# So what is the greatest comic story of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927 "2002-12-15T20:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/61 "2002-12-17T21:30:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sghoul \* > \*\* > Doom Patrol (Grant Moorison) \*\* Believe it or not people, but that’s not a typo. Grant is really a multi-dimensional cow-being. We only percieve hir messages to us as comic-book writings because our perception of reality has been altered by hir LSD-like “milk” which we recieve via nano-meme implants. Cast a spell with your computer to access the _true_ reality! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/62 "2002-12-17T22:08:08Z")
I should point out here that I very much enjoyed **Doom Patrol** with “Going Underground” being a highlight. However, my vote goes to **Swamp Thing** ’s “American Gothic”. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/63 "2002-12-18T17:04:01Z")
I agree that the current Spectre is too New-Agie for me. It reminds me too much of DeMatteis and Giffen’s Dr. Fate, without the humor. I don’t mind the idea of the Spectre as Spirit of Redemption rather than Spirit of Vengeance, (vengeance is too easy. forgiveness is much harder) and I like the idea of Hal Jordan as Spectre. I just think the writing is too…yeah, new age-Yanni-crystal powery for me. That’s not to say there haven’t been a few good issues, the one on Apokolips was interesting, and I even kind of liked the Christmas issue with Santa, but over all I have my doubts that it’ll last very long. ---
**Author:** ![Sdrawkcab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sdrawkcab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sdrawkcab)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/64 "2002-12-18T18:22:19Z")
My main problem with the DeMatteis **Spectre** is that it doesn’t fit with the cosmology of the DC Universe as has been established in the past. In the DC Universe, there IS a Hell, there IS a Heaven, there even IS a Purgatory. The Spectre book uses New Age Nonsensisms to get around this, but the contradiction is damn annoying. ---
**Author:** ![bob2\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bob2\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob2_2)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/65 "2002-12-18T19:14:04Z")
The Tick Omnibus 1 and 2 are great. The Batman:Knightfall series is very well done. The Watchmen is great. Crisis on Infinite Earths shows the brillance of Marv Wolfman and George Perez working together. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/66 "2002-12-18T19:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by photopat \* > \*\*I have my doubts that [The Spectre]'ll last very long. \*\* It’s been known for some time now that the series was ending; the March issue is the last one. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/67 "2002-12-18T21:33:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmkeller \* > \*\*Legion of Super-Heroes, the Beirbaum-Giffen issues (1989 series, issues 1 - 36, Annuals # 1-3). Many people don’t like it because of the retcons, but most of those were dictated by above. The actual story was masterfully executed. \*\* Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! I’d actually forgotten about this until you mentioned it, but I have to say that this is what I’d pick as the best comic story of all time. The reason is that it works as “literature” like the others do, but more importantly it keeps in mind what comic books are all about. Most of the contemporary DC stuff like _Watchmen_ and _Dark Knight Returns_ was written from the standpoint of “we’ve had decades of super-powered guys flying around in tights, but what would life _really_ be like for these characters as _people_?” But the LSH stories didn’t lose sight of the fact that, well, super-powered guys flying around in tights can still be pretty cool. But the way the story was told was the best part – it took advantage of the serial format with major cliffhangers and big shifts in continuity, so you got the sense that anything could happen at any time, unlike an obviously pre-planned and obsessively constructed mini-series like _Watchmen_. And the whole thing really feels like a comic book instead of just a book with pictures, or a failed movie script. When I first got back into comic books, as a freshman in college, I picked up a copy of LSH #1 and The Sandman, both at random. I remember being really impressed with _Sandman_, but I actually _enjoyed_ reading the _Legion of Super-Heroes._ And while I’m on it, before I remembered LSH my answers were going to be either: **Batman: Year One** - a _much_ better story than _Dark Knight Returns_, IMO. It really got to the root of the Batman character and proved that it’s a compelling story in its own right, without having to descend into camp or “gritty hard-edged realism in a post-apocalyptic future”. or **Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits** - another example of a writer’s taking over a character and getting back to what the character’s really all about. And the issue in which John Constantine meets his friend who was making magic stout in his basement gets my vote as the best single comic issue ever. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/68 "2002-12-18T21:35:37Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s been known for some time now that the series was ending; the March issue is the last one. > > –Cliffy Hmm. I hadn’t heard that before. Not surprised though. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/69 "2002-12-19T00:51:32Z")
I’ll second _Dangerous Habits_ and add in _Marvels_ and _Shade the Changing Man_. I mean, who couldn’t like a story about an alien thingee with the “power of madness” who enters an executed murderers body and then hooks up with the daughter of the victims? In recent years, I’d say the first two arcs of _100 Bullets_ really win it. The story has bogged down a little since then, but Azzarello is still rockin. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/70 "2002-12-19T05:30:08Z")
Do _The Cartoon History of the Universe_ books count? ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/71 "2002-12-19T05:49:49Z")
Sure, why not? As long as we’re doing books that are more factual in basis let me also mention Scott McCloud’s **Understanding Comics**. A must read for _any_ comics fan about the nature of comics and how they work as an artform. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/72 "2002-12-19T05:58:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yookeroo \* > \*\*Do _The Cartoon History of the Universe_ books count? \*\* Omigod, I forgot about those. The part about the pelopenisian war is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Improved\_Scott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f17d59/32.png) [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/73 "2002-12-19T06:35:08Z")
I Guess factual one can go, of even historical fiction, Like Moore’s “From Hell”. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/74 "2002-12-19T07:15:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yookeroo \* > \*\*Do _The Cartoon History of the Universe_ books count? \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grendel72 \* > \*\*Omigod, I forgot about those. The part about the pelopenisian war is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. \*\* Book three is out, and I have all of them. Number three is timely: the first chapters deal with Mohamed and the middle east; it is interesting how Larry Gonick manages to tell the history without showing Mohamed! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/75 "2002-12-19T07:18:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kiwiboy \* > \*\*My Britzone bias will show here but I think both the _Apocalypse Wars_ and some of the _Slaine_ gns from the 2000AD stable are pretty damn amazing. > > Unfortunately I cannot recall the names of the actual droids Zarg allowed to produce these epics of thrillness, but the writing and artwork (particularly in Slaine) blew me away when I read them. \*\* You mean Tharg, not Zarg. The artists for the Apocalype War were many, but mostly it was Carlos Ezquerra. The writers were Alan Grant and John Wagner. For Slaine, the artist was usually Glenn Fabry, though there were a few others in the midst of the run. The writer for that was, I think, Pat Mills. ---
**Author:** ![Sdrawkcab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sdrawkcab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sdrawkcab)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/76 "2002-12-19T08:24:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cliffy \* > It’s been known for some time now that the [Spectre series] was ending; the March issue is the last one. Wow. What a waste. Good job, DeMatties. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/77 "2002-12-19T17:33:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by photopat \* > \*\*Hmm. I hadn’t heard that before. Not surprised though. \*\* I think it was reported a little while ago at [www.newsarama.com](http://www.newsarama.com) which is one of the premiere comics news sites. It was confirmed in the March solicitations (the listings of what comics will come out three months hence), which were released in the last couple days. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/78 "2002-12-19T18:43:11Z")
I’d kind of like to see Gaiman write the Spectre. ---
**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/79 "2002-12-20T01:57:32Z")
I wish I could remember the name of the Astro City story where a man is continually dreaming of a woman he has never met. It’s in one of the collected trades–maybe in Confessional? It made me cry the first time I read it, and every time since. It has actual super-hero action and beautiful emotional content. The Golden Age is great for comic geeks like us. Speeding Bullets is one of the better Elseworlds. Marvels is pretty kick-ass. For one-shots, I would pick Maus and Watchmen (honorable mention to Squadrom Supreme anc Camelot 3000). For non-continuity-but-"regular\_characters, Kingdom Come and Dark Knight. Recently, “What’s so funny about Truth, Justice, and The American Way” was great. I also like “Bucky and Wonder Woman’s Wild Weekend,” but that’s not in print right now… ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927/80 "2002-12-20T13:18:23Z")
WTF? I can’t believe only one person has mentioned **Preacher** as the greatest? It is the greatest comic story of all time. I really liked Robocop vs. Terminator too, though I will not go so far as to say it was great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-comic-story-of-all-time/142927.md?page=5)