso
A one-shot focusing on the life of a Kingpin enforcer as he realises his time is up, this issue features some of the most emotional material I've ever read; the final confrontation between Tom Cochrane and Wilson Fisk is harsh and brutal, but serves to show that crime doesn't pay.




Next: 120-111

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