Best comics of the '90s: Is the list inaccurate or did the '90s suck?

[Chris Nowlin]

http://comicbookbin.com/reviews001.html

Maybe they mean the books that best characterized the '90s. Because when I worked in a comic store, we would frequently remove several copies of Bloodshot #1 from the quarter bin to the recycling bin. Same for Harbinger. But I haven't read it. Is it really the best comic of the decade?

[Michael P]

http://comicbookbin.com/reviews001.html

Maybe they mean the books that best characterized the '90s. Because when I worked in a comic store, we would frequently remove several copies of Bloodshot #1 from the quarter bin to the recycling bin. Same for Harbinger. But I haven't read it. Is it really the best comic of the decade?
I'd have to give that an unqualified "Hell no."

Looking at the list, it says "Ten Most Important," not "Ten Best." Although I'd still argue that Harbinger does not belong on top of that list.

[Grazzt]

I'd have to give that an unqualified "Hell no."

Looking at the list, it says "Ten Most Important," not "Ten Best." Although I'd still argue that Harbinger does not belong on top of that list.

Also, some of them are specifically listed as being important because they were so crappy. For instance:

Adventures of Superman #500 (DC) - The sequel to Superman #75 with equally high orders, the book's poor quality left a bad taste in readers mouths' and set the ball rolling that would crash the industry.


Also, despite being in the top spot, Harbinger #1 is the only one in the top ten to not have its cover featured. I wonder why?

[BoosterBronze]

What the hell was Harbringer?

[hoffmandu]

I agree with this list. Valiant was the shiznit back then. They were one of the few who still put some effort into story telling.

[Charles RB]

Although I'd still argue that Harbinger does not belong on top of that list.

I've never even read Harbinger and looking at their description, I'm already sure they're talking crap.

[Tobias March]

I've never even read Harbinger and looking at their description, I'm already sure they're talking crap.

I still don't actually know what Harbinger is though. There's no description of it, apart from the Pulp Fiction comparison (which always raises my hackles).

[Sanagi]

Yes and yes.

[Beyond The Beyonder]

On a Top Ten list of most important 90s comics, it might make sense to include one of the Valiant #1's, probably Harbinger, somewhere on the list, maybe as high as #8, because the company did have some impact on the industry. I'll but there're about 10 people who remember the story though.

[Stellar]

early 90s had Rob Liefeld. nuff said. later, writers started refining comics and fleshing them out (Authority).

but if i'm not mistaken, saleswise, X-men #1 is still unbeaten

[hoffmandu]

early 90s had Rob Liefeld. nuff said. later, writers started refining comics and fleshing them out (Authority).

but if i'm not mistaken, saleswise, X-men #1 is still unbeaten

Ya know, that's really sad. I reread that issue a few months back and I think it's crap with multiple steam lines drawn from it.

[Stellar]

yeah, it looks like crap now. back then that book was an instant hit, what with new costumes and Lee's unique style

[hoffmandu]

yeah, it looks like crap now. back then that book was an instant hit, what with new costumes and Lee's unique style

I bought all 5 (or was it 4) covers...........and you are correct, it certainly was.

[Pól Rua]

Without Harbinger, there wouldn't have been a wake-up call for the rest of the industry to move away from gimmicks and hype, and back to quality story-telling.

Balls.
You know why Harbinger #1 sold so well and for so much?
Because there was a trading card polybagged into every Valiant comic that month, and Harbinger had the lowest print run, therefore, it was the hardest to find.

Quality storytelling my arse!

[Michael P]

yeah, it looks like crap now. back then that book was an instant hit, what with new costumes and Lee's unique style
Heh. Back then, you could call it unique, but it's funny to hear it described as such now, when seemingly the highest accolade an artist (particularly an X-Men artist) can receive is "He draws like Jim Lee."

[Michael P]

Without Harbinger, there wouldn't have been a wake-up call for the rest of the industry to move away from gimmicks and hype, and back to quality story-telling.

Balls.
You know why Harbinger #1 sold so well and for so much?
Because there was a trading card polybagged into every Valiant comic that month, and Harbinger had the lowest print run, therefore, it was the hardest to find.

Quality storytelling my arse!Seriously. Valiant's success with gimmicks and hype is what led Marvel and DC to adopt those tactics in the first place.

[hoffmandu]

Seriously. Valiant's success with gimmicks and hype is what led Marvel and DC to adopt those tactics in the first place.

I always thought Image coined that BS. Rememeber the coupons? Spawn #4 ring a bell.

[Michael P]

I always thought Image coined that BS. Rememeber the coupons? Spawn #4 ring a bell.
Valiant did it first. Beat them only by a year or so, but they're still the ones who ushered it in.

[hoffmandu]

Valiant did it first. Beat them only by a year or so, but they're still the ones who ushered it in.

Those bitch bastards! Anyone remember Turok #1? Jesus, I think I bought 5 copies of that POS.

[Michael P]

Those bitch bastards! Anyone remember Turok #1? Jesus, I think I bought 5 copies of that POS.
Eh, Turok was inoffensive next to Ninjak.

[Pól Rua]

Seriously. Valiant's success with gimmicks and hype is what led Marvel and DC to adopt those tactics in the first place.

Which is a shame, because they had good writers, artists and stories for awhile there, and really shouldn't have had to resort to that kind of crap.
It wasn't earth-shaking stuff, but a lot of Valiant's published output was good, solid, sci-fi-infused superhero pulp.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

Superman Y2K
Scheduled to arrive in stores: December 29, 1999

Writer: Joe Kelly
Penciller: Butch Guice
Inker: Kevin Conrad, Mark Propst, and Richard Bonk


This was the best comic of the 1990s because it was the last one I ever read in that fetid decade. After I finished the morass of shit that it represented, I knew it was over.

[Iangould]

early 90s had Rob Liefeld. nuff said. later, writers started refining comics and fleshing them out (Authority).

There's was actually quite a lot of good stuff to come out of the 90's - Transmetropolitan, Starman and Preacher being three obvious examples.

[howyadoin]

I bought all 5 (or was it 4) covers...It was 5, including the version with the fold-out cover that had all the other covers on it.

Er, so I heard.

[Sir Tim Drake]

The '90s was actually a really good decade for alternative comics and, I think, for European comics as well. The best comics of the '90s included things like Maus volume 2, Eightball, Love & Rockets (and its various spinoffs), Hate, Acme Novelty Library, Black Hole, Bacchus, Rubber Blanket, Palooka-ville, City of Glass, Our Cancer Year, etc. Also slightly more mainstream stuff like Sandman, Marvels, Starman, Bone, Leave it to Chance, Astro City, and Barry Windsor-Smith: Storyteller.

[Ryan Day]

The early Valiant stuff was very good. Buoyed by sales gimmicks, yes, but it was propping up a quality product. You had Jim Shooter, Barry Windsor Smith, David Lapham, and a few other guys I can't remember doing some smart superhero books with sci-fi and horror angles. In the early days, it was definitely content over style, which made for a nice contrast to the Image-style "Splash Pages R Us" stuff. Harbinger was a very good take on the "kids with powers" idea, and I'd still pay good money for an Archer & Armstrong hardcover collection. Heck, even some of the later stuff was pretty decent, with John Ostrander writing Magnus.

That said, I don't think they deserve quite so many spots on a list of best or most important. One or two, maybe - I remember Bloodshot being a huge deal, though I found the book itself pretty lousy. If you're going for significance, I think I'd put the big Deathmate crossover near the top, since that was the point at which I gave up on both Image and Valiant.

[howyadoin]

I'd still pay good money for an Archer & Armstrong hardcover collection.Hell. Yeah.

[Brian Cronin]

I don't get it, is the article writer, like, Jim Shooter's brother?

That list was insane.

Like others, I wouldn't mind maybe A valiant title being on the list, because Valiant certainly WAS pretty big during the 90s.

But THREE in the top ten and SIX in the honorable mentions?

That's gotta be some sort of joke, like a "Ha ha - look how many Valiants I put on there!"

I wish we had Andy Smith here so he could explain himself.

-Brian

[Tadhg Adams]

Stray Bullets, Palestine, Fax from Sarajevo, Hitman, Hellboy, Invisibles, Supreme, Sin City, Bone, and the end of the decade saw ABC Comics and the revitalization of Wildstorm.

[Dan Apodaca]

Optic Nerve started in the nineties, right?

[Iangould]

and I'd still pay good money for an Archer & Armstrong hardcover collection. Heck, even some of the later stuff was pretty decent, with John Ostrander writing Magnus.




Who owns the reprint rights to the Valiant stuff?

Is it still Acclaim?

The Windsor-Smith Solar stuff also cries out to be collected.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I'd still pay good money for an Archer & Armstrong hardcover collection.

Why, given that you can get the original issues for next to nothing?

[Sir Tim Drake]

Optic Nerve started in the nineties, right?

Yes.......

[howyadoin]

Why, given that you can get the original issues for next to nothing?Because nice hardcover collections trump a bag of used floppies.

[the film freak]

I don't get it, is the article writer, like, Jim Shooter's brother?

That list was insane.

Like others, I wouldn't mind maybe A valiant title being on the list, because Valiant certainly WAS pretty big during the 90s.

But THREE in the top ten and SIX in the honorable mentions?

That's gotta be some sort of joke, like a "Ha ha - look how many Valiants I put on there!"

I wish we had Andy Smith here so he could explain himself.

-Brian

I'm surprised there was no mention for Warriors of Plasm.

I share some affection towards nineties comics but man what an awful list. I mean there's no mention of Mike Allred for one. And Sin City, Hellboy and Preacher only get honorable mentions?

This isn't the same Andy Smith who used to work for Valiant (he's the guy who draws like Bart Sears)?

[Ryan Day]

Who owns the reprint rights to the Valiant stuff?

Is it still Acclaim?

I don't remember the details, but I believe someone bought some of the rights a while ago, though it may have just been the trademarks. I seem to recall someone saying that they'd have the right to print a new Eternal Warrior series, but it couldn't resemble the old one. And of course, the Magnus and Solar stuff would be much more complex.


Why, given that you can get the original issues for next to nothing?

I actually have all the originals (all the BWS run, anyway), but it's such a good book I'd like it in a bookshelf-friendly format.

[Woodwose]

On a Top Ten list of most important 90s comics, it might make sense to include one of the Valiant #1's, probably Harbinger, somewhere on the list, maybe as high as #8, because the company did have some impact on the industry. I'll but there're about 10 people who remember the story though.

I found the first TPB in a $0.25 bin. I still haven't read it years later. Why do I own thiis book?

[Brian Cronin]

I'm surprised there was no mention for Warriors of Plasm.

I share some affection towards nineties comics but man what an awful list. I mean there's no mention of Mike Allred for one. And Sin City, Hellboy and Preacher only get honorable mentions?

This isn't the same Andy Smith who used to work for Valiant (he's the guy who draws like Bart Sears)?

I thought of the Andy Smith who drew X-O Manowar, too. But I doubt it's him.

I think, depending on how you define "important," you can very easily omit a ton of great books, just because they didn't have a huge impact on the comic scene.

Stray Bullets would be an example of this.

But there is no reasonable argument for having THREE Valiant books among the Top Ten.

I wish there was some way we could hear Smith's reasoning on this.

-Brian

[Woodwose]

Although Sandman technincally started in 1989, the best stuff came in the 90's. I'd put Sandman near the top of this list. This book changed my life. During my teenaged years I read this book over and over. It reintroduced wonder into my life, mostly through intrepreting my dreams. This book showed me how powerful comics could be and is probably why I'm still reading comics today. Sandman is easily my favourite title of all time.

[thehod]

Pffft.

How can you talk about great comics from the 90's without talking about Justice League Extreme. Superhero deconstruction at its finest.

Made damn good bog paper too.

[Stellar]

There's was actually quite a lot of good stuff to come out of the 90's - Transmetropolitan, Starman and Preacher being three obvious examples.

ah, yes, Preacher. you ask me, that book should have made number #1. when i read the first issue i thought 'okay, all we're gonna see is Custer using the word.' instead, the book surprised me with plot twists and a plethora of interesting characters.

as for Sandman, it was in deed an intriguing comic, one that sort of corssed shakespear with comic book stories. it had me talking Shakespear for weeks. that book arth spiffing, man, simply spiffing. not something every comic reader would like, mind you, what with the novelic feel.

i agree with Cronin, that list needs some major tweaking

[Iangould]

I'm tempted to suggest that we run the poll again, asking people to pick from top 50 or Top 100.

[Stellar]

why not? there were enough comics in the nineties and there are a lot that this list just doesn't do justice. get the petition, boys

[Ryan K]

There was a discussion about the same list on the Classic Comics forum a while back.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=112946&

[Mister Mets]

http://comicbookbin.com/reviews001.html

Maybe they mean the books that best characterized the '90s. Because when I worked in a comic store, we would frequently remove several copies of Bloodshot #1 from the quarter bin to the recycling bin. Same for Harbinger. But I haven't read it. Is it really the best comic of the decade?

The book is not a list of the best comics of the 90s, but the most influential, according to one guy who seriously over-rates Valiant, which didn't even survive the 90s.

As quality is irrelevant to influence, it really shouldn't have been considered.

I'll look at the list book by book.

Authority #1- This book deserves to be on the list for its impact on everything from X-Force, Thor, Fantastic Four, and the Ultimates at Marvel to the Superman books at DC, and many indy superhero books. It explained the change of comics storytelling to something far more visual (ie- decompression, cinematic storytelling.) If anything it should be hire.

Daredevil Marvel Knights #1- Tremendously important. The success of this book is why Joe Quesada became Editor-in-Chief of Marvel, and why both companies have sought writers outside of comics, an impressive list which includes Joss Whedon, J Michael Stracynci (probably the most important Spider-Man writer of the last decade), Allan Heinberg, Charlie Huston, Greg Rucka, and Brad Metzer (who followed Kevin Smith on Green Arrow.) Speaking of which, this book made possible Kevin Smith's successful revamp of Green Arrow.

Solar #0- It was a great comic book, but I believe it's influence was limited, especially as it's essentially a collection of back up stories from the first ten issues of Solar. The use of real science is important, but Shooter's not the first to use it.

Astro City #1- Great comic book, but it's not that "important." Kurt Busiek's popularity, the idea of self-contained accessible comics did not begin here.

Magnus #1- As this was the first major Valiant book, I'll accept it on the list.

Marvels #1- Tremendously important. Jump-started the careers of Alex Ross, and Kurt Busiek. It became more common to feature superhero stories in the POV of others. Led to many stories set in past continuity.

X-Men #1- Best selling comic book of all time, and the biggest example of the problems with the spectator market. Tension between Claremont & Jim Lee led to Claremont leaving the book. It restored Magneto as a villain. Its success at a time when there were far less X-books contributed to the dozen or so we have today. Its success helped launch Image.

Superman #75- Exemplified the Spectator Market. Tremendously newsworthy. And it meant that no later event could top it.

Spawn #1- Belongs on the list because of Mcfarlane's later success, and the continued survival of Image.

Harbinger #1- I don't think it's as good as Watchmen, DKR, or Maus.
Supervillains have died before this book (John Byrne's Superman, Stern/ Byrne's Captain America.) It wasn't even the first big Valiant book, and the influence on current writers is negligible. I think the writer of the article liked this book way too much, and that clouded his judgement.

[macul]

Number 6 - Magnus #1

The first superhero book published by VALIANT Comics marks the birth of the only publisher to have ever seriously given Marvel and DC a run for their money. VALIANT did what Image was supposed to do: Create a roster of completely original characters under a shared universe, and they succeeded with both style and swagger. VALIANT came out of the gate with a winning formula -- a top quality product with great storytelling. The VALIANT name soon became associated with quality and everything they did turned out golden. VALIANT was the Gucci of the comics industry.

Weren't several of the Valiant titles once published by Gold Key (?)? I'm thinking Turok and Magnus...

[Mister Mets]

Since I don't think Harbinger #1, Solar #0, or Magnus #1 should be on the list, I'll substitute them with three more.

JLA #1- This book forever established Grant Morrison as an A-list writer (which led to bestselling gigs on new X-men, and All-Star Superman), served as a precursor to books like the Authority (it's no coincidence that Morrison's now writing that one) and reminded the comics companies that readers want to see the company's biggest characters on one book, something Marvel took to heart with the Heroes Return Avengers, and the New Avengers relaunch. I'm surprised it wasn't even included as an honorable mention.

Preacher #1- Established Ennis, and Dillon as two of the best creators in the industry, and the identity of the Vertigo franchise. Early example of cinematic storytelling, a finite series, and it got a different audience than other Marvel books. Its influence can be felt in other Vertigo books, such as Y The Last Man (which reference it) and the work of Daniel Way.

Web of Spider-Man #117: I was going to add Gen 13 #1, but I remembered something bigger. The Clone Saga. its impact on Spider-Man was tremendous, especially the damage to the franchise, which wasn't really restored to its former critical/ sales glory until the combination of Ultimate Spider-Man, JMS's Amazing Spider-Man, and Paul Jenkins's Peter Parker Spider-Man.

Time to rank these into my own Top 10 list.

10. Preacher #1
9. Web of Spider-Man #117
8. The Authority #1
7. Magnus, Robot Fighter #1
6. Marvels #1
5. JLA #1
4. Daredevil Marvel Knights #1
3. Spawn #1
2. X-Men #1
1. Superman #75

[Michael P]

Number 6 - Magnus #1

The first superhero book published by VALIANT Comics marks the birth of the only publisher to have ever seriously given Marvel and DC a run for their money. VALIANT did what Image was supposed to do: Create a roster of completely original characters under a shared universe, and they succeeded with both style and swagger. VALIANT came out of the gate with a winning formula -- a top quality product with great storytelling. The VALIANT name soon became associated with quality and everything they did turned out golden. VALIANT was the Gucci of the comics industry.

Weren't several of the Valiant titles once published by Gold Key (?)? I'm thinking Turok and Magnus...
Turok, Magnus, and Solar, that I can remember. And outside of X-O-Manowar, I don't think any of their original* characters was ever as successful for them as those were.

*Can anyone really look me in the face and say that Harbinger, Dr. Mirage, or HARD Corps are original concepts?

[Stellar]

Hell no. hell, they even stated that X-O-Manowar was in the tradition of Iron Man. if that doesn't say it all

[Mister Mets]

I'm tempted to suggest that we run the poll again, asking people to pick from top 50 or Top 100.
Unless you've read the books, you wouldn't be qualified to pick a Top 50 in terms of quality, and unless you know a lot about the marker, you wouldn't be qualified to pick a Top 50 in terms of importance.


I agree with this list. Valiant was the shiznit back then. They were one of the few who still put some effort into story telling.
Did that make them important/ influential?

What the hell was Harbringer?
This question explains what's wrong with the list.

Seriously. Valiant's success with gimmicks and hype is what led Marvel and DC to adopt those tactics in the first place.
That success sadly could be said to make , especially given the impact on speculators, and the realization that people will buy comics they can't read without seriously lowering the value (which led to the CGC.)

I'm surprised there was no mention for Warriors of Plasm.

I share some affection towards nineties comics but man what an awful list. I mean there's no mention of Mike Allred for one. And Sin City, Hellboy and Preacher only get honorable mentions?

This isn't the same Andy Smith who used to work for Valiant (he's the guy who draws like Bart Sears)?
Sin City, and Hellboy were good, but I don;'t think they were that important, especially with the limited work Miller/ Mignola have done since (this isn't to insult them, but Garth Ennis/ Steve Dillon are more prolific, which helps them be more important).

[Loren]

Also, despite being in the top spot, Harbinger #1 is the only one in the top ten to not have its cover featured. I wonder why?

This should be remedied. Ladies and gentlemen, the most important comic book of the 1990s:

http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/CD/vh1/Harbinger/harbinger01.jpg

[Jeff Brady]

Unless you've read the books, you wouldn't be qualified to pick a Top 50 in terms of quality, and unless you know a lot about the marker, you wouldn't be qualified to pick a Top 50 in terms of importance.

There's a good chance he has, owning a comic shop & all.

[Michael P]

This should be remedied. Ladies and gentlemen, the most important comic book of the 1990s:

http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/CD/vh1/Harbinger/harbinger01.jpg
The license plate takes on wonderful levels of meaning in retrospect, doesn't it?

[howyadoin]

Tension between Claremont & Jim Lee led to Claremont leaving the book.I thought the issues were between Claremont and the editor, not Jim Lee.

Especially considering that they collaborated again at Image.

[hoffmandu]

Turok, Magnus, and Solar, that I can remember. And outside of X-O-Manowar, I don't think any of their original* characters was ever as successful for them as those were.

*Can anyone really look me in the face and say that Harbinger, Dr. Mirage, or HARD Corps are original concepts?

I always thought HardCorp was dope. A Team of heroes who had access to a ton of different powers, but could only use one at a time.

[Michael P]

I always thought HardCorp was dope. A Team of heroes who had access to a ton of different powers, but could only use one at a time.
In other words, an entire team of Ultra Boys.

[hoffmandu]

In other words, an entire team of Ultra Boys.
Don't know who that is. I only remember the team having a radio link to someone at an HQ. And they'd be in the middle of a firefight, "I need shield now" or something like that.

[Hoss]

This is absolutely friggin ridiculous. This would be like somebody in 2016 doing a list of the top most important books of 2000's and putting Crossgen's Sojourn and Sigil on the list and Meridian at number 1. Goodness, Valiant and Crossgen were almost the same thing - started of great, picked up alot steam, lots of industry attention got too big, then fell apart after 3 or four years.*







* And for disclosure, I absolutely loved both Valian and Crossgen. Archer and Armstrong was the bomb.

[Mister Mets]

I thought the issues were between Claremont and the editor, not Jim Lee.

Especially considering that they collaborated again at Image.

It was more of a case of editors choosing Jim Lee's plans for the future of the X-Men over those of a Claremont.

Still contributed to making X-Men #1 significant.

[Tadhg Adams]

This is absolutely friggin ridiculous. This would be like somebody in 2016 doing a list of the top most important books of 2000's and putting Crossgen's Sojourn and Sigil on the list and Meridian at number 1. Goodness, Valiant and Crossgen were almost the same thing - started of great, picked up alot steam, lots of industry attention got too big, then fell apart after 3 or four years.*







* And for disclosure, I absolutely loved both Valian and Crossgen. Archer and Armstrong was the bomb.

I'd disagree with that. Valiant actually had an effect on what other companies did and actually affected the industry as a whole. Crossgen didn't really affect anything outside of their press releases.

[Davideaux]

Did Magnus ever find some damn pants?

[macul]

Did Magnus ever find some damn pants?

Don't you prefer to fight robots while wearing a speedo? I do. Much more comfortable.

[hoffmandu]

I'd disagree with that. Valiant actually had an effect on what other companies did and actually affected the industry as a whole. Crossgen didn't really affect anything outside of their press releases.

I agree. Who was the Valient Soldier guy. He had his own book, not the darkness dude, another guy, real badass.

[Grazzt]

Did Magnus ever find some damn pants?

There should be a Magnus/Captain SNES crossover.

[Tadhg Adams]

I agree. Who was the Valient Soldier guy. He had his own book, not the darkness dude, another guy, real badass.

Bloodshot?

[hoffmandu]

Bloodshot?

Naw, not Bloodshot. I wanna say Revolutionary or something. White guy, ......that's about all I got.

[thik_3rd]

some of the old valiant stuff was cool, but ilied solar and magnus more than harbinger.

[KingEli]

Pffft.

How can you talk about great comics from the 90's without talking about Justice League Extreme. Superhero deconstruction at its finest.

Made damn good bog paper too.


You mean Extreme Justice? That was apart of The JLI Trainwreck after Giffen/DeMatties Left The Book.

[the film freak]

This should be remedied. Ladies and gentlemen, the most important comic book of the 1990s:

http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/CD/vh1/Harbinger/harbinger01.jpg

Who doesn't remember the day when Harbinger #1 came out?

I know do.

I was at the comic book store... and I bought something other then Harbinger #1.

[Paradox]

QUANTUM & WOODY!!!!







Sorry...just sort of slipped out. :p

[Charles RB]

Crossgen didn't really affect anything outside of their press releases.

Oh no, it did affect a sizeable number of people in the industry.

Writer Ian Edgington got so affected he almost lost his house...

[JeffreyWKramer]

I always thought HardCorp was dope. A Team of heroes who had access to a ton of different powers, but could only use one at a time.

I thought it was the worst-written of the second-wave of Valiant books, beating out even such turdfests as RAI and BLOODSHOT. The characters had less in the way of distinguishing personality traits than did your typical miscellaneous Smurf and the stories were entirely forgettable.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Naw, not Bloodshot. I wanna say Revolutionary or something. White guy, ......that's about all I got.

Eternal Warior, maybe?

[Tadhg Adams]

Oh no, it did affect a sizeable number of people in the industry.

Writer Ian Edgington got so affected he almost lost his house...

As shitty as that is, that's not the kind of affect I'm talking about when I say "Affected the industry."

[TheTen-EyedMan]

I think the 90s are summed up for me in Dave Sim slowly going stark, staring batshit as documented in Cerebus.

[Charles RB]

As shitty as that is, that's not the kind of affect I'm talking about when I say "Affected the industry."

Well, I'd have thought such a massive & public collapse of a company that left many creators unpaid and indebt would have affected the industry by making it harder for other new companies to find people willing to work for them.

Though based on Dream-Engine, Speakeasy et al, I was wrong...

[howyadoin]

I thought it was the worst-written of the second-wave of Valiant books, beating out even such turdfests as RAI and BLOODSHOT. The characters had less in the way of distinguishing personality traits than did your typical miscellaneous Smurf and the stories were entirely forgettable.Who was the guy who wore ski boots?

[Citizen V]

http://comicbookbin.com/reviews001.html

Maybe they mean the books that best characterized the '90s.

I would agree with some,but not so much on others.Gen13 should have been somewhere on the list,Savage Dragon and Strangers In Paradise should have been on the list at all.

I could understand why Spawn is #1..it was the best in the 90`s,but its no where now..

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Harbringer 1# the best comic of the 1990's ? Jesus...really ? I demand a recount. Ok to pick this apart.

Number 1 - Harbinger #1

In the editorial, VALIANT's Editor in Chief, Jim Shooter, tells us that the book we hold in our hands is the most important since Avengers #1. Thirteen years later and I'm still not sure that he was wrong.

And by god....since he told you this it must be a proven fact ! I know why McFarlane didn't get 1# spot on this list. He didn''t have an editorial in the back of the issue claiming Spawn #1 was the greatest work since Watchmen !


When this book was first released it was a national sensation. Every kid worth his polybag and backing board just had to have one, and the resulting frenzy sent the book to the top of Wizard's Top Ten Hottest Books List for a then-record four months. What's more, the demand didn't stop even when the book began selling for well over $100.

Thats because it was a speculator market you jackass. All the Vallient books and Image books were selling like hotcakes to people who thought they were a great investment. But hell man....since Wizard had it at #1 for 4 months then by GOD it must have been good.

When it was good, Harbinger was without a doubt one of the best written books in comics history. The first story line ( Children of the Eighth Day) deserves to be uttered in the same breath as the masterpieces of the art form; Watchmen, Maus, Dark Knight Returns, etc..

I think all those creators just threw up. I'm sorry...the book may have had a great story. It may have had a story that many of its fans remember to this day. But when you compare it to a Watchmen or Dark Knight Returns it had best be something we all can agree on . (since I have those 2 in TPB...can it ?)

The book's creative team reinvented the genre popularized by the X-Men. The good guys did unforgivable things, the bad guys were usually more right then the good guys, and best of all, they behaved like real people would -- In the VALIANT Universe, when you want to kill your enemy, you don't challenge him to a stand-off at your base on the moon (this is actually a plot involving the X-Men), you send someone he trusts to shoot him in the back of the head. Things happen in Harbinger that would never happen in an X-Men book (for those that know Harbinger think Torque), but happen all the time in the movies and other arts, and definitely in real life. Most importantly, Harbinger was the book that sparked a revolution in comics. Harbinger was the Pulp Fiction of the comics industry -- an indie critical and commercial smash hit that changed all the rules and broke down the door for a host of independent talent.

Thats it basically. You liked the story. It sounds decent but come on. Your placing too much importance on Harbringer.

Without Harbinger, VALIANT wouldn't have become the third largest publisher as quickly as it did. Without Harbinger, there wouldn't have been an Ultraverse Universe or a Crossgen Universe.

No they would have produced Solar and Magnus and made a shitload of cash off people who boughts copies way over cover price. There would have been an Ultraverse and a Crossgen anyhow without Harbringer.


Without Harbinger, there wouldn't have been a wake-up call for the rest of the industry to move away from gimmicks and hype, and back to quality story-telling.

Thats one hell of a wakeup call by the way. I mean with the book selling speculator numbers and having a card inside it as well. The only time I remember the industry having a wakeup call was when the market crashed.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

This should be remedied. Ladies and gentlemen, the most important comic book of the 1990s:

http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/CD/vh1/Harbinger/harbinger01.jpg

Looking at the cover perhaps the guy is right. Vallient's license plate says LATE AGAIN in a way. So perhaps Image learned this lesson from Vallient when they launched.

[mgs]

This should be remedied. Ladies and gentlemen, the most important comic book of the 1990s:

</p>
haha! LOL!Who doesn't remember the day when Harbinger #1 came out?

I know do.

I was at the comic book store... and I bought something other then Harbinger #1.

even funnier! ;)

[Justin Davis]

Who was the guy who wore ski boots?

That's The Second Life of Dr. Mirage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life_of_Dr._Mirage).

I had every issue of it and remember liking it a lot because it played around with interesting concepts such as how does an intangible man keep his marriage going if he can't even touch his wife. My memory may be tainted by roughly 12 years worth of nostalgia.

Oh, and he wore ski boots because he was stuck wearing the same outfit he was "killed in," which was his ski suit.

[The Basilisk]

I guess I'm more nostalgic for 90's stuff b/c they were my forumlative years for reading comics, even though I think most people think that was a crap era for comics. I followed Lee's X-Men, a lot of Image's stuff, some of the bad girl stuff. More eye candy than substance.

I think list should be described as 'influential' than 'best'.

[clayholio]

That's The Second Life of Dr. Mirage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life_of_Dr._Mirage).

I had every issue of it and remember liking it a lot because it played around with interesting concepts such as how does an intangible man keep his marriage going if he can't even touch his wife. My memory may be tainted by roughly 12 years worth of nostalgia.

Oh, and he wore ski boots because he was stuck wearing the same outfit he was "killed in," which was his ski suit.

I also read that book from the first issue, and I enjoyed it. If I recall, it was nice that they attempted to incorporate a new martial art (capoeira) into a "superhero" book instead of standard punch/kick fights, and the book had some early (and good) Bernard Chang artwork.

[Pól Rua]

Don't know who that is. I only remember the team having a radio link to someone at an HQ. And they'd be in the middle of a firefight, "I need shield now" or something like that.

Power X-TREME!
Yup, 'The Centurians', proof that, even Alex Toth, Jack Kirby and Gil Kane can get together and STILL create a turd.

[howyadoin]

That's The Second Life of Dr. Mirage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life_of_Dr._Mirage).

I had every issue of it and remember liking it a lot because it played around with interesting concepts such as how does an intangible man keep his marriage going if he can't even touch his wife. My memory may be tainted by roughly 12 years worth of nostalgia.

Oh, and he wore ski boots because he was stuck wearing the same outfit he was "killed in," which was his ski suit.Good thing he wasn't skin-diving at the time.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I like how the guy gives credibility to the Wizard pricing guide!

Amazing how valuable those Valiant issues were until the Shamus family Shoppe sold out of them.

[sherlockbones]

wasn´t the most important valiant book rai#0?
telling the future of the whole valiant universe and being the first #0 book?
(afaik)
or was that just my impression.

valiant seriously warped my comic book experience and i quit for years when it went down the drain. i still love to reread them every now and then.
wit and gore

maybe we should start a "best archer&armstrong moments" thread.
i´d preemptively like to qualify a&a escaping through rome´s sewers just to reappear in the pope´s bedroom.
archer struck with awe wanting to discuss philosophical questions, while armstrong was more interested in the pope´s taste of underwear

[andy circus]

I like how the guy gives credibility to the Wizard pricing guide!


i wonder how many new kids know about the
"pennies on the dollar resale value".
i bet i can walk into any comic store in america and get
offered 20 bucks for the amazing spiderman #1 :)
i see a decent little documentary here or
a john stossel "give me a break!" segment!

[Alex]

the only thing i remeber about Valiant, was that MOTA loved those books, and i always saw them in the 10 cent bin when i started buying comics.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

the only thing i remeber about Valiant, was that MOTA loved those books, and i always saw them in the 10 cent bin when i started buying comics.

You know whats scary...I think I saw those same Valient issues in my LCS 10 Cent bin as well. ;)

[Alex]

You know whats scary...I think I saw those same Valient issues in my LCS 10 Cent bin as well. ;)

I've thought about buying them, but never got around to it.
Somehow a book with "Robot Fighter" in the title, with the guy wearning some kinda 1950's sci fi outfit, it isn't doing it for me.