The Most Important Comic Of This Past Decade

[runawayboulder]

I was just reading an article over at CBR (http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/the-30-most-important-comics-of-the-decade-part-1/) about this. While their list is incomplete as of right now, my personal choice was a third of the way down the page clocking in at #27.

Waid and Wieringo's run on FF. Not just the run itself, but how they were fired (really only Waid, Wieringo left in protest) halfway through and were brought back to the book by the sheer power of the fans on the internet. 2003 was a big day for sites like this bringing on a massive s**tstorm towards Marvel for unceremoniously dumping the creative team on the hottest book in comics at the time.

That's my pick, it doesn't matter what else they put on the list. I'm curious to see if anyone agrees or disagrees.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I was just reading an article over at CBR (http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/the-30-most-important-comics-of-the-decade-part-1/) about this. While their list is incomplete as of right now, my personal choice was a third of the way down the page clocking in at #27.

Waid and Wieringo's run on FF. Not just the run itself, but how they were fired (really only Waid, Wieringo left in protest) halfway through and were brought back to the book by the sheer power of the fans on the internet. 2003 was a big day for sites like this bringing on a massive s**tstorm towards Marvel for unceremoniously dumping the creative team on the hottest book in comics at the time.

That's my pick, it doesn't matter what else they put on the list. I'm curious to see if anyone agrees or disagrees.

I always thought that whole "firing" thing was just a ploy for some publicity. Back in those days, Jemas and The Q were notorious for riling fans up...

 

[BrianWilly]

"Back in those days"?

 

[THANOSRULES]

I dont think it was as important as we would all like to think.

I wish it were...

But Marvel has constantly balked at internet and fan reactions.

The only thing Marvel has ever listened too is "sales" under this current crew. I say "sales" in quotes..becuase they are there own misguided and amatuerish vision of such, based on numbers of what they get, not what they could be.

Didnt Fans Vote Genis-vell to stay alive...? Was the Internet reaction to anything Bendis-Avengers related positive?

How about Fan reaction to Ultimates 3?? That led to more Loeb and and Ultimatum!!

Fans demanded a solid Young Avengers series....!! Where was that?

The most important Marvel Books of the decade were BOTCHED.

I'm not saying some good stuff wasnt cranked out....But IMO you always have to ask what could have been?

The Best Marvel work of the decade was ANNHILATION....and afterwhich Marvel drove out or failed to secure GIFFEN.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Didnt Fans Vote Genis-vell to stay alive...?

But his series never sold very well while he was alive.

Was the Internet reaction to anything Bendis-Avengers related positive?

In certain forums, no, but it sold far, far better than the previous Avengers series did, and has stayed on top of the charts for five years. For most of that period it was clearly the most popular team book around.

I didn't particularly care for it myself, but to suggest that it was wildly popular is misleading yourself.

 

[THANOSRULES]

But his series never sold very well while he was alive.

In certain forums, no, but it sold far, far better than the previous Avengers series did, and has stayed on top of the charts for five years. For most of that period it was clearly the most popular team book around.

I didn't particularly care for it myself, but to suggest that it was wildly popular is misleading yourself.

Everything your saying makes sense.

(Although GENIS did have very good sales and critical acclaim for some time, and FANS VOTED HIM TO STAY ALIVE...it was a clear case of writers/storylines stagnating and being botched with a perfectly viable character)

And it reinforces the point I was trying to make.

The key point is what sales COULD have been versus what they ACTUALLY were. Was Marvel set with "TOP of the Charts" or did they lose out on being visionary and (re) expanding the market. No doubt Avengers under Bendis held this claim....

I guess I'm having trouble putting this stuff into words...man, I think you could write a kick ass thesis paper on this stuff...too much drinking tonight and such..

 

[SuperFerret]

Of what I know of from that list, I have to agree nearly 100% (albeit grudgingly in some cases), except for the Obama Spider-Man issue. It's a cash grab, and judging by my most recent trip to Midtown Comics in Manhattan, where the early to mid-1990's had holo-foil, die-cut, fold-out covers, the late 2000's have Barack Obama.

 

[kguillou]

I would argue that pretty much all of the Ultimate comics were the most important comics of the decade. Let's face it, the ultimate comics were the blueprint of what the marvel universe is today, if they weren't successful...well i dont know where the Marvel U would be right now. Books like Captain America, Iron man and Thor have been spectacular this decade because of the Ultimate line's example imo.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

"Back in those days"?

Heh. Well, Joey's pal has been gone several years now, although, yeah; Joe is still at it.

Interesting that he has remained mostly silent these past few months that DC has been kicking Marvel's ass in the top ten he so loudly covets...

 

[SuperFerret]

I would argue that pretty much all of the Ultimate comics were the most important comics of the decade. Let's face it, the ultimate comics were the blueprint of what the marvel universe is today, if they weren't successful...well i dont know where the Marvel U would be right now. Books like Captain America, Iron man and Thor have been spectacular this decade because of the Ultimate line's example imo.

If you mean the quality of the earlier Ultimate comics, I agree, but 616 Thor, Cap and Iron Man aren't like their Ultimate counterparts (maybe Tony's a bit closer, but definitely not Steve or Thor).

 

[kguillou]

You're right. I guess what i meant was how the early Ultimate comics put a more modern, darker spin on the marvel characters. thats something that the 616 universe has adapted. 616 Thor has been modernized, Cap and Ironman are basically dark espionage thriller books. I think if it weren't for the Ultimate universe, the 616 wouldnt be as good as it is today.

 

[SuperFerret]

I'll buy the modernizing as a good thing, but the darkening of the 616 is part of what's driving me away from Marvel.

 

[kguillou]

I agree, i mean i love dark noir just as much as the next guy but i dont think the WHOLE Marvel U has to be that way. Although it has done wonders for several characters.

 

[OnedetachedonE]

Mine was #21, Civil War.

I've felt for a long time like the Marvel universe needed to be stirred up. And boy was it.

That event was a great story arc, encompassing several different major titles and has spawned a number of other good arcs culminating with Siege.

I don't care what anyone says, Civil War was the greatest thing to happen to Marvel in a long time.

 

[THANOSRULES]

I don't know about that point about the Ultimate line...Your right that it's up there, especially IMO Ultimates 2 ( I.E. a fabulous book/ story riddled by delays and held up other books in the Ultimate line such as Extinction). Ultimates 2 pointed out what was RIGHT and WRONG with Marvel all at once, in fact, YOUNG AVENGERS was much the same.

But The Ultimate stuff in general was not always planned on being darker and more realistic...certainly Ultimate Spidey was not, and that was the flagship and most successful book in the entire line. During this time I always thought JMS' 616 spidey was much darker (and ****tier)

If you want to trace that Darker edged realism, it's gonna have to be the Marvel Knights stuff that holds the most importance, and launched Joe Q as Marvel's head honcho, sprung forth the artistic/writing direction of what you are talking about.

 

[runawayboulder]

The thing is about the Ultimate line is that you can trace it all back to The Authority which was late 90's. Millar took over from Ellis and then went on to The Ultimates.

 

[runawayboulder]

Here's part 2 of the list #'s 15-1: http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/the-30-most-important-comics-of-the-decade-part-two/

I'm sticking with FF.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I don't know about that point about the Ultimate line...Your right that it's up there, especially IMO Ultimates 2 ( I.E. a fabulous book/ story riddled by delays and held up other books in the Ultimate line such as Extinction). Ultimates 2 pointed out what was RIGHT and WRONG with Marvel all at once, in fact, YOUNG AVENGERS was much the same.

But The Ultimate stuff in general was not always planned on being darker and more realistic...certainly Ultimate Spidey was not, and that was the flagship and most successful book in the entire line. During this time I always thought JMS' 616 spidey was much darker (and ****tier)

If you want to trace that Darker edged realism, it's gonna have to be the Marvel Knights stuff that holds the most importance, and launched Joe Q as Marvel's head honcho, sprung forth the artistic/writing direction of what you are talking about.

I agree, I don't think the Ultimate line was all that important in the dark and edgy direction we have in the 616. I think that's more something stemming as a result of Joey Q's run on the company, and writer's like Bendis that shared that idea.

Here's part 2 of the list #'s 15-1: http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/the-30-most-important-comics-of-the-decade-part-two/

I'm sticking with FF.

Watchmen and Sailor Moon? I can totally see what they are saying, of course everyone knows the impact Watchmen had, and I guess Sailor Moon helped to bring manga to a wider audience at the time, but neither are from this decade.

 

[runawayboulder]

Watchmen and Sailor Moon? I can totally see what they are saying, of course everyone knows the impact Watchmen had, and I guess Sailor Moon helped to bring manga to a wider audience at the time, but neither are from this decade.

Yeah, that guy's list was weak.

 

[THANOSRULES]

The thing is about the Ultimate line is that you can trace it all back to The Authority which was late 90's. Millar took over from Ellis and then went on to The Ultimates.

Maybe, but you could see it in that Byrne SPIDER MAN Series too, which was also the late 90s. Was it a re-launch?, who knows..frankly I Have no clue what the book was trying to do.

I think Spidey and X-men drove the whole Ultimate thing, and "Ultimates" was a cool by product of the setting.

 

[runawayboulder]

Maybe, but you could see it in that Byrne SPIDER MAN Series too, which was also the late 90s. Was it a re-launch?, who knows..frankly I Have no clue what the book was trying to do.

You mean Chapter One? How was that anything like The Authority? Chapter One did NOT have the same dark tone to it.

 

[Watchman]

Yeah, that guy's list was weak.

Some unconventional choices, sure, but far from weak.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

Mine was #21, Civil War.

I've felt for a long time like the Marvel universe needed to be stirred up. And boy was it.

That event was a great story arc, encompassing several different major titles and has spawned a number of other good arcs culminating with Siege.

I don't care what anyone says, Civil War was the greatest thing to happen to Marvel in a long time.

For what it's worth, it was Spidey joining the New Avengers along with Civil War that got me more into the whole Marvel Universe again instead of just Spidey's corner of the MU. It lead into the rise of Norman which got me into Thunderbolts, Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, Dark Avengers, and now Sige.