Enjoy!

Steven Perry and Thomas Yeates' Timespirits

Timespirits #1-8

He went so in-depth that there really is not much reason for me to do an introduction! So without any further ado, here is the great Johnny Bacardi on why Timespirits is such a cool comic book.

Timespirits was one of several new titles that Marvel released as part of its Epic line in the mid-1980's, sharing this honor with such excellent series as Elaine Lee and Mike Kaluta's Starstruck and J.M. DeMatteis and John Jay Muth's Moonshadow. It was co-created by scripter Steven Perry (no, not that Steve Perry) and illustrated by Tom Yeates, fresh from his stint on Swamp Thing pre-Alan Moore. It was certainly one of the best and most sympathetic treatments of Native American characters in comics up to that point. Difficult to sum up in a nutshell, it was an imaginative, quirky, warm and winning blend of religion, Native American legend, science fiction and high fantasy which never took itself too seriously and is sorely missed, at least by me.

At its basic level, it's about the time-traveling adventures of Cusick of the Tuscarora, an aged Native American "Time Spirit", sporting a fedora, backpack, hiking boots and Sgt. Pepper jacket who functions like an extradimensional Monty Hall- he trades strange and powerful items for souls, which he collects in a turtle shell until he can release them into the afterlife. It is in the course of one of these transactions, in issue #1, that he meets teenage Doot of the Wawenoc tribe in the early days of the pre-Revolutionary War American colonies. Doot's brother, Three Birds, wishes revenge on the white man for the slaughter of his village. Cusick, hearing this wish expressed aloud, appears to him and offers him a strange creature called a Bloodless Ghebe, which will enable the Chief to rout the white man from his land forever. The Ghebe, which resembles a walking stick insect with a big eyeball in place of a head, enter's Three Birds' brain, gives him incredible strength, and enables him to fire a destructive beam from his right eye, which has been replaced by the Ghebe. It also drives him quite insane. Three Birds goes on a murder spree, uniting the tribes against the white man. In the meantime, Cusick strikes up an acquaintance with Three Birds' younger brother and recognizes him as a potential Timespirit of great power. Doot, who loved his brother and did not understand what had caused his formerly pacifistic sibling to change so, wishes to stop the rampage and kill the Ghebe, which eventually sheds Three Birds' skin like a snake. It's too late to save Three Birds' physical self, but Doot is able to save his spirit and destroy the Ghebe using his nascent abilities, and takes his brothers' soul into himself. Cusick offers to take the young brave under his wing and teach him to utilize his potential as a shaman. It's a fine adventure yarn, in a time period that isn't depicted all that often, especially in comics, with a very touching ending.

Issues 2 & 3, arguably the zenith of the entire run, has a plot which is almost too gnarly to describe succinctly. Titled "The Blacksack of King Ogam", it involves dying magicians, unrequited love, spoiled princesses, bands of Norsemen, a spiteful talking fish which came closest of all the characters introduced to being the arch-enemy of the 'Spirits, a massive octopus-like creature called the Spurtyn Duyvel which is summoned up by a rejected, hate-filled amateur prince/magician with the aid of the fish, a magic bag which is literally bottomless, Stonehenge, Noah from the Bible, and much more. It worked on a number of different levels- as heroic, pulp-type fantasy, as a romance, and as a cautionary fable. If you never read any other issues of TS, get these two.

Issue four was a Christmas-themed one, with Cusick facing an uber-vampire named Varnae, eventually delivering an object called the Crystal Skull to the Christ child. #'s 5 and 6 was another continued story, this one mixing a dystopian future and some commentary on the state of music vs. big business, co-starring no less than the ghost of Jimi Hendrix, and in #6 it was improbably continued as well as taken up a notch by mixing in some anti-US government involvement in Nicaragua (this was 1985, you know) statements, as the cast from the previous issue traveled to the present-day (well, 1985) to tie up some loose ends. Yeates took the opportunity to let his feelings be known in the matter. Mildly controversial at the time, as I recall, and both Yeates and Marvel took some shots, but these two issues were the weakest in the series because the message kinda got watered down via editorial (probably higher up than Epic EIC Archie Goodwin, I'd bet) interference, and the whole storyline became a bit incoherent as a result.

The final two issues, 7 & 8, got the series back on track as the original idea of what the 'Spirits were and what they did was revisited, as Cusick took Doot to Tibet to meet the High Lama and to release the souls they had accumulated over the course of their recent adventuring. Problem is, the talking fish was back as well, and he a contrived to make a jealous and hate-filled Yeti on the mountain aware of what he needed to do to inhabit the body of the High Lama and become all-powerful. The enlightened yeti chopped off his hand, which became a totem that facilitated a body switch that transformed the former beast into a malevolent, spirit-eating monster, laying in wait for our pair as they climbed the mountain to the Lama's home. The storyline ended with surprising and somewhat tragic results, and the final page of #8 is a literal curtain call of all the characters that have appeared in the previous issues, all coming out for a bow with one puzzling exception. It was a charming and clever way to end the series.

If Perry has done any other non-Star Wars comics series (and to my knowledge, he's only done one) since Timespirits, I'm unaware of them. I do think he's made a name for himself as a writer of not only Star Wars novels, but a couple of original series and a lot of televison/film work; at least I think it's the same author because Timespirits is nowhere to be found on his online resume. Yeates has gone on on to illustrate a few issues of Zorro for Topps with Don McGregor, has done a lot of ERB-related work, and still does the occasional job for DC and Marvel. The Tomahawk Vertigo Visions one-shot he did in the mid-90s was especially nice, and reminded me a little of Timespirits. I did email Yeates a few years ago and asked him if he had any 'Spirits pages for sale, but he said he didn't want to let any of them go...obviously this book meant a lot to him.

A couple of years ago, I received an email from Perry, who had seen my original blog post championing the series, informing me that plans were afoot to collect and republish these eight issues in a trade collection; as of this writing, to my knowledge no such publication has come out. Of course, the nature of things in the publishing business being as they are, it may still be on track for eventual release, but no news has been forthcoming.

Given today's hit-and-miss climate for quirky new series, especially from mainstream publishers, it's difficult to say what kind of impression Timespirits would make if it came out in today's comics market. I'd like to think there would be room for a series as unassuming yet intricate and full of high fantasy-adventure, as Timespirits, but I have my doubts. And that's a shame...I think there were a lot more stories yet to tell about Doot and Cusick. And of course, I'd love to be proven wrong!

-Thanks to Brian for giving me the opportunity to rework this post (originally written in 2003) for CSBG.

No, thank you for the piece! And here, again, is a link to the super-cool The Johnny Bacardi Show! - BC

5 Comments

• At June 9, 2008, Eric wrote:

  ...No Robert Loren Fleming and Trevor Von Eeden's Thriller? Surprising move by Bacardi.

• At June 9, 2008, Johnny Bacardi wrote:

  That may be coming...!

• At June 9, 2008, Grico wrote:

  Sounds kind of interesting, one of the few titles on these lists that I have not heard of at all ...

• At June 9, 2008, McK wrote:

  Color me disappointed.

  I really wanted to believe that Journey's Steve Perry created a comic book vampire in between writing "Wheel ...

• At June 10, 2008, stonehenge wrote:

  [...] already! Enjoy! Steven Perry and Thomas Yeates?? Timespirits Timespirits 1-8 He went so in-depth thttp://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/09/everybodys-somebodys-baby-day-thirteen/Death May Be Connected To ...

Enjoy!

Steven Grant's Challengers of the Unknown

Challengers of the Unknown #1-18

This late 1990s revamp featured a brand new group of Challengers, made up of truly disparate personalities, such as a games designer, a NASCAR driver, a physicist and a pilot.

Eventually, they worked in the original Challengers, as well.

The book was X-Files-esque, and initially had amazing artwork from John Paul Leon and Tommy Lee Edwards, but also featured during the run the first mainstream artwork from Ryan Sook!!

It also featured perhaps the oddest crossover issue ever, as this down-to-Earth group somehow managed to cross over with the Superman titles in the Millennium Giants crossover!

The book ended after eighteen solid issues.

Here is reader Bill on why this run is so great...

Steven Grant's Challengers of the Unknown (co-written early on with Len Kaminski) was, for me, one of the highlights of the DC Universe in the late 90s: a light so high, in fact, I rated it one of my top ten favourite runs ever. The stories were intelligent and inventive. The characters well-drawn, interesting and likeable. The run, alas, was all too short.

Incidental SPOILERS

The text piece in the back of #1 spells it out, giving the background to these "four elements of our new chapter of a great legend". If one didn't pick up on the half a dozen clues in this introductory editorial that the Challs were to be seen as representatives for the four classical elements, the stories themselves make it clear.

From mining stock, Clay "always finds the bedrock"; "How'd that guy breeze past us?" they ask about pilot Marlon; Kenn, always seen wearing blue, repeatedly advises people to "go with the flow" and enjoys musing on the mystery of water as they fly through a cloud; red-haired Brenda finds the same situation "smothering", but has a "burning yen" to find things out.

Since I came to this book with no real knowledge of the original Challengers, I can speak from experience when I say you don't need any to enjoy this series immensely.

Alien abductions, time/space/gravity anomalies, walking dead, ghosts and possession are just some of the unknowns that get challenged. The stories recognisably take place in the context of the DC Universe, but are usually placed on the edge of it - in most issues, superheroes are at most mentioned in passing. Over 18 issues, we get guest appearances from the original Challs and the Dynamic Duo, and cameos from Superman, Hellblazer and a half-dozen name journalists from different cities. (The handling of Batman, in particular, is pitch perfect.)

The late 90s was crossover-crazy, but the installments here in the couple of crossovers the book was involved with stand up well on their own, as well as furthering the development of the book's own stories.

I found the series consistently surprising and entertaining. Some issues were genuinely disturbing, and several had killer endings (see #5 for an example of both). You never knew exactly what to expect month to month - horror, science fiction, mystery, and dashes of humour and philosophy - except that it would be great. The interaction between the Challengers themselves was always engaging - they were very different people with different styles, beliefs and personalities, yet worked together brilliantly, and believably so.

In his farewell text piece at the end of the last issue, Steven Grant said that sales aside, he was very proud of this book - and indeed he (and Len Kaminski, and all involved) should be. I can't recommend this highly enough!

Thanks, Bill!!

I got one more essay, so we'll have at least one more day of this feature! If you want to see more, send in an essay!!

13 Comments

• At June 5, 2008, Tom Fitzpatrick wrote:

  Still have a soft spot for the Loeb-Sale's run on the Challenger of the Unknown # 1-8.

  "Always leave the party ...

• At June 5, 2008, Bill Reed wrote:

  Grant? Kaminski? Leon!? Edwards!!? Sook? Martinbrough!!!!!!!

  I must find this comic.

• At June 5, 2008, Abe-El wrote:

  This Steve Grant person - Has he done anything of significance?

• At June 5, 2008, Annoyed Grunt wrote:

  Can I write an essay for a book that I voted for but didn't make it to my #1?

• At June 5, 2008, Ralph wrote:

  It´s the Kaminski love week!

  Bring him back to The Creeper!

• At June 5, 2008, Bill K wrote:

  "Can I write an essay for a book that I voted for but didn’t make it to my #1?"

  I'm sure ...

• At June 5, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  I only found out about this after it had been canceled, but it's pretty damn good, and darn cheap in ...

• At June 5, 2008, Steven Grant wrote:

  Wow, thanks for all the unexpected love. Someone pointed me at the earlier today, and I'm touched.

  A little trivia...

  I ...

• At June 6, 2008, Pedro Bouça wrote:

  That the same Joe Simon that says that he created Captain America alone and even Spider-Man?!?

  I'm not sure I believe ...

• At June 6, 2008, tk. wrote:

  The most recent album by The New Pornographers is called "Challengers", and in the song by the same name, the ...

• At June 7, 2008, Len Kaminski wrote:

  @ Grant: If you're touched, I'm positively RAVISHED. This is my third BABY this WEEK, and I just don't ...

• At June 7, 2008, Len Kaminski wrote:

  @ Ralph: I'd be happy if they plain just brought back THE CREEPER.

  'cause I dunno WHO that was Niles ...

• At June 21, 2008, Sarah Hargate wrote:

  Learn more about Steven Grant's Challs and the originals at

  http://www.challengersoftheunknown.com.

Enjoy!

Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis's B.P.R.D.

A bunch of one-shots and mini-series since 2003

The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) was the group that Hellboy was a part of in the pages of Mike Mignola's Hellboy. Eventually, Mignola decided to give the group and its other members (such as Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, Roger the Homunculus and Johann Kraus) their own spotlight.

They had a few one-shots and mini-series, but ultimately, they settled on a steady diet of mini-series co-written by Mignola and John Arcudi and drawn by Guy Davis.

Here is The Dane on why this series was his top pick...

Guy Davis' involvement in BPRD has completely turned the book around. Volume 1 with Ryan Sook was pretty decent. Not great, but pretty decent. It was an alright story with art that was reminiscent of Mignola's work on Hellboy (Sook's work looks like the lovechild of Mignola and Jae Lee), but it did little to bring BPRD into its own. In fact, despite the fact that important things begin in that book, the feeling that the volume is in some ways a Hellboy rip-off (can a Mignola production really be a Hellboy rip-off?) diminishes it almost to the point of forgettability (if that can be a word now).

Unfortunately, volume 2 was a step down. Some of the stories were so-so and some were just on the lighter side of bearable and some might not even make it that far. Guy Davis' work on, "Dark Waters," the short about investigating a long-passed witch hunt is the saving grace of the second volume.

With Volume 3, everything changes. Mignola began working with John Arcudi on story and script and art chores were given over entirely to Guy Davis. The story of BPRD (at last there was a story!) began to evolve and BPRD volumes 3–8 have been among the best examples of Good Comics in the last five years. Davis has given the book a distinct look and one that fits the story and mood better even than Mignola's own wonderful style. And Davis can draw with such an eye for invention that I have a hard time thinking of more than a small handful of comparable creators. While Mignola plays up the minimalism for his work, Davis makes the details sing.

Storywise, the book is just getting better and better and my presumption is that we owe that to the combination of talents in Arcudi and Mignola. The backmatter for each volume usually mentions who was responsible for what, but I'm never quite sure how it is that the two divide their tasks. I imagine it must be through some arcane ritual and forgotten chemistry, but the fluidity with which these stories blend into each other is breathtaking for me.

In one of the comment threads for the main list of 100 best runs, there was some discussion of the contemporary abandonment of the subplot. Claremont, in his day, was praised for the use of subplots that would weave throughout his stories, lending an air of, I think, authenticity to the book; I think all those subplots not only helped ratchet up the tension, but aided readers in establishing a continuity for the stories as a whole. BPRD is one current book that is aces when it comes to subplots. Little details from previous books filter through only to rise up seemingly at random to become major plot points. These little things are a joy to me.

Recently, I had a couple weeks off from work while recovering from a surgery. I didn't have a lot I could do, so I mostly read. A few novels, a bunch of comics. As I had just received BPRD vol. 8, I thought I would take the time to read the whole series in one go. 1 through 7 and then 8, which I hadn't previously read. I was riveted and read the entire thing in a sitting. The team of Mignola, Arcudi, and Davis really make you care about their creations. By the time I was a quarter of the way through volume 8 (Killing Ground), I was anxious for all the members of the team. I was overwhelmed with the sense that bad things were afoot and that no one was safe. The creative team had already proven that the group was not to be seen as a property to be protected in perpetuity, so the reader is well aware that any misstep by a character may be his or her last.

The book conveys, perhaps, a true sense of horror. Not anything like the cheap gross-out thrill of a zombie story or the jumpy nerves of a slasher flick, but this gradually building sense of dread. The dread, when encountered is real. And so is the relief, when it comes.

There are only a small handful of books that merit my checking of Amazon with any regularity for a new release date. BPRD is certainly among those.

Thanks, The Dane!!

Okay, folks, I'm running low on essays - tomorrow looks like it'll be the last day unless people send me more!

3 Comments

• At June 4, 2008, Tom Fitzpatrick wrote:

  Isn't there anything that Guy Davis hasn't done? ;-)

  Terrific artist, that he is.

• At June 4, 2008, Eric wrote:

  When Brian compiles his list of 100 greatest mini-series of all time, Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules will be near the ...

• At June 4, 2008, The Dane wrote:

  Yeah, I enjoyed Unstable Molecules for exactly the same reason. And that was before I actually came to truly appreciate ...

Enjoy!

Len Kaminski's Iron Man

Iron Man #278-318

Len Kaminski took over Iron Man at an odd time - not only was his first issue right smack in the middle of a massive crossover, but he was also picking up John Byrne's unresolved storylines.

So it is to Kaminski's credit that he lasted on the book for a number of years.

During Kaminski's run, he introduced the War Machine armor, which was a huge hit at the time.

I honestly don't recall if it was in the plans to spin War Machine off as Jim Rhodes or not (it seems likely) - but that is what happened soon afterwards.

At the time, Marvel made a bold move - a move few books have ever rivaled since - TWO cover enhanced covers within three months - neither of which having any real reason to be there!!!

Then, with issue #300 - there was a new cover enhancement - that storyline had Stark's friends team-up and each take an older Iron Man armor to fight that big bad guy, Ultimo. It was actually a pretty cool idea.

#300 was also a brand new armor - which is one of the quicker armor transitions (although you could make a good argument that the #290 armor was a work in progress with the #300 armor being the culmination)

Admittedly, the book lost a bit of a focus after #300...

But still, it was a lot better than what followed it, as Kaminski's last issue was directly followed by the Crossing!

Marvel just recently released the first ever trade of the Kaminski run. It contains his early issues where he introduced the War Machine armor, "killed" Stark and had Rhodey become Iron Man, and then Iron Man return with Rhodey becoming War Machine. By the by, it's been about 15 years, and I still have a problem with Stark's motivations there in not telling Rhodey - it was FORCED, Kaminski!! FORCED!!!

Here is reader Bill on why this run is great...

Every now and then one is lucky enough to experience the joy of seeing one of your favourite characters portrayed in a way that just feels "right" to you. You have the sense that the writer really understands what makes the character in question uniquely themselves, and their view of the character makes total sense to you. In the better cases, not only is the presented characterisation completely compatible with your own understanding of the character, but it also resonates with the cumulative characterisation presented over decades by dozens of previous writers. In the best cases of all, not only does the writer's version of the character agree with your own understanding thereof, but reading the former deepens, enhances and improves the latter.

As an audience member wishing to be entertained, ideally, you want to be presented with surprises (for entertainment; things you wouldn't have thought of yourself) that nevertheless, upon reflection, "make sense" - in retrospect, you realise that, yes, that development or event or reaction is compatible and consistent with the character as they have always been presented; the best ones not only make sense but give one deeper insight into the character - the development or event or reaction builds constructively and organically upon the sum of previous characterisation.

I was lucky enough to experience that joy reading Len Kaminski's run on Iron Man. Repeatedly.

SPOILERS!!!

There were many great issues, I'll just mention a smattering of some of the things that made perfect sense:

* Seeing the view from inside Shellhead's armour, complete with the armour's SE computer operating system, drop down menus, system diagnostics, etc * Discovering that some alien technology (say, Ronan's) could be clearly superior to even the more powerful Iron Man space armour (being only human tech)
* Dr Doom decreeing a day of mourning in Latveria when he learns Stark has died
* Tony believing in Fermat's Last Theorem and Goedel's Proof
* Bruce Banner being able to deduce who was in the suit, back in the days when Iron Man still had a secret identity
* The West Coast Avengers showing up to challenge the "Iron Man" seen running around after Stark's funeral

... and some of the things I loved:

* The rich mixture of classic foes (Firepower, Justin Hammer, Ultimo, Crimson Dynamo, Mandarin and many, many more) with new (Technovore, Vor/Tex, Masters of Silence) and "new to Iron Man" (Venom, Omega Red, Shatterax)
* Following fine "Iron Man" traditions, like that (e.g. the Star Hunter in #237) of seeing a very threatening opponent vanquished and then forcing the reader to see this foe in a different, unexpected, sympathetic light (e.g. Living Laser in #289), with poignant results; or that (e.g. the issues that introduced the original underwater, orbital and stealth armours) of exploring new environments (cyberspace, the "inside" of various computers, and the internal organs of Captain America(!)), and new suits. (Was there ever a comparable run with as many new suits, and whole new styles of suits?)
* The humor, like Hercules' dialogue in the first Galactic Storm crossover (#278), or lines like "As if things weren't already complicated enough. I smell another one of those massive logistical nightmares where several hundred superhumans convene to figure out how to "save all humanity" coming up again.... And as usual, I'll probably get stuck with the catering bill." (Sidenote: as a rule, the compulsory crossover tie-ins were handled with style and grace.)
* Taking down the X-Men single-handedly (welllll, kinda
* The talk with Cap in #303, the fight with the Hulk (and its surprising but more-than-plausible conclusion) in #305, the AA meeting in #313, ...

... and some things that deepened my understanding:

* Tony quoting Dylan Thomas in the middle of battle
* We learn (for the first time?) that Tony's father was also an alcoholic
* Everyone's dreams/visions: e.g. Rhodey's in #284, Stark's in #284-288, #300 and #306

I'll finish with one personal highlight that was all three - made perfect sense, deepened my understanding, AND I loved it:

Tony's conversation with the Goddess (from Infinity Crusade) on pages 8 and 9 of issue #294. Just... distilled perfection. It's too long to quote here but if a better and more glorious concise explication of Anthony Stark's world view has ever been printed, I can't recall it.

(And this in a scene linking to a company-wide crossover... talk about making a virtue out of a necessity!)

Bravo!

Somewhere there's an alternate universe where "The Crossing" never happened, and Mr Kaminski stayed on as Iron Man scribe for years longer. If I was able to request the Watcher to get me copies of comics from anywhere, that don't exist here, they'd be near the top of the list.

Thanks, Bill!!

19 Comments

• At June 3, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Woo-hoo!

  Bring on the Kaminski revival!

• At June 3, 2008, Michael wrote:

  Didn't Kaminski do a storyline after 300 where every issue had a different sales-boosting guest star?

• At June 3, 2008, googum wrote:

  The Jim Rhodes as CEO/Iron Man issues are still favorites of mine. That, and there's a bit where longtime ...

• At June 3, 2008, Bill Reed wrote:

  Kaminski's Iron run was the only time I was ever interested in Iron Man. Kaminski wins! It was good stuff.

• At June 3, 2008, sean wrote:

  "Didn’t Kaminski do a storyline after 300 where every issue had a different sales-boosting guest star?"

  That "Crash and Burn" cover ...

• At June 3, 2008, sean wrote:

  [the question as to whether Thunderstrike counts as a sales boosting guest star is still open, although I know that ...

• At June 3, 2008, Scott Rowland wrote:

  I picked up most of his run as back issues, after being floored by the AA meeting issue. Good ...

• At June 3, 2008, buttler wrote:

  Ah, Kaminski, last boy on earth.

• At June 3, 2008, Rene wrote:

  Len Kaminski, really?

  I never read his Iron Man. Everything else by him that I've read I found extremely underwhelming.

  I also ...

• At June 3, 2008, Bill K wrote:

  "Good stuff - I can’t believe he got dumped for the crossing and Teen tony."

  Yes, that may have been one ...

• At June 3, 2008, Grico wrote:

  Hmm, I think the only part of this run I have is the Galactic Storm tie-in. I had to have ...

• At June 4, 2008, Scott Rowland wrote:

  Rene,

  Tony is the star of the book for most of Kaminski's run. The Crash and Burn storyline is ...

• At June 4, 2008, Len Kaminski wrote:

  Thanks to all, it's only Wednesday and my week is made already. You've warmed the coccles of my shrivled, ...

• At June 5, 2008, Mark D. wrote:

  "I also was a bit turned off when I’ve read somewhere that Kaminski had to make Rhodes the star of ...

• At June 5, 2008, Bill K wrote:

  Mark D - you're quoting Rene, not me. This system puts the "signature" above the post's text

  Bill K

• At June 5, 2008, Bill K wrote:

  But I agree with your post-Knauf IM:DOS plans! :D

• At June 7, 2008, Len Kaminski wrote:

  @ Brian:

  Brian said: "By the by, it’s been about 15 years, and I still have a problem with Stark’s ...

• At June 7, 2008, Len Kaminski wrote:

  Mark D said: (are you listening, Marvel?)

  Like, they should start NOW?

  Len

• At June 9, 2008, American Hawkman wrote:

  I was one of the ones who suggested this... it's actually one of my favorite runs of all-time. I still ...

Enjoy!

Scott McCloud's Zot!

Zot! #1-36

Zot! was a great series of the 1980s by Scott McCloud for Eclipse Comics.

Zot! was a hero from an alternate Earth - he came to our world and became friends with a girl there named Jenny.

Early on, there was a lot of action and adventure.

Later on, though, the stories were more character-driven, and dealt mostly with Jenny's friends.

The series ended on a bit of a cliffhanger with the 36th issue.

Here is reader Matthew why Zot! is the tops...

Why do I think Scott McCloud's "Zot!" is one of the best comic book runs of all time? I could go on at length about why it's one of the best comics ever, period, but the reason it's my top run is because it is so much the personal vision of its creator. That's not too unusual, of course -- you could say the same about any creator-owned book written and drawn by the same person -- except that in the case of Zot!, readers got to see the development of an artist who would become one of comics' foremost innovators. Nearly everything that McCloud discusses in Understanding Comics and its sequels first appears in Zot -- his discovery of manga (and Tezuka in particular), his experimentation with different kinds of panel transitions for pacing and mood, his use of "bleeds" and silent panels, and so on.

What's even more remarkable is that the content changes along with the form. Zot! begins as a fairly typical science-fiction superhero series -- Jenny Weaver, normal Earth girl, is drawn by chance into helping teen hero Zot (aka Zachary Paleozogt) unravel the mystery of the Key to the Door at the End of the Universe, and stop a war between (his version of) Earth and another planet, Sirius IV. Before long, though, Jenny has more or less taken over as the lead character -- Zot's still there, but the story's really about Jenny -- and the focus moves to comparisons between Zot's world and our own; the last ten issues are set solely on Jenny's (our) Earth, as McCloud moves into a realism that would make Harvey Pekar proud. By this point Zot has changed from being an action hero to being a character whose very existence, as a product of a utopian alternate Earth, throws everything about our world into question.

What else makes Zot! a great run? The supporting characters, the villains (McCloud has a flair for visually memorable characters: 9-Jack-9 with his boater hat and his wireframe eyes, Dekko with his Chrysler-building head), the humour -- and of course Zot in Dimension 10 1/2, a you-just-have-to-read-it take on Zot! that appeared in every issue from 11 on, featuring alternate adventures of the book's cast by the king of minicomics, Matt Feazell.

The first ten issues of Zot! (the colour issues) have been available in TPB form for a while now, but the big news is that an omnibus of all the B&W issues -- 11 to 36, IIRC -- is coming out this summer. If you haven't already read these, do yourself a favour and pick it up (and don't worry about the first ten issues, you don't really need them to understand what's going on.)

Thanks, Matt!

10 Comments

• At May 31, 2008, sterg wrote:

  Amen! That was a great appreciation that hit the nail right on the head, Matthew.

• At May 31, 2008, Stefan wrote:

  I only read the first trade of Zot, so I never got to see some of the developments mentioned above, ...

• At May 31, 2008, Tom Fitzpatrick wrote:

  Didn't CBR run a serial Zot! in colour, awhile back?

• At May 31, 2008, John M wrote:

  Stefan,

  In fact Scott wrote a dozen issues of Superman Adventures around 1997

  http://www.scottmccloud.com/store/books/supes.html

  Cheers, Doomer John M

• At May 31, 2008, jccalhoun wrote:

  here's the online Zot comic he did: http://www.scottmccloud.com/comics/zot/index.html

• At May 31, 2008, E.D. wrote:

  The rest of ZOT! is finally coming out in trade paperback? Hot damn, how'd I miss that news?

• At June 1, 2008, Andrew Collins wrote:

  E.D. said:

  "The rest of ZOT! is finally coming out in trade paperback? Hot damn, how’d I miss that news?"

  Yep, coming ...

• At June 1, 2008, Doug Atkinson wrote:

  McCloud also wrote a three issue Superman mini-series, "Superman: Strength".

• At June 1, 2008, Stefan wrote:

  Ah! I missed that completely John. Thanks; I'll have to check that out.

• At June 3, 2008, Vinnie Bartilucci wrote:

  My great disappointment is that apparently Matt Feazell's Dimension 10 1/2 stories will not be included in the book. ...

Enjoy!

Peter Milligan's Human Target

Human Target #1-21

Peter Milligan had already written an excellent Human Target mini-series before he launched an ongoing featuring Christopher Chance, the man who will disguise himself as anyone so as to serve as, well, a human target for them. If they suspect assassination, he'll step in and BE you until the assassins are stopped.

Of course, this being Peter Milligan, the stories were more complex than that - and boy, were they complex!

But the complexity was built around a great understanding for human emotions and the effects of what happens when you really truly "take over" someone else's life.

Javier Pulido was the original artist, and he was very good, but then Cliff Chiang took over, and he was even better.

The series had crisp, impressive artwork and strong stories - it was a delightful series.

Here is why reader Eric had it high on his list...

Though I did not vote this series number one on my top ten list (as the proprietor of http://www.vicsage.com, I'd be remiss if I didn't choose the O'Neil/Cowan run of the Question), this was the one pick of my list that I'd hoped would make the top 100, but suspected that others might not have enjoyed it as much as me. Honestly, part of me wanted to write this mini-appreciation just to see if anyone else voted for it at all.

I missed out on the original Human Target mini-series with the late Edvin Biukovic on art, and so my first introduction to Christopher Chance, the titular Human Target, was in the stand-alone "Final Cut" -- a psychological thriller in the strictest sense of the word. While working against time to find a kidnapped child star, Chance falls so deeply into his roles -- the serial-killing screenwriter Davey King and the perfect WASP husband, Frank White -- that the already-strained boundaries of his own identity start to blur. Milligan's tight story is brought to life by the gorgeous artwork of Javier Pulido -- who mimics the style of Saul Bass in the trade dress -- and the vibrant colors of Dave Stewart. Were "Final Cut" made into a film, critics would call it the next "Usual Suspects" or "Memento," and they would be wrong -- this hypothetical film would be better.

"Final Cut" segued into a regular Vertigo series that continued Chance's adventures as a body-double-for-hire for 21 issues, the first five issues with art by Pulido, and the remainder by equally adept artist Cliff Chiang. Chance is not the only character to experience an identity crisis in these issues, as we meet a corporate scapegoat who is able to fake his death in the tragedy of Sept. 11th, a baseball player who's "lost a step" and turns to drugs and then Chance for help, a member of a 60s radical group who finds himself to not be so radical anymore, and, in the end, Chance's own crazed ex-assistant, who wants Chance's identity for his own.

Throughout the series, Milligan uses subject matter that others might advertise as, "Ripped from the headlines," but unlike when similar timely material is used in television police procedurals, there seems to be a poignancy and a deeper intention here. In Human Target, Milligan and his artistic cohorts are crafting an examination of American identity (the second trade collection is called "Living in Amerika") after Sept. 11th that at times seems quite potent. This examination never feels complete, but one wonders what Milligan would have been capable of had the series not met its demise after barely 20 issues.

Thanks, Eric!

17 Comments

• At May 30, 2008, Tom Fitzpatrick wrote:

  I remember reading the mini-series, but not the regular series.

  Maybe I should.

• At May 30, 2008, felgekarp wrote:

  Managed to track down the remaining issues outside of the trades last weekend and I'm just on the last arc ...

• At May 30, 2008, ks wrote:

  This is what I love about this feature, hearing about a title that I never checked out. I am defintely ...

• At May 30, 2008, derek wrote:

  Yes, the Top Comic Book Runs feature has been excellent and it has certainly made me think about reading ...

• At May 30, 2008, Ciaran wrote:

  Excellent feature, Brian. As was said above, sometimes it'll turn someone on to a title they'd never heard of before. ...

• At May 30, 2008, choirsoftheeye wrote:

  Milligan is a great writer when he's on...

  How many points did this one get?

  Still a great feature!

• At May 30, 2008, Eric wrote:

  The original mini with Biukovic is here:

  http://www.amazon.com/Human-Target-Peter-Milligan/dp/1563896931

  The stand-alone Final Cut is here:

  http://www.amazon.com/Human-Target-Peter-Milligan/dp/1563896931

  The first five issues are collected here:

  http://www.amazon.com/Human-Target-Strike-Zones/dp/1401202098/

  And issues six ...

• At May 30, 2008, Eric wrote:

  Oops, Final Cut is here:

  http://www.amazon.com/Human-Target-Final-Peter-Milligan/dp/1563899043/

• At May 30, 2008, Bill Reed wrote:

  Ahh, yes. This was my favorite comic back when it was coming out; Milligan's recurring theme of identity was at ...

• At May 30, 2008, Apodaca wrote:

  I've been wanting to read this for a while.

• At May 30, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Human Target almost made the Top 158 - I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think ...

• At May 30, 2008, Joe Gualtieri wrote:

  Eh, I always thought Milligan's Human Target on-going was overrated. Now the mini, that was a work of staggering genius. ...

• At May 31, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  I liked the ongoing, but yeah, the mini-series was a ton better. It was note perfect.

• At May 31, 2008, suedehead wrote:

  ops, Milligan, and, yay, great Milligan. This was a decent book. Especially issue 11, my fave issue.

  Like Enigma, Shade ...

• At May 31, 2008, suedehead wrote:

  Milligan is the best writer, when he wants, when we want.

• At June 1, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  I liked the ongoing, but yeah, the mini-series was a ton better. It was note perfect.

  The mini was excellent, the ...

• At June 3, 2008, comb & razor wrote:

  i have to echo the sentiment that the miniseries was much better, but the ongoing was nothing to sniff at ...

Enjoy!

Len Kaminski and Anthony Williams' Scare Tactics - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Scare Tactics #1-12, plus a few one-shots

Scare Tactics was a band of monsters.

And when I say band, I mean band, as in rock band!

The band featured Fang, a werewolf, on lead guitar, Scream Queen, a vampire, on lead vocals, Slither, a sort of mer-man on bass and Gross-Out, a guy transformed into a monster by a meteor, on drums.

They were not trying to be heroes, but they often got stuck helping out people, especially against monsters, because they didn't want their kind to get a bad rap.

It was a really fun book by Len Kaminski.

They tried to sort of establish the book into the DC Universe...

In fact, DC must have liked the book, because they gave the book some real support by having a series of one-shots where the members of the band teamed up with various DC heroes...

Sales were still bad, though, so the book ended with issue #12.

A poster on the Comics Should Be Good forum named scum_boy gave his reason why this was his top run here:

I voted for Scare Tactics by Len Kaminski and Anthony Williams, as my number one favorite series of al time. It was published by DC comics during the 90's It came out about the same time as these other new DC propeties e.g. Young Heroes in Love, Vext, Chase, Chronos. Xero et. al. As well as relaunches of other titles that were supposed to cover the scary side of the DC universe. Such as Doom Patrol, Book of Fate, and Night Force I think. Do any of these titles ring a bell?

Anyway this was a title that really got me. It was the 90's the X Files was still on going, and I was a big fan. Scare Tactics follows the life of 4 teenage escapees from R-Complex (sorta like Area 51 but for supernatural phenomenon, a warewolf, a vampire, a reptilian guy, and a really deformed boil encrusted monster. They escaped from R-Complex with the Help of Fate's best friend/quais sidekick, Arnold Burnsteel. They go on the lam, all the while beig escorted by Burnsteel on his winebaggo, and posing as a rock metal band!!! Thay have to resort to using their individual abilities, smarts, and overall mean disposition to stay ahead of R-Complex.

Now what makes this title special? Sure the pairing up of an assortment of different Monsters to form a hero team isn't really that original nowadays, it was the reason though as to why I picked this title from the rack in the first place. What kept me buying though was that despite their differences, their one unifying detail was that they were all teenagers. Being a teenager myself at the time, I really sympathized with them. You kow how being a teenager is all about finding where and who you fit in with, all the while being very self conscious as to how diferent you are to everybody else. Their experience hardships not only from being on the lam, but also due to their teenage insecurities of being freaks and their status of being outcasts. (very much like the X-men but more cutiing edge, even upon rereading after a long time. Rock metal band!!! C'mon!)

This title had a wonderfull group dynamic to it. It had so many layers. Vampire girl feels nothing but contemp for all of them, but however has a slight attraction to redneck warewolf. Redneck warewolf is also attracted to Vampire chick, both however would rather die than admit it. Snake Boy likes Vampy. Vampy doesnt care about Snake Boy at all. (unrequited love, how could I not relate to this) Snake boy is slowly being overcome by his dark reptile persona. Gross monster guy is actually very inteligent, his current gross form however impedes him from communicating with his friends. They think he's stupid. Then there was Arnold Burnsteel himself.

Arnold Burnsteel was the coolest character ever. He was like the groups Professor X. Only instead of having super powers, he was instead super paranoid. A master computer hacker as well. He would often come up with the most off the wall ideas, that would save the group. Like the one time he used Bill Gate's uranium card to get the group new instruments. There was the ultimate quote from him. "Dont let me go back there. Claws, fangs, superstrength, It dont matter. I got Mean"

Len kaminski's writting was wonderfull. Great dialogue and awesome storylines, though sometimes cliche, would often redeem itself with uique resolutions, and wonderful execution. Anthony Williams art was wonderfull as well.

It's a shame it only lasted for about 12 issues.

Does anyone remember this series and liked it?

Thanks, scum_boy!

In a nice little bit of news for people who wonder if creators care about the fans liking their work, Len Kaminski replied in the thread with the following:

I can't imagine a greater compliment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I used to say that if TACTICS reached ONE person, I would have justified my place on Earth.

Unfortunately, DC owns the right to ST, so there's not much I can do with it on my own. I will confess, I DO have a concept that'd be VERY near and dear to ST fans, (think JLA/SQUADRON SUPREME), if I can ever get it off the ground.

Thank YOU for posting - it's given me new inspiration to take another crack at comics.

17 Comments

• At May 28, 2008, Luis Jaime wrote:

  Now that, THAT was cool. The whole thing. Specially Mr. Kaminski's response.

  Comics rule.

• At May 28, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Scare Tactics was a good book, from a good period (creatively) from DC, which unfortunately came at the wrong time ...

• At May 29, 2008, Stefan wrote:

  Oh, wow.

  Goodness, thanks for that letter! If it encourages Kaminski to come back to comics, that's pure gold.

  Is this ...

• At May 29, 2008, comb & razor wrote:

  hmmm... i have never even heard of this title. there's a whole period of the 1990s that is just a ...

• At May 29, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Stefan, I linked to the thread where Kaminski posted his reply - I bet if you posted there, he'd see ...

• At May 29, 2008, Tom wrote:

  I loved this series! I'm shocked, I thought I was the only one who loved this run!

• At May 29, 2008, Tom wrote:

  In fact, I thought I was the only one who had this entire series and the entire run of the ...

• At May 29, 2008, Matt D wrote:

  I loved the Scare Tactics t-shirt in 52

• At May 29, 2008, jackdaw53 wrote:

  The covers look tremendous. Anybody recall what the interior artwork was like??

• At May 29, 2008, Apodaca wrote:

  Wait, this isn't April...

• At May 29, 2008, Jack Norris wrote:

  Never even heard of this...

• At May 29, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Wait, this isn’t April…

  You never read this one?

  It's pretty good - not revolutionary, but fun none the less.

• At May 29, 2008, Bill K wrote:

  Len Kaminski's run on Iron Man scored one of my top ten votes, if not quite #1. I wonder if ...

• At May 29, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Sure, Bill - go for it.

• At June 3, 2008, Clint A wrote:

  I have and enjoyed every one of these issues. Several times the comics wound up on the top of ...

• At June 10, 2008, vamire quotes wrote:

  [...] there. Claws, fangs, superstrength, It dont matter. I got Mean??? Len kaminski??s writting was ...http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/05/28/everybodys-somebodys-baby-day-seven/SuperiorPics Celebrity Forums: Favorite &quotBuffy ...

• At April 22, 2009, Sara Rase wrote:

  This series, man, I couldn't say it was good in a way that would stand up to scrutiny, but...

  This was ...

Enjoy!

James Robinson and Travis Charest's WildC.A.T.S. - 12 points (1 first place vote)

WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #15-20

James Robinson did some yeoman work in his transitionary work between Jim Lee and Brandon Choi and Alan Moore on WildC.A.T.S.

One of the major stories in this run was a spotlight on the Black Razors, some fairly minor characters that Robinson developed so well that years later, Micah Wright would choose to do a story on the Black Razor characters based almost entirely on that one story Robinson wrote years earlier.

And, of course, Travis Charest's art is magnificent.

Here is reader Jeff on why this run was tops on his list!

So why did James Robinson and Travis Charest's WildC.A.T.s #15-20 rank #1 on my top ten list?

Before the release of these issues, WildC.A.T.s was synonymous to its creator-artist Jim Lee. His presence was a very bold display of hyperstylized action, detail, and god-like supermodel pretty people accomplishing god-like acts of heroism.

Robinson/Charest's work politely shakes hands with that interpretation. Then it takes a machine-gun-rapid crap on it.

Expectation, humiliation, the option of mercy nosediving against the fear of regret, and the pressure of having to scrape out a split-second go-with-your-gut decision while being painted into a corner by the people whom you thought were your friends: these are just a few of the ass nasty demons that Robinson and Charest juggle with within their run. Cool, casual in-your-face, it's a mind-opener to read, watch, and listen to.

Bonus points: WildC.A.T.s #15-20 is also a melodic experience. Shoutouts to inker Troy Hubbs and colorist Joe Chiodo whose contributions help the story and art play music. I don't know what exactly the creators were listening to, but these six issues visually capture some of the finer, spy-capable moods and tones from songs by The Cure, Joy Division, Bauhaus, and The Smiths. hell yes.

Thanks, Jeff!!

Another run tomorrow!!

6 Comments

• At May 28, 2008, Choirsoftheeye wrote:

  Sweet!

  This is in the wrong section, though.

• At May 28, 2008, Grico wrote:

  Hmm, the music of the Smiths? Makes me curious to read this run. And James Robinson to top it off.

• At May 28, 2008, Apodaca wrote:

  Sure sounds like a mopey adventure, if that's the music it recalls.

• At May 28, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  I think I used this run as an example of what I felt was "90s good."

  At the time, it was ...

• At May 28, 2008, Ariel S. wrote:

  Awesome piece by that guy Jeff!

• At May 29, 2008, Jeff Ramirez wrote:

  thanks Ariel.

  "light years ahead of most other Image books"- true observation Brian.

  also very recently, while doin a lil research ...

Remember, feel free to send me more essays about these runs! You send 'em, I'll run 'em! I think I only have one more left (maybe two - I forget), so if you want to see more of these, send them in! No 'Mazing Man fans out there?

Otherwise, enjoy!

Louise Simonson's X-Factor - 30 points (2 first place votes)

X-Factor #6-46, 48-54, 56-64, plus two Annuals

Louise Simonson took over X-Factor from Bob Layton, and soon changed the book to be more of a "teaching young mutants" book, but in her first issue, Simonson introduced Apocalypse!

Simonson's husband, Walter Simonson, joined her on the book for an extended run with her as writer and him as artist.

Some amazing artwork by Walt Simonson in this period.

This was also the time when Simonson had Angel become Archangel.

Soon, Simonson had Beast revert back to his blue, furry self!

For the rest of her run, a big part of it was Cyclops and Jean Grey growing closer, while Iceman, Archangel and Beast also developed romances.

Simonson's tenure on the book ended soon after Whilce Portacio took over - I forget if she was pushed off or not.

Here's reader Elijah on why this X-Factor run was tops on his list!

I've always been an X-Men fan, and yet I've come to realize that when I think back on what I consider to be "The X-Men" of the mid-to-late 80's, the first thing to pop into my mind is the original five as drawn by Walter Simonson. His way of drawing Cyclops particularly, will always be my default version of the character. I certainly do enjoy the Claremont-written Uncanny books of the time, but that X-Factor run is so perfect, beyond the nice symmetry of being done by a husband and wife team.

In his X-Factor Storytelling Engine, John Seavey explained one of the major elements that made the writing so good--namely, a willingness to deal with all of the GAPING HOLES IN LOGIC that were left by the book's first, short-lived, creative team--but even more incredible than Louise Simonson's willingness to tackle these problems, was the real emotional resonance with which she did it. She managed to turn Cyclop's abandonment of wife and child into something that actually made me feel immensely for the character, whereas the original act had just made him just look like a massive, massive (massive) tool.

Also, Louise Simonson's (rather protracted) way of giving Beast back his fur got to the point of almost painfully drawn out, until rewarding us at just the right time with what might be my favorite moment (and single panel) ever, in issue 33. (Think: "sh*t-eating grin.")

Combine all of this pathos with the superhero team actually training mutant kids, (something the X-Men seemed to have outgrown at the time) having good ol' fashioned fights with super-villains, (including completely uninteresting early baddie Apocalypse, whom she entirely retooled) and Walt Simonson in all of his angular, Thor-era glory and you've got a classic yarn on your hands.

Oh, and Cyclops freaking punctures the Blob just to prove a point.

Incredible.

Thanks, Elijah!

Okay, that's it until next week! See you then!

20 Comments

• At May 23, 2008, Choirsoftheeye wrote:

  This was a pretty cool run. I don't think it would make a even a top 50 list from ...

• At May 23, 2008, Bill Reed wrote:

  I've really gotta track down all the Simonson & Simonson issues.

• At May 24, 2008, Biggles wrote:

  Walt Simonson's art WAS really great on this book. I might have to dig these out soon.

• At May 24, 2008, Rob wrote:

  Ahhh...one of my earliest comic books..X-Factor #5..Im still crushed they killed Rusty later on in X-men..I grew up with Rusty ...

• At May 24, 2008, Bernard the Poet wrote:

  I'm glad someone is giving Louise Simonson a little credit, because this was a really tough assignment.

  I always felt ...

• At May 24, 2008, Denn wrote:

  How did Beast become non-furry again to begin with? And what changed him back? I wasn't reading X-books at the ...

• At May 24, 2008, Bernard the Poet wrote:

  In issues 2 and 3, a mad professor captures Beast and makes him non-furry. At the time I thought it ...

• At May 25, 2008, wwk5d wrote:

  Interesting post, Bernard. It did seem artificial, especially even after Wolverine caught Jean's scent - TWICE - we still had ...

• At May 25, 2008, Elliot Kane wrote:

  I really liked this run at the time. Great fun :)

• At May 25, 2008, Jer wrote:

  I do think the criticism of Claremont retaliating was a bit harsh, Scott as a character deserved whatever he got ...

• At May 25, 2008, spoon_jenkins wrote:

  I voted for X-Factor. I think it's unfortunate that dissatisfaction with resurrecting Jean Grey or Scott leaving his family or ...

• At May 25, 2008, Rene wrote:

  Yeah, Louise Simonson was dealt a bad hand, but she did the best she could. I remember that it took ...

• At May 25, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Man McFarlane must've redrawn the hell out of that Liefield cover - looks nothing like his usual work.

• At May 26, 2008, Bernard the Poet wrote:

  "As for the issue of Cyclops, wasn’t he being written out of Uncanny anyway? I do think the criticism of ...

• At May 26, 2008, wwk5d wrote:

  Well, I'm not sure if it was his choice or Marvel's, since it seemed like the team itself was being ...

• At May 27, 2008, Matthew Johnson wrote:

  Brian, if nobody's written an essay for Zot! yet let me know and i'll do one. I'd hate to see ...

• At May 27, 2008, Teebore wrote:

  You know, I completely overlooked this run when voting, but thinking back on it now, I certainly have enough fond ...

• At May 27, 2008, Thenodrin wrote:

  The thing that I remember about this run, other than the great Judgement War arc, was that it "souped up" ...

• At May 27, 2008, Teebore wrote:

  Yeah, this book really helped shore up the concept of the original X-Men, to the point that afterwards, when I'd ...

• At June 3, 2008, thomas wrote:

  I agree whole-heartedly with this review.

Enjoy!

(I'll reprint the bits for each of the runs in question before posting their essays)

90. Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr's X-Men - 106 points (1 first place vote)

Uncanny X-Men #175 (partial), #176-197, 199-200, 202-203, 206-211

As was the case for the X-Men juggernaut of the 80s, whoever an artist replaced was seen as impossible. Replace Byrne and Cockrum with Paul Smith? Impossible!

And yet when it came time for Smith to leave the book, it was "Replace Paul Smith? Impossible!"

And yet that was the task for John Romita, Jr., the young budding superstar that was coming off a popular run on another one of Marvel's major titles, Amazing Spider-Man.

Matched with inker Dan Green, Romita produced artwork that was a bit grittier than previous X-artists, and it matched writer Chris Claremont's slightly darker stories of the mid-80s.

This was the run where Kitty calls the guy the N-word, where Professor X is almost beaten to death, where Magneto ends up taking over the team, where Wolverine stabs Rachel in the chest to keep her from killing - it was not the funnest of times for the X-Men, and Romita left the book just as one of their darkest periods period came up, the Mutant Massacre.

By the time Romita left, it was once again "Replace John Romita Jr.? Impossible!"

Here is Teebore on why it was his top pick:

X-Men was my gateway comic, and remains a favorite to this day, so I knew one of Claremont's runs would shows up on this list. And Romita Jr. is one of my all time favorite artists, so really, I knew exactly which run would be #1 on my list from the beginning: favorite characters drawn by favorite artist = first place.

I'm sure most people who put an X-Men run on their lists picked either Morrison's or the Claremont/Byrne run. And don't get me wrong, I love both those runs. But there's just something about the Claremont/Romita Jr. era that really clicks for me. With New Mutants, the franchise was expanding, and big things seemed to be on the horizon, but it hadn't yet swelled to the monstrous uncontrollable behemoth that devoured it would become. Claremont still had a pretty firm grasp on the two titles, and the New Mutants were almost like the supporting cast of Uncanny X-Men. This run is also struck the perfect balance between done-in-ones, story arcs, and overarching subplots, a balance that to this day I consider an example of "the way it should be done." Romita Jr.'s art has always been the best kind of superhero art, a nice balance between realism and over-the-top cartooning.

Just look at all the cool stuff that happened in this run: The Kitty Pryde/Caliban "marriage" in 179, the Colossus/Juggernaut bar fight in 183, Storm losing her powers (and becoming a better character for it) in 185, the trial of Magneto in issue 200, all the way up to the Mutant Massacre (one of the first and best crossovers). Plus, there was the time Kulan Gath "Conan the Barbarian-ed" up all of Manhattan and its resident heroes. I read those two issues over and over when I was a kid.

So yeah, Claremont and Byrne did some phenomenal work together, making my #1 run possible, and Morrison blew the whole thing open with all kinds of crazy ideas, but Claremont and Romita Jr. still turned in some solid, fun, superhero comics that remain my favorites.

Thanks, Teebore!!

71 (tie). Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri's Uncanny X-Men - 133 (3 first place votes)

Uncanny X-Men #218, 220-222, 224-227, 229-230, 232-234, 236, 238-244, 246-247, 249-251, 253-255, 259-261

By the time Marc Silvestri took over as regular artist on Uncanny X-Men, the X-Books were, well, "the X-Books," which was not the case for when Byrne and Smith took over. This was not just a comic book, this was a FRANCHISE, and Silvestri, not yet 30 years old, was being given a chance to draw the main book of the franchise.

Its interesting, I always thought of this time period as the Silvestri/Leonardi run of Uncanny X-Men, as they had a deal where artist Rich Leonardi would draw the issues Silvestri didn't, so as to give Silvestri a break, as you can tell from the above list of titles, Silvestri did not often draw a lot of books in a row. HOWEVER, while Silvestri did not draw a lot of issues in a row, he was quite clearly THE penciler during this time period, drawing the vast majority of the issues during his tenure on the book from #218-261.

Silvestri used a different style back then then the one he would develop working for Image in the early 90s. On Uncanny, his art was a great deal more experimental, it seemed almost reminiscent of the work Mazzucchelli was doing on Daredevil around the same time.

This was the time when the Fall of Mutants occurred, and the world thought that the X-Men were dead, but instead, they went and lived in Australia for awhile. Then Inferno happened, and then the X-Men broke up and there was a long storyline where the group slowly got back together. By this time, Silvestri had left the book to begin a popular run on Wolverine with Larry Hama.

Here is Sandy on why it was his top pick:

When I think of great comic book stories, even great stories in general, the great X-Men mega-arc from 1987-1991 instantly jumps to mind. It began shortly after the Mutant Massacre, with the team reforming after splitting off in that event's aftermath. Wolverine and Storm were the only ANAD X-Men left, with Rogue and Psylocke as recent additions who stuck around. Dazzler, and Longshot, who had both appeared before, but had never officially joined the team. Havok also returned from years of obscurity.

Along with these newcomers was a new artist, Marc Silvestri.

While his art was fantastic, the art is always secondary to the story for me. This run started with the new team, saw them "die" in Dallas, move to Australia, discover the dark secret of Genosha, battle through demons during Inferno, and become separated when attacked by the Reavers. It was during Jim Lee's run that the team came back together and then folded X-Factor into the X-Men, capping off an epic of Homeric proportions, but it was Silvestri's run that contained most of it's best parts.

The crown jewel of the run was the Wolverine/Jubilee/Psylocke journey. This was back when Wolverine, while resilient, was still clearly killable. Wolverine was brought closer to death than he's ever been and then back up to the top. This is often brought up as one of Wolverine's greatest stories, as he survives by shear force of will and a little help from Jubilee. This run is full of such great character stories and blockbuster action scenes, making it my favorite run of all time.

Thanks, Sandy!

Back to runs that didn't make the Top 100 tomorrow!!

17 Comments

• At May 22, 2008, tk. wrote:

  Love those Art Adams covers, and the whole Silvestri-era holds up well; the essay sums it up fairly well. ...

• At May 23, 2008, Scott MacIver wrote:

  Outback X-Men! Whoo!

  Some of my favorite comics come from that run, and the eight X-Men that "died" in Dallas make ...

• At May 23, 2008, Teebore wrote:

  Aw, thanks for posting that Brian...

  I remember hunting all over as a kid for a "cheap" copy of the issue ...

• At May 23, 2008, Anthony wrote:

  That 2 issue Kulan Gath storyline is one of the all time best. It was almost as much a Spiderman ...

• At May 23, 2008, Jack Norris wrote:

  Yikes.

• At May 23, 2008, Jack Norris wrote:

  Just to clarify, the "yikes" is not meant to be against JRJR (though I'm no fan of Claremont's writing during ...

• At May 25, 2008, Dean wrote:

  Wow.

  The best argument for the Claremont/JRjr run appears to be that Claremont hadn't quite lost his fastball and JRjr is ...

• At May 26, 2008, entzauberung wrote:

  "The best argument for the Claremont/JRjr run appears to be that Claremont hadn’t quite lost his fastball and JRjr is ...

• At May 27, 2008, wwk5d wrote:

  Love the JRJr era, one of my favorite runs EVER, not just one of my favorite X-men runs. Some characters, ...

• At May 27, 2008, Thenodrin wrote:

  I would love to see the Kulan Gath two parter expanded into a What If style graphic novel.

  Theno

• At May 29, 2008, uncanny x men wrote:

  [...] on the two titles, and the New Mutants were almost like the supporting cast of uncanny X-Men. ...http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/05/22/everybodys-somebodys-baby-day-four-2/COMIC BOOK ...

• At June 3, 2008, Pj Perez wrote:

  Yeah ... pretty much all the post-Dark Phoenix runs on X-Men up until the Jim Lee hijacking in the early-90s ...

• At June 3, 2008, sean wrote:

  "This was the run where Kitty calls the guy the N-word"

  Which time?

• At June 3, 2008, Teebore wrote:

  Issue 196, a vague Secret Wars II tie-in, during which Professor X overhears one of his students (he's teaching at ...

• At June 3, 2008, wwk5d wrote:

  Teebore, if only JQ had understood that scene the way the rest of us did ;)

• At January 25, 2009, VanTammen wrote:

  I started reading X-men around this time, so to me THIS IS the X-men (speccially the Silvestry arch). ack ...

• At October 13, 2009, danjack wrote:

  i dropped the Xmen when Jim Lee came on, so VanTammen, you are not the only one. At that time, ...

Here's the third run!

Enjoy!

Phil Foglio's Girl Genius - 12 points (1 first place vote)

Girl Genius #1-13, plus online since then at www.girlgenius.net.

Girl Genius is about an alternate reality where (this is a great line) "the Industrial Revolution has become an all-out war," or basically, it's a steampunk comic where the Sparks have brought super technology to the world.

Agatha is the star of the book, one of the "sparks," peoples who contain the "spark" that gives them the ability to be super powerful scientists.

Most Sparks are jerks, but Agatha comes from two GOOD sparks, her father and her uncle, the heroic Heterodyne Boys.

The series was a fun adventure series that Foglio stopped making in stand-alone issues with #13.

From then on, he's done the series as a web-comic, coming out with print collections about once a year.

Here's Jeff R. on why he gave this his #1 pick...

Phil Foglio is quite possibly the single most underrated creator in the comics business, so I wasn't overly surprised to not see Girl Genius (his only non-limited series work to date) show up in the top 100. The fact that he is, in words and in pictures, extremely funny tends to distract people from the fact that he (alone his own in earlier work and collaborating with his wife, Kaja on Girl Genius) is capable of compelling characterization, engrossing world building, and intricate plots, all of which Girl Genius delivers in vast castle-sized airship loads.

Girl Genius is the story of Agatha Heterodyne. In a world where 'the industrial revolution has become an all-out war', she is a 'spark': capable of amazing feats of Mad Science. It's a steampunk-sorry, 'gaslamp fantasy' action adventure with zeppelins, high-voltage discharges, and lots and lots of hats.

But why should I explain much more of the plot. Like most of the runs on the list published in the last ten years or so, Girl Genius can be found for free on the internet. Unlike most of those, it can be found so legally, at www.girlgenius.net. The story started in normal, comic-book form, with thirteen issues and one special printed before the Foglios moved it to the web, and the collections of the story still come out in dead-tree format about once a year.

Thanks, Jeff!

10 Comments

• At May 21, 2008, Mike wrote:

  Piggy-backing off of the price-of-comics thread, I think it's worth mentioning that cartoonists like Foglio and Onstadt of Achewood make ...

• At May 21, 2008, Thok wrote:

  Jaagers seyz this is good comic. Thees comic does not cause you to lose your hat when mad. ...

• At May 22, 2008, Elliot Kane wrote:

  Easily one of the best web comics out there and a personal favourite of mine ever since I spent most ...

• At May 22, 2008, Danar wrote:

  I hadn't even thought about this one, which is pretty sad of me since i check it out every time ...

• At May 22, 2008, John Seavey wrote:

  I bought and enjoyed the first collection of this, but unfortunately it seems to perpetually occupy the "Oh, yeah, I ...

• At May 22, 2008, Brian Mac wrote:

  I don't generally think of Girl Genius in the same way that I think of Marvel and DC, but unlike ...

• At May 22, 2008, Scott MacIver wrote:

  I tried Girl Genius, but I felt a little indifferently to it.

  Reading these, I'm led to thing lovingly of what ...

• At May 22, 2008, choirsoftheeye wrote:

  Brian, I think this is a great feature to supplement the top 100(and 58) runs - do you have any ...

• At May 22, 2008, Scavenger wrote:

  Love this series.

  That is all.

• At May 22, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Brian, I think this is a great feature to supplement the top 100(and 58) runs - do you have any ...

Here's the second run!

Enjoy!

Mark Waid's Impulse - 36 points

Impulse #1-6, 8-17, 19-21, 23-27

Mark Waid debuted the character Bart Allen, the grandson of Barry Allen, in the pages of Waid's Flash run. He became popular enough to be spun off into his own title, along with another character Waid had introduced, Max Mercury. Max was Bart's guardian.

The comic was intentionally lighthearted, and it had some of the funniest issues of late 90s DC comics, #3, in particular, was a brilliantly humorous story.

In #8, Waid introduced (as part of his own Underworld Unleashed crossover) the revamped Blockbuster, who became a big part of Chuck Dixon's Nightwing run.

Waid's run was notable in how FUN it all was.

Humberto Ramos drew most of the run - and his manic style went perfectly with Waid's fun scripts.

Sadly, Waid left the book after issue #27.

Here's my old pal Eliot Johnson on why Impulse is tops!

Bored out of my mind one day, I began browsing the internet, only to discover that Bart Allen had died. Much to my surprise, I felt a genuine pang of sadness. No, I certainly didn't care about the shell of a character that he had become under the pen of Geoff Johns or some guy named Marc Guggenheim. Nor did I shed a tear for the enjoyable but rather one-dimensional Impulse from YOUNG JUSTICE or the latter portion of the IMPULSE series. My sympathy was rather for the Bart Allen that was, for 25 issues, a rare example of a teenaged hero being the center of good stories.

We all now that teenaged heroes are an inherently ridiculous idea. Yet, they have persisted for years in comics in an attempt to make the books more relatable to the generally younger audience that read them.The idea has rarely worked. The hopelessly square writers couldn't write teenagers and the artists couldn't draw them--making them look like short, bizarrely muscle-bound adults. IMPULSE by Mark Waid and Humberto Ramos quite significantly bucks that trend.

IMPULSE is most well-known as the debut of artist Humberto Ramos. Ramos has rightfully drawn a far amount of criticism over his career, but he never missed a step on IMPULSE. His fluid, exaggerated style augmented Mark Waid's frenetic stories every step of the way. Waid's work is equally hit-or-miss for me, but he managed to make the conceit of a teen hero actually work in the unique creation of Bart Allen, a hero from the far future with a four-year-old's brain in a teenager's body. Waid then plucked Max Mercury from obscurity to play guru for the young speedster in the slow, southern town of Manchester, Alabama.

The resulting, largely character-driven stories usually centered on Bart's training or his bizarre social life, but the series never lacked for action thanks to quirky villains like the southern belle White Lightning. Bart was a cocky little brat, to be sure, but Waid always managed to make Bart likable at the last possible minute resulting in an alternately hilarious and poignant series. Whether Bart was dealing with child-beating or helping Zatanna fight demons, IMPULSE remains one of the true gems amongst the vast wasteland that was mid-nineties DC.

Thanks, Eliot!

9 Comments

• At May 21, 2008, Ralph wrote:

  This book was real fun, sadly Waid left it too soon,

• At May 21, 2008, Jason wrote:

  Only 36 points? Really? If Bart wasn't dead, this would've killed him. I think I put this in second place, ...

• At May 21, 2008, Carl wrote:

  While I haven't read it years, #3 is a classic. Bart unintentionally pisses off everyone in school just by ...

• At May 21, 2008, Bryan Levy wrote:

  I don't use it a whole lot any more, but my old net handle was KidImpulse. I loved that ...

• At May 21, 2008, Da Fug wrote:

  Sorry this is kind of unrelated to the topic, but was the contest winner for the top 5 runs ever ...

• At May 21, 2008, Brian Cronin wrote:

  D'oh! No one won it outright, Da Fug, so I totally forgot about it!

  I'll do it right now!

• At May 22, 2008, John Seavey wrote:

  I have the trade collecting the early issues of this, and yes, it really was magnificent. Bright, witty, fast-paced and ...

• At May 22, 2008, D.B. wrote:

  I loved the book

  WIshed I'd voted for it but I was too busy voting for stuff that everybody else ...

• At June 3, 2008, Alex Hernandez wrote:

  I totally agree with Eliot's article. Impluse was my favorite comic when I was in Middle/High school. I loved the ...

Enjoy!

Mark Gruenwald and Paul Ryan's D.P. 7 - 27 points (2 first place votes)

D.P. 7 #1-32, plus an Annual

D.P. 7 stood for "Displaced Paranormals" and, well, the seven stars of the comic.

The seven were disparate folks who all suddenly gained super powers then went on the run to evade an evil group of people looking to control the new super folks.

Written by Gruenwald and drawn by Ryan, the series was like their previous work, Squadron Supreme, in the sense that it really spotlighted characterization.

These were normal people caught up in a fantastic world - it really WAS like a precursor to Heroes.

Here is Thenodrin on why it was his top pick...

When I voted, I almost tried to vote for Jim Shooter's New Universe. After all, the New U was his baby. Just ask him.

But, really, I was reading the rest of the Universe titles so that I could keep up with the setting. And, I was mainly interested in the setting because of DP7. The other titles were really just another super hero universe. Aside from the rather unique concepts (such as what might be the first some-assembly-required superhero, Psi-Hawk) there was really nothing all that different about the New U to separate it from Marvel or DC.

Except for DP7. This was, to my experience, the first super hero title that wasn't about super heroes. It was about people who happened to have powers. Sometimes the powers caused problems (such as the opening story arc), sometimes they had their own problems (Lander's unrequited love for Stephanie), but the overall title was about people, not about super heroes.

It was the logical conclusion of what Spider-Man started. Spider-Man was about Peter Parker's problems just as much as it was about Spider-Man's. But, DP7 didn't have super villian problems, didn't really have super heroes, either. This book was about Randy, David, Lenore, Stephanie, Jeff, Charly, and Scuzz's problems.

It was, really, a concept long before its time. One that I, personally, thought would work on a mass appeal. One that I see in the TV show, Heroes.

Thanks, Theno!

Remember, if you wish to write up a piece for your top pick that did not make the top 158, just send me your bit at bcronin@comicbookresources.com!

19 Comments

• At May 19, 2008, Alan Coil wrote:

  Right link, wrong words. It's the Runs list, not the Characters.

• At May 19, 2008, Michael wrote:

  D.P. 7 was definitely my favorite of the New Universe runs. I always thought it was a shame the ...

• At May 19, 2008, avengers63 wrote:

  Agreed: DP7 was clearly the best of the New Universe. Star Brand had a heckofa potential and a great ...

• At May 19, 2008, Michael wrote:

  Some people's babies are ugly.

• At May 19, 2008, Black Manta wrote:

  I feel Psi-Force was much better, but only after Fabian Nician? took over.

• At May 19, 2008, Rene wrote:

  Yeah, DP7 was great. I also liked Star Brand and Nightmask. The other titles I think were pretty forgettable.

• At May 19, 2008, Bully wrote:

  Is it true that one of the DP7 characters...the guy sitting down on fire on the cover of #32...was visually ...

• At May 19, 2008, chris w. wrote:

  Right on! I stuck with the New U up until the bitter end. DP7 was one of their most consistent ...

• At May 19, 2008, fourthworlder wrote:

  The only New U title I liked from the start was Starbrand. Initially DP7 felt like an X-rip-off. But then ...

• At May 19, 2008, avengers63 wrote:

  "Yes, Merc was just bad. But was there ever a lamer book than Kickers Inc.?"

  Yep, but it's a tossup: NFL ...

• At May 19, 2008, Doug Atkinson wrote:

  I still have the personal response postcard Mark Gruenwald sent out to everyone who wrote a letter about an issue ...

• At May 20, 2008, wwk5d wrote:

  DP7 was clearly the best one of the bunch. Star Brand was all right, though I did like Psi-Force. Spitfire ...

• At May 20, 2008, entzauberung wrote:

  Ellis is as of now doing Newuniversal.

• At May 20, 2008, Stephane Savoie wrote:

  Start Brand was kinda interesting, but you had to wonder where it was going. The strength of it was ...

• At May 20, 2008, Stephane Savoie wrote:

  Oh wait... Justice was intriguing, if out of place in the NU. I remember Giffen's artwork rattling my brain ...

• At May 20, 2008, ks wrote:

  D.P.7 was a great title. It is a favorite of my childhood. I truly felt while reading it that anything ...

• At May 20, 2008, Ralph wrote:

  >Ellis is as of now doing Newuniversal.

  Or at least is supposed to...

• At May 21, 2008, C. Adams wrote:

  Didn't Kickers Inc have some good art by undervalued Ron Frenz?

• At June 16, 2008, Rob Schmidt wrote:

  I wouldn't pick DP7 as the best series ever, but I might put it in my top 10. It ...

And today is the last one!

Enjoy!

Pyro - 10 points (1 first place vote)

St. John Allerdyce was an Australian mutant who was a novelist and reporter before Mystique convinced him to join her newly formed Brotherhood of Mutants (was she calling them Evil Mutants? I forget).

Pyro served with the Brotherhood for years, including when they worked for the US government as Freedom Force.

He even joined Toad's reformed Brotherhood.

Pyro eventually contracted the mutant-killing disease, the Legacy Virus.

He searched for a cure for years, encountering different people, including Daredevil and Cecilia Reyes...

Eventually, right before he died, Pyro saved the life of Senator Robert Kelly, causing Kelly to change his stance on mutant rights.

Here is why Ethan Kaye picked Pyro #1...

Pyro's mutant power to control flame was sadly underused in the comics. For all of his appearances, how many ended with someone enveloped in flames? Burnt so bad they couldn't stand up? But as a reader you knew he could do it! He just didn't want to! So every little peek we got into his out-of-costume life became an evaluation of what kind of person could have this awful, destructive power and never use it.

He could never have been a hero, but he's a villain we didn't mind following around. Put him on a road trip with another evil mutant or two and that could have been an interesting mini. But he's dead now. Which is probably for the best. Someone would have slapped a dumb suit of armor on him eventually and called him "Match Point" or something stupid, and Pyro would change from a true study in character to another villain who blasted stuff out of his hands. I say fire dragons are a darn good power, and Pyro's appearances are always a joy to re-read.

Thanks, Ethan!

I hope y'all had fun with this look at the lesser-known characters!!

22 Comments

• At November 4, 2007, Omar Karindu wrote:

  It was always odd how the old Marvel Handbooks (in consultation with Claremont's notes, by the way) laid in a ...

• At November 4, 2007, DanLarkin wrote:

  Wasn't Pyro English in his first appearance?

• At November 4, 2007, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Yes, Dan, he was - oddly enough. That was apparently a mistake.

• At November 4, 2007, Dilly wrote:

  No mention of Ultimate Pyro? :)

• At November 4, 2007, Jason wrote:

  Interesting that a character who was in two of the X-Men movies only appeared on one ballot.

  All I can remember ...

• At November 4, 2007, Conor E wrote:

  Omar Karindu: do you really expect me to believe Claremont introduced something that went nowhere? That's unpossible.

• At November 4, 2007, Thok wrote:

  I suspect Pyro and the Blob both would have done better 15 years ago, back when the X-Men arcade game ...

• At November 4, 2007, Apodaca wrote:

  Pyro's power is one of those great tweaks on an old standard. Flame-manipulation has all kinds of potential.

  So, of course, ...

• At November 4, 2007, jazzbo wrote:

  I always really liked the fact that he could control flame, but not create it. Seems like the standard would ...

• At November 4, 2007, Mongoose wrote:

  The only thing that makes it hard for me to like Pyro is the utter ridiculousness of having flamethrowers. I ...

• At November 4, 2007, Apodaca wrote:

  It was the eighties, Mongoose. Excess was the order of the day.

• At November 4, 2007, Michael wrote:

  Whenever someone mentions Pyro, I always wonder what kind of porno he watched.

  It's a wonder why I'm allowed the use ...

• At November 4, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  Two members of Freedom Force,I love it. If only Avalance and Spiral had shown up.

  Nice though that we got Blob ...

• At November 4, 2007, dhole wrote:

  Since the Blob post a week ago I've been thinking about how that incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants ...

• At November 4, 2007, Lothor wrote:

  And today is the last one!

  Does this mean the ones you've covered are the only ones who qualified as "somebody's ...

• At November 5, 2007, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Does this mean the ones you’ve covered are the only ones who qualified as “somebody’s baby,”

  There may have been a ...

• At November 5, 2007, buttler wrote:

  Who's that clown getting conked by Cable?

  And is Gateway actually Access's xxxtreme little brother?

• At November 5, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  Silver Sabre?

  For awhile Freedom Force had three older members(from WWII or something) the only name I remember for sure was ...

• At November 5, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  Yeah for wikipedia, the guy I'm thinking of is Super Sabre. I still don't know if thats who it is ...

• At November 5, 2007, Brian Cronin wrote:

  That is, in fact, Silver Sabre, back from when he was on Freedom Force.

• At November 6, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  Boo, wikipedia. They say Super Sabre but it is Silver Sabre in the New Mutants I picked up today.

  On a ...

• At July 19, 2008, casino deutschland on the web poker turnier wrote:

  casino deutschland on the web poker turnier...

  vacating unnamed spectacled workbenches bluntest,...

Enjoy!

The Frog Prince - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Ambrose, the Frog Prince, was first known to readers of Fables as Flycatcher, the frog-turned-man who worked as a janitor and most folks presumed could not talk.

Our first glimpse into the fairly tortured soul of Flycatcher is when new Fabletown Sheriff, Beast, discovered that Flycatcher was working as a janitor as basically an indentured servant, as Flycatcher was constantly being forced to work off small "crimes" via community service.

Beast made the mistake of trying to correct this "injustice" by giving him a REAL job, but he quickly discovered his error.

You see, Flycatcher's family had been murdered back in the Homelands (the magical land all the Fables came from to hide in Fabletown) before he came to Fabletown, and if took a REAL job, he'd be forced by honor to quit and go back (and surely be killed). The old sheriff, Bigby Wolf, had come up with the solution of making Flycatcher's job a PUNISHMENT that he technically could NOT quit, so it would keep him safe and doing a job he loved.

Speaking of love, pretty much everyone in Fabletown loved Flycatcher. Most of the citizens of Fabletown needed to take advantage of the general amnesty given to citizens of Fabletown when they arrived - not so with Flycatcher.

In the Graphic Novel, 1000 Nights of Snowfall, we learn Ambrose's tragic history.

Recently, now with his memories of his past fully returned, he has decided to go into the Homelands and fight his own private war against the evil Emperor of the Homelands.

This storyline is currently going on.

Hopefully it has a happy ending for Ambrose.

Here is why Rusty Priske picked him #1...

It is strange to say that a character so derivative is so original, but then there
is the Frog Prince.

Here is a character that sat in the background for most of the early issues of Fables, yet still managed to seem interesting. Then when he was given a full back-story...wow. A more heart-wrenching tale I have yet to see in comics. For those who think that it tops out at Roger Stern's 'The Boy Who Collected Spider-man', you need to pick this up.

Then Ambrose/Flycatcher turned into a completely new character without losing the essence that made him...him.

The level of complexity in this character are pretty rare to find in ANY medium these days, not just comics.

Thanks, Rusty!!

11 Comments

• At November 3, 2007, Kai wrote:

  Good call Rusty.

  Got to say, I was disapointed with how many Fables characters made the top 100.

• At November 3, 2007, stealthwise wrote:

  "The Boy Who Collected Spider-Man"? It was a good story, but nowhere near the top of "heart-wrenching" in terms ...

• At November 3, 2007, The Dane wrote:

  Yeah, it was only Bigby who made it, right?

  Ambrose is definitely a worthwhile character. And Boy Blue similarly came out ...

• At November 3, 2007, MarkAndrew wrote:

  I didn't want to say anything and figured someone else would catch it... But here we are on day 6.

  The ...

• At November 3, 2007, Ford MF wrote:

  The difference between the Frog Prince and the other characters that have thus far appeared in "Everybody's Somebody's Baby" is ...

• At November 3, 2007, Jaap! wrote:

  Mark, the way I myself read it was more in a 50marvel+50dc=100marvel/dc way

• At November 3, 2007, Denn wrote:

  That's what I was thinking too Jaap!

• At November 3, 2007, MarkAndrew wrote:

  Ah... OK, that makes sense. Still, Top 100 DC and Marvel characters is not QUITE the same thing as Top ...

• At November 4, 2007, Jeanne wrote:

  So much love for Prince Ambrose. He's really grown as a character lately... and he's probably my favorite Fable.

• At November 5, 2007, Paul wrote:

  That has been bugging me for a while, MarkAndrew.

  Though I wish it hadn't been.

• At July 19, 2008, free video poker on line wrote:

  free video poker on line...

  harmonic kinder caner illogically!slurp,...

Enjoy!

Debrii - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Deborah Fields was a telekinetic who joined the New Warriors back when they were doing a reality show.

Luckily for Deborah, she did not rejoin the group when they started a new series after the first one was canceled, as the group was almost all killed during the battle that launched Marvel's Civil War.

Currently, Debrii is a member of the Avengers Initiative.

Here is why Jeff Ramirez chose her #1...

I chose Debris as my #1 pick because she's different, and she's fun to watch and listen to (at least when she's being written and drawn by Zeb Wells and Skottie Young). She basically floats and tosses around trash to fight crime and help people. That to me is original, and ecologically cool.

Another cool bonus is that she is a unique rarity in mainstream superhero comics. She's a very believable super-powered black female character without looking like a amazon goddess. She keeps it real with the look of an every person, and the trash-talking rock-the-talk honesty of someone who knows the streets and uses that knowledge to protect others.

Thanks, Jeff!

13 Comments

• At November 2, 2007, JG wrote:

  I really enjoyed that incarnation of the New Warriors. It would be funny to see a reality tv style "Reunion ...

• At November 2, 2007, Scott MacIver wrote:

  This is one of the first characters to show up that I've never once read.

• At November 2, 2007, Eric wrote:

  That would be amazing JG! Basically, anytime anyone makes fun of Penance's current state, I find it amazing though. ...

• At November 2, 2007, Andrew Collins wrote:

  Who??!

• At November 2, 2007, avengers63 wrote:

  I liked the doofus that talked to germs better. Debrii had too much attitude. Rude for the sake ...

• At November 2, 2007, buttler wrote:

  I have no idea who this is, but I can't believe the week is over and still no Flippa Dippa.

• At November 2, 2007, Debrii is Somebody’s Favorite « New Warriors Continuity Conundrum wrote:

  [...] For more of Ramirez’s reasoning and a nice rundown of Debrii’s history so far, read the full article. [...]

• At November 2, 2007, Denn wrote:

  Is that New Warriors mini out in trade format?

• At November 3, 2007, sgt pepper wrote:

  Never heard of her, but based on Ramirez's description, I already like her better than many of the top hundred ...

• At November 5, 2007, J to the AAP wrote:

  Is that New Warriors mini out in trade format?It is, and it's a fun comic that was a nice surprise ...

• At November 5, 2007, Brian Cronin wrote:

  I don't think it WAS set-up for them to be killed in Civil War.

  I don't think the two events were ...

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Enjoy!

The Mad Hatter - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter, first showed up during the Golden Age, as a short-lived villain.

He returned years later (although that return was later revealed to be an imposter).

Later on, Tetch developed his gimmick that he has used to this day - which is mind control via hats.

He is obsessed with Alice in Wonderland, and appears to have difficulty differentiating it from reality.

Most recently, he was a member of Gail Simone's Secret Six for a time.

Here is why Ethan Kaye had him tops on his list...

The Mad Hatter represents the extreme unpredictability that we all kind of hope that Batman villains should touch on occasionally. Whereas you have the Joker and the Scarecrow putting together massive plans involving poisons and elaborate constructions, the Mad Hatter is just nuts. Unpredictable, violent, obsessive, and completely unaccountable for his actions, just as happy pouring tea as he is kidnapping someone at gunpoint. The moments where we see him enjoying himself are just as rewarding as those when he's getting beaten by Batman or Robin.

His appearances stretch from the lucid episodes (where he gets himself together enough to attempt mind control) to the completely unhinged (talking in nothing but snippets from the "Alice" books, having sex with hats) - and you never know which version is going to show up. But in every appearance he clings to his obsession, the Alice books, as the one crutch that keeps him from turning into a drooling puddle. It's that preoccupation with some mad semblance of "order" and "style" that makes him more than a nut with a gun. He's my favorite DC character by far, because, well, the potential of a completely mad character is limitless, isn't it?

Thanks, Ethan!

12 Comments

• At November 1, 2007, avengers63 wrote:

  The cover to BM 379 is great! He's lost his balance, but will be upright long enough to get ...

• At November 1, 2007, stealthwise wrote:

  Hatter was by far the most unhinged and deranged part of Secret Six, which is an honour, given how Gail ...

• At November 1, 2007, Mister Chris wrote:

  "Having sex with hats":

  Say what???

  I missed that issue!

• At November 1, 2007, Jason wrote:

  He had sex with hats? See, when I read the issue of Secret Six where he jacks up the pleasure ...

• At November 1, 2007, Craig wrote:

  Mad Hatter won me over, like so many Batman villains, on the Animated Series first. Only later did I discover ...

• At November 1, 2007, Eric wrote:

  No offense to the other voters, but this is the first of the Everybody is Somebody's Baby characters that I ...

• At November 1, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  Even when you get down to the bottom of the Batmans' rougues gallery you have A+ awesome.

  Like others I only ...

• At November 1, 2007, Anthony Strand wrote:

  I have to join those singing the praises of his appearances in Secret Six. He actually had one of my ...

• At November 1, 2007, Bill Reed wrote:

  Mad Hatter is totally one of the best Bat-baddies.

  This feature is fascinating.

• At November 2, 2007, Jason wrote:

  Also, Hatter has the added bonus of being the one bad guy who pisses off Batman the most, because he ...

• At November 2, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  I saw the Mad Hatter today on Batman:The Animated Series reruns. He had Batman trapped in a dream world. It ...

• At November 30, 2007, Tull wrote:

  I have read Haunted Knight and was wandering if anyone knew of other appearances by the Hatter that were very ...

Enjoy!

Anaconda - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Ah, Anaconda - the best use of the word Anaconda outside of a Sir Mix-a-lot song. Blanche Sitznski was a long time member of the Serpent Society, first appearing in Marvel Two-in-One (which, as Mitch Hedberg explains to us, is impossible - as you'd have some of one overflowing if you put it in with another one).

She was a long-time member of the Serpent Society.

Especially since Marvel Two-in-One co-writer Mark Gruenwald wrote Captain America, so she showed up a lot.

She was super-strong and had the ability to elongate her limbs. She was quite tough.

Recently, she popped up in Cable and Deadpool as a new member of the mercenary group, Six Pack.

Here is why my Nysanne picked Anaconda #1...

I've loved Anaconda ever since Captain America #310, which is the first full appearance of the Serpent Society. I've always loved villains more than heroes, I don't know why, and the Serpent Society has to be my favorite group of all time. But, Anaconda takes the crown as my favorite villain of the Marvel Universe. She had previous appearances before Cap #310, but she hasn't shined like she did in in that issue, where she single-handedly fought Captain America and actually did really well. There's one panel where Cap is punching her as hard as he can, and she's loving it. She's laughing and asking for more, and then accuses him for having the guts to go up against her one-on-one. She also got to beat on the Constrictor later in the issue. Really, Mark Gruenwald built her up to be such a fantastically unladylike villainess.

Another reason I absolutely love Anaconda is her unique character design. First, her costume is extraordinarily over-the-top. Her belt alone has so much detail put into it, I love it. You can tell Mark Gruenwald, who created Anaconda both visually and personality-wise, put a lot of effort into the Serpent Squad that Anaconda first appeared with. There's also Anaconda's dazzling lack of femininity. She has luxurious blonde hair that would make Goldilocks jealous, but she's certainly no bombshell.

Anaconda's powers are also quite interesting. People often overlook her because they think she's weak, but really, I'd say she's almost up to Wolverine standard. She has artificial adamantium in her skeleton, so she's super-durable (as seen in the awesome scene where she jumps out of a helicopter without a parachute and falls to the ground, then immediately getting up and brushing herself off in Cable & Deadpool #33). She also has super-strength, she can elongate her arms and legs, AND she can breathe underwater. Wolverine can't make those claims! I definitely think, given the chance, Anaconda could make an extremely deadly opponent for most super-heroes.

Thanks, Nysanne!

9 Comments

• At October 31, 2007, Stephane Savoie wrote:

  Whoa... did they really go from gills on the side of her face to [i]sideburns[/i]?!

• At October 31, 2007, MarkAndrew wrote:

  Ah, Anaconda - the best use of the word Anaconda outside of a Sir Mix-a-lot song.

  Ha! Very Nice.

• At October 31, 2007, DCD wrote:

  Every cover should have Cap yelling at how Paladin is going to get them both killed.

• At October 31, 2007, Mark wrote:

  Who is the guy on the cover of Cap #380 in a purple uniform with the yellow cross over his ...

• At October 31, 2007, avengers63 wrote:

  It looks like Cottonmouth to me.

• At October 31, 2007, Biggles wrote:

  Yep, thats cottonmouth. The cross is 'sposed to look like a mouth as he is able to detach his jaw ...

• At October 31, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  My favorite Anaconda moment, Atlantis Attacks, X-Men annual, Anaconda v. Colussus in Lima, Ohio.

  Hey I own that Marvel two in ...

• At October 31, 2007, John Seavey wrote:

  I assume that they just pack the other one very tightly and tamp it down, thus allowing them to get ...

• At October 31, 2007, Patent Dragon wrote:

  Yep, that Two-In-One's in my collection too. We need more Serpent Society - a veritable army of villains, the like ...

Enjoy!

Crimson Fox - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Vivian and Constance D'Aramis were sisters who came up with the clever plan of BOTH being a superhero, the Crimson Fox, so that the other sister could run the family's business. They would take turns being the superhero.

The Foxes joined Justice League Europe, becoming (as a Paris-based hero) the first actual European hero on the team (not counting Rocket Red as European).

The sisters each independently developed romantic feelings for their teammate, Metamorpho.

Vivian was tragically killed in battle.

Even MORE tragically, Constance joined her soon after, in the pages of Starman.

The Crimson Fox was also involved in two, count 'em, TWO Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed! First, regarding the motives behind her death in Starman, and second, regarding how DC was persuaded to change her name because of the similarity to the character, Red Fox.

More recently, a NEW Crimson Fox has appeared.

Here is why an Anonymous poster picked Crimson Fox #1 on his list...

I guess the reason I like the Foxes the best is that they're of the exact kind of character who could only exist in comics. French twins who fake their own deaths on a regular basis and don a brown catsuit and hood (replete with head-whip) to save Paris from super-criminals, all the while running their own multi-billion dollar corporation and having constant torrid affairs with other heroes--what's not to love?

But I think the story that really sold me on them was the "Deconstructo" arc in JLE, when the team went up against a nihilist artist who wanted to turn the world into the chaotic, absurdist world he thought it really was. It wasn't a very good story itself, as I recall--but then, few of the JLE ones were--but I remember that the writer specifically positioned the Fox as the villain's ideological opposite. She was sick of her home nation's presently cynical atmosphere and wanted to embody the true joie de vivre of its history. She wanted the spark of spirit back in Paris, and she felt like she was just the one to bring it.

I think Geoff Johns understood that when he reintroduced the Fox last year in Green Lantern. There, she announces that she is the "Passion of France," (or "Passion of Paris," I can't remember which), and I think that is a perfect summation of what she stands for. She's full of liberty and fun and sensuality. And she's also ridiculous, and overburdened with a ludicrous backstory, but then that's half the fun.

That's really it.

Thanks, Anonymous!!

14 Comments

• At October 30, 2007, avengers63 wrote:

  I was reading JL* at this time. I don't have anything against the character(s), but I always thought the ...

• At October 30, 2007, Will wrote:

  Whatchoo talkin' about, avengers63? Strict comic-book law states that Power Girl's breasts are always biggest. Wasn't there a Comic Book ...

• At October 30, 2007, Paul wrote:

  Was Green Lantern the villain in that story above? He looks frickin' EVIL.

• At October 30, 2007, HammerHeart wrote:

  Paraphrasing the Hulk, Power Girl's Rack is BIGGEST ONE THERE IS!

• At October 30, 2007, M Bloom wrote:

  Crimson Fox. Definitely two of the more interesting characters in the JLE. Also possibly the ones who suffered the most ...

• At October 30, 2007, John Seavey wrote:

  I wouldn't have really thought to vote for her, but I was fond of the character in the JLE days. ...

• At October 30, 2007, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Was Green Lantern the villain in that story above? He looks frickin’ EVIL. I think there was brainwashing involved in ...

• At October 30, 2007, Mark wrote:

  I like the idea of time-sharing a superhero identity. If Max Lord hadn't been killed off the way he was, ...

• At October 30, 2007, buttler wrote:

  Why wouldn't you count Rocket Red as European? I mean, sure, Russia isn't in the EU, but it's been ...

• At October 30, 2007, Apodaca wrote:

  Why wouldn’t you count Rocket Red as European?

  It's one of the oldest rules of language.

  "If European, then you don't need ...

• At October 30, 2007, DubipR wrote:

  Yay for the Crimson Fox. Yeah,she's a favorite of mine as well. I'd like to see more of ...

• At October 30, 2007, Lothor wrote:

  Shouldn't this really be only 5 points for each one?

• At October 31, 2007, John Cage wrote:

  And she might get an action figure in the JLU toyline -- she had about as much screen time as ...

• At December 26, 2007, Incubo69 wrote:

  The Crimson Fox, is the best, the sexiest and one of the most beautiful girls in comics, she (they) have ...

Enjoy!

The Blob - 10 points (1 first place vote)

Frederick J. Dukes, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the pages of The X-Men, was always a bit of a joiner.

Magneto wants him on a team?

SURE!!

Mystique is putting together a group?

Count the Blob in!!

The government wants to hire them?

Nice!

The...TOAD is putting together a team?

Apparently the Blob is there!!

Professor X formed a team?!!?

Okay...still, the Blob is there.

Wait...BANSHEE forms a team and the Blob is still there?!?

Apparently (and yes, I understand the Blob was coerced to join Banshee's team - it's still funny!)

Sadly, the Blob was basically the only mutant to lose his powers after the House of M without getting them back.

Here is why Mark Mills had the Blob numero uno on his list...

Out of all the characters in the Marvel Universe, why in God's name would I pick the Blob? Frankly it's not for anything that he's actually done. Ever since his first appearance in X-Men #3 (the very same issue that Comic Book Guy compares to Marge Simpson's breast implants), no two writers seem to agree on his power, his personality, or even his origin. Fred J. Dukes gains and loses super-strength when the story calls for it, alters his speech patterns for the purposes of the writer's whims, and either was born with his powers (in non-mutant fashion) or developed them at puberty like the rest of the X-people.

But, if I hit the literary lottery and could write a book about any Marvel character, I'd pick the Blob. Just explaining his complete lack of continuity would be more entertaining than a lot of comics I could mention.

My irrational connection with Fred started back in 1996 at the World Fantasy Convention in Schaumburg, Illinois. As I was lounging about, drinking a beer, Neil Gaiman made his appearance, followed by an adoring entourage. I couldn't help thinking that if Gaiman was a real-life equivalent to Dream/Morpheus, I'd have to be a fat loser like the Blob (the Kingpin being too snappy a dresser).

While Superman might represent a comic reader's fantasy, the Blob is a sad reality: a slob who has had his ass handed to him by the X-Men, the Avengers, the Hulk, Spiderman, and Rom, but never gives up. . . except now due to House of M, apparently he has given up, powerless and possibly dead. But mark my words, even if he is really dead, that won't stop the Blob! The Blob is the insane optimism of someone who doesn't know when to quit.

The Blob is me.

The Blob is all of us.

Thanks, Mark!!

37 Comments

• At October 29, 2007, JasonEdwards wrote:

  Cronin, on a Monday morning, you are the wind beneath my wings.

• At October 29, 2007, fanboy d wrote:

  that's great.

  i love how stan lee blatantly rips of the tagline for the steve mcqueen movie :D

• At October 29, 2007, Eric wrote:

  Great, interesting rationalization. Any fangirls feeling kindred spirits to Big Bertha of the Great Lake Avengers?

• At October 29, 2007, Gavin wrote:

  Almost makes me wish I had recognized the untapped goodness that is Blob and put him on my list...almost. My ...

• At October 29, 2007, Bill Reed wrote:

  Awesome.

  But, ahh, classic X-Men comics. It was the third issue, and already it boiled down to "Uh... let's have 'em ...

• At October 29, 2007, David M wrote:

  Isn't there a Blob-like character who's part of JMS's new Squadron Supreme/Supreme Power universe? Can't remember what the character's name ...

• At October 29, 2007, Michael wrote:

  Blob has apparently not quite given up the ghost, as he appeared recently in X-Factor as a member of the ...

• At October 29, 2007, Scavenger wrote:

  Any fangirls feeling kindred spirits to Big Bertha of the Great Lake Avengers?

  A big fat woman with a hot supermodel ...

• At October 29, 2007, Jacob T. Levy wrote:

  The Grey Hulk vs. Freedom Force issue was a great one-- Hulk grabs a couple handfuls of Blob and starts ...

• At October 29, 2007, suedenim wrote:

  So, if the Blob's been "de-mutantized," what does that make him now? Is he a normal-sized guy, or just ...

• At October 29, 2007, Matthew wrote:

  suedenim - IIRC he was a thin guy with loads of excess skin tissue.

• At October 29, 2007, Mr. Witt wrote:

  This is even better than the original list! Keep them coming, please.

  DW

• At October 29, 2007, viscous wrote:

  The Squadron Supreme character in question is called Shape.

• At October 29, 2007, mordicai wrote:

  Who the hell is on Banshee's team????

• At October 29, 2007, Mike Loughlin wrote:

  What, you don't recognize Bubble-gum Girl, The Haughty Blonde, or X-Military?

• At October 29, 2007, Will wrote:

  Banshee's team had Blob, Avalanche, Husk and Jubilee. It wasn't great, but it was probably the last time either of ...

• At October 29, 2007, TF_loki wrote:

  Avalanche on the left. Lady mastermind on the right of Banshee....God knows who Bubblegum girl is! But she looks cool ...

• At October 29, 2007, TF_loki wrote:

  Damn. Beaten to the punch. But Bubblegum girl ain't Jubes, is it? SAY IT AIN'T SO!?!?!?!?

• At October 29, 2007, This Person wrote:

  Blob is pretty bad ass, he's taking a punch from Hercules and Wonder Man all while Iron Man is shooting ...

• At October 29, 2007, Andrew Collins wrote:

  suedenim said:

  "So, if the Blob’s been “de-mutantized,” what does that make him now? Is he a normal-sized guy, or just ...

• At October 29, 2007, avengers63 wrote:

  Notice on that Avengers Annual cover whoch Avenger isn't taking ANY crap from the Brotherhood. Hawkeye! He shot ...

• At October 29, 2007, sgt pepper wrote:

  Blob had some nice moments as a prank caller in Ultimate X-Men (maybe in the Millar issues? I forget).

• At October 29, 2007, km wrote:

  This is an absolutely adorable idea, Brian! Way to go above and beyond.

  Any fangirls feeling kindred spirits to Big Bertha ...

• At October 29, 2007, Apodaca wrote:

  Yeah, this looks like it'll be enjoyable. The Blob is one of those characters that will never go away because ...

• At October 29, 2007, Apodaca wrote:

  The Blob is all of us.

  It would take ALL of us to equal him.

• At October 29, 2007, In Praise of the Blob « The Rambler wrote:

  [...] Brian Cronin graciously set up a feature for one-pick wonders to have their moment in the sun, so here’s ...

• At October 29, 2007, dhole wrote:

  Not only do I like Hawkeye assassinating Avalanche on the Avengers cover, but it's also fun seeing Captain America whipping ...

• At October 29, 2007, Bret wrote:

  Look at Destiny's face.

  She ain't dodging that one.

• At October 29, 2007, Lynxara wrote:

  While the original Big Bertha was pure joke, Dan Slott's version of Big Bertha in the modern GLA comics is ...

• At October 29, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  The last Blob story I read was Avengers 312. During the acts of vengence storyline for whatever reason Pyro, Avalance, ...

• At October 29, 2007, Michael wrote:

  Spiral was on Freedom Force with him at the time, I believe. She probably 'ported him out.

• At October 29, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  Good theory on Spiral, I don't remeber if they said were she was. It seems like Mystique was mourning Destiny ...

• At October 29, 2007, km wrote:

  More interestingly, she’s a woman who could be stunningly beautiful who chooses to make herself ugly on purpose– which becomes ...

• At October 30, 2007, Apodaca wrote:

  Also, de-powered flabby skinny Blob is really creepy.

• At October 30, 2007, Lynxara wrote:

  Bertha doesn't have to stay ugly, no, but that's kind of the power-fantasy appeal from a female POV. We all ...

• At October 31, 2007, Scott MacIver wrote:

  The Blob, to me, is the Blob from the "Pryde of the X-Men" pilot cartoon.

  "No vone kin moof da Blob!"

• At October 31, 2007, mrjayberry wrote:

  "I wouldn't dream of trying" BAMF