Expert: Brian G. Philbin - 5/22/2008

Question
Best of Comics Question I would like to know what you would consider is the best issues or story arcs in the original X-Men, Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man, Ghost Rider; Hulk, and Fantastic Four series. Please put the issue #(s) next to your selections. Thanks.
P.S. I realize this is a large task so I don’t mind if it takes you a long time to do.


Answer
Hi, Jason -

Well, this is an answer in a few parts.  First and foremost, I think it's important for every reader to be familiar with the stories that started it all, so one has a sense of history with regard to these particular characters.  As such, I recommend Marvel's great "Essentials" line in order to cheaply get up to speed with the beginnings of all of these characters.  They're the size of a small phone book and are in black & white, but give you the essential plot elements of all of these characters and introduces you to them in the manner originally intended.

From there, you will then be able to judge for yourself how well other storylines maintain the heart and soul of the characters.

That said, aside from first appearances and original series, there are a few suggestions I would make:

Original X-Men - pretty much only the beginning 20 or so issues.  Then, issues 56-63, which are the Roy Thomas/Neal Adams issues.  Some of the best.  After that, the absolute best issues featuring the Original X-Men are in a series written in the 1990's called "The Hidden Years", intended to fill in between the years that their title went into reprints (63-93) and the New X-Men (Original Series #94, 1975 and Giant-Size X-Men #1, 1975).

Avengers - Hard to say.  Outside of the first 70 issues, I'd recommend anything that has George Perez or John Byrne rendering.  Outside of that, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Iron Man - after his beginnings, I don't think he really hit his stride until issues in the 120s, when rendered by Bob Layton.  Then again in the 220s to 230s when he and David Michelinie returned to the series.  He hasn't been the most interesting character outside of that.

Captain America - Any of the stories done by Mark Waid or by Jim Stern .

Amazing Spider-Man - If This Be My Destiny, from ASM #31, #32, #33, Captain Stacy/Gwen Stacy/Green Goblin from ASM #88, #89, #90 & ASM #121-122,Kraven's Last Hunt, from Web of Spider-Man #31-32, Amazing Spider-Man #293-294 & Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132) and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man from Amazing Spider-Man #248.

Ghost Rider - I have no opinion on him, to be honest.

Hulk - Anything written by Peter David is worthwhile (except - maybe [& that's a big maybe] the last 10 or so issues, whose artists I didn't particularly care for) - a tremendous spree of some of the best artists around were involved in his 10-year run.

Fantastic Four - Nothing tops John Byrne's run, honestly, and I recommend each and every issue.  Period.  Every kid I've ever recommended them to says "where are more of those?" - the closest thing to them was the Waid/Weiringo run of the last several years.

I hope that works for you and that it provides enough reading (and purchasing, for that matter) for some time to come!

Pax, harmonia,

Brian G. Philbin
www.metropolisplus.com/comics.htm