What are your top 10 comics of the decade?

[GNR]

Whether you're a Marvel,a DC,or neither,it's safe to say that the past 10 years have seen some of the medium's finest stories being delivered.

My 10...

Planetary

Scalped

Powers

Criminal

Gotham Central

All Star Superman

The Ultimates 1 & 2

Daredevil

The Authority

Identity Crisis

 

[Themanofbat]

In NO particular order...

Rex Mundi
Dynamo 5
Invincible
Walking Dead
Amazing Spider-Man
Nova
Fables
100 Bullets
HellBlazer
Age of Bronze

 

[kguillou]

For me:

1) Daredevil
2) Walking Dead
3) Ultimates I & II
4) Astonishing X-Men (Whedon's)
5) Thor (JMS')
6) Thunderbolts
7) Chew
8) Ultimate Spider-Man
9) Gotham Central
10) Paul Dini's Batman 'Heart of Hush' Detective Comics story (I dont care what anyone says, this was WAY better than Morrison's R.I.P. stuff)

And i gotta agree, the last decade has been incredible in terms of quality comics. It was comics like these that washed the bad taste of the 90's away.

 

[runawayboulder]

This is a little tough for me for reasons I'll explain. I'm gonna try and put it in the order of 1 being the best and so on.....

1. Daredevil
This book had the strongest, most consistently creative run I have ever seen (that recently came to a screeching halt with Shadowland). It started in 2000 with Mack, then Bendis, then Brubaker. There wasn't a single bump in the road the whole way through. DD was totally elevated for me even higher than it was before. It's interesting considering how many solid runs DD has had over the years......Miller, Nocenti, Smith, Bendis, Brubaker. Quite amazing really how well the character has had it, some others don't get it that good.

2. Hellblazer
Another book that had an incredible decade. While Preacher was wrapping up in early 2000, Brian Azzarello was just getting started with his unique run on HB. Taking John Constantine out of his normal setting and on the highways and byways of America for 2 years. Some might have not liked it as much as I loved it but it got me hooked on the book again. Mike Carey came on with his run and a return to normalcy that took John into early 06 for Denise Mina's brief run on the book setting up Andy Diggle, who brought Constantine back to basics with the suit and tie not see in a long time. Throw in a quick arc by Aaron and the current Milligan run and it's easy to see why Hellblazer is rapidly headed towards 300 issues. Many fans can get their first exposure to future talent via this book. I got mine of Carey, Diggle, Leonard Manco and Giuseppe Camuncoli from it.


And here's where the list gets a little off. The rest is mostly books that had a strong run for the most of the decade and some sketchy or incomplete the rest.

3. Captain America
Cap's decade got off to a bumpy start as volume 2 of his book headed by Jurgens got shuffled around to the Marvel Knights line and not received as well as Waid's prior (or Jurgens own run on Thor going on at the same time). It was soon launched again with a new volume for the post 9/11 version of Cap by John Ney Rieber and John Cassadey that lost it's buzz quickly thanks to Chuck Austen. Robert Kirkman had an all too brief nostalgia filled run on the book setting the stage for Ed Brubaker's first Marvel work and a classic storyline "The Death of Captain America".

4. The Avengers
This totally refers to the start of 2000 to the few months leading to Disassembled. It started with the midway point of the definitive run by Busiek/Perez and soon into Geoff Johns. After 04, no matter how hard Bendis tries, it has never been the same as it was for the franchise as it was before.

5. The New X-Men
By the time Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly came aboard X-Men, the franchise was in rough shape. They were a powerhouse in the 90's that lost a massive amount of steam in such a short period of time beginning with Onslaught. By the time the Avengers and the FF found their way back into the 616 from Liefeld/Lee land, the X-Men were yesterday's news. I had gotten tired of the same stuff. I was burned out by Gambit, Legacy Virus, alternate futures, Stryfe, Apocalypse, ect. Scott Lobdell deserves some credit here for swooping in and tying things up neatly and setting things up for Morrison in a short amount of time. But it was Morrison who reignited my interest in the franchise by bringing portraying the team in a new and fairly simple light......as teachers. It's something everyone seems to long for these days now that the franchise has take on a more militaristic feel.

6. The Authority
It actually kicked off in 1999 but the meat of it was this decade. This book, primarily the initial runs by Ellis and Millar forever changed the way I enjoyed comics. The writing approach of "big budget action comics" has been heavily used ever since. I didn't know squat about Stormwatch before this book came along but I was ready to shell out every cent I had for this book. It was unfairly censored by DC (over reactions were all over the place after 9/11) and it ruined it for me but I've got great memories of the first volume.

7. Punisher MAX
I wish I could put this higher on my list but it's got some tough competition. Garth Ennis' launch of an adults only Punisher comic help launch the MAX line as Marvel's own Vertigo line. Behind Preacher, this is my next favorite work of Ennis. He gave us some of the most incredible Punisher stories ever. There wasn't one single boring moment in 60+issues.

8. Fantastic Four
The Waid/Wieringo run was significant to me for two reasons. One was the internet and the other was the internet. I never cared for FF until Waid became the writer on the book. I had loved Waid's 2 runs on Cap and heard great things about his previous work on The Flash. The internet got me to give this run a shot. The positive reviews were everywhere so I picked it up and loved it. Then came Bill Jemas firing the duo off the book which led to a massive uproar leading to them getting put back on the book and Jemas being shown the door at Marvel.

9. Thor
I never was crazy about Dan Jurgens. I thought his work was average at best. I was hooked into the Death of Superman like everybody else and quickly got bored when he was brought back to life a year later. His brief run launching The Sensational Spider-Man was OK. He brought some new faces into the book. I didn't find out until a while later he left because he wanted Peter back as Spider-Man (and to this day still wants a crack at ASM). His work on Thor changed it for me. When volume 2 was launched for Heroes Return I scooped it up as I did all things Heroes Return. But unlike FF and Iron Man, I stuck around for 79 issues on a book and character I never cared about a lot previously. Jurgens run was highly underrated and was followed up by Michael Avon Oeming's terrific "Ragnarok".

10. The Ultimates
The only series from the Ultimate line I could stomach (except for the vol 3 Loeb/Madureira debacle). This was like the Authority all over again......except it was my favorite team ever The Avengers. I prefer the 616 version better but this was a fun ride.....despite the delays.

 

[Swordmaster]

In no order:

1) Morrison's Batman run
2) Annihilation
3) The JMS and Gillen Thor
4) I Kill Giants
5) Superman: Birthright
6) Superman: Secret Identity
7) All-Star Superman
8) Planet Hulk
9) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
10) Cable and Deadpool

Honorary mention goes to: Hard Time

 

[JewishHobbit]

1. Daredevil

For me, starting from Bendis through now has been fantastic consistantly issue to issue. I've not read a run that was this good this long without fail in a very very long time, potentially ever. It's suffered a bit with Shadowland but even that is better than most stuff these days. For me it peaked during Brubaker's Fear arc, but still... wow!

2. Y The Last Man

This is the first independant title to really capture my attention. I couldn't stop reading it once I started and the final issues literally brought tears to my eyes, and that just doesn't happen. It's only happened maybe 4 times in the 19 years since I started reading comics. Amazing run!

3. New Mutants/Academy X/New X-Men/Young X-Men

This was a great run. Student X-Books are old news but something about this generation just drew me in. New Mutants introduced the core team while Academy X introduced the Hellions and other students that were mostly background. It also brought in some of Morrison's students. New X-Men merged them all into a great team and eventually brought in others like Anole and Pixie. Marvel editorial then screwed up the great book with a relaunch trying to get more readers and ended up killing the book with Young X-Men, which was still decent but not fantastic. I'm glad these kids are still kicking (well, a lot of them aren't, but the ones that are are still fairly prominant). I'd like to see another attempt at a team book for these guys but we'll see. I think there's a lot of future for this generation of X-Men.

4. Annihilation

I never cared about cosmic comics until this. In fact, I picked up the prologue, thought it was dumb and started to skip out on this. In fact, on a wild whim I opted to go back and pick up the prologue again and all the minis just prior to the core Annihilation mini began and that was the best comics decision I ever made. The build up did suffer a bit to a non-cosmic fan like me but it all paid of in the end and gave me one of the most fulfilling and fantastic comics I've ever read. And it kickstarted the new and wonderful era of cosmic marvel that we know today.

5. Runaways (Vaughan's run)
I don't remember exactlly when this started but I want to say it was early 00's and not late 90's. I'm talking about Brian K. Vaughn's entire run, so all of volume 1 and volume 2 up to I think issue 24 or 25 when he left. That was a solid run of fun times, emotional roller coasters, and fantastic art... seriously, where did this artist go? He was awesome! And they say you can never create a new book with interesting new characters and I almost believe that if not for this book. All new characters and they were all equally fantastic! Alex, Gert, Nico, Chase... man how I love these guys. Unfortuntely Whedon came in and lost me within a couple issues and I hear it didn't get any better after that. So sad.

6. Umbrella Academy (Vol. 1 & 2)

Both volumes were fantastic and I can't wait for the long awaited may come before Christ comes back volume 3. It was an interesting take on a comicbook that I've not read before and, particularly vol. 1, amazed me. Vol. 2 wasn't quite as good but still enjoyable. Thank God for Half Priced Books or I'd have never even tried this series out.

7. Nova

I've always liked Nova due to his guest appearance in Amazing Spider-Man 351 and 352, some of the first comics I ever owned. I liked him in New Warriors due to this but he was a lost character by the time Annihilation came out. After that I was excited but didn't expect much following it. This series came and corrected my concerns by being consistantly fantastic from beginning to end. As with most of the cosmic line I feel like it was reaching for plot by the time Realm of Kings rolled around, but even that was still entertaining. I miss this book more than any other right now.

8. Green Lantern

From Rebirth to now this has been a great time for Green Lantern. I wasn't a DC fan at all when Rebirth hit and was surprised when I was forced to read and enjoyed Identity Crisis. My bro-in-law then forced me to read Rebirth as well and I really enjoyed it but didn't continue. Then I heard great things about Sinestro Corps War so I got caught up and haven't looked back. I thought Blackest Night was great and even though it's kinda eased up a bit the past few months I'm still enjoying it.

9. Ultimates I & II

From plot to art these were great. It was a little too anti-Bush in volume II but it was still really good. So much waisted once Loeb came around. It was sad.

10. Young Avengers

The 12 issues that started this series out were great and it's so sad the amount of potential that Marvel's wasted here. Children's Crusade is definately a good read so far but there's just so much that's happened between issue 12 and the current mini. I'm hoping Children's Crusade resparks the book and it gets regular again.


Honorable mention goes to Planetary and Final Crisis

Planetary

 

[Dread]

Most people did their "best of the decade" lists last year. I mean. 2000-2010 is technically 11 years. The numerals just make it misleading. I mean, when you count "the 90's", what years do you count? 1990 to 1999. Do you count the year 2000? Or 1989? Nope. 2010 is the start of a new decade, really.

However, if you want MY list of the best 725 comics from 2000-2009, I wrote an article at Examiner about it last New Year's Eve. Give it a gander, I can always use the hits:

http://www.examiner.com/comic-books...725-comics-of-2000-2009-end-of-decade-special

("725 comics" is an excuse to count an entire run of something, or up to that point. As stated, my math is about as "accurate" as Joe Quesada's is when he re-numbers things. )

Approximately 33 different titles, either mini's or runs, made that list, in alphabetical order.

 

[imdaly]

2010 is the start of a new decade, really.

<puts his nerd glasses on>

ACTUALLY, 2011 is the start of a new decade. Just like 2001 was the start of a new decade/century/millennium.

 

[kguillou]

I thought 2000 was the start?? lol

 

[JewishHobbit]

Okay, remove Young Avengers from my top 10 list and move most things down one slot. Fill in Immortal Iron Fist somewhere around 5. That book was amazing and I can't believe I forgot about it while putting that list together. It made someone like me who never gave a lick about the character love him and turn him into one of my favorite comic book characters period. The Seven Capitol Cities of Heaven arc had to be one of the best stories I've read since I started reading comics.

 

[runawayboulder]

So who's gonna put together a Best Of The Year thread?

 

[iloveclones]

Dread writing about 725 comics... there couldn't have been enough broadband on the planet....

 

[Watchman]

1. All Star Superman
2. Automatic Kafka
3. Dark Knight Strikes Again
4. Heavy Liquid
5. Alec: The Fate of the Artist
6. Young Liars
7. Tales Designed to Thrizzle
8. The Left Bank Gang
9. Eightball 22, 23
10. Casanova

 

[Themanofbat]

Most people did their "best of the decade" lists last year. I mean. 2000-2010 is technically 11 years. The numerals just make it misleading. I mean, when you count "the 90's", what years do you count? 1990 to 1999. Do you count the year 2000? Or 1989? Nope. 2010 is the start of a new decade, really.

<puts his nerd glasses on>

ACTUALLY, 2011 is the start of a new decade. Just like 2001 was the start of a new decade/century/millennium.

imdaly is correct... the decades go from the years ending in "1" to the ones ending in "0"...

Yes, it's easy to think that 1990 was a part of the 90's, but that was the last year of the decade called the 1980's

To quote a pretty classy guy (that talks a LOT when he posts )...

"The average person is a moron. I think we've all established this. That's why we allow them to think in terms like 1990 was a part of the 90's... it's much easier for them to digest, and would take too much effort for them to really understand"...

 

[Dread]

I've never heard anyone consider 1990 as part of the 1980's nor 1970 part of the 60's. I assure you that you can pick out one of those BEST OF A DECADE CD's and you will never find a song from 1970 listed on a SIXTIES collection, or so on. Just with the new century and all, that gets confusing.

X-MEN EVOLUTION debuted in the year 2000. Does anyone consider it a cartoon of the 90's? Of course not. There's no 90 in the date. Same as someone who is 12 or 20 is not a TEENager.

 

[kguillou]

Amen Dread. Remember when we all made a big fuss when the year 2000 was coming? When 2000 hit, it was called the "new millennium", not "the end of the 90's". But hey to each his own.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I've never heard anyone consider 1990 as part of the 1980's nor 1970 part of the 60's. I assure you that you can pick out one of those BEST OF A DECADE CD's and you will never find a song from 1970 listed on a SIXTIES collection, or so on. Just with the new century and all, that gets confusing.

X-MEN EVOLUTION debuted in the year 2000. Does anyone consider it a cartoon of the 90's? Of course not. There's no 90 in the date. Same as someone who is 12 or 20 is not a TEENager.

But there's no year 0, so therefore, they would be correct. Must people don't count it like that, you're right, but it's still correct. It doesn't apply to human ages because there is a year zero for us (at least in America, I'm not sure if there are other places that start off their kids at age one).

 

[Themanofbat]

There was no year "0"...

...therefore, the first decade was from year 1 to 10, as a decade is defined by 10 years.

Same goes for a century, as well as a millenium...

Now saying the 90's were from '90 to '99... that's fine... it's a ten year period, making it a decade of sorts... but not a decade in any order of when we began to calculate decades by the Gregorian calender.

 

[Themanofbat]

But there's no year 0, so therefore, they would be correct. Must people don't count it like that, you're right, but it's still correct. It doesn't apply to human ages because there is a year zero for us (at least in America, I'm not sure if other places are like that).

Great minds think alike...

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

In no particular order:

Daredevil
Civil War
Planet Hulk
World War Hulk
Siege
The Walking Dead
Captain America
Gotham Central
Annihilation
Identity Crisis

 

[WolfCypher]

1) Fables
2) Daredevil
3) Batman
4) Detective Comics
5) All major Dark Reign era titles (got me into Thor for one)
6) Warren Ellis's Thunderbolts
7) Amazing Spider-Man
8) Incredible Hulk (pre-Incredible Herc)
9) Blue Beetle's ongoing (sigh...RIP)
10) Ultimate Spider-Man (pre-Ultimatum)

Secret Six should be up there somewhere...

 

[venom892]

1.Y the Last Man
2.Daredevil

the next ones in no particular order
Immortal Iron Fist
Brubaker's Captain America
Geoff John's Green Lantern
Paul Dini's Detective Comics
Identity Crisis
Amazing Spider-man vol.2 #30-vol.1 #508
Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-men
Dr.Strange:The Oath(Highly under appreciated gem by Brain K. Vaughn and Marcos Martin.)

 

[Dread]

There was no year "0"...

...therefore, the first decade was from year 1 to 10, as a decade is defined by 10 years.

Same goes for a century, as well as a millenium...

Now saying the 90's were from '90 to '99... that's fine... it's a ten year period, making it a decade of sorts... but not a decade in any order of when we began to calculate decades by the Gregorian calender.

But then what do you do with poor year 2000? If you count 2000-2010, that is technically 11 years, not ten. Do you count 2000 as the end of the 90's, even if it doesn't have a digit anywhere in it that has a 9 in it? If so, then 1990-2000 is also 11 years. Is 1990 part of the 1980's? Then what to do with 1980?

The 21st century is a unique thing. May ancients claimed we'd all be dead by the year 2000, and still more claim it's coming in 2012 (I frankly don't think man will be as lucky as a quick death, but that's philosophy). And if they're right about 2012, that's moot. But I saw plenty of websites go with their end of decade lists as 2009 came to a close. You going to tell me Comic Book Resources is wrong?

 

[Tron Bonne]

But then what do you do with poor year 2000? If you count 2000-2010, that is technically 11 years, not ten. Do you count 2000 as the end of the 90's, even if it doesn't have a digit anywhere in it that has a 9 in it? If so, then 1990-2000 is also 11 years. Is 1990 part of the 1980's? Then what to do with 1980?

The 21st century is a unique thing. May ancients claimed we'd all be dead by the year 2000, and still more claim it's coming in 2012 (I frankly don't think man will be as lucky as a quick death, but that's philosophy). And if they're right about 2012, that's moot. But I saw plenty of websites go with their end of decade lists as 2009 came to a close. You going to tell me Comic Book Resources is wrong?

Oh, if there is anything in this world you can count on without a single doubt, it is that Comic Book Resources is wrong.

 

[Dread]

Oh, if there is anything in this world you can count on without a single doubt, it is that Comic Book Resources is wrong.

Compared to Newsarama and Wizard, they're the encyclopedia Britannica. What about The Beat? I recall they were linking decade lists last year too.

At any rate, I would have to look at those 33 different runs/titles for my article last year and try to whittle it down into a top ten. Someone will do a Best Of 2010 topic at some point.