Best of the Best

[lazykarateguy]

Just a small idea I had.

Say you're talking to a friend who knows nothing about comic books. One day he/she is clued into the idea that you love comics, he/she starts making fun of you, but you say "oh wait. Read this before you judge"

So heres the deal. I want to know what 25 issues you'd pick out for a non comic fan, in these areas.

1-Any 25 ever. Could be one entire run, could be three short arcs, could be 25 different books.

2-One single Run on a book, no time limit, any 25 issues (consecutive) of any title.

3-One single run on a book, 1990-2006


The idea comes from a friend who knew full well I was a comic fan, and moved into my house with me for awhile, randomly he picked up an issue of Ultimates and was like "holy hell, this is cannot be a comic, it's awesome"

[Nick MB]

I'm gonna name a few 25 issue runs, because 25 individual comics or books would take forever and your other two categories are basically the same...

Deadpool #1-25 fits nicely, because although there were good moments after that befor Joe Kelly left with #33 (such as the Wolverine fight issue in #27), those first 25 were pitch-perfect.

Ultimate Spider-Man 1 - 28 or so... pushes it a bit, but #25 finishes us mid-arc. Basically, up to the end of the Legacy arc with the return of Norman Osborn. In an ideal world, probably take in the next story with the fake Spidey as well. (up to #32, then.) The Venom story is where the series got onto shakier ground, but those first 5 were flawless.

Daredevil #26- 50 (volume 2) - Bendis's first 25 were great. Again, the series got a bit patchier when he returned with #56. but these issues, oh baby.

[Trusty Mutsi]

I'm gonna name a few 25 issue runs, because 25 individual comics or books would take forever and your other two categories are basically the same...

Deadpool #1-25 fits nicely, because although there were good moments after that befor Joe Kelly left with #33 (such as the Wolverine fight issue in #27), those first 25 were pitch-perfect.

Ultimate Spider-Man 1 - 28 or so... pushes it a bit, but #25 finishes us mid-arc. Basically, up to the end of the Legacy arc with the return of Norman Osborn. In an ideal world, probably take in the next story with the fake Spidey as well. (up to #32, then.) The Venom story is where the series got onto shakier ground, but those first 5 were flawless.

Daredevil #26- 50 (volume 2) - Bendis's first 25 were great. Again, the series got a bit patchier when he returned with #56. but these issues, oh baby.

Did Bendis' run start with #26?

I've been thinking of jumping to the Marvel boat. OYL hasn't been what I expected, and I hear SO much good stuff about Marvel books as of late (Mainly that a lot of them are fun to read).

[Chinchalinchin]

Well, I'd try to give him something with literary merit since most people who don't like comic books don't understand that comics books can convey a story, in many instances, better than a book or movie. I don't blame them either. For a while, comics were just geekified Saturday morning cartoons with costumed dudes beating up other costumed dudes. But lately stories have taken a turn for the realistic and become grander in scope. I don't think I'd give anyone Deadpool or Ultimate Spider-Man since they are the kind of comic books that only work if you have been reading comics for a while. I give him something along the lines of Kraven's Last Hunt or Bendis and Maleev's entire run on Daredevil (minus their first Wake Up arc.). They seem to have more of a literary feel to them. They can and will make comic newbies appreciate the comic book as medium of story tellling.

If I didn't have to stick to Marvel, I'd definitely hand over Watchmen, V for Vendetta or any other Alan Moore masterpeice.

[Tony Starkz]

1-Ultimates Vol.1 #1-13,Ultimates Vol.2 #1-13

2-Young Avengers #1-current

3-Daredevil #26-50,#56-81

[dingo]

ultimate x-men 41
(that's the one where Fury ask's Logan to kill the mutant who is out of control, one of the saddest stories I have read)

Ultimates 1-13

Ultimate Spider-man 1-13

And then once they have read those ask them if they are ready for comics made for adults yet?

[Evil-Spidey]

i would give him amazing spider-man vol.1 1-25 but i think the art would turn him of.



second choice would be:

the ultimates 1-13
the ultimates 2 1-13

makes 26 issues but u2 12 was planned to be double sized

[Nick MB]

Hm, if you're trying to impress a non-comics reader, I'd probably agree with another commenter and skip super-heroes entirely at least at first. Something like Y: The Last Man or Transmet, maybe Barry Ween. None of these are Marvel, but Marvel's stuff is damn near all super-hero.
Although: If they saw and liked the X-Men movies, in particular, Grant Morrison's New X-Men run is worth a look.

[Ikaris]

Ultimates is obvious.

I would have him/her read my hardcover Supreme Power (mild nudity always helps :-)