Keene Equinox

Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: A & E

Media Credit: courtesy photo

Last year I had written an article in which I listed what I believed were the greatest comic stories of all time. Not a lot of people liked it, especially Newsarama.com who posted the article on their Web site and tore me to shreds on my choices. I was insulted by them and others who disagreed with me. So rather than making a list of the greatest comics of all time, I made a list of my top five favorite comic books of all time.

5: "Avengers" #4/ "Flash" #123
I really could not decide which book was the better of the two, so I put both of them on the list. These books are very historic and significant.
They both did essentially the same thing- reintroducing golden age characters, but in very different but interesting ways.
In "Avengers" issue four, Marvel readers were reintroduced to golden age hero Captain America. Captain America was found frozen in the ocean by the Avengers.
After this book hit the shelves, the Marvel universe was never the same. Writer Stan Lee and legendary artist Jack Kirby cleverly reintroduced a character not many new readers knew about.
As for the other book, "Flash" issue 123 is a key issue in comic book history-it is the issue that introduced the concept of a multiverse.
In "Flash of Two Worlds" by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino, silver age Flash (Barry Allen) runs too fast, he is transported into the multiverse- an alternate Earth.
It is in this alternate Earth where S.A. Flash meets the golden age Flash (Jay Garrick).
You have to imagine what comics would be like without these stories. The Avenger stories told by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby may have been very different without Captain America as the leader.
The Flash story totally changed how some DC stories were told. Without this story, it would mean there would be no meeting with the Justice League of America with their Golden Age counterparts the Justice Society of America in "Justice League of America" issue 21 and no "Crisis on Infinite Earths."

4: "Amazing Fantasy" #15
When Marvel Comics was cancelling their failing book "Amazing Fantasy," publisher Martin Goodman told writer Stan Lee he could introduce a new hero. Goodman was reluctant to introduce the hero to the world, but Spider-Man was born. With great penciling by Steve Ditko, Spider-Man's debut told the tale of "Midtown High's only professional wallflower," Peter Parker, getting bit by a radioactive spider and gaining these fantastic abilities.
However, when Parker's new found success gets to his head he loses one of the only people that matter to him, and then decides to be a super hero out of regret.
When sales figures came back which were surprisingly high to a skeptical Goodman, he told Lee to create an ongoing series based on Spider-Man.
This book also has one of the most memorable and cautionary comic book quotes of all time-"With great power comes great responsibility."
This particular comic put Marvel Comics in the spotlight and presented a very different type of superhero story.
Never before did a single hero's actions have a direct consequence in their life. Say what you want about the early "Fantastic Four" books by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, but I will make an argument that if it weren't for this book, Marvel may not be around today.

3: "Watchmen"
Alan Moore was at the top of his game when his 1986 maxi series hit the shelves.
In a world much like ours, heroes are now outlawed. Only those registered with the government can act as superheroes.
After a registered hero called The Comedian is murdered, an anti-hero Rorschach, investigates within the superhero community to find the murderer.
This book is a very entertaining read. Dave Gibbon's artwork really allows this book to stand out. Moore's depiction of superheroes really changed the way the general public see superheroes.
This book also had a big impact on comic book story telling. If you read books like "New Avengers" or the J Michael Straczynksy and Gary Frank series "Supreme Power," you can sees the influence "Watchmen" had on those books.

2: "The Dark Knight Returns"
In 1986, "Daredevil" writer and artist, Frank Miller, wrote what is arguably the greatest Batman story of all time.
Based in the future, an older Batman comes out of retirement to fight a corrupt government and save Gotham once more.
This book is so memorable because Miller really had a lot of creative freedom with this book. This book also painted Batman in a different picture to the general public. Miller wanted to rid the campy image of Batman from the Adam West TV shows.
Needless to say, this book shattered that image with the darkness and grittiness this story is known for. This book also brought in a lot of interest to Batman again that was not seen since the Dennis O'Neil books.
Have you read this book? You would clearly understand why it is one of my favorites if you have. It is a very good book. I'm talking "the Bourne Ultimatum" good.

1: "Kingdom Come"
This was the one book that everyone was talking about in 1996. Writer Mark Waid showed a very grim future in the DC Universe. Heroes acted more like villains and no one was safe.
The actions of the new, reckless heroes causes the heroes we know- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc, to come out of retirement and fight the new generation of heroes.
The version of Superman in this book was so popular with comic fans, they decided he should become a member of the Justice Society of America.
This book is my absolute favorite for what Waid did with the DC characters we are all familiar with. Additionally, it was perfect writing.
The characterizations were great and the story never bored. Alex Ross's paintings really made this book stand out when it was released. Read the book, and I think you will see my point. Even if you don't like comic books, I will bet you will like this book.

Since I am aware that there are endless possibilities to the best comics of all time and I am limited to the comics I grew up with, I invite you as readers to post your own list of favorite comics in the comment section online.

Keith O'Neil is a senior majoring in journalism. His views do not necessarily reflect those of The Equinox.

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