Top 10 Marvel Comics Events Of All Time

As sure as one day ends and a new one begins, there are going to be event comics — crossovers or mini-series that promise to shake up the fictional universes we love so much with unexpected deaths, shocking twists and promises that “nothing will ever be the same.”

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We comics fans act like we’re tired of them, but sales figures say otherwise. Until we prove there’s such a thing as event fatigue by sending a message with their wallets, Marvel and DC are going to keep doing them. And you know what? Secretly, we really do love them, if only because they allow stories to be told on the grandest possible scales, and with at least the idea that they’re of immense consequence.

Recently, the Marvel 75th Anniversary Magazine did a list of all the events in the history of Marvel Comics. The only problem with it was that it was in chronological order, which is great for taking a walk down memory lane, but not so effective at stirring up the debates/arguments which are such a fun part of comics.

So allow me to correct that oversight. I went through the list and picked out the 10 best based on criteria like entertainment value, art quality, consistency through all three acts — hard to do in events — and their legacy in terms of the Marvel Universe as a whole. Be sure to let me know how much you agree or think I’m mental, as I’m sure you will.

Events ahoy!

10. Original Sin (2014)

Why it was good: I’ll be the first to admit that this made the list because it’s fresh in my mind. Jason Aaron gave us some great character moments, which sometimes get lost in events, using some unusual teamings of Marvel super heroes. The pairing of Doctor Strange and the Punisher was pure gold, and many different characters had a chance to shine. The mystery at the center of the first part of the story was a great hook (“Who shot the Watcher?”), even if it took longer than it needed to get resolved. Mike Deodato did the artwork for the whole series and just crushed it, turning in some of the best work of his career.

Why it didn’t rank higher: This series simply ran out of steam before the end. If it could have been as strong for eight issues as it was over the first three, it would have been a classic. Instead, it’ll have to settle for pretty good, as the story got bogged down in flashbacks and exposition. There was also some leaps of faith that were tough to swallow, even for super hero comics. Nick Fury held off all of the Avengers singlehandedly … really? It also had some major retcons, which I don’t mind, but some people do. The villains were both obscure and somewhat forgettable.

How it had lasting effects: It’s still too new for us to know for sure, but it looks promising. Uatu is gone, apparently replaced by both Fury and the Orb in some respects. The Winter Soldier slots in for Fury as the “Man on the Wall” and gets his own series out of it. And the “truth bomb” introduced a number of concepts that could have ongoing ripples, but Thor seems to have felt the impact the most, losing his worthiness to wield Mjolnir and leading directly into the new female Thor. Captain America learning about his mindwipe at the hands of the Illuminati appears to be the impetus behind a 2015 event as well, and rarely do two of them fit together so seamlessly.