“It’s a comic book convention. You know, it’s like pizza or particle accelerators — even the stinky ones are still pretty good”, says Sheldon in the show The Big Bang Theory. This perfectly sums up how devoted and passionate comic book fans can be. For many, comics are not just entertainment. They live and breathe these superheroes.
From iconic worlds to dark sagas and gritty noir mysteries to heart-wrenching indie masterpieces and revolutionary graphic novels, comic books offer worlds that feel limitless. So if you are ready to explore the very best the medium has to offer, let’s dive straight in. Here are 100 of the best comic books of all time. And obviously, we’ll kick things off with some essential Marvel and DC classics.
- Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #1
Earth’s mightiest superheroes have new faces. Expansion of the Avengers’ roster goes global, and interplanetary!
- Jeff Lemire’s Thanos #1
Marvel’s most evil individual, Thanos, is back! He’s out for vengeance, and even Mad Titan can’t stop him. In the deadly trail of destruction, whom will Thanos spare?
- Jim Starlin’s The Infinity Gauntlet #1
For Thanos, the infinity gauntlet equated omnipotence. To stop the self-destruction of a power-drunk god, will Earth’s super heroes be enough?
- Jim Starlin’s The Infinity War #1
Magus has unleashed something unexpected on a harmless world. It’s an all-out war for the heroes to fight their evil doppelgangers, but with Thanos as savior?
- Jonathan Hickman’s Infinity #1
Thanos has returned. With the outbreak of war on both Earth and Space, which side will heroes succumb to?
- Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars #1
When the Marvel Universe collides with the Ultimate Universe, it’s all about survival.
- Brian Michael Bendis’ Spider-Man #1
How did Miles Morales prove his grit during Secret Wars to become an official Avenger?
- Nick Spencer’s Captain America: Steve Rogers #16
Every moment has led up to setting up the stage for this. Captain is preparing to change the Marvel Universe way of things (and we are here for it).
- Nick Spencer’s Secret Empire #1
Steve Rogers is declaring his allegiance to Hydra. What does this mean for the world?
- Mark Millar’s Civil War #1
Superhero vs superhero means thousands of lives on the line. With the first victims, no one is safe. With crazy cross-overs, the rules shall be written anew!
- Brain Michael Bendis’ Civil War II
House of M and Siege present a new cast of characters. Watch out!
- Stan Lee’s Amazing Fantasy #15
Everyday-teenager Peter Parker becomes Your-Friendly-Neighborhood Spider-Man. With great power comes great responsibility!
- Stan Lee’s The Amazing Spider-Man #1
Spider-Man is on his first adventure. This first issue of Spider-Man is against Chameleon, but he’s got the Fantastic Four to help!
- Brian Michael Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man #1
Reinterpretation of Spider-Man for the new generation was a joke, they said. It worked so well that they’re speechless.
- Chip Zdarsky’s Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1
Returning to the friendly neighborhood, Parker’s webslinging, wall-crawling days resurface. A companion to the Amazing Spider-Man series, this is a classic!
- Brendan McCarthy’s Spider-Man: Fever
Silver-Age psychedelia, featuring Ditko’s Strange, has to be among the surreal Marvel Comics universe comics. A depraved spider-demon tribe abducts Spider-Man to a different dimension. Dr. Strange is stuck on an occult-dimensional quest to save him.
- John Byrne’s Fantastic Four
Byrne’s run on the Fantastic Four redefined the characters. While comic book storylines drift away from the original plot, #232-295 remain most beloved.
- Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four
There is no magic like the Kirby run. Before the superhero genre boom, it was Kirby’s pencils that made room for massive monster mayhems.
- Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther #1
A Coates x Stelfreeze collaboration where Black Panther’s proves his place in the Wakandan upheaval. Will Wakanda survive The People?
- Gerry Duggan’s Deadpool #1
This Merc-Mouth is annoying and dangerous. Still he is the public’s sweetheart, and top among comic con favorites. He’s asked Spidey to make room for him because the world is his oyster!
- Cullen Bunn’s Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #1
Deadpool risibly killed everybody in the Marvel Universe, again. Original creators Bunn-Talajic have reunited to paint a different heartbreak.
- Frank Miller’s Daredevil
Doom and the traditional superhero mix resulted in Daredevil. A classic Marvel hero, the landmark Miller-Janson run put him back on the market.
- Walter Simonson’s The Mighty Thor Omnibus
Remastered, Simonson’s Thor has become a coveted comic. This non-lite colorful omnibus delves into Norse mythology and insights into villains.
- Roy Thomas’ Essential Marvel Team-Up, Vol. 1
Spider-Man’s adventures include teaming up with several other superheroes. Least to say, it’ll be entertaining.
- Ed Brisson’s Old Man Logan #25
A long-lost threat re-emerges. If Logan’s past is a dystopian future, things aren’t looking good to begin with. Artist Mike Deodato Jr. is here for an all-new arc.
- Charles Soule’s Astonishing X-Men #1
Only the X-Men can save the day. Confronting a world that hates them, they have to prevent total annihilation.
- Greg Pak’s Weapon X #1
With research, new killers are being created for old targets. The experimentation on mutants has turned into an eradication spree. Who decides this?
- Marc Guggenheim’s X-Men: Gold #1
The new beginning starts here. Kitty Pryde takes the X-Men to battle. Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Logan, and Prestige are back!
- Cullen Bunn’s X-Men: BLUE #1
The original X-Men want to reclaim their title. IVX has left them with new fire for justice, but will Jean Grey and Magneto keep their goals aligned?
- Charles Soule’s Darth Vader #1
Anakin Skywalker’s rise made him more machine than man. With his step into the dark world, will loss mean becoming the Dark Lord?
- Gerry Duggan’s All-New Guardians Of The Galaxy #1
The Guardians’ biggest heist has Nova Corps’ peacekeepers on their tail. With war between The Collector and The Grandmaster, they barely have time to explain other oddities.
- Jeph Loeb’s Batman: The Long Halloween
While Batman ranks high amidst best comic book series, this one claims the best DC comics tag. In his early days of fighting, we follow his hunt for a “Holiday” murderer.
- Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come
DC’s iconic superheroes must choose sides in the dark alternative of their Universe. Will this end them all?
- George Pérez’s Wonder Woman
With old-style, Pérez presents Wonder Woman’s origin through her fame. It records several Greek mythologies as well.
- Grant Morrison’s Omnibus JLA
Another dazzling era of JLA. Morrison relaunches Justice League of America (JLA) with Howard Porter, with behemoth apocalyptic battles.
- Paul Levitz’s The Legion Of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
The DC Comics universe covets this deluxe-edition. Following Darkseid’s universe-conquering plan, will the Legion be able to save it from Armageddon?
- James Robinson’s The Starman Omnibus
One of the best among father-son superheroes, it stars a Gen-X superhero. When Jack Knight inherits more than a heroic identity, how will he rewrite legacy?
- Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman
Absolute Superman battles Bizarro, Zibarro, and Lex Luthor. A good Quitely-classic for illustrations.
- Tom King’s Mister Miracle
Greatest escape artist, Mister Miracle needs to escape death itself. With the Anti-Life Equation, will he be able to wriggle free from Darkseid’s cruelty and save himself?
- Scott Snyder’s Batman: The Black Mirror
Forced to confront old evils, Batman is trapped in Mirror House. Then, a killer whale appears, forecasting his battle with organized crimes.
- Kurt Busiek’s Marvels
Top-notch among the best Marvel comics, your heroes-and-villains face-off is here! With familiar characters taking on new faces, the possibilities are endless.
- Joe Bennett’s Immortal Hulk Vol 1: Or Is He Both?
Bruce Banner is a mild person. When his dark personality refuses to comply, Immortal Hulk is the only replacement.
- Frank Miller’s Batman, Year One
Solid reinterpretation of Batman’s origin, this is the story of the Dark Knight. Make room for a new vision of an already legendary character.
- Matt Fraction & David Aja’s Omnibus Hawkeye
Clint Barton’s downtime means new apartment, and mentoring Avenger Kate Bishop. When his found family faces threats from a mobster gang, his defense shows mettle.
- Tom Taylor’s DCeased
The Anti-Life Equation has turned six hundred-million people violent. Is saving humanity still possible?
- Slott & Allred’s Silver Surfer Omnibus
Buscema’s Silver Surfer is back! A return to peak comic-book art where original adventures have been restored.
- Erica Henderson’s The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol 1
She’s the nuttiest and most upbeat superhero you’d meet. Also, she’s starting college this semester.
- Gail Simone’s Secret Six: Six Degrees Of Devastation
Walking the good-evil line is even difficult for a misfit. When they have to rescue one of their own from a North-Korean prison, the team’s first mission makes them realize someone’s out to kill them.
- Bill Willingham’s Fables: Legends In Exile
Adversary’s conquests meant exile for all other inhabitants. Disguised as normal citizens, a secret society, Fabletown emerges. When one of them ends up dead, the sheriff (Bigby Wolf) has to step up.
- G. Willow Wilson’s Ms. Marvel, Vol 1: No Normal
Jersey City’s Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl, until she isn’t. She doesn’t know what she’s doing with her new-found powers, but she’s here to change.
- Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern: Rebirth
When Hal Jordan lost control and became the Parallax, his sacrifice made him the Spectre. Fearless in action, his current choices will put the entire universe in jeopardy.
- Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow
Kara Zor-El’s adventures ended with purpose-lessness. Her identity is at the cost of Superman’s fame. When an alien girl on a vicious mission seeks her out, revenge will come at any cost.
- Marv Wolfman’s Crisis On Infinite Earths
In the history of company crossovers, DC’s most beloved face tragedy. Doomed or not, this is the hallmark alternate-universe trope!
- Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
Queen Hera’s dissatisfaction birthed a new society. Desperate Hippolyta crossed the Amazons’ path, motioning the greatest war between heaven and earth. This sumptuous story is capable of wondrous and terrible things, beware!
- Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
This reinvention of the legendary Dark Knight has to be among the greatest comic books of all time. Ten years into retirement, Wayne joins hands with Carrie Kelley, the current Robin. Fate resides here.
- Chris Claremont’s X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga
The X-Men’s own Jean Grey has gained corruptible power. Do they save her or the universe?
- Mark Waid’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Vol. 1: The Devil Nezha
Waid and Mora bring another Superman X Batman. While Robin sneaks into the plot, Doom Patrol is here for extra backup.
- Jed MacKay’s Moon Knight, Vol 1: The Midnight Mission
Moon Knight’s people have petitioned him to keep them safe. Duty-bound, he stalks the rooftops and alleyways, until those he protects are the very ones that attack him. What does the end mean?
- Deniz Camp’s Absolute Martian Manhunter
He is beyond Mars, physical form, and Human Understanding. He is Absolute! 60s trippy psychedelic-esque art-style meets cold-war alien-invasion trope.
- Kelly Thompson’s Birds Of Prey #1
Every mission is important, until it becomes personal. Black Canary’s new ally brings her a difficult mission. When the Birds of Prey are on it, what would go wrong?
- Dan Watters’ Sword Of Azrael
St. Dumas’ Warrior Angel returns, ringing with Valley’s wish to relinquish Azrael. When a young woman claims the same System programming as him, the only way to protect her is by donning Azrael’s mantle.
- Alan Moore’s V For Vendetta
Among top-rated comics, this Future England’s Totalitarian world generates loss. Lone vigilante, V, fights back. Now, a major motion picture.
- Brian Michael Bendis’ Jessica Jones: Alias
One-time costumed heroine turned bitter P.I., Jones has finally opened her own detective agency. She’s trying to put distance between herself and the spandex gang, but there’s no outrunning that kind of circle. P.S A Max imprint to keep away from the kids!
- Mariko Tamaki’s Zatanna: Bring Down The House
Among DC supernatural superhero comics, Zatanna’s fear keeps her magic tamed with cheap party tricks. When a mysterious stranger collides into her low-key plot, there is nothing bigger than confronting an inter-dimensional rift.
Other comics we want you to read:
- Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing
Stunning debut, it revives classic monster’s deconstruction. Moore’s endless recommendations dictated a cornerstone.
- Garth Ennis’ Preacher, Volume 1: Gone To Texas
Reverend Custer has the power of “The Word” – people do what he says. When he comes face-to-face with proof of God, will answers be enough?
- Michael Allred’s Madman: The Oddity Odyssey
Between mainstream super-hero representation and mythos, Allred has produced a seminal work. This is Snap City’s Frank Einstein’s journey to Madman.
- Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo, Vol.1: Ronin
An ambitious epic saga of revenge and treachery. It follows a masterless anthropomorphic rabbit samurai, Miyamoto Usagi’s journey to glory.
- Ken Niimura’s I Kill Giants
Barbara Thorson is struggling in life. The only way to escape reality is by entering a fantasy world of monsters and magic.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection
The IDW collection is a reinvention of the original black-and-white TMNT world, with little difference. It remains an ideal reboot of the beloved main series.
- Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes
A beloved comic-strip-published-in-book-form, follows the daily adventures of Calvin, and his stuffed toy tiger, Hobbes. Nostalgia, on repeat.
- Jim Davis’ Garfield At Large: His First Book
Life was bleak for Garfield, until Jon Arbuckle stepped in. Origin story, this Garfield is the original prototype.
- Tom King’s The Omega Men
“Terrorist” alien freedom fighters are on a mission to avenge their people. The intergalactic criminals are headed for a confusing moral dilemma.
- Ram V’s These Savage Shores
In 1766, the East India Company set out to Malabar in their quest for wealth. The shores of the Indus await more than just a lone ship with ancient powerplay. A masterful blend of history and myth, this comic has got teeth.
- Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine
In a world where patriarchal rule disobedience could mean exile to a prison planet, can you “woman” enough for survival?
- Brian K. Vaughan’s The Private Eye
In Private Eye’s world, the inevitable future is secured with a secret identity for everyone. What does foresight mean in a world of privacy for an unlicensed P.I.?
- Mark Russell’s Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles
A 1953-America where drama, humor and tragedy hold hands. For a Southern gay playwright, Snagglepuss, success should have meant more than being a target, and yet.
- Gabriel Bà, Fàbio Moon’s Daytripper
Underrated among best graphic novels, Daytripper’s graphic storytelling poses the question of important days in life. Bràs de Oliva Domingos lives out his days, one story at a time.
- Matt Fraction’s Sex Criminals Vol 1
Suzie can stop time during fornication. So can Jon. The first thing they decide to do after is to rob a bank. As a bawdy, pun-ny comic, it fares well for a sex-comedy plot.
- Adrian Alphona’s Runaways: The Complete Collection
Six Pride & Joy kids discover that their parents are secretly super-power villains. When they run into a stranger whose interaction might mean defeating the parents, or breaking the band. Choices, everywhere.
- Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim,The Complete Series
Scott Pilgrim (23) has no direction in life until he meets Ramona Flowers. To make the relationship work, he has to fight her seven evil exes and old demons. The emotional conquest offers a video-game lens to the plot!
- Kyle Starks’ Assassin Nation
This Hitman trope hits the funny bone – 20 assassins are hired to keep the World’s-Former-Greatest-Hitman alive. They must work together to figure out who’s trying to off their crime boss. Your belly-aching, action-comedy, murder-fest has been served.
- Jeff Smith’s Bone: The Complete Edition
An original among the greatest comic book series, it follows three modern cartoon cousins who get lost in a pre-technology valley. Outrunning Boneville, they tread through uncharted deserts. It’s a long read, but hey, at least it’s funny!
- Rainbow Rowell’s Runaways: Find Your Way Home #1
The original 2000 IT cast is back! The heart of Runaways had died, but it’s back. Rowell’s debut will make you cry.
- Ryan North’s Adventure Time Vol 1
Skeleton dude, the Lich, has returned to the Land of Ooo for destruction. Finn and Jake are back, with fan-favorite characters to help!
- Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Vol 18: What Comes After
What we knew of the world is gone. The pandemic has brought the dead to life. Now, we live in a world of the dead.
- Mike Mignola’s Hellboy Vol 1: Seed Of Destruction
Investigating a supernatural-ish mystery, Hellboy stumbles on his origins. Of Nazi occultists and promises to Hitler, only Hellboy stands.
- Jeff Lemire’s Descender: Tin Stars
In this cosmic odyssey, robot boy TIM-21 has to hide from bounty hunters. As an outlaw, how do you stay alive in a world that shirks you?
- Ed Brubaker’s Criminal Vol 1: Coward
Legendary heist-planner and pickpocket Leo is looking for an exit. When lured into a risky heist, exits fade. It’s what 20 years’ worth of bottled-up violence looks like.
- Majorie Liu’s Monstress Vol 1: Awakening
In this art-deco steam punk, 1900’s matriarchal Asia, a teenager struggles with war trauma. She becomes a target as she realizes she shares a psychic link with a monster of tremendous power.
- Brian K. Vaughan’s Paper Girls Volume 1
Halloween, 1988: Four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls stumble across an important story. A clash of small-town drama with supernatural mysteries.
- Frank Miller’s Sin City: The Hard Goodbye
Marv is holed up in a lousy town’s room with Goldie. She’ll be killed without a mark which he will be framed for.
- Joe Hill’s Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft
New England’s unlikely mansion has fantastic doors. The relentless, hate-filled creatures within are waiting for the most-dangerous-door-of-them-all to be opened.
- Garth Ennis’ The War #1
Doomsday is here.With Cloonan, Ennis’ dystopian thriller portrays nuclear war and its immediate human impact. Of how collapse deems survival as the most terrible fate of all.
- Phil Jimenez’s Spaces
Short, auto-bio comic, Spaces ranked among the 2024 DC Comics Pride anthologies. A reflection of his childhood, Jimenez’s story is of finding solace in fantastical comic worlds.
- Eric Holmes’ The Transformers: Megatron Origin
Before Megatron, a civilian became a warrior and leader. He wielded the most powerful weapon, his faction Decepticon.
- Patrick Horvath’s Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite Of Spring #1
In Horvath’s cozy horror, an 80’s bloodlusting bear buries a duck’s dismembered body in the woods. Nearly a decade later, cuddly brown bear Samantha Strong, serves justice.
- Catherine Cash’s PeePee PooPoo
With underground influence, this is a relatably hilarious auto-bio comic. This one-woman anthology revolves around memoir and gag strips.
- W. Maxwell Price’s Ice Cream Man, Volume 1: Rainbow Sprinkles
We’d recommend Alan Moore’s From Hell, but how about a special sundae of suffering? This genre-defying series should be among classic comic books.
- James Tynion IV’s The City Beneath Her Feet
Deemed a “bloody” love letter to New York City, it prompts great art style. Gives John Wick/Kill Bill impressions ending on a cliffhanger. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Conclusion
It might feel overwhelming to keep up with the ever-changing comic book culture but always remember that we’re all here to have fun!
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