Epic Runs

[davegraham]

Over the past week or so I have run through nine Fables trades. It won't be long before I get my hands on ten and eleven. And after that I am thinking I will hit a friend up for the singles rather than wait until August for the twelfth.

In recent years I have similarly marathoned through Powers, The Walking Dead, about half of the Invincible trades, DMZ, Gotham Central, and Preacher. I am thinking Y the Last Man is going to be my conquest after Fables. I am not sure where to direct my attention after Y.

What are some of the community's favorite runs? Something epic. Like at least five trades worth of story. Any ideas?

[cadgers]

Sandman by Neil Gaiman and Flash by Mark Waid and Geoff Johns. Ex Machina is pretty epic with about 7 (thin) trades.

Also forgot Cerebus by Dave Sim.

[skeets]

The Losers
Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol
Peter David's X-Factor
Peter David's Incredible Hulk
Bendis's Daredevil

[davegraham]

The Losers
Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol
Peter David's X-Factor
Peter David's Incredible Hulk
Bendis's Daredevil

I have The Losers in my read pile. I read PD's X-Factor, but dropped it a while back. And I read Bendis' Daredevil a it unfolded.

PD's Hulk run is something I forgot about. And I like the idea of Johns' Flash run. Hmmm. Thanks, guys.

[labor_days]

Morrison's Doom Patrol

[labor_days]

And Invisibles!

[cadgers]

And Invisibles!

Can't believe I forgot that. Check out Morrisons JLA as well.

[optimus187prime]

I think Daredevil has had some epic runs (Miller, Bendis, Brubaker).
Brubaker's Cap run, which is still ongoing.
Chuck Dixon's run on Nightwing.
Both of Ennis' runs on Punisher.
Miller's Sin City.
Vaughan's Runaways.

[comicbookchris]

Besides the ones that were already mentioned, I think one thing that makes a truly epic run is one that launches a book from a creative lull to an all new level of awesome.

For instance:

Peter David's X-Factor (both his runs)
G-Mo's Animal Man
Keith Giffen's Justice League
Warren Ellis' Stormwatch/Authority
Alan Moore's Wildcats, and then Joe Casey's run later on
and of course, Joe Kelly's and Gail Simone's run on Deadpool

[davegraham]

These are some great suggestions people, thanks.

My list is growing.

PD's Hulk run
GJ's Flash run
GM's Animal Man run

I've read some of whatelse has been said, but I appreciate the suggestions none the less. How about Warren Ellis' Transmetroplitan? Anyone a fan of it?

[winthewonderboy]

Savage Dragon(Eric Larsen)

The Maxx(Sam Keith)

Strangers in Paradise(Terry Moore)

The ABC line of comics(Alan Moore and some of the best comic artists working today)

[comicbookchris]

How about Warren Ellis' Transmetroplitan? Anyone a fan of it?

Love it! Ellis' stange and sometimes goofy sci-fi themes are always fun and ridiculous to read, and he balances it all out well with several dramatic moments when Spider, a man who is obviously off his rocker, makes cutting points about the state of the world, politics, etc...

Kind of reminds me of Ennis' run on Preacher, with the great mix of drama and over-the-top humor.

I always thought of Transmet as a freaky hybrid of Sci-fi and M.A.S.H. and Hunter S. Thompson,

[johnferrigno]

Jeff Smith's Bone would be my addition to this already pretty great list.

[bizreal1015]

Favorite series of all time, Preacher, nothing comes close for me

[conorkilpatrick]

How about Warren Ellis' Transmetroplitan? Anyone a fan of it?

Best thing Ellis has ever written.

[bizreal1015]

I've heard good things about walking dead, but I've also heard that recently it's getting a bit ridiculous. Any good?

[cadgers]

I've heard good things about walking dead, but I've also heard that recently it's getting a bit ridiculous. Any good?

Walking Dead is fantastic. While it has slowed down as of late it hasn't been a bit ridiculous.

[johnferrigno]

Best thing Ellis has ever written.

I got introduced to Ellis very late in the game. The first thing i ever read by him was his arc on Iron man, which i loved. Then I read his novel, Crooked Little Vein, which i also loved. So I decided to check out some more comics work and picked up the first hardcover of Anna mercury and the first two issues of ignition City. If I like those (and I'm betting I will) I'll have to put this on my list of things to read right away after that endorsement.

[bendrix]

Erik Larsen's 'Savage Dragon'
Stan Sakai's 'Usagi Yojimbo'


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[gobo]

How about Warren Ellis' Transmetroplitan? Anyone a fan of it?

What Conor said, with Planetary being a close second (and hopefully being finished in the next few months)

[optimus187prime]

What Conor said, with Planetary being a close second (and hopefully being finished in the next few months)

Personally I prefer Planetary (late issue aside) but to each their own.

[jon_samuelson]

I just started Transmetropolitan, and while I enjoy Planetary, it never grabbed me the way it has other people. My favorite Ellis work is definitely his run on Stormwatch that led into Authority.

[davegraham]

What Conor said, with Planetary being a close second (and hopefully being finished in the next few months)

I read the first Planetary trade a long while back. I am have been waiting for all of them before I rad any of the others. And I understand it is just one more issue that is holding that up?

[comicbookchris]

I read the first Planetary trade a long while back. I am have been waiting for all of them before I rad any of the others. And I understand it is just one more issue that is holding that up?

One more issue...that's been YEARS in the making

[optimus187prime]

One more issue...that's been YEARS in the making

Watch that issue be sloppy and disappointing too.

[optimus187prime]

So what run would you say is the Definitive run of:

Marvel
Fantastic Four
Thor
Daredevil
Spider Man
X Men
Hulk

DC
Batman
Superman
JLA
Flash
Green Lantern

By the Definitive I mean the end all be all. If you could have one run of each book which would it be.

[johnferrigno]

So what run would you say is the Definitive run of:

Marvel
Fantastic Four

For me, it would be the Waid/Wieringo run. Hands down my favorite FF run. I know you are SUPPOSED to say Lee/Kirby or Byrne, but I LOVED Wair and Ringo on this book.

Thor

I haven't read a LOT of Thor, but I enjoyed what i have seen of the legendary Simonson run.

Daredevil

I would say the Bendis run, except it doesn't really end properly. it morphs into the Brubaker run. So I'd probably combine those two. but if i HAD to pick just one, then Bendis.

Spider Man

Wow. So many runs on the title, yet I don't really know of any one that is considered the "definitive" run. Actually, the current "brain trust" run has probably been my favorite Spidey ever.

X Men

This is more Ron's category than mine. My personal favorite run was from Giant-Size X-Men relaunching the "international" team, and going for the next 40-50 issues or so. So many great storylines in that one.

Hulk

Peter David. hands down.

DC
Batman

My favorite Batman "run" was No Man's Land. it was a huge list of writers and artists on a variety of books, but it was a bunch of great stories that combined to tell one fantastic over-reaching story. I know it probably doesn't count, but i'll go with that one. For an artist run, i'd say neal Adams. That is STILL how Batman looks in my head.

Superman

The only Superman comic that ever interested me was the Man of Steel mini and the relaunched Superman monthly by John Byrne.

JLA

If you count JLI as JLA, than Giffen, Demetteis and Mcguire. One of the great runs of any comic, ever.

Flash

I'm gonna go the easy route and say geoff Johns/Scott kollins. How can you go wrong with that run?

Green Lantern

I'm not very familiar with this character, but i did read Rebirth and thought it was excellent. And what is going on in GL right now with Geofff Johns sounds like the kind of thing that, when it's over, people will be talking about for DECADES.

By the Definitive I mean the end all be all. If you could have one run of each book which would it be.[/QUOTE]

[comicbookchris]

So what run would you say is the Definitive run of:


X Men

I agree with JohnFerrigno about all the early Claremont issues, they really sowed the seeds for everything the X-Men are today. Its a real shame that his latter issues became so muddled and crappy. I really liked his 3 issues on Adjectiveless X-Men though...

Grant Morrison had a great handle on the characters though in New X-Men. There has been many great X-Men creators over the years, though Morrison is the only creator I can think of that can be a contender along with Claremont for the definitive X-Men run.

[paulsharkey]

Fantastic Four - Lee Kirby
Thor – Never read Thor in my life
Daredevil - Miller's run (that ones easy)
Spider Man – I’m torn between what happening in amazing now and the Ditko stuff.
X Men – I’m a bit fond of X-men 1-8 by Jim Lee because that the first x-men comics I read, although Morrison’s run was great as well.
Hulk - The middle of Peter David’s runs (the starts a little bit rough and the end is just bad but the middle, well thats just creamy delight)
Batman – Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogles run on Batman and Detective is hands down the best batman run I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a lot of batman)
Superman – Can’t think of a great run but there have been amazing issues (for story probably Geoff Johns stuff but for art it’s got to be Swanderson)
JLA – Grant Morrison’s run
Flash – Mark Waids run, specifically issues 90 to 100
Green Lantern – It’s got to go to Geoff Johns run

[johnferrigno]

I think Frank Miler's run on Daredevil doesn't really hold up as well as the legend says it does. Yes, it was groundbreaking stuff at the time, but it is very dated. Some of the plots are kind of hokey and it's just not all "Elektra" story goodness. Yeah, when it came out it was very influential for what came after and actually made Daredevil a somewhat respectable character for a change, but if you read it today from beginning to end, there is a lot of stuff in it that isn't quite as classic as revisionist history will lead you to believe. Don't get me wrong, I think it's excellent and I enjoy it a great deal for what it is. but i don't think it's anywhere on the level of what is being done on that title since it was relaunched under the Marvel knights banner all those years ago. It laid the groundwork for it and made it possible, yeah. But that doesn't mean it's "better."

[timmywood-]

For me, it would be the Waid/Wieringo run. Hands down my favorite FF run. I know you are SUPPOSED to say Lee/Kirby or Byrne, but I LOVED Wair and Ringo on this book.



I haven't read a LOT of Thor, but I enjoyed what i have seen of the legendary Simonson run.



I would say the Bendis run, except it doesn't really end properly. it morphs into the Brubaker run. So I'd probably combine those two. but if i HAD to pick just one, then Bendis.



Wow. So many runs on the title, yet I don't really know of any one that is considered the "definitive" run. Actually, the current "brain trust" run has probably been my favorite Spidey ever.



This is more Ron's category than mine. My personal favorite run was from Giant-Size X-Men relaunching the "international" team, and going for the next 40-50 issues or so. So many great storylines in that one.



Peter David. hands down.



My favorite Batman "run" was No Man's Land. it was a huge list of writers and artists on a variety of books, but it was a bunch of great stories that combined to tell one fantastic over-reaching story. I know it probably doesn't count, but i'll go with that one. For an artist run, i'd say neal Adams. That is STILL how Batman looks in my head.



The only Superman comic that ever interested me was the Man of Steel mini and the relaunched Superman monthly by John Byrne.



If you count JLI as JLA, than Giffen, Demetteis and Mcguire. One of the great runs of any comic, ever.



I'm gonna go the easy route and say geoff Johns/Scott kollins. How can you go wrong with that run?



I'm not very familiar with this character, but i did read Rebirth and thought it was excellent. And what is going on in GL right now with Geofff Johns sounds like the kind of thing that, when it's over, people will be talking about for DECADES.

By the Definitive I mean the end all be all. If you could have one run of each book which would it be.[/QUOTE]

I think I agree with everything you just said. Bravo. All those runs are great!

[timmywood-]

Ed Brubakers Sleeper was an amazing epic story.

Also there was a time when the Wildstorm was the end all be all with Authority/Stormwatch/Wildcates/Sleeper. Millar,Ellis,Casey and Brubaker were working on them. There was a big Coup de Tat crossover with the Authority taking over the United States because they were tired of how it was being run. I don't know if it is collected but it was fun.

[paulsharkey]

Ed Brubakers Sleeper was an amazing epic story.

Also there was a time when the Wildstorm was the end all be all with Authority/Stormwatch/Wildcates/Sleeper. Millar,Ellis,Casey and Brubaker were working on them. There was a big Coup de Tat crossover with the Authority taking over the United States because they were tired of how it was being run. I don't know if it is collected but it was fun.

How things have changed sniff

[optimus187prime]

Well with what John and Paul have listed looks like I might be picking up some Visionaries trades :)

[johnferrigno]

Well with what John and Paul have listed looks like I might be picking up some Visionaries trades :)

I have all the Peter David Hulk visionaries trades. It's funny to read it so many years later. Some of the stories are a little dated, but some of them really hold up today. it really is one of those runs that is the best even though every one says it is.

And if you don't mind black and white reprints, the first three Essential X-Men volumes are fantastic. So many great stories, from the forming of the new team, to the battles with Count nefaria, Juggernaut and Black Tom, magneto, the Shi'ar Empire stuff, the Dark phoenix Saga, the Proteus story (probably my favorite X-Men story ever), the X-men in the Savage Land, i could go on and on. Such a great run. Sometimes i look at what Claremont did at the end and forget how terrific he was those first few years. Unless John Byrne had more to do with the plotting than he gets credit for......

[johnferrigno]

I think I agree with everything you just said. Bravo.

I don't think that sentence has EVER been uttered after I expressed an opinion before. I'm a little scared. lol

[optimus187prime]

I have all the Peter David Hulk visionaries trades. It's funny to read it so many years later. Some of the stories are a little dated, but some of them really hold up today. it really is one of those runs that is the best even though every one says it is.

And if you don't mind black and white reprints, the first three Essential X-Men volumes are fantastic. So many great stories, from the forming of the new team, to the battles with Count nefaria, Juggernaut and Black Tom, magneto, the Shi'ar Empire stuff, the Dark phoenix Saga, the Proteus story (probably my favorite X-Men story ever), the X-men in the Savage Land, i could go on and on. Such a great run. Sometimes i look at what Claremont did at the end and forget how terrific he was those first few years. Unless John Byrne had more to do with the plotting than he gets credit for......

Well recently I have been on a Bronze age kick. I have bought the Miller DD omni and the Uncanny Omni. I have actually been eyeing up the FF and Wolverine omnis too, but I am hesistant on pulling the trigger for them.

[johnferrigno]

Well recently I have been on a Bronze age kick. I have bought the Miller DD omni and the Uncanny Omni. I have actually been eyeing up the FF and Wolverine omnis too, but I am hesistant on pulling the trigger for them.

I passed on the Miller DD Omnibus ONLY because i already have volumes 1 and 2 of the Visionaries trades and i don't want to re-buy those stories when there is so much stuff i don't own yet to buy instead. Come to think of it, i never did get volume 3 of those Visionaries trades......

[gabeja]

How has this thread gone on so long with out anyone mentioning Brubaker's Captain America?

[gabeja]

Also, I love Frank Millers's DD. The way he brings in minor characters and seemlessly makes them part of the world is fantastic. Every time the Punisher shows up it makes me want him to do a punisher story. His bullseye is also just perfect. That run might just be my favorite ever. Might be.

[comicbookchris]

How has this thread gone on so long with out anyone mentioning Brubaker's Captain America?

It's inhuman how awesome Brubaker's run has been since issue #1. Actually, when the Civil War tie-in's first came out, I thought they were rubbish. Then, a few issues later I realized how important those issues were for the means of plot set-up. It shows that he truly knows what it takes to make a memorable storyline.

[optimus187prime]

How has this thread gone on so long with out anyone mentioning Brubaker's Captain America?

I mentioned it on page 1.

[gabeja]

I mentioned it on page 1.

*Sound of Gabe eating his words*

[humphrey-lee]

How has this thread gone on so long with out anyone mentioning Brubaker's Captain America?

The same should be said for 100 BULLETS. And HELLBOY. And PROMETHEA. And, like, 80% of HELLBLAZER. And Moore's SWAMP THING. And motherfucking STARMAN! And HITMAN and SHADE: THE CHANGING MAN, which you can only get in issues pretty much. And LUCIFER. And ASTRO CITY. And EX MACHINA. Throw in DMZ too. SCALPED is getting there as well. And the 4th big-assed QUEEN & COUNTRY just came out. And STRAY BULLETS, which I really need to re-read now that I'm thinking of it. I'm sure there's more that's just not coming to me right now...


The Brubaker/Rucka era of Batman was pretty awesome, despite some mediocre crossovers.

And Chuck Dixon NIGHTWING...

... I think I'm done now.

[paulsharkey]

Can I change my mind on the best superman story every written and put supreme by Alan Moore in. I just reread the run over the weekend and all I can say is that there is a reason Mr Moore is considered the best comic writer of all time.

[zombox]

Just a few ideas.

Peter David's salvaging the Hulk beginning the late 80's to the late 90's.
Y: The Last Man. Period.
Pretty much all of Fables through the big climax. We'll see about the later stuff.
Alan Moore's Wildcats.
Most of Claremont's 80's run on the X-Men.
Morrison's run on JLA. I'm also a big fan of Morrison's X-Men.
Astonishing X-Men. Period.
Walt Simonson's Thor. Also, he did an excellent job with hi much underrated Orion series for DC in a similar vein.

[davegraham]

I appreciate all of the recommendations. As of now the list I have composed consists of...

Sandman
Geoff Johns' Flash
The Losers (already have the first trade!)
Peter David's Hulk
Grant Morrison's Animal Man
Transmetropolitan
Savage Dragon
Y the Last Man
Promethea

... Those should hold me over for a long while. A looong while.

[paulsharkey]

I appreciate all of the recommendations. As of now the list I have composed consists of...

Sandman
Geoff Johns' Flash
The Losers (already have the first trade!)
Peter David's Hulk
Grant Morrison's Animal Man
Transmetropolitan
Savage Dragon
Y the Last Man
Promethea

... Those should hold me over for a long while. A looong while.

Great List. I'm getting the Absolute Prometheawhen it comes out.

[gabeja]

Geoff Johns' GL, Flash and JSA(both series')

[mrmister]

I wouldn't include Astonishing X-Men. Granted I enjoyed the run as a whole, but it never regained the level of quality of that first arc.

[gabeja]

Oddly enough, DD is the character with the most omnibus' out of everyone in the marvel U. Strange, beating out spidey, the FF and all of the X men. He has had some fantastic runs, between miller, smith, bendis and bru.

[humphrey-lee]

Great List. I'm getting the Absolute Prometheawhen it comes out.

Yeah, me too. That's a must just for the oversized art alone. I think JHW3's work on that is hands down the best art job I've ever seen in comics. It's just mind and genre bending.

[optimus187prime]

Oddly enough, DD is the character with the most omnibus' out of everyone in the marvel U. Strange, beating out spidey, the FF and all of the X men. He has had some fantastic runs, between miller, smith, bendis and bru.

I think that is due to have such long runs with the same writer. A lot of other characters have many change ups in the creative teams.

[deadspace]

Transmetropolitan
Strangers In Paradise
Preacher (though I still haven't finished it. makes me depressed)
DMZ

FreakAngels but it's only on its 2nd trade. It will be an epic run in a year or so :D

[brickhouse]

I saw it mentioned last page, but 100 Bullets. Seriously, 100 consecutive on time issues with the same creative team is pretty special (I was disappointed when the finale wasn't discussed at all on the podcast.)

Another good one is Blade of the Immortal. I am not much of a manga fan but this series was so good - art, story, characterization, action, all of it amazing, all of it (except the translation) done by Samura. It isn't being released in the US right now but before Dark Horse pulled it there were somewhere around 100+ issues, and I know new issues are being published regularly in Japan...If anybody knows when the new collections are going to be released in the US I would really appreciate it.