My Top 10 Comic Books of the Decade – Part 2 of 2
The hardest part about making a top ten list of comics from over ten years is that you have no choice but to leave out a ton of fantastic stuff. So, before moving ahead, I want to make a special note of all the books not on this list that have blown my mind over the past ten years:
Brubaker’s Captain America, Top 10, I Kill Giants, Invincible, The Walking Dead, Thor by JMS, Invincible Iron Man, 52, The Authority, Desolation Jones and a bunch of other stuff that I can’t remember right now.
Let’s do this.
5. All Star Superman (Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely / 2006-2008)
I almost didn’t put All Star Superman on this list because of my general frustration in reading Grant Morrison’s work. Then the more I thought about this book, the more it moved up on this list and the more I realized that this is a book that is truly deserving of all the accolades it’s won. All Star Superman is one, if not the, definitive Superman story, one that captures the old whilst bringing the new and one that runs the gamut of emotions from touching to funny to inspiring to sad and everything in between. I’ve tried numerous times to like Morrison’s work and, a bit less so, to appreciate Frank Quitely’s distinct style and this book made it all too easy to do so. All Star Superman is their crowning achievement and a timeless book that nobody should go without reading.
4. Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War Special (Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver / 2007)
I had some difficulties in choosing which part of Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern epic to throw on this list. Blackest Night is not over yet and the Green Lantern title itself has had its ups and downs since its relaunch. Green Lantern: Rebirth almost made it here but I think the Sinestro Corps War Special is ultimately more deserving of this spot. It’s superhero drama at its finest with page after page of surprises, revelations, twists and one of the most amazing cliffhangers I’ve ever seen in a mainstream comic. Ethan Van Sciver’s art is nothing short of exquisite here with the Sinestro Corps 2-page spread being but one of the many highlights. I think the Sinestro Corps War itself as a story felt a little too stretched out but this one issue is the prime example of why I enjoy superhero comics and one of the best things to come out of Geoff Johns’ pen.
3. The Flash (Geoff Johns, Scott Kolins / 2001-2003)
I’ll be the first to admit that there’s a bit of bias in this entry because the Flash is hands-down my favorite superhero but, for being the book that truly ignited that flame, Geoff Johns’ run on the Flash needs to be on this list. Johns had three main artists during his time on this book and, because I’m limiting entries to consistent creative team, Scott Kolins is my pick for best artist during this run. Albert Dose’s art is suited to his particular story arc and Howard Porter does flashy (no pun intended) superhero artwork very well but no one drives emotion and throws as much energy on the page as Kolins does. It’s also interesting to see Geoff Johns’ early work as he tries to find his footing in the industry before becoming the comics superstar that he is today. His upcoming run on The Flash will no doubt be decidedly different but his early work on the title, from fleshing out the Rogues to defining Keystone City, ranks up there as one of my favorite runs on any superhero.
2. The Ultimates 1 & 2 (Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch / 2002-2007)
Ah, The Ultimates. The epitome of widescreen superhero action and the oft-delayed (and thus much maligned) crown jewel of the Ultimate line. What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said a million times before? Mark Millar, taking a cue from Warren Ellis’ and his own work in The Authority, brought The Avengers into the 21st century with The Ultimates in a book that is loud and visceral unlike any other. And what of Bryan Hitch, the main reason for the aforementioned delays? Well, it’s him, perhaps more than any other artist infamous for being late, that makes those delays seem just a bit more tolerable after you get to see his pages. This book has so many memorable moments. The Hulk tearing New York City. Cap taking Giant Man down. The World War II flashbacks. The Ultimates vs. Thor. The 8-page spread. I could go on and on and on. The countless pop culture references still irk me and they will date the book in a few years (if they haven’t already) but that’s really my only problem with this brilliant, brilliant book. If you know of someone that doesn’t understand why you like comics about “men in brightly colored tights,” give them The Ultimates. They’ll get it.
1. 100 Bullets (Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso / 1999-2009)
Though it started just a few months shy of the beginning of the last decade, for a hundred issues, 100 Bullets was the most consistently high quality book out there. Described by writer Brian Azzarello as “postmodern noir,” this book is the story of the Trust, an Illuminati-like organization, and their field soldiers, The Minutemen. What started out as a simple premise (if you could kill and get away with it, would you do it?) soon escalated into a larger story of power, greed and morality. This is a gray world where “good” people die and “bad” people get away with murder. Suffice to say, Azzarello’s work in this book is peerless but 100 Bullets reaches a zenith in comic book art because of Eduardo Risso. In the hands of a lesser artist, this book would’ve been an amazing read but because of Risso’s master storytelling and draftsmanship, it is something else. It’s a book that pushes the medium and challenges the reader. It is, without a doubt, the best comic book released in the past ten years and one of the greatest thing to come out of the medium. Go read 100 Bullets.
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