Image Created by Steve Lam for Bam Smack Pow Article: “100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever”
Bam Smack Pow ranks and counts down 100 of the greatest superhero stories ever!
Welcome, readers! It’s the holidays and everyone is gathering for family dinners and spending time with each other. Even though that’s great and all, it can sometimes get overwhelming and stressful. Especially when you don’t have your own Fortress of Solitude.
To help you in your escape, Bam Smack Pow has assembled a list of 100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever. This isn’t a “worst to best” list. It’s a “great to greatest” list of every superhero story to-date. We cover all mediums—comic books (the obvious one), films, television series, novels, and even video games and more!
How We Define “Story”
A story is not necessarily defined by a constraint on time, page count, or an episode break. We see stories as complete narrative arcs—and sometimes those arcs go beyond the bounds set by a movie, standalone television episode, or single-issue comic book.
For example, even though Marvel’s Daredevil Season 1 has thirteen episodes, it’s not thirteen stories. Since the show is so serialized, each season is considered a large narrative arc—one complete beginning to end 13-hour story!
We did our best to provide a ranking of 100 complete stories. If this differs from your concept of a story, definitely give us your thoughts in the comments. We’d love to hear from you and see how we vary in our definitions.
Ranking Methodology
We identified nine categories: Live-Action Feature Films, Live-Action Television Series, Animated Feature Films, Animated Television Series, Live-Action Short Films, Animated Short Films, Comic Books, Novels, and Video Games.
We listed the best each category has to offer in terms of the superhero genre. We then ranked them within their own categories. The ranked stories then went up against each other in a cross-category competition. From there, we extrapolated our list of the 100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever.
We know it’s not on Brainiac-level rigor, but there’s still a method to our Joker-like madness. Let me tell you—we were torn in some instances, but we had to make the cut-off somewhere. The superhero genre has so many great stories, and new ones are constantly being added. These are the greatest for the time being. The landscape is sure to change in the future!
Now, with every ranking, there’s going to be a bit of controversy. Hey, you can’t make everyone happy, and we don’t expect to. If you feel there was a story that should’ve been ranked higher, lower, or had no business being on this list—let us know! We’d love to hear from you. Debating about any “greatest list” is always fun. Throw superheroes into the mix and you have a party like no other. So let’s get this shindig started! …
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#100. The Lone Ranger
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
February 25, 1956
Credits
Director: Stuart Heisler
Writers: Herb Meadow
Cast: Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger, Jay Silverheels as Tonto, Lyle Bettger as Reece Kilgore, Perry Lopez as Pete Ramirez, Robert J. Wilke, as Cassidy, John Pickard as Sheriff Sam Kimberley, Beverly Washburn as Lila Kilgore
The Reason It’s Great
The character of the Lone Ranger is rarely considered a superhero, but he actually is one. He may not align with what we consider to be a “superhero” in modern times—cape, tights, and superpowers—but he has all the makings of one. He’s basically “Batman in the Old West.” Well, maybe a better phrase would be “Batman is an updated Lone Ranger.” And, yes, I know that Zorro influenced the Dark Knight’s creation. I’m just making a comparison between Batman and the Lone Ranger.
However, not all Lone Ranger stories are great. The one that makes it to our list is the 1956 feature film that was based on The Lone Ranger television series that ran from 1949 to 1957. This feature film doesn’t have an origin story (which eradicates the doldrums of sitting through a good amount of time before seeing the hero) and gets right into the action.
It’s a great film and was sort of ahead of its time. Instead of the usual “Cowboys vs. Indians” trope, the Masked Man figures out that a wealthy rancher named Reese Kilgore is attempting to take over sacred lands and mine them for silver by starting a war between the settlers and Native Americans. The Lone Ranger soon steps in to stop the violence and bring peace.
Screen Capture from The Tick Season 2, Episode 1: “The Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love”
#99. The Tick Season 2, Episode 1: “The Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
September 9, 1995
Credits
Director: Hank Tucker
Writers: Ben Edlund and Richard Leibmann-Smith
Cast: Townsend Coleman as The Tick, Rob Paulsen as Arthur, Jess Harnell as Sewer Urchin, Cam Clarke as Die Fledermaus, Kay Lenz as America Maid, Jennifer Hale as Carmelita Vatos, Steve Susskins as J.J. Eureka Vatos
The Reason It’s Great
The Tick is one of the most ridiculous superheroes ever created—and his world is equally ludicrous. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t inject some emotion into a storyline that’s completely absurd and hilarious.
In the Season 2 premiere episode, The Tick’s faithful sidekick, Arthur, meets Carmelita Vatos and is instantly smitten by her. The two soon start to spend time with each other and The Tick starts to feel neglected. It’s always the biggest guys that have the most sensitive hearts.
When Arthur abandons hobby night, The Tick creates a new companion out of a plank of wood. The Tick’s woodworking skills are on full display and he ends up creating The Little Wooden Boy. I have a strange feeling that the inspiration for Wilson in Castaway (2000) was rooted in this moment.
When The Tick, Arthur, Carmelita, and her long-lost father are trapped in the belly of a cross-country jogging whale (please don’t ask, just do yourself a big favor and watch the episode), our hero has to resort to sacrificing his new wooden friend in order to escape. The quick switch between absurdity and the feels make this a fun half-hour.
Image Courtesy of ABC
#98. The Greatest American Hero Pilot Movie
Medium
Live-Action Television Film
Release Date
March 18, 1981
Credits
Creator: Stephen J. Cannell
Director: Rod Holcomb
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
Cast: William Katt as Ralph Hinkley, Robert Culp as Bill Maxwell, Connie Sellecca as Pam Davidson, Fay Grant as Rhonda Blake, Michael Paré as Tony Villicana, Richard Herd as Adam Taft, G.D. Spradlin as Nelson Corey, Ned Wilson as Col. Shackleford, Bob Minor as John Mackie
The Reason It’s Great
The Greatest American Hero basically asked the question “What if Superman didn’t have instructions to his powers and was a regular Joe?” The result: a hilarious combination of endearing good-guy charm and a dude just trying to do the right thing.
Yep, the Man of Steel has his signature strong leap and supersonic flight. The Greatest American Hero has his wobbly launch, spastic mid-flight flailing, and his equally disastrous landing … er … crashing. Well, in his defense, don’t all pilots call a plane’s landing a “controlled crash”? Again, this added to the charm. And when the television movie premiered, the critics and audiences responded in kind with words of praise. Even the theme song “Believe It or Not” was well-received and became a Top 40 hit.
However, the series’ good fortune didn’t last. The protagonists name of “Ralph Hinkley” had to be changed because it matched too closely to “John Hinkley, Jr.”—a man who attempted to assassinate then President Ronald Reagan. Also, Warner Bros. / DC thought the hero matched too close to Superman and sued. Because of these events, the series had an uphill battle of legal fees and keeping things consistent. As a result, The Greatest American Hero was canceled in 1983.
Fret not because a reboot is coming and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller of The Lego Movie (2014) fame will be writing the new film. I’m sure when it comes out, fans who were kids in the ’80s will be lining up for some great nostalgic fun.
Image Courtesy of A.C. McClurg
#97. Tarzan of the Apes
Medium
Novel
Release Date
1912
Credits
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Illustrator: Fred J. Arting
The Reason It’s Great
There’s a reason why anyone who swings on a rope will do Tarzan’s ululating yell. Though the exact yell wouldn’t be heard until actor Johnny Weismuller performed it in the film Tarzan and the Ape Man (1932), it was writer and Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs who first described it in his novels as “the victory cry of the bull ape.”
Tarzan is another one of those characters who people don’t assume to be a superhero. He has no gadgets—in fact, far from it—and definitely doesn’t wear a costume, although you can say that his loin cloth is his version of one.
Tarzan has a story almost like Superman’s. Again, maybe we should be saying that “Superman’s origin is a lot like Tarzan’s” since Tarzan’s creation predates the Man of Steel’s. You have an infant whose parents both die tragically, is adopted into a foreign world by its native inhabitants, and grows up protecting his adoptive home. He also possesses almost superhuman-like strength and agility. Above all else, he rescues people and helps the oppressed.
The novel would later be adapted to the medium of superheroes—comic books. And from there, Tarzan’s popularity landed him in radio, television, and feature films.
Screen Capture from The New Batman Adventures Season 1, Episode 21: “Mad Love”
#96. The New Batman Adventures Season 1, Episode 21: “Mad Love”
(a.k.a. Batman: The Animated Series Volume 4, Episode 21: “Mad Love”)
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
January 16, 1999
Credits
Director: Butch Lukic
Writers: Paul Dini, Bruce Timm
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker, Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn / Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Suzanne Stone as Dr. Joan Leland
The Reason It’s Great
To gauge the depth of any story, one only needs to look at how a narrative treats its antagonists. Are they completely one-dimensional, or does the writer make an effort to create an air of believable sympathy.
“Mad Love” is one such episode. After the Joker kicks Harley Quinn out of their hideout, she formulates a plan to win back her Puddin’s love—kill Batman. However, the Dark Knight formulates a plan to show Harley that the Joker is not worth it.
Batman creates a ruse showing Harley’s successful attempt at killing him. When The Joker is shown the “evidence,” he becomes angered that he wasn’t involved and shoves her out a window—severely injuring her. Batman escapes and The Joker ends up in a smoke stack after a fight on a train.
As Harley’s recovering in the hospital, she swears off the Joker for good. However, she receives flowers from her “Mistah J” which promptly changes her mind—falling right back in love with him. Now that is some twisted stuff. It actually makes Harley look like a tragic figure and definitely an underdog in this story.
Image Courtesy of A.C. McClurg
#95. A Princess of Mars (a.k.a Under the Moons of Mars)
Medium
Serialized Pulp Magazine (Initial)
Novel (Later)
Release Dates
February 1912–July 1912 (Released as Under the Moons of Mars in All-Story Magazine)
1917 (Re-Released as A Princess of Mars in Novel Form)
Credits
Writer: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Novel Illustrator: Frank E. Schoonover
The Reason It’s Great
Yep, Mr. Burroughs gets another one of his stories on this list. A Princess of Mars or Under the Moons of Mars introduces readers to the character of John Carter. His superhuman abilities—due to a different environment—would be later mimicked by Superman and other modern day superheroes.
What makes John Carter and the novel a unique offering is that the character is human and becomes superhuman to another race of beings—the Martians. Carter would later rise in rank in his adoptive world and delve deep into its politics.
Burroughs’s narrative style, even by today’s standards, offers a lot of action with large amounts of violence—a hallmark of today’s darker comics. Burroughs’s characters are also stoic and black-and-white in their morality, making his books a perfect example of good versus evil.
The novel isn’t just a great read. Its signature characterizations and world-building would leave an imprint on literature—making way for modern day comics and setting up a template for what we now know as superheroes.
Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
#94. Chronicle
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
February 3, 2012
Credits
Director: Josh Trank
Writer: Max Landis
Cast: Dane DeHaan as Andrew Detmer, Alex Russell as Matt Garetty, Michael B. Jordan as Steve Montgomery, Michael Kelly as richard Detmer, Ashley Hinshaw as Casey Letter, Anna Wood as Monica, Bo Petersen as Karen Detmer
The Reason It’s Great
By the mid-2000s, found-footage films were already passe and cliched. However, Chronicle flipped the genre on its head by using that style to tell a superhero origin story—or, should we say, a supervillain origin story.
The uniqueness was only one part of its success. Max Landis, who was well-versed in comics, created a compelling group of characters which included a totally sympathetic underdog in Dane DeHaan’s Andrew Detmer. We saw the poor guy’s torturous high school days which reminded us of our own. And we sort of reveled and lived through him when he fought back the bullies.
However, we saw how great power can quickly corrupt someone who originally had good intentions. Andrew is soon seen as a freak and his years of abuse come to the surface as pure hate and vengeance. It was now up to his best friends to put a stop to him.
Molded from a similar narrative that was found in the pre-Crisis Superboy / Lex Luthor relationship, Chronicle was a slick film that revitalized the found-footage genre and also created one of the greatest character arcs for a super villain.
Image Courtesy of Icon
#93. Kick-Ass
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
February 2008–February 2010
Credits
Creators: Mark Millar, John Romita, Jr.
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciller: John Romita, Jr.
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Dean White
Editor: John Barber
The Reason It’s Great
Kick-Ass is probably the story of every comic book nerd—if we were to actually go ahead and carry out the crazy things going through our heads. In a way, it’s a total tribute to all the people who wanted to make a difference, but lacked the capacity to do so.
Mark Millar’s slick writing and memorable quotes are what make this a great story. The use of modern technologies (e.g. viral videos, social media, etc.) are what really ground the story and make it that much more believable.
Comic fans weren’t the only ones who loved this. As they say in Hollywood, “If you write it, they will come.” And that’s exactly what the studios did. In 2010, the film adaptation was released to theaters garnering rave reviews. In 2013, the sequel was released which was also based on the comic’s highly-acclaimed sequel, Kick-Ass 2.
The third installment, Kick-Ass 3 was released in 2013 for a total of eight issues. Like the previous two, Kick-Ass 3 received positive reviews. There’s no word yet on whether or not there will be a film adaptation of the third series. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Image Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures
#92. Unbreakable
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
November 22, 2000
Credits
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis as David Dunn, Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah Price, Robin Wright as Audrey Dunn, Spencer Treat Clark as Joseph Dunn, Charlayne Woodward as Mrs. Price, Eamonn Walker as Dr. Mathison
The Reason It’s Great
When we hear the phrase “superhero movie,” we think of action-packed sequences, super-feats, and massive destruction. Unbreakable pretty much breaks away from these notions (pun intended).
It’s a superhero origin story where the audience doesn’t even know it’s even about a superhero. As the film progresses, we’re only given subtle clues that David Dunn is impervious to certain things and is extremely strong. Then, in comes Elijah Price—a person who’s the complete opposite of David. Elijah, unlike David and the audience, sees a bigger picture.
In the end, we get the twist (customary for all of M. Night Shyamalan’s films): David is the superhero to Elijah’s supervillain. Elijah has been searching for David all his life. A super villain needs his opposite—the superhero—in order to have meaning.
It’s a great reveal, and looking back at the whole movie, it was staring at us in our faces all along. Unbreakable is another film that turned the genre on its head.
Image Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar Animation Studios
#91. Sanjay’s Super Team
Medium
Animated Film Short
Release Date
November 25, 2015 (with The Good Dinosaur)
Credits
Director: Sanjay Patel
Writer: Sanjay Patel
The Reason It’s Great
Superheroes represent many things to many people. In various stories, they’ve ranged from being seen as an allegory for the powerful taking control of fate, to figures who are discriminated against by xenophobes.
Sanjay’s Super Team takes the superhero genre and uses it to bridge two worlds: a traditional Hindu upbringing and assimilation into modern American life. Director/writer Sanjay Patel, a child of Indian immigrants felt conflicted growing up. This conflict is what created this amazing animated short.
As a young boy, Sanjay, watches his favorite superhero cartoon, his father makes him perform his daily prayer. Sanjay, bored at the notion, would rather play with his action figure and watch his show. He’s soon transported to a large temple where three Hindu gods—Vishnu, Durga, and Hanuman—fight against the demon Ravana.
When the battle is finally won by the gods, Sanjay is returned to the real world. His father is saddened that he doesn’t enjoy partaking in his culture. However, his father gets a pleasant surprise when he sees that Sanjay has drawn the gods overlooking each superhero. A great film that has not only some beautiful animation and fun action, but a heartwarming theme.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#90. Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
September 1986 (Part 1: Superman #423)
September 1986 (Part 2: Action Comics #583)
Credits
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inkers: George Pérez, Kurt Schaffenberger
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Editor: Julius Schwartz
The Reason It’s Great
Leave it to Alan Moore—creator of a few more stories you’ll see on this list—to write a definitive conclusion about the Man of Steel. The two-part story was dark, but still retained everything fans loved about Superman.
The history behind the making of this crossover is an interesting one. After DC rebooted its universe with the Crisis on Infinite Earths event (another story that made it to our list), the publisher wanted to close out the Silver Age Superman with a final in-continuity story.
They originally tapped Superman creator Jerry Siegel to write it, but he couldn’t due to legal restrictions. That’s when they brought on Alan Moore—who took it upon himself to go through the whole history of the Man of Steel.
The result was a powerful tribute that respectfully honored the overall history of Superman. It’s set ten years after his disappearance and is told from the perspective of Lois Lane. The tale is heart-wrenching, but offers hope and optimism in the end.
Through the years, Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow has been revered as one of the greatest DC stories ever told. A very fitting tribute to one of the greatest superheroes the world has ever known.
Image Courtesy of Renaissance Pictures
#89. Darkman
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
August 24, 1990
Credits
Director: Sam Raimi
Writers: Sam Raimi, Chuck Pfarrer, Ivan Raimi, Daniel Goldin, Joshua Goldin
Cast: Liam Neeson as Peyton Westlake / Darkman, Frances McDormand as Julie Hastings, Colin Friels as Louis Strack Jr., Larry Drake as Robert G. Durant, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson as Eddie Black, Ted Raimi as Ricky, Nicholas Worth as Pauly, Dan Hicks as Skip, Bridget Hoffman as Computer Voice
The Reason It’s Great
When you can’t make a comic book movie from existing sources what do you do? You create your own superhero. That’s exactly what director/writer Sam Raimi did and he ended up with Darkman. The visionary filmmaker gave audiences a completely unique character that had roots in both horror and comics.
The origin story is classic comics. Scientist Peyton Westlake is working on a revolutionary synthetic skin, but it’s only stable for 100 minutes due to photosensitivity. His girlfriend is soon targeted by a corrupt developer after she finds incriminating evidence against him.
The developer sends his henchman to retrieve the evidence, but they only find Peyton. Like all evil villains, the group torches the place and the resulting explosion leaves Peyton severely disfigured. A procedure at the hospital relieves Peyton of all sensation, even pain. However, it gives him enhanced strength and mental instability.
He soon goes on a one-man revenge mission targeting the henchmen and their boss. Using his synthetic skin, he finds ways to frame them and also visit his girlfriend. The caveat is that the skin always breaks down within 100 minutes.
The film was well-received by audiences and critics, and later spawned two sequels. Marvel Comics would also make an adaptation of the original film, and Dynamite Entertainment created a crossover story that pitted Darkman against the Army of Darkness—another creation of Raimi’s.
Darkman was also a proving ground for Raimi because, years later, he would become the director of the first Spider-Man franchise—of which one of the movies is on our list.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#88. Crisis on Infinite Earths
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
April 1985–March 1986
Credits
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciller: George Pérez
Inkers: Dick Giordano, Jerry Ordway, Mike DeCarlo
Letterer: John Constanza
Colorists: Anthony Tollin, Tom Ziuko, Carl Gafford
Creators: Marv Wolfman, George Pérez
Editor: Marv Wolfman
The Reason It’s Great
What happens when your own history gets a bit to unwieldy? You reboot, of course. Throughout the years, DC Comics has had a slew of writers contribute to its vast universe of characters. And with that many different ideas and concepts floating around, inconsistencies were inevitable.
Various storylines had Superman with a previous career as Superboy. And an equal many had a history which states Clark’s first appearance as the Man of Steel was when he was an adult in Metropolis. This was just the tip of the iceberg. There were numerous other examples of other characters with similar problems—ages didn’t match up with timelines, powers and abilities that would differ issue-to-issue, etc.
At the same time, DC had a problem getting new readers. People who were interested in getting started didn’t know where to start. So, in 1985, DC kicked off its Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline where the multiverse was reduced to a single universe and history.
The story was monumental enough that, people would later clarify character biographies with the terms “pre-Crisis” or “post-Crisis”—meaning before the reboot in Crisis on Infinite Earths or after. This would be the first major reboot for DC. Years later, the publisher would create The New 52. And, most recently, Rebirth—of which DC is still calling “not a reboot, but a relaunch.”
Image Courtesy of Vertigo (DC Comics)
#87. V for Vendetta
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
September 1988–May 1989
Credits
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: David Lloyd, Tony Weare
Colourist: Steve Whitaker, Sioghan Dodds, David Lloyd
Editor: Karen Berger, Scott Nybakken
The Reason It’s Great
Writer Alan Moore fleshes out a deeply disturbing world where a facist government rules supreme in the near future. In the midst of this dark future is V—a revolutionary hero who is well-versed in various war strategies and possesses high intellect, as well as superhuman levels of strength and reflexes.
The story follows V’s mission to overthrow the evil oppressive government and also train a new protégé. The character of V is famous for wearing a Guy Fawkes mask—which has now been adopted by the hacktivist group Anonymous. It has also since been used to symbolize any uprising against oppression.
V for Vendetta is famous for its sociopolitical themes and complex narrative—something that will be seen in Alan Moore’s later work, Watchmen. V for Vendetta is another story that pushed the possibilities of the comic book medium.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#86. Avengers #89–#97: “The Kree/Skrull War”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
June 1971–March 1972
Credits
Writer: Roy Thomas
Pencillers: Sal Buscema (#89–#92), Neal Adams (#93–#97), John Buscema (#94)
Inkers: Sam Grainger (#89–#90), Sal Buscema (#91), George Roussos (#92), Tom Palmer (#93–#97)
Letterers: Sam Rosen (#89, #92–#97), Mike Stevens (#90), Art Simek (#91)
Editor: Stan Lee
The Reason It’s Great
Expansive in scope, this story was an ambitious undertaking that involved a huge cast of Marvel’s characters. Many things came from this seminal work—of which to note, the biggest one being the romance between Vision and Scarlet Witch.
According to writer Roy Thomas, the story was inspired by the novel This Island Earth by Raymond F. Jones. As an allegory to World War II’s inadvertently involving a random island in the Pacific, the Kree/Skrull War also pulled Earth into its ongoing conflict. Like all great science fiction, the story was a reflection of our own history.
“The Kree/Skrull War” also exemplifies one of the best stories the Silver Age of Comics had to offer. It was also the height of collaboration between writer Thomas and artist Neal Adams. The story was big and epic in every way. Marvel Studios should definitely consider adapting this storyline as part of its cinematic roadmap.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#85. Captain America #25–#42: “The Death of Captain America”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
April 2007–November 2008
Credits
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artists: Steve Epting, Mike Perkins, Butch Guice, Roberto De La Torre, Luke Ross
The Reason It’s Great
Just the title alone will make any fan do a double-take. When the event happened, ABC News reported it and equated the shock and despair to that of 9/11. That’s how iconic and symbolic Captain America is to the collective conscious.
After Civil War, the Red Skull orchestrates the assassination of Captain America. Crossbones snipes the hero and Sharon Carter, brainwashed by Doctor Faustus, performs the killing shot. The event had huge ramifications across all of Marvel.
Bucky Barnes continues the mantle of Captain America, and the Red Skull unsuccessfully tries to infiltrate the US government’s highest ranks in an attempt to control the country. In the end, S.H.I.E.L.D. raids the Red Skull’s compound. However, the Red Skull is able to escape capture by transferring his consciousness into a robot body.
The first issue of the story arc, Captain America #25, became the highest selling comic of 2007. A follow-up limited series, Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America, dealt with the superheroes coming to terms with his death. Each issue of that series was named after a stage in the Five Stages of Grief model.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#84. Fantastic Four #48–#50: “The Galactus Trilogy”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
March 1966 (“The Coming of Galactus!”)
April 1966 (“If This Be Doomsday”)
May 1966 (“The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer”)
Credits
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterers: Art Simek, Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
The Reason It’s Great
“The Galactus Saga” introduced two of Marvel’s most powerful and famous characters—the villain Galactus (for which the story arc is named after) and future superhero the Silver Surfer.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby wanted a unique villain, something never-before-seen in comics. The character had to be god-like with motivations beyond good and evil. Lee and Kirby came up with Galactus—a being who required the life-force and energy of living planets.
The Silver Surfer was also given an equally interesting origin—he was an alien astronomer who agreed to serve Galactus in exchange for sparing his homeworld. The Silver Surfer was first introduced as a villain, but switched sides in “If This Be Doomsday.”
This influential story would be later used as the inspiration for the film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). Due to the Silver Surfer’s popularity, he would make various appearance in later issues, eventually receiving his own title.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#83. The Avengers #273–#277: “Under Siege”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
November 1986–March 1987
Credits
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Paul Becton (#273), Christie Scheele (#274–#275, #277), Julianna Ferriter (#275–#276)
Letterer: Jim Novak
Editors: Mark Gruenwald, Jim Shooter
The Reason It’s Great
When creating a fight between good and evil, you always want evil to have the advantage. Why? It’s Storytelling 101. Gotta keep that conflict high. And that’s exactly what writer Roger Stern did with “Under Siege.” Still considered one of the best Avengers stories to-date, the five-issue arc saw Helmut Zemo putting together a large cast of villains in order to ambush the Avengers one by one at their famed mansion.
Obviously, the story has high-octane action. However, it’s also emotionally heavy, and readers get to see Captain America at his most vulnerable. One of the things Zemo wanted to do was break Cap’s spirit. So, at one point in the story, he destroys the First Avenger’s most personal items right in front of him. Our hero is stoic throughout the ordeal, but breaks down once the fight is won and over.
Though not explicitly pointed out, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War seems to have drawn some inspiration from “Under Siege.” In the film, Zemo had similar motives—blaming the Avengers for the death of his family—as his comic counterpart. As revenge, he wanted to tear the Avengers apart from the inside out. “Under Siege” is good old-fashioned comics writing at its finest.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#82. Daredevil #56–#60: “The King of Hell’s Kitchen”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
March 2004–July 2004
Credits
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Alex Maleev
Inker: Alex Maleev
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Cory Petit
Editor: Joe Quesada, Kelly Lamy (#58)
The Reason It’s Great
Most of the time, superheroes try to work within the confines of the law. However, I’m sure that if some had free reign, they would try and impose their own brand of justice. Famed writer Brian Michael Bendis asks this very question with the Man Without Fear—Daredevil.
In Daredevil: The King of Hell’s Kitchen, Matt Murdock becomes the boss of his domain—the very district he surveyed and patrolled. They do say that the best defense is offense—and that’s what Daredevil becomes. His justice is no longer a response. He proactively imposes it onto the population.
The storyline, which runs from Daredevil #56 (March 2004) to Daredevil #60 (July 2004), shows Bendis at his best—adept plot pacing accompanied with slick, quick dialogue. The art of Alex Maleev, who did both the penciling and inking, complements the story perfectly—gritty and noirish. If you’re looking for a great Daredevil tale, this is it.
Screen Capture from X-Men Season 3, Episode 3: “The Phoenix Saga: Sacrifice”
#81. X-Men Season 3, Episode 3–7: “The Phoenix Saga”, Episode 11–14: “The Dark Phoenix Saga”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
“The Phoenix Saga”:
September 5, 1994 (“Sacrifice”)
September 6, 1994 (“The Dark Shroud”)
September 7, 1994 (“Cry of the Banshee”)
September 8, 1994 (“The Starjammers”)
September 9, 1994 (“Child of Light”)
“The Dark Phoenix Saga”:
November 12, 1994 (“Dazzled,” “The Inner Circle”)
November 19, 1994 (“The Dark Phoenix”)
November 26, 1994 (“The Fate of the Phoenix”)
Credits
Director: Larry Houston
Writers: Michael Edens (Ep. 3, Ep. 5), Mark Edward Edens (Ep. 4, Ep. 6–Ep. 7), Jan Strnad (Ep. 11), Steven levi (Ep. 12), Larry Parr (Ep. 13), Brooks Wachtel (Ep. 14)
Cast: Cedric Smith as Professor Charles Xavier, Cathal J. Dodd as Wolverine / Logan, Norm Spencer as Cyclops / Scott Summers, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm / Ororo Munroe, Chris Potter as Gambit / Remy LeBeau, George Buza as Beast / Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy, Catherine Disher as Jean Grey / Phoenix, Alyson Court as Jubilee / Jubilation Lee, Lawrence Bayne as Erik the Redd
The Reason It’s Great
Jean Grey, power-wise, was a pretty weak character when she first started out. It wasn’t until Thor joined the Avengers that Marvel rehashed her character. So, why were they comparing the God of Thunder from another realm to a mutant? Easily answered. Thor became a hit with the readers, and Marvel wanted the same popularity for one of their mutant characters.
Writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockburn created the Phoenix Force—an entity described as an “immortal, immutable manifestation of the prime universal force of life and passion.” When Jean Grey was about to die, her calls were heard by the Phoenix Force, which saved her and transformed her into the Phoenix. Jean Grey’s original telepathic and telekinetic powers were augmented by the Phoenix Force—making her one of the the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe.
The Fox animated series X-Men, took the famous storylines of “The Phoenix Saga” and “The Dark Phoenix Saga” and adapted them to an ambitious nine-episode arc (five episodes for “The Phoenix Saga” and four episodes for “The Dark Phoenix Saga”) in Season Three (1994–1995). It was a huge undertaking and, for the most part, it was a successful translation from comics to screen.
The television series is known as one of the longest running animated series based on a comic book. It’s no doubt that much of its success has to do with faithful retellings of its source material.
Image Courtesy of Legendary Pictures
#80. Watchmen
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
March 6, 2009
Credits
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: David Hayter, Alex Tse
Based On: Watchmen by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore
Cast: Jackie Earle Haley as Walter Kovacs / Rorschach, Patrick Wilson as Daniel Dreilberg / Nite Owl II, Billy Crudup as Jon Osterman / Dr. Manhattan, Malin Åkerman as Laurie Juspeczyk / Silk Spectre II, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Edward Morgan Blake / The Comedian, Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias, Carla Gugino as Sally Jupiter / Silk Spectre
The Reason It’s Great
Zack Snyder’s current DC Extended Universe hasn’t been going smoothly. And his vision is much to be desired from hardcore fans of classic DC. However, the director really shined in his 2009 film that translated the critically-acclaimed Watchmen into a live-action epic.
Also titled “Watchmen,” the film was the source material brought to life. Every line, color, and angle was beautifully duplicated by Snyder—who’s definitely known more for his visuals than storytelling. It was probably duplicated too well, with some detractors stating that the film should’ve brought something new. Hey, you can’t make everyone happy.
There were some differences in the plot though—with the ending being the most major. There was a giant squid in the original story and Dr. Manhattan’s reputation didn’t take a hit with the public. With those things in mind, the overall film was still considered a success. Rarely do films perfectly match the rich tapestry of comic books, and Watchmen fell into the camp that did it well.
It was a worthy endeavor and it actually helped to bring more attention to the seminal 1980s work of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Snyder’s dark and overly serious take on comics may be parodied post-Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it was definitely fitting for this great film.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#79. Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
October 1993–February 1994
Credits
Writer: Frank Miller
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Al Williamson
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Editors: Ralph Macchio, Pat Garrahy
The Reason It’s Great
There’s a reason why this story arc was used as the basis for Netflix’s tour de force first season of Marvel’s Daredevil. You have writer Frank Miller and the artistic talents of John Romita Jr. gracing every page of this awesome five-issue storyline.
Matt Murdock doesn’t start out as the polished red costume-wearing hero we’re familiar with—that is, not familiar with at the time this story was written. He’s still the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, but he’s rough around the edges.
Matt is conflicted by both his Catholic upbringing and what he must do to carry out justice in his world. Furthermore, the various Daredevil characters and background stories throughout the years are beautifully and adeptly retconned and updated in this story.
It may not be the best that Frank Miller has to offer, and it may not be the greatest Daredevil story. However, it doesn’t have to be the best. It’s very much up there in terms of quality. And that’s why this story is considered great and worth taking a serious look at. If you enjoyed the Netflix series, you have to take a gander at what inspired it.
Screen Capture from Justice League Unlimited Season 1, Episode 2: “For the Man Who Has Everything”
#78. Justice League Unlimited Season 1, Episode 2: “For the Man Who Has Everything”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
August 7, 2004
Credits
Director: Dan Riba
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, George Newbern as Superman / Kal-El / Clark Kent, Eric Roberts as Mongul
The Reason It’s Great
When a comic book work resonates with readers, it’s sure to get an adaptation. That’s exactly the case with the Alan Moore / Dave Gibbons Superman story “For the Man Who Has Everything.” The heart-wrenching Man of Steel story was adapted to the critically acclaimed Justice League Unlimited’s second episode of Season 1.
Also titled “For the Man Who Has Everything,” Batman and Wonder Woman show up at the Fortress of Solitide to wish Superman a “Happy Birthday,” but soon finds him under the control of the Black Mercy plant. The mastermind behind this is Mongul, whose only real obstacle was Superman.
As Batman tries to break Superman out of his trance, Wonder Woman fights the formidable Mongul. Superman, within his own perfect world where Krypton was never destroyed, now needs to let go of his biological parents, a wife, and a son. When Superman is freed, Black Mercy attaches itself to Batman, causing him to hallucinate a world where his father successfully fought back Joe Chill.
Wonder Woman finally gives Mongul a taste of hs own medicine after she saves Batman and turns the plant onto the villain. We don’t see what Mongul’s fantasy is, but we get to hear the sounds of suffering and despair envisioned in his twisted perfect world.
“For the Man Who Has Everything” is an episode that’s unforgettable. It has great action and great emotion. It also shows that each hero has “everything” already—dear friends who will do anything to save each other.
Screen Capture from Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 62: “His Silicon Soul”
#77. Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 62: “His Silicon Soul”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
November 20, 1992
Credits
Director: Boyd Kirkland
Writer: Marty Isenberg, Robert N, Skir
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, William Sanderson as Dr. Karl Rossum, Jeff Bennett as H.A.R.D.A.C., Pat Fraley as Bat-Mite, Richard Moll as Computer
The Reason It’s Great
Batman: The Animated Series has always had a great balance of entertainment and asking the big questions: the what-if scenarios that border on being philisophical. In “His Silicon Soul,” a robot duplicate of Batman—which was first seen being built in “Heart of Steel”—emerges.
When the real Batman starts investigating the goals behind his duplicant, he realizes that the robot thinks he’s the real Dark Knight. Batman later confronts the duplicant and notices that the robot’s personality was recreated too well—it also couldn’t kill, just like Batman himself. However, the duplicant had a conflicting goal—it was serving H.A.R.D.A.C., the master artificial intelligence bent on wiping out humanity.
In the final climactic battle, Batman fakes his own death which drives the duplicant insane. On top of that, the duplicant realizes that if HARDAC succeeds in its goals, it could mean the death of countless innocent lives. Seeing no other option, the duplicant destroys the Bat-Cave’s computer—resulting in his own demise.
Batman, emerging safely from where he supposedly fell to his death, questions if this duplicant had an actual soul. This episode is not only a great installment of Batman: The Animated Series, it was a great story compared to any animated endeavor. It asked some big questions, and left it open so the audience could figure it out for themselves.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#76. The Dark Knight Rises
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
July 16, 2012 (New York City)
July 20, 2012 (United Kingdom)
July 20, 2012 (United States)
Credits
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer
Cast: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as Commissioner James Gordon, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane, Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate / Talia al Ghul, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Matthew Modine as Deputy Commissioner Peter Foley, Ben Mendelsohn as John Daggett, Burn Gorman as Philip Stryver, Alon Abutbul as Dr. Leonid Pabel, Juno Temple as Jen, Daniel Sunjata as Captain Mark Jones, Chris Ellis as Father Reilly, Nestor Carbonell as Mayor Anthony Garcia, Brett Cullen as Byron Gilley, Liam Neeson as Ra’s al Ghul
The Reason It’s Great
The Dark Knight Rises closes out an amazing trilogy from auteur Christopher Nolan—the man who revived the overall Batman franchise on the silver screen. The finale of the three-film arc sees Batman coming out of a self-imposed exile many years after the events of The Dark Knight. He’s physically broken, but still has a will to bring justice to Gotham City.
What made this film especially great were the deep interactions of the characters made possible by the Oscar-winning cast. All the pain and conflict from years of battling crime is brought to the surface. The film’s main antagonist—Bane—also brought an equal amount of gravitas to the table. As cerebral as he was violent and strong, Bane’s presence helped to close the narrative loop on Batman’s story.
The overall film was also poignant due to a falling out between Bruce Wayne and his faithful father-like butler, Alfred. Bruce’s most trusted family member, who was with him since the beginning, only wanted the best for someone he vowed to look after.
In the end, Batman is seen making the ultimate sacrifice, but his inspiration lives on, and Gotham sees that in the darkness there is light. Alfred later discovers that his dream has actually come true—Bruce faked his own death and is now happy, living a quiet normal life. An open ending shows a stoic former cop inheriting Bruce’s heroic Batman legacy.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#75. “Sinestro Corps War”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
August 2007–February 2008:
Sinestro Corps Special #1
Green Lantern #21–#25
Green Lantern Corps #14–#19
Tales of the Sinestro Corps War: Parallax #1
Tales of the Sinestro Corps War: Cyborg-Superman #1
Tales of the Sinestro Corps War: Superman-Prime #1
Blue Beetle #20
Tales of the Sinestro Corps War: Ion #1
Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps: Secret Files #1
Credits
Writers: Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter Tomasi, Ron Marz, Alan Burnett
Artists: Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis
Pencillers: Patrick Gleason
Inkers: Prentis Rollins
The Reason It’s Great
This amazing eleven-issue crossover was inspired from the short story “Tygers,” which was published in 1986’s Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2. Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons took many of Moore’s ideas and added them to the “Sinestro Corps War.” This story arc also introduced the prophecy of the Blackest Night—which also made it to this list of greatest superhero stories.
The crossover sees Sinestro—a former Green Lantern himself—amassing an army of Yellow Lanterns to wage an all-out war on the Green Lantern Corps. The war and its events sees the Guardians trying to remove the foretelling of Blackest Night from their sacred text. Blackest Night will be the result of a War of Light between five corps—each with its own color and emotion. After these corps are destroyed, there will be the “Blackest Night.”
In the end, the Sinestro Corps are defeated with Sinestro also being arrested. However, the Green Lantern Corps’s victory is bittersweet, as they’ve lost 440 members during the war. The next crossover after “Sinestro Corps War” would be, of course, “Blackest Night.”
The huge crossover was both a critical and financial success and went on to win Eisner Awards in 2008 for Best Penciller/Inker and Best Penciller/Inker Team. This is one of the best Green Lantern stories out there, and one can only hope that it’ll one day be adapted to the silver screen.
Screen Capture from he New Batman Adventures Season 1, Episode 8: “Growing Pains”
#74. The New Batman Adventures Season 1, Episode 8: “Growing Pains”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
February 28, 1998
Credits
Director: Atsuko Tanaka
Writers: Robert Goodman, Paul Dini
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Matthew Valencia as Tim Drake / Robin, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Francesca Marie Smith as Annie, Ron Perlman as Matt Hagen / Clayface, Matt Landers as Gang Leader, John Rubano as Gang Member
The Reason It’s Great
Growing up means experiencing the full gamut of emotions—happiness, pain, anger, and sadness. “Growing Pains” is a Robin story at its finest. It gives us some background on Tim Drake’s childhood, as well as his rebelliousness and heroism.
On a random night, Robin saves a mysterious girl from some unsurly characters. He later finds her again and learns that she has no memory of who she is or where she’s from. However, a mysterious man is after her. He emphathizes with her situation because he grew up in an abusive household. When Batman is brought into the situation, he discovers that the man after her is Clayface.
It’s later discovered that Annie isn’t a regular human girl—she’s from a piece of Clayface himself. Annie, finally recollecting who she is, reveals that Clayface created her to scout Gotham City when he was hiding. In the final climactic scene, Annie reintegrates herself with Clayface to save Robin’s life. After Clayface is arrested, Robin wants one of the charges against Clayface to be murder.
The story stands out because it doesn’t have a happy ending. It shows how heroes have to endure loss, and justice may not always be carried out. It also brings to question what it means to be human—as Annie showed more humanity and caring than most people when she sacrificed herself in order to save her friend.
Screen Capture from Heroes Season 1, Episode 1: “Genesis”
#73. Heroes Season 1
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Dates
September 25, 2006–May 21, 2007
Credits
Directors: David Semel, Allan Arkush, Greg Beeman, Ernest Dickerson, Paul Shapiro, Donna Deitch, Paul Edwards, John Badham, Terrence O’Hara, Jeannot Szwarc, Roxann Dawson, Kevin Bray, Adam Kane
Writers: Tim Kring, Jeph Loeb, Bryan Fuller, Michael Green, Natalie Chaidez, Jesse Alexander, Adam Armus, Kay Foster, Aron Eli Coleite, Joe Pokaski, Christopher Zatta, Chuck Kim
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli, Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennet, Jack Coleman as Noah Bennet, Tawny Cypress as Simone Deveaux, Leonard Roberts as D.L. Hawkins, Santiago Cabrera as Issac Mendez, Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura, Greg Grunberg as Matt Parkman, Adrian Pasdar as Nathan Petrelli, Noah Gray-Cabey as Micah Sanders, Ali Larter as Niki Sanders / Jessica Sanders, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohinder Suresh, James Kyson Lee as Ando Masahashi, Zachary Quinto as Sylar, Ashley Crow as Sandra Bennet, Jimmy Jean-Louis as the Haitian, Cristine Rose as Angela Petrelli, Thomas Dekker as Zack, Lisa Lackey as Janice Parkman
The Reason It’s Great
Say what you want about Heroes Season 2 through 4, but Heroes Season 1 was a phenomenal story arc that pulled audiences in to the epic saga of seemingly normal people developing superpowers. NBC’s marketing and teasers didn’t show much in terms of plot or characters. However, after the first episode aired, viewers were hooked.
The story structure, in the first few episodes, showed completely disparate events. No relationship was revealed between each character—other than the fact that they were developing abilities. Soon, we saw that characters were linked together via familial relationships and other plot points. What other medium used this scheme? Comic books, of course.
Not surprisingly, this wasn’t creator Tim Kring’s first foray into superheroes. His initial venture was the 1980s Misfits of Science which was canceled after only one season. However, twenty years later, Kring would make a very successful second attempt with Heroes.
The first season of this excellent show had everything—protagonists you loved and antagonists you loved to hate. On top of that, the twists and plotting of various reveals kept audiences on the edge of their seats. With that, Heroes Season 1 makes it to our list of greatest superhero stories … “Yatta!”
Screen Capture from Superman: The Animated Series Season 2, Episode 18: “World’s Finest, Part 3”
#72. Superman: The Animated Series Season 2, Episode 16–18: “World’s Finest”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
October 4, 1997
Credits
Director: Toshihiko Masuda
Writers: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, Rich Fogel, Steve Gerber
Cast: Tim Daly as Clark Kent / Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker, Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor, Arleen Sorkin as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn, Lisa Edelstein as Mercy Graves, Bob Hastings as Commissioner Jim Gordon, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Joseph Bologna as Dan Turpin, Robert Costanzo as Harvey Bullock, George Dzundza as Perry White, Lauren Tom as Angela Chen, Brad Garrett as Bibbo
The Reason It’s Great
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice wouldn’t even make it on this list of greatest superhero stories if we allowed up to 1000 stories. Yes, that’s pretty harsh criticism—and I myself am a hardcore DC fan. However, there is a Superman/Batman first meeting story that does it make it to our rankings. It’s the three-episode story arc in the second season of Superman: The Animatied Series—a show set in the DC Animated Universe.
The first meeting between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight is anything but smooth. The tension and animosity between the two is so bad that it also spills over to their alter egos—Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne. That’s perfectly fine and dandy because the episode handles it with aplomb. Both pursue justice, but use different styles of execution. Though they dislike each other, the two respect each other and come to an understanding.
The three episodes also stay true to Batman’s and Superman’s characterizations—with Batman being a top-notch detective who doesn’t act brash or recklessly. Superman, the ever patient do-gooder, is also written well. What’s also great about this story is that it also has the heroes’ own arch-enemies—Lex Luthor and the Joker—joining forces.
“World’s Finest” has everything a Superman/Batman team-up should be. And any future live-action endeavor should look at this story as a template. You don’t need to have a gloomy Superman and a murderous Batman finally getting along due to the realization that both their mothers are named “Martha.”
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios and Netflix
#71. Marvel’s Jessica Jones Season 1
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
November 20, 2015
Credits
Directors: S.J. Clarkson, David Petrarca, Stephen Surjik, Simon Cellan Jones, john Dahl, Rosemary Rodriquez, uta Briesewitz, Billy Gierhart, Michael Rymer
Writers: Melisa Rosenberg, Micah Schraft, Liz Friedman, Scott Reynolds, Hilly Hicks Jr., Dana Baratta, Edward Ricourt, Jenna Reback, Jamie King
Cast: Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, Mike Colter as Luke Cage, Tachael Taylor as Trish Walker, Wil Traval as Will Simpson, Erin Moriarty as Hope Schlottman, Eka Darville as Malcolm Ducasse, Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth, David Tennant as Kilgrave, Susie Abromeit as Pam, Robin Weigert as Wendy Ross-Hogarth, Kieran Mulcare as Ruben, Clarke Peters as Oscar Clemons, Clarke Peters as Oscar Clemons, Colby Minifie as Robyn, Danielle Ferland as Clair, Gillain Glasco as Emma, Ryan Farrell as Jackson, Paul Pryce as Donald, Lisa Emery as Louise Thompson, Michael Siberry as Albert Thompson
The Reason It’s Great
Marvel’s Jessica Jones continues the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s excellent foray into TV. The is the second series, after Marvel’s Daredevil, to be produced on Netflix. The show goes into more adult territory with various allegories—one of them being a very realistic portrayal of PTSD.
Jessica Jones is introduced to audiences as a former superhero who is now an an alcoholic private investigator. A new case she takes on has her searching for a missing college girl. She soon realizes that Kilgrave—a twisted man who she had encountered in her past and the source of her problems—is behind everything. At every moment, Kilgrave torments Jessica for his own pleasure. In his own sick way, he loves her and is obsessed with manipulating Jessica.
The thirteen-episode arc sees Jessica facing her demons and putting a stop to Kilgrave. It also introduces Luke Cage, who received his own series almost a year later. Jessica Jones is as adult as you get for a superhero story, and it also brings to light the issues that victims of abuse face every day.
Image Courtesy of Reliance Entertainment
#70. Dredd
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
July 11, 2012 (San Diego Comic-Con)
September 7, 2012 (United Kingdom)
September 28, 2012 (South Africa)
Credits
Director: Pete Travis
Writer: Alex Garland
Cast: Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, Olivia Thirlby as Judge Cassandra Anderson, Lena Headey as Madeline Madrigal / Ma-Ma, Wood Harris as Kay, Deobia Parei as TJ, Francis Chouler as Judge Guthrie, Daniel Hadebe as Judge Volt, Rakie Ayola as Chief Judge, Langley Kirwood as Judge Lex, Edwin Perry as Judge Alvarez, Karl Thaning as Judge Chan, Michele Levin as Judge Kaplan, Junior Singo as Amos, Luke Tyler as Freel, Jason Cope as Zwirner, Joe Vaz as Big Joe, Scott sparrow as japhet, Nicole Bailey as Cathy
The Reason It’s Great
“I am the law!” were the words Sylvester Stallone roared in 1995’s Judge Dredd. It haunted not only the in-movie criminals, but fans who adored 2000 AD and the real version of Judge Dredd—the comic book version. It took seventeen years to correct the mistake of this film, and the end results were worth the wait.
Raw, brutal, and uncompromising, Dredd was a treatise on violence, crime, and punishment. With a faithful portrayal of the feared judge by Karl Urban, the film garnered positive reviews from critics and the fans rejoiced. It was a simple story, Judge Dredd and his rookie, Judge Anderson, had to survive and escape a building run by murderous drug dealers commanded by the sadistic kingpin Ma-Ma.
As the two went from floor-to-floor, they were confronted with various challenges. Talk about a rough training day. Even Judge Dredd thought so. In the end, he gave props to Judge Anderson’s survival and backup skills, awarding her the status she deserved.
The film was tight and superbly plotted. It was the comic book come to life. Every grotesque and violent visual was so stylistically shot that it looked artistic and beautfiul. The expression of “less is more” is something that Dredd took to heart. It’s a great story that only makes you clamor for more.
Screen Capture from Spawn: The Recall
#69. Spawn: The Recall
Medium
Live-Action Short Film
Release Date
September 13, 2014
Credits
Director: Michael Paris
Cast: Johanna Genet as The Witch, Tom Maurice as Michael, Gregory Paris as Spawn
The Reason It’s Great
Let’s face it, the 1997 film Spawn didn’t fare well with fans or critics. It tried to mute the more adult material to something that passed a PG-13 rating. However, that endeavor was one of those “neither here nor there” results. It was still too violent, but lost enough of its edge to anger the fanbase.
After almost two decades, a fan-film gives Spawn another attempt at a live-action incarnation. This second try was Spawn: The Recall, a 7-minute 56-second video that looks like an official Hollywood production. It follows a mother haunted by her past as she takes her son on a mundane task of grocery shopping.
As the boy wanders off, dark forces tempt the boy into following them. Spawn intervenes and saves him just in time. However, there’s a reason why the antihero has been following him. The boy’s mother is a witch who’s been in hiding. When she’s finally revealed, Spawn asks for her assistance to fight against Lucifer.
This fan-film by director Michael Paris has been making the viral rounds as a YouTube video, and fans have been clamoring for it to be made into a full-length feature film. With top-notch visual effects and a haunting atmosphere, this short fan-film erased all the bad memories of 1997’s live-action debacle.
Screen Capture from Screen Capture from Young Justice Season 1, Episode 1: “Independence Day”
#68. Young Justice Season 1
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
January 7, 2011–April 21, 2012
Credits
Directors: Jay Oliva, Sam Liu, Christopher Berkeley, Michael Chang, Matt Youngberg, Victor Cook, Tim Divar, Lauren Montgomery
Writers: Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, Andrew R. Robinson, Nicole Dubuc, Jon Weisman, Thomas Pugsley, Peter David
Cast: Jesse McCartney as Dick Grayson / Robin, Khary Payton as Kaldur’ahm / Aqualad, Jason Spisak as Wally West / Kid Flash, Nolan North as Conner Kent / Superboy, Danica McKellar as Megan Morse / M’gann M’orzz / Miss Martian, Stephanie Lemelin as Artemis Crock / Tigress / Artemis, Crispin Freeman as Roy Harper / Speedy / Red Arrow, Lacy Chabert as Zatanna Zatara / Zatanna, Alyson Stoner as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl
The Reason It’s Great
Young Justice was one of those rare gems of animation that had something for everyone. It had mature themes, great action, and some equally great humor. Earth-16 was chosen as the universe for this series, as it allowed for a fresh start without any contradictions with DC continuity.
The show explored the sidekicks of established superheroes (e.g. Batman, The Flash, Green Arrow, etc.) breaking out on their own. From time to time, they would be visited by their mentors to see how they were progressing and learning. The group was known as “The Team” and had a core membership composed of Dick Grayson / Robin, Kaidur’ahm / Aqualad, Wally West / Kid Flash, Conner Kent / Superboy (Superman’s clone), M’gann M’orzz / Miss Martian, and Artemis.
The main story arc of Season 1 dealt with a secret nefarious group known as the Light. Each episode explored the Team going on missions that challenged them on a personal level, and also the strong relationships that were later formed among the members. The conclusion of Season 1 sees the Team coming full circle and saving the Justice League.
Young Justice left an imprint on fans as one of the best DC animation offerings outside of the DC Animated Universe. Strong characters and equally strong storylines put this at the top of superhero stories.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#67. Civil War
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
July 2006–January 2007 (Civil War #1–#7 and Various Titles)
Credits
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciller: Steve McNiven
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colorist: Morry Hollowell
The Reason It’s Great
Marvel’s Civil War was a massive year-long event that encompassed multiple issues and titles. The results of Civil War had repercussions throughout the Marvel universe. The inciting incident dealt with the introduction of the Superhero Registration Act—a law that required superpowered beings to only act under official orders.
Support for superhero accountability rose after the New Warriors mishandled the apprehension of a group of supervillains. During the fight, Nitro used his powers and caused an explosion—leading to the death of 600 civilians. When the Superhero Registration Act was introduced, it sharply divided the heroes—with the ones supporting the act being led by Iron Man, and those against it being led by Captain America.
The argument between the two groups was somewhat tame at the beginning. However, it quickly escalated after a public brawl between Iron Man and Captain America. When Civil War was over, the Marvel landscape had changed: many heroes went underground or moved to Canada; Captain America was in prison; a new Avengers team called the Mighty Avengers was formed; and Tony Stark became director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The overall storyline of Civil War was so influential that it became the framework for 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, which was both a box office and critical success. Civil War‘s aftermath would lead to the death of Captain America and the introduction of Bucky Barnes taking over Steve Rogers’s mantle.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#66. Tales of the Teen Titans #42-#44, Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3: “The Judas Contract”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
May 1984–July 1984
Credits
Writers: Marv Wolfman, George Pérez
Penciller: George Pérez
Inkers: Dick Giordano, Mike DeCarlo
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Letterers: John Costanza, Ben Oda, Todd Klein
Editors: Marv Wolfman, George Pérez
The Reason It’s Great
This story arc is significant for a number of reasons: it marks the first appearance of Dick Grayson as Nightwing; Deathstroke the Terminator’s enigmatic background is finally brought to light; and Deathstroke’s son, Joey Wilson, is introduced.
Dick Grayson and Wally West retire from the Teen Titans. Terra, a new recruit who’s looking to join the Titans, is actually a spy working for Deathstroke. After Terra acquires enough intel, Deathstroke, who’s working for HIVE, uses it to ambush the Titans one by one.
After Dick discovers that his teammates have been captured, he meets Slade’s ex-wife, Adeline Kane, and their son, Joey Wilson. Dick becomes Nightwing and teams up with Joey—who now goes by the moniker Jericho—in a bid to free the rest of the Titans. They make their way to HIVE headquarters, but are quickly captured. Jericho uses his powers to possess Deathstroke and soon frees the Titans. In the ensuing battle, Terra dies when the ceiling collapses on her.
“The Judas Contract” is one of the best Teen Titans stories out there. After this story arc, Dick Grayson left behind his Robin persona for good—becoming Nightwing and paving the way for him to emerge from Batman’s shadow.
Screen Capture from Young Justice Season 2, Episode 1: “Happy New Year”
#65. Young Justice Season 2
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
April 28, 2012–March 16, 2013
Credits
Directors: Tim Divar, Doug Murphy, Melchior Zwyer
Writers: Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, Nicole Dubuc, Jon Weisman, Paul Giacoppo, Brandon Vietti
Cast: Jesse McCartney as Dick Grayson / Nightwing, Khary Payton as Kaldur’ahm / Aqualad, Jason Spisak as Wally West / Kid Flash, Nolan North as Conner Kent / Superboy, Danica McKellar as Megan Morse / M’gann M’orzz / Miss Martian, Stephanie Lemelin as Artemis Crock / Tigress / Artemis, Crispin Freeman as Roy Harper / Speedy / Red Arrow / Arsenal, Lacy Chabert as Zatanna Zatara / Zatanna, Alyson Stoner as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl
The Reason It’s Great
Young Justice Season 1 introduced a range of compelling characters and set the stage for some phenomenal storytelling. Season 2 only improved on the previous foundation. Whatever intrigue and mysteries Season 1 had, Season 2 upped the ante. It also had one of the most emotional season finales of any animation series.
Season 2 was titled “Invasion” and it was set five years after the events of Season 1. Aqualad has gone on a deep cover mission and poses as a loyal soldier to his father, Black Manta. In addition to the Light, a new dangerous enemy, called the Reach reveal themselves.
In the finale episode, the Reach tries to destroy Earth by using Magnetic Field Disruptors. An MFD in the North Pole starts to go into “chrysalis mode.” The Flash and Impulse attempt to stop it with their speed trails, but they don’t have enough kinetic energy.
Kid Flash soon joins them to help. However, since he’s the slowest of the three, the energy being siphoned off quickly disintegrats him. When Artemis and the team learn of Wally’s sacrifice, they’re overcome with grief.
Now is a good time as any to catch up on Season 2 because Season 3 has been given a green light on Netflix. If you want one of the greatest Teen Titans stories outside of the comics, look no further than this incarnation. I will assure you that you will most definitely not be “whelmed.”
Screen Capture from Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 33: “Robin’s Reckoning: Part II”
#64. Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 32–33: “Robin’s Reckoning”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
February 7, 1993 (“Robin’s Reckoning: Part I”)
February 14, 1993 (“Robin’s Reckoning: Part II”)
Credits
Director: Dick Sebast
Writers: Randy Rogel, Laren Bright, Alan Burnett
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Loren Lester as Dick Grayson / Robin, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Paul Eiding as Ferris Dolan, Eugene Roche as Arnold Stromwell, Joey Simmrin as Dick Grayson—Age 10, Thomas F. Wilson as Anthony “Tony” Zucco / John Grayson, Diane Pershing as Mary Grayson, Ed Gilbert as Jack Haley, Lionel Mark Smith as Bus Driver
The Reason It’s Great
Never has Robin’s origin story been handled with this much skill and emotional gravitas. As an overall show, Batman: The Animated Series is one of the best out there—but “Robin’s Reckoning” takes it one notch higher. Told in a flashback manner using the story’s current investigation as queues, the two-part episode is a deep exploration of partnerships and familial loss.
After Batman and Robin rescue an architect from the mob, they learn that the individual pulling the strings is Tony Zuocco—the man who murdered Dick Grayson’s parents when he was a child. Because Batman wanted to keep this investigation from Robin, the latter becomes angered and vows revenge for his parents’ murders.
Batman finally tracks Zuocco to the pier, but is injured when he falls through the ceiling. Zuocco’s men go after Batman, but he’s able to use his cunning and take them out one by one. The fight leaves Batman weak, giving Zuocco the upper hand.
Just as Zuocco is about kill Batman, Robin rushes in with his motorcycle and grabs Zuocco. Batman implores Robin not to kill Zuocco. When Robin realizes that Batman had gone through the same thing with his own parents, he lets Zuocco live, handing him over to the authorities.
This story went on to garner an Emmy for Batman: The Animated Series. With high-octane action and heavy emotions, “Robin’s Reckoning” is a story that will give any live-action drama a run for its money. It’s one of the best offerings in the Batman mythos.
Screen Capture from Smallville Season 2, Episode 17: “Rosetta”
#63. Smallville Season 2, Episode 17: “Rosetta”
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
February 25, 2003
Credits
Director: James Marshall
Writers: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
Cast: Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, Sam Jones III as Pete Ross, Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, John Glover as Lionel Luthor, Annette O’Toole as Martha Kent, John Schneider as Jonathan Kent, Christopher Reeve as Dr. Virgil Swann, Rob LaBelle as Dr. Fredrick Walden, Barclay Hope as Doctor, Joe MacCleod as Delivery Guy
The Reason It’s Great
Cameos and guest starring roles for past superhero actors are always great. However, when you’re graced with the man who embodied the Man of Steel, it makes for an amazing hour of television. That’s what happened in Season 2 of Smallville—the hit show that retold the story of young Clark Kent and his path to becoming Superman.
Actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralized from the neck down from a 1995 equestrian accident, made an appearance as Dr. Virgil Swann—a brilliant scientist who headed the Veritas Society. The role of Swann was tailor-made for Reeve, as the character was also quadrapalegic and relied on the use of a wheelchair and breathing apparatus.
In the episode, Swann contacts young Clark Kent, played by Tom Welling. When Clark visits Swann’s observatory, Swann reveals Clark’s origins. An especially poignant scene has Swann calling Clark “Kal-El,” and guiding him to write his own destiny. After urging Clark to stay, the background music quickly changes to John Williams’s famous “Superman” motif—the theme of the Donner/Reeve Superman films that Reeve himself was known for.
The episode was bittersweet. It was one Superman actor passing the honored torch to another Superman actor. Though Reeve was frail and disabled, he still exuded charisma and had a great presence. Sadly, Reeve would succumb to complications sustained from his injuries a year later and pass away on October 10, 2004. To many who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, he was our Superman.
Screen Capture from Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 13: “Epilogue”
#62. Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 13: “Epilogue”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
July 23, 2005
Credits
Director: Dan Riba
Writers: Bruce Timm, Dwayne McDuffie
Cast: Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis / Future Batman, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman / Sky Patrol Officer, CCH Pounder as Amanda Waller / Queen, Lauren Tom as Dana Tan / Kimiyo Hoshi / Dr. Light / Kai-Ro / Green Lantern, hynden Walch as Ace / Mareena Curry / Aquagirl / Ten, Marc Worden as Future Parasite / Rex Stewart / Warhawk, Maria Canals-Barrera as Shayera Hol, Giselle Loren as Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl, Nicholle Tom as Kara Kent / Supergirl
The Reason It’s Great
If we needed to choose one standout example of Batman’s positive effect on people, it would be “Epilogue.” The episode was designed to act as a season finale for Justice League Unlimited, but also tie it into the events of Batman Beyond. The story is both emotional and philosophical. It poses the concept of nature versus nurture without ever becoming preachy.
In the future, Terry McGinnis (angered by the fact that Bruce never told him that he was his true genetic father) breaks into Amanda Waller’s home. When he demands answers from her, she recollects a story of Batman’s mission to stop Ace, a metahuman who had the ability to destroy reality. Batman was to use the only known weapon that could kill Ace. However, instead of using the weapon, Batman stayed by Ace’s side and comforted her as she died.
Batman’s actions showed Amanda the type of hero he was. Someone who would never take a life, and someone with the highest of morals. After that day, Amanda became a firm supporter of Batman. As time went on, she knew that Batman wasn’t going to live forever, so she arranged to have his DNA implanted into Warren McGinnis. When Terry was conceived, he was technically the biological son of Bruce Wayne and Warren’s wife.
Terry is angered that he never had control over his fate. Amanda counters his assumption and states that Terry is Bruce’s son, not his clone. He is still free to live how he wants. In the end, Terry goes to Wayne Manor to visit Bruce. Though it’s not explicitly stated, Bruce understands that Terry will carry on his legacy.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#61. “The Death and Return of Superman” Story Arc
(a.k.a “The Death of Superman” Story Arc: “Doomsday!,” “Funeral for a Friend,” “Reign of the Supermen”)
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
Titles Affected: Action Comics, Justice League America, Green Lantern, Adventures of Superman, Superman, Superman: Man of Steel
October 1992–November 1992 (“Doomsday!”)
January 1993–June 1993 (“Funeral for a Friend”)
June 1993–October 1993 (“Reign of the Supermen”)
Credits
Writers: Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, Jerry Ordway, Karl Kesel, William Messner-Loebs, Gerard Jones
Pencillers: Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Jackson Guice, Dan Jurgens, Dennis Janke, Denis Rodier, Walt Simonson, Curt Swan, M.D. Bright
Inkers: Brett Breeding, Doug Hazelwood, Dennis Janke, Denis Rodier, Rick Burchett, Mike Machian, Andre Parks, Josef Rubinstein, Trevor Scott, Walter Simonson, Romeo Tanghal
Editor Mike Carlin
The Reason It’s Great
In 1993, the unthinkable happened—The Man of Steel died. However, shortly after, he reemerged greater than ever. “The Death of Superman” was seen by many as a ploy to sell comics and it was also partly to blame for the downfall of the comics industry in the 1990s. However, the story is one of the best Superman stories out there. The reason it ranks at the top is due to its epic nature and the psychological aftermath of various characters in the DC universe.
Told in three arcs, the story started with “Doomsday!” which had the Ultimate—an abomination created on Krypton—reawakening deep below the earth. He soon goes on a rampage where various heroes are unable to stop him. Superman eventually faces off with the murderous behemoth and sacrifices himself to save everyone.
The second arc, “Funeral for a Friend,” showed the impact Superman’s death had on the population. There were perspectives from friends and family, and also Superman’s enemies. The third and final arc, “Reign of the Supermen!,” saw four individuals claiming to be the resurrected Man of Steel.
Eventually, a fifth individual, without powers, arrived. It was soon discovered that this final individual was the real Superman and that he had gone into a form of Kryptonian hibernation to heal after his fight with Doomsday.
The “Death of Superman” has had quite an impact on the DC universe. The storyline was the basis for Superman: Doomsday, an animated film adaptation. Most recently, elements of the storyline were used in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Superman’s death is now seen as a marker and milestone in DC’s colorful and diverse history.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#60. Batman: Under the Red Hood
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
July 27, 2010
Credits
Director: Brandon Vietti
Writer: Judd Winick
Cast: Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Jensen Ackles as Jason Todd / Red Hood, Alexander Martella as young Jason Todd, Vincent Martella as Teen Jason Todd, John DiMaggio as The Joker, Neil Patrick Harris as Dick Grayson / Nightwing, Jason Isaacs as Ra’s al Ghul, Wade Williams as Roman Sionis / Black Mask, Gary Cole as Commissioner James Gordon / Bobo / Shot, Jim Piddock as Alfred Pennyworth, Carlos Alazraqui as Chi Chi / Thug #1, Robert Clotworthy as Leon, Brian George as Ra’s al Ghul’s Assistant, Kelly Hu as Ms. Li, Phil LaMarr as Rick / Bulk, Esteban Matos as Sexy Guy #1, Kevin Michael Richardson as Tyler Bramford, Andrea Romano as Reporter #1, Dwight Schultz as Freddie / Yurp, Fred Tatasciore as Mercenary #1 / Amazo / Guard, Bruce Timm as The Riddler, Keri Tombazian as Reporter #1 / Fearsome Hand Leader, Michael Villani as Reporter #3
The Reason It’s Great
Adaptations usually fail because they bring nothing new to the medium. This was definitely not the case. Batman: Under the Red Hood was a retelling of “A Death in the Family” and the first appearance of the Red Hood. With adept writing and great characterizations, this animated film was a one-two punch of gut-wrenching emotion and superhero action.
The story starts with Batman racing to save Robin who’s held in a warehouse by the Joker. However, Batman’s too late, and he watches the warehouse explode, killing his sidekick. Years later, a new vigilante emerges—the Red Hood. After a couple of initial confrontations with the Red Hood, Batman realizes that he’s dealing with Jason.
Batman visits Ra’s al Ghul and confronts him about Jason. Ra’s al Ghul comes clean and admits that he resurrected Jason in the Lazarus Pit out of guilt. Ra’s al Ghul’s partnership with the Joker, from years ago, never should have involved the death of Jason. When Jason emerged from the Lazarus Pit, he was insane and eventually escaped.
In the climactic battle, Jason tries to force his former mentor to exact revenge by killing the Joker. Batman’s refusal leads to a fight where Jason eventually escapes and disappears. The final minutes of Batman recollecting Jason’s first day as Robin are heart-wrenching. The story’s emotional heft has made this one of the best Batman animated films to-date.
Screen Capture from Batman: Dead End
#59. Batman: Dead End
Medium
Live-Action Short Film
Release Date
July 19 2003 (San Diego Comic-Con)
Credits
Director: Sandy Collora
Writer: Sandy Collora
Cast: Clark Bartram as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Andrew Koenig as The Joker, Kurt Carley as The Predator, Jake McKinnon as The Alien, Patrick Oronet as Other Predator, Patrick Magee as Other Predator, Kurt Carley as Other Predator
The Reason It’s Great
Even though fan-films are produced on a shoe-string budget, they don’t need to look like one. That’s the exact type of philosophy Batman: Dead End followed. Making its debut at the 2003 San Diego Comic-Con, this short has gained a cult following that’s usually reserved for full-fledged feature films.
The story was created at a time when even the thought of cross-universe characters appearing on the same screen was revolutionary and experimental. Batman chases down an escaped Joker who is soon dragged off by an Alien Xenomorph. The Xenomorph is killed by a Predator who’s on his ritualistic hunt. Batman faces off with the Predator and defeats him.
Just when the Dark Knight thinks it’s over, an army of Predators appear. However, things get even worse … a swarm of Xenomorphs emrege behind him. Batman is trapped in the middle—with two invading extra-terrestrial species ready to face off.
Kevin Smith and Alex Ross—industry luminaries who were involved with DC in the past—praised Batman: Dead End‘s portrayal of the Dark Knight and his world. The short film has been lauded by critics as an example of what fan-films can accomplish when given the right amount of passion and understanding of the source material.
Image Courtesy of Revolution Studios
#58. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
July 11, 2008
Credits
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writers: Guillermo del Toro (Story and Screenplay), Mike Mignola (Story)
Cast: Ron Perlman as Hellboy, Selma Blair as Liz Sherman, Doug Jones as Abe Sapien, John Alexander and James Dodd as Johann Krauss, Luke Goss as Prince Nuada Silverlance, Anna Walton as Princess Nuala, Jeffrey Tambor as Tom Manning, John Hurt as Trevor Bruttenholm, Brian Steele as Mr. Wink / Cathedral Head / Fragglewump / Cronie Troll, Roy Dotrice as King Balor
The Reason It’s Great
Director Guillermo del Toro continues his wild visuals from Hellboy (which also made it to our list) in this exciting, beautifully crafted sequel. With imaginative monsters and a continuation of the titular character’s personal growth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a perfect blend of fantasy and superhero storytelling.
In ancient times, an elven king named Balor creates a Golden Army to fight against humans and their greed. After being overcome with guilt from the war’s devastation, Balor brokers a truce with the humans. The crown which controlled the Golden Army is broken into three pieces, with one piece going to the humans and the other two to the elves.
In the present day, Balor’s son, Prince Nuada, seeks to combine the pieces of the crown and take control of the Golden Army. He’s able to attain two pieces, but his twin sister, Princess Nuala, escapes with the third. Nuala is eventually found by Abe Sapien and brought to the BPRD for protection. Unknown to the team, Nuada uses his psychic connection with Nuala and finds her.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is Guillermo del Toro at his finest. It’s a conglomeration of bizarre creatures and strange landscapes. The opening prologue itself is a work of art that can give Tim Burton’s famous claymation visuals a run for it’s money. This is one of those rare cases where the sequel lives up to the original.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#57. “The Winter Soldier” Story Arc
(Captain America #1–#6: “Out of Time,” Captain America #7: “The Lonesome Death of Jack Monroe,” Captain America #8–#11: “The Winter Soldier”)
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
January 2005–November 2005
Credits
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Pencillers: Steve Epting, Michael Lark, John Paul Leon, Lee Weeks
Inkers: Steve Epting, Michael Lark, John Paul Leon, Mike Perkins, Jesse Delperdang, Lee Weeks
Colorists: Frank D’Amata, Matt Milla
Letterer: Randy Gentile
Editors: Tom Brevoort, Andy Schmidt, Nicole Wiley, Molly Lazer, Stephanie Moore, Aubrey Sitterson
The Reason It’s Great
At the beginning, Bucky Barnes was created as a point-of-view character. A portal for readers to look through. Bucky allowed young readers to fight side-by-side with the greatest patriot the world has ever known. However, as we all know, Bucky came out from under Captain America’s shadow and has become an equally complex figure.
In the 1960s, a lot of Marvel’s characters were given more dimension with the addition of personal tragedies. Captain America needed one—and the best sacrificial lamb became Bucky Barnes. It was an easy call, Bucky would be tragic, but was minor enough that it didn’t affect the overall Marvel universe.
When Captain America was given a relaunch in 2005, writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting were given the daunting task of revitalizing Cap. The creative duo gave birth to the Winter Soldier—a Cold War leftover who was very much like Steve Rogers—a man who didn’t really belong in his time.
Initially, the idea to reintroduce Bucky as a deadly assassin wasn’t met with praise. In fact, many at Marvel derided. It was a very controversial decision. However, once the story arc hit the comic book shelves, the fans embraced it lovingly. It was the kickstart that Captain America needed, and the rest is history.
Image Courtesy of HBO
#56. Todd McFarlane’s Spawn Season 1–3
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
May 16, 1997–May 28, 1999
Credits
Created By: Todd McFarlane
Developed By: Alan B. McElroy
Cast: Keith David as Al Simmons / Spawn, Richard Dysart as Cogliostro, Michael Nicolosi as Clown / Violator, James hanes as Violator / Over-Kill, Dominique Jennings as Wanda Blake, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lilly, Victor Love as Terry Fitzgerald (Ep. 1–12) / Bobby (Ep. 1–12), Michael Beach as Terry Fitzgerald (Ep. 15–17) / Bobby (Ep. 15–17), Kath Soucie as Cyan Fitzgerald, James Keane as Tony Twist / Sam Burke, Michael McShane as Maximilian “Twitch” Williams, Gareb, John Rafter Lee as Jason Wynn, Denis Poirier as Merrick / Bounty Hunter / Angela, Ronny Cox as Senator Scott McMillan / Billy Kincaid, Victor Brandt as Chief Banks, Ming-Na as Lisa Wu / Jade, Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Jess Chapel, Robert Forster as Major Forseberg, James Hong as General Soon / Zhang Lao, Debbi Morgan as Granny Blake
The Reason It’s Great
When your endeavor to move an awesome property to another medium doesn’t pan out (yes, I’m looking at you, the live-action film version of Spawn), you try another medium that has the direct involvement of the creator himself—Todd McFarlane.
To that end, fans got Todd McFarlane’s Spawn—a tour de force of storytelling without shying away from the violence and gore that was and is the hallmark of the monumental comic. The series debuted on HBO (where else could it have debuted in the 1990s?) and was met with critical and fan acclaim.
The series lasted for three short seasons. And when I mean short, I mean only six episodes per year. Hey, it’s all about quality over quantity. To this day, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn remains as one of the top animated comic book series of all time.
Image Courtesy of Revolution Studios
#55. Hellboy
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
March 30, 2004 (Mann Village Theater)
April 2, 2004 (United States)
Credits
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writers: Guillermo del Toro (Story and Screenplay), Peter Briggs (Story)
Cast: Ron Perlman as Hellboy, John Hurt as Trevor Bruttenholm, Kevin Trainor as Young Trevor Bruttenholm, Selma Blair as Liz Sherman, Millie Wilkie as Young Liz Sherman, Rupert Evans as John Thaddeus Myers, Krel Roden as Grigori Efimovich Rasputin, Jeffrey Tambor as Tom Manning, Doug Jones as Abe Sapien, David Hyde Pierce as The Voice of Abe Sapien, Brian Steele as Sammel, ladislav Beran as Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, Bridget Hodson as Ilsa Haupstein, Corey Johnson as Agent Clay, Brian Caspe as Agent Lime, James Babson as Agent Moss, Stephen Fisher as Agent Quarry, William Hoyland as Klaus Werner von krupt, Angus MacInnes as Sgt. Whitman, Jim Howick as Cpl. Matlin, Guillermo del Toro as Ivan Klimatovich
The Reason It’s Great
It’s weird, it’s fantastic, and it’s got some wild humor. Hellboy was a comic book that only visionary director Guillermo del Toro could bring to life on the silver screen. Let’s also not forget about the cast. Ron Perlman was born for the role, and Doug Jones’s gangly tall appearance made him a perfect Abe Sapien.
In 1944, the Nazis build a dimensional portal to bring in entities as a means to fight the Allies. When the Allies infiltrate the Nazi stronghold, they discover that something else had come through the portal—an infant demon with a hand of stone. Trevor Bruttenholm, an Allied researcher, adopts the infant and names him “Hellboy.”
Sixty years later, Bruttenholm and Hellboy work at the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD). They, along with other supernatural beings, defend the world from evil paranormal activities. Soon, an enemy from the past is resurrected, and it’s up to Hellboy and his team to stop him.
Guillermo del Toro’s imagination has no bounds. Aside from the the comic-accurate portrayal of Hellboy, the creatures and monsters in this world were brought to life beautifully. This film definitely satifies Hellboy fans.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#54. Daredevil #168, #174–#182: “The Elektra Saga”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
January 1981 (Daredevil #168)
September 1981–May 1982 (Daredevil #174–#182)
Credits
Writer: Frank Miller
Penciller: Frank Miller
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colorist:s Glynis Wein, Klaus Janson, D.R. Martin, Christie Scheele, Bob Sharen,
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Editors: Denny O’Neil, Ralph Macchio, Mark Gruenwald
The Reason It’s Great
Daredevil was already a dying title when Frank Miller took over the literary reins. However, in true Miller form, the title was soon revived and given a new start. This was done by creating and developing a character that fans grew to love—and, suddenly, ripping her away.
Elektra was introduced in Daredevil #168 (January 1981) as someone from Matt Murdock’s past—his first love. Elektra became an assassin after her father was brutally murdered. Returning to America, she meets Daredevil, who now hunts her as an enemy.
Elektra, a newly introduced character, was quickly embraced by fans—which helped Daredevil become a top seller. However, in Daredevil #181, Elektra was stabbed with her own sai by Bullseye and died in Matt’s arms.
The introduction and quick death of Elektra made a lasting impression on readers. Though Marvel promised Miller that Elektra would never be used again, the company found it difficult not to. She was soon revived. The fans loved it … Miller, not so much. But that’s another story.
Screen Capture from Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 20: “Hereafter: Part II”
#53. Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 19–20: “Hereafter”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
November 29, 2003
Credits
Director: Butch Lukic
Writer: Dwayne McDuffle
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Maria Canals-Barrera as Shayera Hol / Hawkgirl / Livewire / Leslie Willis, Susan Eisenberg as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman, Phil LaMarr as John Stewart / Green Lantern, Carl Lumbly as J’onn J’onzz / Martian Manhunter, Geroge Newbern as Clark Kent / Superman, Michael Rosenbaum as Wally West / The Flash / Floyd Lawton / Deadshot, Corey Burton as John Corben / Metallo / Winslow Schott / Toyman / Mark Mardon / Weather Wizard, Brad Garrett as Lobo, Dana Delaney as Lois Lane, Michael Dorn as Kalibak / Cop, Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Jason Marsden as Snapper Carr, Olivia d’Abo as Star Sapphire, Jose Yenque as Copperhead, Phil Morris as Vandal Savage
The Reason It’s Great
One of the most cliched mantras in writing is “story is character.” It’s a known fact. However, it’s rarely used effectively. Not so in a two-part episode of Justice League Unlimited. We see one of Superman greatest enemies become his greatest ally.
A band of supervillains plot to take out Superman. To lure Superman into their trap, they attack Metropolis. When Toyman takes aim at Batman and Wonder Woman, Superman flies in front of the beam and saves them. However, he quickly disappears—presumed dead.
As the Justice League and the world mourn the supposed death of Superman, the audience discovers that the Man of Steel was actually beamed to the future. In this now desolate place, he runs into Vandal Savage, who lives alone. Superman learns that (in what is now the past) Savage developed a weapon that allowed him to control gravity. Without Superman there to stop him, he destroyed the Earth.
Superman and Savage soon form an alliance to rebuild a time machine. At the end of their endeavor, the two become close friends. In a heartfelt goodbye, Superman travels back to his time. We soon see Savage phase out of existence with a utopia slowly appearing. With a deep character arc and plenty of poignant scenes, this story definitely ranks as one of the greatest.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#52. Marvels
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
January 1994–April 1994
Credits
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Alex Ross
Letterer: John Gaushell, Richard Starkings
Colorist: Alex Ross
Creators: Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross
Editor: Marcus McLaurin
The Reason It’s Great
Marvels is a retelling of major events in the Marvel universe. To make it fresh, the writer frames it from the perspective of Phil Sheldon, a photographer. With amazing art from Alex Ross, Marvel’s is an engrossing story that gives us another look at Marvel’s in-universe history.
The story starts with the original Human Torch, Phil Hammond, and how the public perceives him. It soon shifts to the main character, Phil Sheldom, who, at the time, is an aspiring photographer. Sheldon’s reaction to these Marvels are shown in his everyday life.
The story moves through the 1960s and 1970s, with Sheldon living through various Marvel universe events. Through thick and thin, he supports the Marvels. However, when Spider-Man fails to save Gwen Stacy from a fall, Sheldon loses any remaining faith he has in these superpowered beings.
Kurt Busiek’s unique point-of-view storytelling technique paired with Alex Ross’s stunning art make this a great story for any Marvel fan. By highlighting famous events, the narrative also serves as a very meaningful retrospective.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#51. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
July 30, 2013
Credits
Director: Joy Oliva
Writer: Jim Krieg
Based On: “Flashpoint” by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert
Cast: Justin Chambers as Barry Allen / The Flash, C. Thomas Howell as Professor Eobard “Zoom” Thawne / Reverse-Flash, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Kevin McKidd as Thomas Wayne / Batman, Michael B. Jorda as Victor Stone / Cyborg, Dee Bradley Baker as Etrigan the Demon / Top / Canterbury Cricket, Steven Blum as Lex Luthor / SHAZAM! / Captain Thunder, Sam Daly as Clark Kent / Kal-El / Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Cary Elwes as Orin / Arthur Curry / Aquaman, Nathan Fillion as Hal Jorda / Green Lantern, Grey DeLisle-Griffin as Nora Allen / Young Barry Allen / Martha Wayne / The Joker, Jennifer hale as Iris West / Billy Batson, Danny Huston as General Sam Lane, Danny Jacobs as Cole Cast / Grifter / Leonard Snart / Captain Cold, Peter Jessop as Dr. Vulko, Lex Lang as Nathaniel Adam / Captain Atom / Funeral Presider, Vanessa Marshall as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman, Candi Milo as Persephone / Pedro Pena, Ron Perlman as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke, Kevin Michael Richardson as The President of the United States / James, Andrea Romano as Doris / Central City Newsreader, James Patrick Stuart as Steve Trevor / George “Digger” Harness / Captain Boomerang / Orm Marius / Ocean Master, Hynden Walch as Yo-Yo
The Reason It’s Great
If there ever was a story that surpassed its source material, it would be Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. With great animation, high-octane action, and deep character interactions, this animated feature film ranks among the best from Warner Bros. / DC.
Barry Allen wakes up one day and his world has changed. He’s no longer a speedster; Iris West is married to someone else; the Justice League doesn’t exist; and his mother is still alive. Many events are drastically different (e.g. Batman is Thomas Wayne, as Bruce was the one who died during the robbery) and Barry’s memories are starting to get overwritten.
With the help of Thomas Wayne, Barry recreates his lab accident and regains his speed. Barry later finds out that he changed the timeline when he traveled back in time and saved his mother. To fix the timeline, Barry travels to the past again and stops his previous self from saving his mother.
With a large amount of violence, this film is one of the most mature animated productions from the studio. The mature themes also lend to the films many poignant and emotional scenes.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#50. Incredible Hulk #92–#105, Giant-Size Hulk #1: “Planet Hulk”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
April 2006–June 2007 (Incredible Hulk #92–#105)
August 2006 (Giant-Size Hulk #1)
Credits
Writer: Greg Pak
Pencillers: Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti
Inker: Jeffrey Huet
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Editors: nathan Cosby, Mark Paniccia
The Reason It’s Great
There’s a reason why, for years, fans have wanted a film based on the “Planet Hulk” storyline. It’s got gladiators, alien worlds, and monsters. What else more can a Hulk fan as for? Starting as just a seed of an idea from Joe Quesada, Greg Pak would later expand it into “Planet Hulk.”
Fearing the Hulk is becoming too dangerous, the Avengers trick him into a shuttle that will take him to another planet. Unknown to them, the shuttle accidentally goes through a wormhole and lands on Sakaar—where the Hulk is taken prisoner by the Red King and forced to fight as a gladiator.
Later, the Hulk escapes, pursued by the Red King and his first lieutenant Caiera. After seeing the Red King’s evil ways, Caiera joins the Hulk, who defeats the Red King. As Hulk’s shuttle is being turned into a monument, a self-destruct sequence is triggered. Caiera is killed and Hulk vows revenge against the Avengers—paving the way for “World War Hulk.”
“Planet Hulk” is so influential that elements of the story have been adpated to the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#49. Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
December 12, 2000
Credits
Director: Curt Gaeda
Writers: Paul Dini (Story and Screenplay), Glen Murakami (Story), Bruce Timm (Story)
Cast: Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis / Batman, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker / Jordan Pryce, Angie Harmon as Commissioner Barbara Gordon, Tara Strong as Young Barbara Gordon / Batgirl, Dean Stockwell as Tim Drake, Matthew Valencia as Young Tim Drake / Robin, Andrea Romano as Young Tim Drake / Joker Jr., Arleen Sorkin as Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn, Melissa Joan Hart as Delia Dennis / Deidre Dennis / Dee Dee, Michael Rosenbaum as Stewart Carter Winthrop III / Ghoul, Don Patrick Harvey as Charles Buntz / Chucko, Henry Rollins as Benjamin Knox / Bonk, Frank Wekler as Woof the Hyena-Man / Ace the Bat-Hound, Lauren Tom as Dana Tan, Rachael Leigh Cook as Chelsea Cunningham, Teri Garr as Mary McGinnis, Ryan O’Donohue as Matt McGinnis, Vernee Watson-Johnson as Ms. Hoyce Carr, Mary Scheer as Mrs. Drake, Jason Stanford as Gangster
The Reason It’s Great
Just when you thought the Joker couldn’t get more twisted and diabolical, this animated film comes along. Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker shows the ingenuity of the Dark Knight’s greatest arch-enemy. The film is noted for showing the complex struggle and relationship between a hero and a villain.
In Neo-Gotham City, the Joker resurfaces after a 35-year absence and takes over the Jokerz criminal gang. During a robbery, Terry McGinnis intervenes, but the Joker is still able to escape. Bruce Wayne, concerned for Terry’s safety, takes the Batsuit to keep him from pursuing the Joker.
It’s soon discovered that the Joker is actually Tim Drake who’s been implanted with a chip that has the Joker’s DNA and consciousness—allowing Tim to transform into the Joker’s clone. In the climactic fight, Terry destroys the chip, killing any remnants of the Joker.
With the usual great performance by Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker, this film is a haunting reminder that evil never really goes away. However, the emotional scenes with Bruce and Terry also show us that good will find a way to prevail.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios and Netflix
#48. Marvel’s Luke Cage Season 1
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
September 30, 2016
Credits
Directors: Paul McGuigan, Guillermo Navarro, Vincenzo Natali, Mark Jobst, Sam Miller, Andy Goddard, Magnus Martens, Tom Shankland, Stephen Surjik, George Tillman Jr., Phil Abraham, Clark Johnson
Writers: Cheo Hodari Coker, Matt owens, Charles Murray, Jason Horwitch, Nathan Louis Jackson, Akela Cooper, Aïda Mashaka Croal, Christian Taylor
Creator: Cheo Hodari Coker
Cast: Mike Colter as Luke Cage, Mahershala Ali as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Theo Rossi as Hernan “Shades” Alvarez, Erik LaRay Harvey as Willis Stryker / Diamondback, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Alfre Woodward as Mariah Dillard, Frank Whaley as Rafael Scarfe, Ron Dephas Jones as Bobby Fish, Jacob Vargas as Domingo Colon, Darius Kaleb as Lonnie Wilson, Jade Wu as Connie Lin, Deborah Ayorinde as Candace Miller, Justin Swain as Bailey, Jaiden Kaine as Zip, Sean Ringgold as Sugar, Dawn-Lyen Gardner as Megan McLaren, Jeremiah Richard Craft as Dave Griffith, Michael Kostroff as Noah Burstein, Tijuana Ricks as Thembi Wallace, John Clarence Stewart as Alex, Karen Pittman as Priscilla Ridley
The Reason It’s Great
Marvel’s Luke Cage is the third series from Marvel’s Netflix line-up of street-level heroes. The character of Luke Cage is brought into the modern world and made even more relevant by placing the backdrop against current African-American issues.
Though political, the series never uses a heavy hand in trying to convey those ideas. It remembers it’s comic book roots and skillfully merges it into a crime drama. Speaking of comic book roots, the writers also adeptly give Luke Cage a compelling origin story.
The 13-episode series shows Luke embracing his hero identity and also looking into his past. With a strong supporting cast and equally strong plotting for the first season, fans are now looking forward to Luke Cage’s sophmore solo outing and his next appearance on Marvel’s The Defenders.
Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
#47. Deadpool
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
February 8, 2016 (Le Grand Rex)
February 12, 2016 (United States)
Credits
Director: Tim Miller
Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Cast: Ryan Reynods as Wade Wilson / Deadpool, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Ed Skrein as Francis Freeman / Ajax, T.J. Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Leslie Uggams as Blid Al, Brianna Kildebrad as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Stefan Kapičić as The Voice of Colossus, Karan Soni as Dopinder, Jed Rees as Agent Smith, Isaac C. Singleton Jr. as Boothe
The Reason It’s Great
Forget about the abomination you witnessed in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Deadpool relaunches the character into the wise-cracking, fourth-wall-breaking Merc with a Mouth we all love. Ryan Reynolds emobodies the antihero perfectly and shows off his quick-witted comedic chops.
Wade Wilson is a former special forces operative who discovers that he has cancer that has metasticized beyond conventional treatments. He’s given a miracule cure in an experimental program that promises to turn him into a mutant—causing his body to cure itself. After being subjected to torture with no results, the researchers locks him in a chamber which deprives him of oxygen, causing an emergency response. The tactic works, but Wade is also left disfigured.
He escapes the facility in the hopes of finding a cure for his disfigurement. Ajax and Angel Dust, working for the facility, kidnap Wade’s girlfriend, Vanessa, and force him to meet them at an abandoned junkyard. In the end, Deadpool is able to save his girlfriend and reveals why he didn’t return to her sooner.
The film was hilarious as it was action-packed. It showed the heights comic book films can reach when studio execs allow their directors to have full creative control. Fans will be happy to hear that Deadpool 2 will be released in January 2018 with the addition of Cable to the cast.
Screen Capture from The Incredible Hulk Season 2, Episode 1: “Married”
#46. The Incredible Hulk Season 2, Episode 1: “Married”
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
September 22, 1978
Credits
Director: Kenneth Johnson
Writer: Kenneth Johnson
Cast: Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner, Jack Colvin as Jack McGee, Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk, Mariette Hartley as Dr. Carolyn Fields, Brian Cutler as Brad, Diane Markoff as The Girl, Duncan Gamble as Mark, Meeno Peluce as The Boy
The Reason It’s Great
“Married” was the Season 2 premiere of the critically-acclaimed The Incredible Hulk. Along with a strong script, this two-hour episode had strong performances from the late Bill Bixby and Mariette Hartley.
Dr. David Banner believes that hypnosis may be a means to control the creature within him. He seeks out psychiatrist Dr. Caroline Fields to help him. When he learns that she has a terminal illness, he offers to treat her for her assistance. As the two work together, they find themselves falling in love.
Comic books aren’t always known for their strong drama element. This episode proved otherwise and garnered Mariette Hartely, who played Dr. Caroline Fields, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—a first for a science-fiction series.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#45. Legion of Super-Heroes #290–#294: “The Great Darkness Saga”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
August 1982–December 1982
Credits
Writers: Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen
Pencillers: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt
Inkers: Larry Mahlstedt
The Reason It’s Great
“The Great Darkness Saga” is noted for its daunting cast of characters—every Legionnaire up to 1982 (the publication date of the story) appears. Along with them, most of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, the Wanderers, and the Heroes of Lallor are also present.
In the 30th century, various artifacts are stolen and given to an unknown “master” where he absorbs their powers. Further investigation reveals that the master is immensely powerful which requires the calling of all Legionnaires to active duty. When the master has billions of Daxamites terraform their planet into his image, he’s revealed to be Darkseid.
Aiding the Legionnaires in this battle is Izaya, Highfather of the New Gods who creates a perfect clone of Orion—Darkseid’s son and the one destined to destroy him. When Darkseid becomes distracted battling Supergirl, he loses control of the Daxamites. Unable to fend off billions of superpowered beings, Darkseid escapes and vanishes.
However, Darkseid leaves the Legionnaires with a curse. It’s later revealed that one of Saturn Girl’s infant children was abducted and sent back in time and grew up as Validus—who would unknowingly facing off with his own parents.
After the “Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!” story arc, all Legion stories occuring before October 1994 were erased from continuity. However, “The Great Darkness Saga” remains as a classic if you’re a fan of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Screen Capture from The Incredible Hulk Season 4, Episode 14: “The First: Part 2”
#44. The Incredible Hulk Season 4, Episode 13–14: “The First”
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Dates
March 6, 1981 (“The First: Part 1”)
March 13, 1981 (“The First: Part 2”)
Credits
Director: Frank Orsatti
Writers: Kenneth Johnson, Andrew Schneider
Cast:Bill Bixby as Dr.David Banner, Jack Colvin as Jack McGee, Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk, Harry Townes as Dell Frye, Lola Albright as Elizabeth Collins, Bill Beyers as Case, Chip Frye as Willie, Billy Green Bush as Sheriff Carl Decker, Kari Michaelsen as Linda, Mack Magee as Walt, Julie Marine as Cheryl, Dick Durock as Frye’s Creature, Edward Walsh as Brad Wheeler, Cliff Emmich as Earl, Hank Rolike as Janitor
The Reason It’s Great
One of Bill Bixby’s most raw and emotional performances came out of “The First.” This two-part story also had the honor of being the only The Incredible Hulk episode featuring a superpowered being (discounting the television movie The Incredible Hulk Returns which featured Thor) as the antagonist—a rarity in the 1980s when television adaptations of superhero comics were still in its infancy.
David Banner visits a down talled Vissaria after hearing rumors that another Hulk-like creature was spotted there years ago. In his investigation, he discovers a lab, and a man named Dell Frye claiming to be the first creature.
As David works on a cure for the Hulk, Dell exposes himself to gamma radiation—allowing him to turn into the creature. In a final heartbreaking scene, Dell’s creature destroys the only vial of antidote—ending any chance of David curing himself.
Being a superhero show, “The First” also had elements of horror with the terrifying appearance of Frye’s creature. Rarely does a television show cross that many genres and is successful. “The First” was also one of the most dramatic episodes—showing David’s loss of his only hope for a cure.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#43. Marvel Comics Presents #72–#84: “Weapon X”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
March 1991–September 1991
Credits
Writer: Barry Windsor-Smith
Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith
The Reason It’s Great
As an origin story, “Weapon X” shows a large part of Logan’s history and gives us a detailed account of his time at the program that gave him his famous adamantium composition. The story was recently briefly shown in X-Men: Apocalypse when the young X-Men let Wolverine out of his highly fortified cell.
The story arc starts with Logan being captured. The program prepares him for the adamantium bonding process—a grueling, torturous ordeal. The director of the Weapon X program, the Professor, erases his mind and turns him into a savage killing machine.
Logan’s willpower eventually allows him to break free of the programming and escape—but not before killing all the soldiers at the facility (as portrayed in X-Men: Apocalypse) and only leaving a few personnel alive.
“Weapon X” only has the story being told from Wolverine’s point-of-view at the beginning and at the end. The rest of the story is straightforward plotting with three members in Weapon X acting as the main characters—the Professor, Abraham Cornelius, and Carol Hines. Throughout the years, this story has been seen as a seminal part of Wolverine’s history, and seen as one of Marvel’s greatest narratives.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Enterprises and New Line Cinema
#42. Blade II
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Date
March 22, 2002
Credits
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: David S. Goyer
Cast: Wesley Snipes as Eric Brooks / Blade, Kris Kistofferson as Abraham Whistler, Ron Perlman as Reinhardt, Leonar Varela as Nyssa Damaskinos, Norman Reedus as Josh / Scud, Thomas Kretschmann as Eli Damaskinos, Luke Goss as Jared Nomak, Matt Schulze as Chupa, Danny John-Jules as Asad, Donnie Yel as Snowman, Karel Roden as Krel Kounen, Marit Velle Kile as Verlaine, Darren “Daz” Crawford, Tony Curran as Priest, Santiago Segura as Rush
The Reason It’s Great
Monster-maker specialist Guillermo del Toro helms the sequel to the 1998 comic book movie Blade. The director brings his own aesthetic to the vampire-hero film and the results were amazing. Many of the monsters seen in this film seem like prototypes for his future projects—Pan’s Labrynth and The Strain.
Blade, the vampire-human hybrid, is back. This time he’s fighting against an infection that turns vampires into Reapers—mutant vampires that have no vampire weaknesses other than ultraviolet light. Helping Blade in this endeavor is the Bloodpack—a group of elite soldier vampires appointed by the Vampire Lord.
It’s later revealed that the Vampire Lord created the virus to usher in an era of new invincible vampires. Blade then hunts down the Vampire Lord and ends the plague.
Blade II was praised for its visuals and Guillermo del Toro’s unique creature designs. The film, which was a perfect balance of horror and the superhero genre, is seen as the best of the franchise.
Screen Capture from The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 1: “The Incredible Hulk”
#41. The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 1: “The Incredible Hulk”
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
November 4, 1977
Credits
Director: Kenneth Johnson
Writer: Kenneth Johnson
Cast: Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner, Susan Sullivan as Dr. Elaina Marks, Jack Colvin as Jack McGee, Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk, Susan Batson as Mrs. Maier, Mario Gallo as Mr. Bram, Eric Server as Policeman, Charles Siebert as Ben, Kenneth Johnson as Scotty, Larua Banner as Lara Parker, Richard Kiel as The Hulk
The Reason It’s Great
It was the one that started it all—the pilot episode. The two-hour television movie showed the Hulk’s origins and sets up the protagonist of David Banner. Unlike past superhero shows, The Incredible Hulk was geared more towards drama and creating strong characters.
Dr. David Banner is a physician/scientist who accidentally overdoses on gamma radiation. Now, whenever he becomes angry, it causes him to transform into the Incredible Hulk—a 330-pound 7-foot tall green creature. Jack McGee, a tabloid news reporter, incessantly pursues the Hulk.
The Hulk is eventually blamed for a lab accident that kills Banner’s work associate, Dr. Elaina Marks. Unable to control the Hulk, Banner leaves to find a cure for his condition.
Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
#40. X2: X-Men United
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
April 24, 2003 (London)
May 2, 2003 (United States)
Credits
Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, David Hayter, Bryan Singer (Story), Zak Penn (Story)
Cast: Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto, Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm, Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romign-Stamos as Raven Darkhölme / Mystique, Brian Cox as Colonel William Stryker, Anna Paquin as Marie D’Ancanto / Rogue, Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake / Iceman, Aaron Stanford as John Allerdyce / Pyro, Kelly Hu as Yuriko Oyama / Lady Deathstrike, Bruce Davison as Senator Robert Kelly, Katie Stuart as Kitty Pryde, Kea Wong as Jubilee, Reid McKay as Jason Stryker / Mutant 143, Daniel Cudmore as Piotr “Peter” Rasputin / Colossus
The Reason It’s Great
Director Bryan Singer states that X2: X-Men United drews heavy inspiration from The Empire Strkes Back. The X-Men are split into various groups and the overall tone is darker. It’s the best of the original trilogy of X-Men films and is also one of the best superhero films in general.
William Stryker, who has a history with Logan, is a man bent on killing every mutant in existence. He hopes to achieve this by using his own telepathic mutant son to control Professor X in committing this mass genocide. The X-Men and Magneto’s band of mutants join forces to stop Stryker.
As the team works to find Stryker, Logan learns about his history at the Weapon X program. In the end, Stryker is defeated, but at a great cost to the X-Men.
X2: X-Men United was lauded for director Bryan Singer’s adept handling of multiple characters within the context of a complex narrative. Due to the film’s themes, it was honored by the Political Film Society in the categories of Human Rights and Peace.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television
#39. The Flash Season 2
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Dates
October 6, 2015–May 24, 2016
Credits
Directors: Ralph Hemecker, Jesse Warn, John F. Showalter, Stefan Pleszynski, Steve Shill, JJ Makaro, Dermott Downs, Kevin Tancharoen, Rob Hardy, Michael A. Allowitz, Rachel Talalay, Millicent Shelton, Hanelle Culpepper, Glen Winter, Alice Troughton, Armen V. Kevorkian, Kevin Smmith, Antonio Negret
Writers: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Gabrielle Stanton, Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Julian Meiojas, Katherine Walczak, Kai Yu Wu, Joe Peracchio, Ben Sokolowski, Grainne Godfree, Brooke Eikmeier, Bryan Q. Miller, Benjamin Raab, Deric A. Hughes, Lauren Certo, Lilah Vandenburgh, David Kob, Zack Stentz
Cast: Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / The Flash, Candice Patton as Iris West, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow / Killer Frost, Carlos Veldes as Cisco Ramon / Vibe, Tom Cavanaugh as Harrison Wells, Jesse L. Martin as Joe West, Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West, Violett Beane as Jesse Chambers Wells, Teddy Sears as Hunter Zolomon / Zoom, Shantel VanSanten as Patty Spivot, Vanessa A. Williams as Francine West, John Wesley Shipp as Henry Allen / Jay Garrick / The Flash, Patrick Sabongui as David Singh
The Reason It’s Great
Don’t get me wrong. The Flash Season 1 is great—but Season 2 is better. With the origin story and rudimentary power exploration out of the way, the Scarlet Speedster concentrated on even more dire threats—Zoom.
Season 2 also introduced Earth-2 and the concept of the multiverse. It was a crazy ride of twists, turns, and mysteries. The ending reveal of Zoom and the importance of Jay Garrick made Season 2 an amazing event, satisfying the fanboy in all of us.
If you’re crunched on time and want a dose of speedster fun, The Flash Season 2 is where it’s at. This is a roller coaster ride to remember.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#38. Batman
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
June 19, 1989 (Westwood, California)
June 23, 1989 (United States)
Credits
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Sam Hamm, Waren Skaaren
Cast: Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier / The Joker, Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox, Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent, Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, Jack Palance as Carl Grissom, Jerry Hall as Alicia Hunt, Tracey Walter as Bob the Goon, Lee Wallace as Mayor Borg, William Hootkins as Lt. Max Eckhardt, Hugo E. Blick as Young Jack Napier, Charles Roskilly as Young Bruce Wayne, David Baxt as Thomas Wayne, Sharon Holm as Martha Wayne, Garrick Hagon as Tourist Dad, Liza Ross as Tourist Mom, Adrian Meyers as Tourist Son
The Reason It’s Great
Batman, as a character, has always been dark. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the Caped Crusader became lighter fare. In the comics, Frank Miller ushered in a grimmer era with The Dark Knight Returns which was embraced by fans. On the silver screen, director Tim Burton introduced his Dark Knight in Batman.
Burton promised a vision which aligned with the hero’s more serious nature. However, when Michael Keaton was cast, fans were in an uproar. How can a guy who was known for comedy pull off one of the most iconic characters in comic book history?
The answer to that question was soon shown in a trailer. Fans quickly changed their attitudes and lauded Keaton and the look-and-feel of the film. It was so impressive that people actually purchased tickets to another film just to view the trailer. That’s right, boys and girls, back then, we didn’t have YouTube.
When Batman was finally released in the summer of 1989, it garnered fan and critical acclaim. Batman was reborn. To show the affect that Burton’s vision had on the franchise, 2016 was the first time fans saw a live-action feature film Dark Knight not in all black.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television
#37. Arrow Season 1
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Dates
October 10, 2012–May 15, 2013
Credits
Directors: David Nutter, David Barrett, Guy Bee, Vince Misiano, Michael Shultz, John Behring, David Grossman, Ken Fink, John Dahl, Eagle Egilsson, Nick copus, Wendy Stanzler, Glen Winter, Michael Offer
Writers: Gerg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, Moira Kirland, Lana Cho, Wendy Mericle, Ben Sokolowski, Geoff Johns, Beth Schwartz, Gabrielle Stanton, Drew Z. Greenberg, Bryan Q. Miller
Cast: Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen / The Arrow, Katie Casidy as Laurel Lance, Colin Donnell as Tommy Merlyn, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen, Paul Blackthorne as Quentin Lance, Jamey Sheridan as Robert Queen, Kelly Hu as Chien Na Wei / China White, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn / Dark Archer, Jessica De Gouw as Helena Bertinelli / Huntress, Colin Salmon as Walter Steele, Annie Ilonzeh as Joanna De La Vega, Roger Cross as Lucas Hilton, byron Mann as Yao Fei, Janina Gavankar as McKenna Hall, Manu Bennett as Slade Wilson, Christie Laing as Carly Diggle, Colton HAynes as Roy Harper, Alex Kingston as Dinah Lance, Jeffrey Nodrling as Frank bertinelli, Sebastian Dunn as Edward Fyers, Delina Jade as Shado, Chin Han as Frank Chen, Adrian Holmes as Frank Pike, Jarod Joseph as Alan Durand
The Reason It’s Great
The first season of this show did not fail its hero—the Green Arrow in the making. Arrow Season 1 was a grounded action-packed crime drama that was akin to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise. The narrative had two timelines: Oliver’s present journey to clean up Starling City; and Oliver’s time on Lian Yu.
After five years on a deserted island, heir to the Queen fortune Oliver Queen returns to Starling City. Armed with the skills he acquired on the island and his father’s list of corrupt individuals, Oliver works in the shadows to clean up the city. In his lone crusade, he meets some formidable enemies and discovers dark family secrets.
Arrow Season 1 takes the Green Arrow mythology and turns it into a character drama. Even the villains that Oliver fights against are given sympathetic reasons. This is a can’t miss story arc that retells the birth of a DC universe legend.
Screen Capture from The Incredible Hulk Season 4, Episode 1: “Prometheus: Part I”
#36. The Incredible Hulk Season 4, Episode 1–2: “Prometheus”
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Dates
November 7, 1980 (Prometheus: Part I)
November 14, 1980 (Promethus: Part II)
Credits
Director: Kenneth Johnson
Writer: Kenneth Johnson
Cast: Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner, Jack colvin as Jack McGee, Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk, Laurie Prange as Katie Maxwell, Roger Roginson as Capt. Welsh, John O’Connell as Col. Harry Appling, Monte Markham as Brad, Carol Baxter as Dr. Charlene McGowan, White Bissell as Dr. John Zeiderman, Arthur Rosenberg as Dr. Jason Spath
The Reason It’s Great
Playing almost like a full-fledged feature film, the Season 4 two-episode premiere of The Incredible Hulk is one of television’s greatest superhero moments. The visual effects, for the time, were top-notch. However, the real standouts were the exemplary script, pacing, directing, and acting—with Bill Bixby showing his impressive talent by playing David Banner as a mid-transformed Hulk.
David Banner rescues a blind woman, Katie, from drowning. After seeing to her safety and getting aquainted with her, Banner proceeds to continue on his journey. However, a large meteor emitting large quantities of gamma radiation crashes near them. When Banner investigates the meteor, he’s trapped in a mid-transformation between himself and the Hulk.
When a government entity, Prometheus, moves in to retrieve the meteor, Banner and Katie become caught up in the investigation. Engraged, Banner fully transforms into the Hulk. Both the Hulk and Kaite are apprehended and brought to the Prometheus facility. The Hulk eventually escapes with Katie, while doing significant damage to the facility.
“Prometheus” has the perfect blend of character-driven drama and thrilling action scenes. Though many of the visual effects are very much dated, the viewer cannot deny the quality storytelling. This is Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno at their finest.
Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
#35. X-Men: First Class
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
May 25, 2011 (Ziegfeld Theatre)
June 3, 2011 (United States)
Credits
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaugh, Sheldon Turner (Story), Bryan Singer (Story)
Cast: James McAvoy as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Laurence Belcher as 12-year-old Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto, Bill Milner as 14-year-old Erik Lehnsherr, Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkhölme, Nicholas Hoult as Dr. Hank McCoy / Beast, Lucas Till as Alex Summers / Havok, Caleb Landry Jones as Sean Cassidy / Banshee, Kevin Bacon as Dr. Klaus Schmidt / Sebastian Shaw, Jason Flemyng as Azazel, Oliver Platt as Man in Black Suit, January Jones as Emma Frost, Edi Gathegi as Armando Muñez / Darwin, Zoë Kravitz as Angel Salvadore, Álex González as Janos Quested / Riptide, Matt Craven as CIA Director McCone, Rade Šerbedžija as Russian General, Glenn Morshower as Colonel Robert Hendry, Don Creech as CIA Agent Stryker
The Reason It’s Great
After X-Men: The Last Stand completely butchered “The Dark Phoenix Saga” storyline, the franchise returned to its greatness with X-Men: First Class. With a younger cast and a strong script, this film garnered rave reviews and a solid box office performance.
Erik Lehnsherr, a mutant with the power to generate and control magnetic fields, hunts for the Nazi scientist, Sebastian Shaw, who killed Erik’s mother. Charles Xavier, a mutant with telepathic abilities, seeks out others like him with the goal of helping them understand their abilities. When Shaw puts into motion a plan to start World War III, Erik and Charles join forces to stop him.
After Erik gets his revenge, his mentality towards humans changes. He believes that humans should go extinct, with the mutants inheriting the world. Charles wants to build on human/mutant relations and believes that both species can work together for a better future. Their philosophical divide becomes the source of their rivalry.
X-Men: First Class marked a new chapter in the X-Men franchise. With a story that was rich with themes and allegories, this film brought the X-Men back to their roots and matched the ambition of the original source material.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics[/caption
#34. The Age of Apocalypse
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
January 1995–March 1996
Credits
Writers: Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid, Fabian Nicieza, John Francis Moore, Larry Hama, Warren Ellis, Jeph Loeb, Howard Mackie, Terry Kavanaugh
Pencillers: Rober Cruz, Steve Epting, Joe Madureira, Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel, Salvador Larroca, Chris Bachalo, Adam Kubert, Ken Lashley, Steve Skroce, Terry Dodson, Ian Churchill, Carlos Pacheco, Joe Bennett
The Reason It’s Great
The Age of Apocalypse was a massive X-Men crossover event that lasted over a year. The resulting timeline change had repercussions throughout the Marvel universe, but was later retconned as occurring in another universe. However, it stands as one of the most ambitious comic sagas of all time.
Legion, the son of Professor X, travels back in time with the intention of killing Magneto. However, Professor X dies while protecting Magneto which allows the powerful mutant Apocalypse to attack ten years sooner than what was established in the timeline.
As Apocalypse takes control of the planet, every event in the original timeline is changed. Several smaller groups of mutants fight against Apocalypse, and one group is able to send Bishop back in time to prevent Professor X’s death—thereby undoing all the damage.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#33. Blackest Night
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
July 2009–May 2010
Credits
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inkers: Oclair Albert, Rob Hunter, Julio Ferreira, Joe Prado
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Adam Schlagman, Eddie Berganza
The Reason It’s Great
Masterminded by writer Geoff Johns, the Blackest Night story arc was introduced in Blackest Night #0 during Free Comic Book Day. Blackest Night was first mentioned in The Sinestro Corps War (another one of our greatest superhero stories) as an event that would lead to the destruction of the universe.
A War of Light emerges at the end of The Sinestro Corps War. The Black Lanterns—made of the dead imbued with Black Power Rings—feed on Nekron, the embodiment of death and darkness, and come to power.
The various Lantern Corps unite and fight against the Black Lanterns. In the end, Nekron and the Black Lanterns are defeated by the Justice League and a White Lantern Sinestro. As foretold by the prophecy, Blackest Night ends, leading to Brightest Day.
Blackest Night was released to rave reviews. The overall story arc was one of the best-selling comics from 2009 to 2010.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#32. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
December 25, 1993
Credits
Directors: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm
Writers: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, Michael Reaves
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker, Dana Delany as Andrea Beaumont, Hart Bochner as City Councilman Arthur Reeves, Stacy Keach as Carl Beaumont, Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Valestra, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Robert Costanzo as Detective Harvey Bullock, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Dick Miller as Charles “Chuckie” Sol, John P. Ryan as Buzz Bronski, Arleen Sorkin as Mrs. Bambi
The Reason It’s Great
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the first movie coming out of the Batman: The Animated Series franchise—which would later become the DC animated universe, or Timm-verse (named after series creator Bruce Timm).
Batman is blamed for a murder committed by another masked vigilante. Meanwhile, Andrea Beaumont, a woman Bruce had planned to marry, reappears in Gotham City. The mob, growing fearful of the new vigilante, asks for the Joker’s assistance.
In the end, Batman learns that Andrea is the masked vigilante. She vowed revenge on the Joker because he was the original hitman responsible for killing her father.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released to rave reviews. At the time, critics noted it as having a better storyline than most live-action films. The overall design and art was also praised. To this day, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is regarded as one of the best superhero films.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
#31. Injustice: Gods Among Us
Medium
Video Game
Release Date
April 16, 2013
Credits
Developers: NetherRealm Summer
Director: Domic Cianciolo
Writers: Brian Chard, Dominic Cianciolo, Johnathan Fish-Hako, Jon Greenberg, Jimmy Palmiotti, John Vogel
Artist: Steve Beran
Cast: Stephen Amell as Arrow, Troy Baker as Sinestro / Dick Grayson / Nightwing / Atlantean Soldier, Adam Baldwin as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern / Lex Luthor’s Exo-Suit, Kimberly Brooks as Batgirl, Amy J. Carle as Announcer, Kevin Conroy as Batman, Grey DeLisle as Catwoman / Green Lantern’s Ring, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman / Radio Host 1, Richard Epcar as The Joker / Radio Host 2, Jennifer Hale as Hawkgirl / Killer Frost, J.G. Hertzler as Deathstroke / Ares, Phil LaMarr as Aquaman / John Stewart / Green Lantern / Arkham Guard, Neal McDonough as The Flash / Damian Wayne / Nightwing, Joe Naber as Shazam / Black Adam, George Newbern as Superman, Nolan North as General Zod, Khary Payton as Cyborg / Doomsday, Mark Rolston as Lex Luthor, Patrick Seitz as Scorpion, David Sobolov as Lobo, Tara Strong as Harley Quinn / Raven, Fred Tatasciore as Solomon Grundy / Bane, Alan Tudyk as Green Arrow / Atlantean Librarian, Ed Boon as Scorpion, Lacey Chabert as Zatanna, Cal Lumbly as Martian Manhunter
The Reason It’s Great
Many would find it strange that a video game would be part of a superhero stories ranking. However, in today’s world, video games are produced much like movies—having their own director, writers, and visual effects artists.
In an alternate universe, the Joker uses a nuclear bomb to kill millions in Metropolis and tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane and their unborn child. In a fit of rage, Superman does the unthinkable and kills the Joker. Soon, to prevent this situation from ever happening again, the Man of Steel establishes a fascist new world order, instilling himself as the leader.
Existing superheroes are divided: some side with Superman; others side with Batman, who opposes Superman and wants to remove him from power. Five years into this war, the main universe’s superheroes are brought into this universe, with the hopes of of defeating Superman and his government.
The gameplay itself has recieved critical and fan acclaim. However, the most impressive aspect of this video game is how each fight scene integrates with a compelling story. The tight plot and meaningful character interactions serve as a standalone film which is entertaining all by itself.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#30. Batman #492–#500, Detective Comics #659–#666: “Knightfall”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
April 1993–October 1993
Credits
Creators: Dough Moench, Jim Aparo
Writers: Chuck Dixon, Jo Duffy, Alan Grant, Dennis O’Neill, Doug Moench
Pencillers: Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, Eduardo Barreto, Bret Blevins, Norm Breyfogle, Vincent Giarrano, Tom Grummett, Klaus Janson, Barry Kitson, Mike Manley, Graham Nolan, Sal Velluto, Mike Vosburg, Ron Wagner
Inkers: Jeff Albrecht, Jim Aparo, Terry Austin, Eduardo Barreto, John Beatty, Bret Blevins, Norm Breyfogle, Rick Burchett, Steve George, Vince Giarrano, Dick Giordano, Scott Hanna, Klaus Janson, Ray Kryssing, Tom Mandrake, Mike Manley, Ron McCain, Frank McLaughlin, Josef Rubinstein, Bob Smith, Bob Wiacek
The Reason It’s Great
It was the story arc that earned Bane the title of “The Man Who Broke the Bat.” “Knightfall” was the first part of a trilogy that saw the Dark Knight being crippled and then temporarily replaced by Azrael. Later, due to Azrael’s actions, Batman had to rebuild his name.
Bane releases all of Arkham’s inmates to exhaust Batman both physically and mentally. After deducing Batman’s secret identity as Bruce Wayne, Bane confronts Bruce at Wayne Manor. A now weakened Bruce is unable to defend himself—give Bane the opportunity to break his back and leave him a parapalegic.
A disabled Bruce asks Jean-Paul Valley to take on the mantle of Batman. This causes resentment in Dick, who would later discover that Bruce was trying to protect him—knowing that if Dick were to face off with Bane, the villain would kill him.
“Knightfall” wasn’t just an action-packed story arc, it challenged Batman mentally and caused a split between him and his allies. The story was so influential that it became the inspiration for The Dark Knight Rises—the closing chapter of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.
Screen Capture from Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 12: “Divided We Fall”
#29. Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 9–12
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
June 25, 2005 (“Question Authority”)
July 2, 2005 (“Flashpoint”)
July 9, 2005 (“Panic in the Sky”)
July 16, 2005 (“Divided We Fall”)
Credits
Directors: Dan Riba (“Question Authority,” “Panic in the Sky”), Joaquin dos Santos (“Flashpoint,” “Divided We Fall”)
Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Cast: George Newbern as Clark Kent / Superman, Jeffrey Combs as Vic Sage / The Question / Dr. Moon, Amy Acker as Helena Bertinelli / The Huntress, Chris Cox as Nathaniel Adams / Captain Atom / Uno / Aztek, Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Robert Foxworth as Professor Emil Hamilton, CCH Pounder as Amanda WAller, J.K. Simmons as General Wade Eiling / Mantis, Carl Lumbly as J’onn J’onzz / Martian Manhunter / Man, Michael Rosenbaum as Wally West / The Flash / Secretary, Kin Shriner as Ollie Queen / Green Arrow, Nicholle Tom as Kara Kent / Supergirl / Galatea / Watchtower Computer / Woman, Robert Forster as The President, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Susan Eisenberg as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman / Reporter, Phil LaMarr as John Stewart / Green Lantern / John Henry Irons / Steel / STRIPE, Corey Burton as Brainiac, Maria Canals-Barrera as Beatriz da Costa / Fire, Dennis Farina as Ted Grant / Wildcat
The Reason It’s Great
This four-episode finale concludes the Cadmus story arc which started in Season 1 of Justice League Unlimited. The episodes, combined, play like a feature film with the Justice League facing off against the formidable Brainiac and the anticipation that Superman would cross the line.
The Question discovers a conspiracy involving the Justice Lords and Lex Luthor’s plans to ruin the reputation of the Justice League. Lex Luthor soon frames the Justice League by taking control of the Watchtower’s gun and firing it on Cadmus. Amanda Waller then orders an attack on the Watchtower.
The Justice League’s senior founding members, sans Batman, surrender to the government. It’s now up to the extended team to keep the Watchtower from being destroyed. Luthor, now fused with Brainiac, battles the Justice League. When Luthor is about to win, the Flash uses his speed to tear out Brainiac’s technology. However, the Flash almost dissipates into the Speed Force. The Justice League work together to bring him back.
The overall episodes are filled with mystery and politics—it was almost akin to watching an animated version of Watchmen. And, as always, the voice acting and characterizations are perfect, making this one of the finest team-up stories in the DC universe.
Image Courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios
#28. Big Hero 6
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Dates
October 23, 2014 (Tokyo International Film Festival)
November 7, 2014 (United States)
Credits
Directors: Don Hall, Chris Williams
Writers: Jordan Roberts, Dan Gerson, Robert L. Baird
Cast: Scott Adsit as Baymax, Ryan Potter as Hiro Hamada, Daniel Henney as Tadashi Hamada, T.J. Miller as Fred, Jamie Chung as GoGo, Damon Wayans Jr. as Wasabi, Genesis Rodriquez as Honey Lemon, James Cromwell as Professor Robert Callaghan, Alan Tudyk as Alistair Krei, Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass, Stan Lee as Fred’s Father, Katie Lowes as Abigail Callaghan, Daniel Gerson as Sergeant Gerson
The Reason It’s Great
“Tadashi is here.” Anyone who has seen Big Hero 6 knows exactly the subtext meaning of that phrase. It’s what made this action-packed, beautifully animated superhero film from Disney such a delight. Like all great stories, this film had a super (pun intended) strong emotional throughline.
Hiro Hamada is a 13-year-old genius who recently lost his older brother, Tadashi Hamada, in a fire. Unknowingly, one day, Hiro activates Tadashi’s inflatable medical robot, Baymax. Following a clue, Hiro soon learns that someone is doing something nefarious with his technology. To investigate further, Hiro creates a suit for himself and Baymax.
Hiro is later joined by Tadashi’s friends—Wasabi, GoGo, Honey Lemon, and Fred. Together, they learn that Tadashi’s former professor, Robert Callaghan, is after a tech magnate, Allistair Krei. Callaghan blames Krei for the disappearance of his test pilot daughter, Abigail Callaghan.
After traveling through a portal, Hiro and Baymax find Abigail, still hibernating in her pod. Without any thrust to get home, Baymax sacrifices himself to save Hiro and Abigail.
I can guarantee that there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Hiro, for the last time, said, “I’m satisfied with my care.” Big Hero 6 may be a superhero film, but its themes about family and forgiveness make it more compelling than most serious dramas. On top of that, the post-credits scene with Stan Lee’s customary Marvel film cameo also makes this one of the most hilarious films ever made (his underwear philosophy is pure genious).
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#27. The Uncanny X-Men #141–142#: “Days of Future Past”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
January 1981–February 1981
Credits
Writers: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Louise Jones
The Reason It’s Great
Science fiction is strongest when it’s a reflection of history or current times. The Uncanny X-Men story arc “Days of Future Past” is a story that’s rife with allegories—particularly to the Nazi concentration camps and holocaust. The two-issue story is one of Marvel’s standout stories.
In the year 2013 (yeah, now it doesn’t sound too much like the future, but the story was written in 1981) the Sentinels have taken over the United States and all mutants are placed in internment camps. The Sentinels soon turn their attention to humans—with an overall solution being a nuclear holocaust.
The X-Men send Kitty Pryde’s mind back in time and into her former younger self. Her mission is to stop Mystique and her Brotherhood of Mutants from assasinating Senator Robert Kelly—an event that leads to the dystopian 2013.
A quick, action-packed, two-issue story, “Days of Future Past” is one of the most noted X-Men narratives. It was adapted in the X-Men animated television series, and also adapted in the 2014 feature film X-Men: Days of Future Past (which is also on our list of greatest superhero stories).
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#26. Batman #608–#619: “Hush”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
December 2002–September 2003
Credits
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
The Reason It’s Great
One of Batman’s most formidable and compelling foes was introduced in the “Hush” story arc. The story is famous for it’s large cast of Bat-Family appearances and its various twists and turns which eventually affect Batman’s future stories.
After Batman suffers a fractured skull from a fall, childhood friend Thomas Elliot, who’s now a neursurgeon, is called in to save his life. Later, Elliot is killed by the Joker and Harley Quinn. Batman also notices that many of his villains are acting out of character.
Batman suspects that someone is behind everything. This person became known as “Hush.” In the end, it’s revealed that Riddler is the true mastermind. While in the Lazarus Pit to cure himself of cancer, Riddler figures out that Batman is Bruce Wayne. However, Batman isn’t worried about Riddler’s discovery. By revealing Batman’s identity, Riddler would also put himself at risk of being hunted down by Ra’s al Ghul because he used the Lazarus Pit.
Batman: Hush was also known for its deeper exploration of a relationship between Batman and Catwoman. The biggest twist in the story was Jason Todd’s appearance which was actually Clayface. Later stories retconned that meeting, leading to the “Under the Hood” arc. Batman: Hush is considered one of the best Batman stories and contains some of the best moments from writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee.
#25. Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 14: “Heart of Ice”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
September 7, 1993
Credits
Director: Bruce Timm
Writer: Paul Dini
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman / Valet, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Michael Ansara as Dr. Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze, Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson, Mark Hamill as Ferris Boyle
The Reason It’s Great
When Mr. Freeze was created, he was mainly seen as a joke character, not to be taken seriously. However, the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series rewrote his origin, making him one of the most tragic and compelling Batman villains.
A number of heists at GothCorp lead Batman to a man named Mr. Freeze, who’s stealing items to complete his freeze gun. Because the robberies specifically targeted GothCorp, Bruce looks into the company’s CEO, Ferris Boyle. Later, Batman goes into GothCorp and reviews its security tapes.
Batman discovers that cyrogenics research Victor Fries was using company equiment to keep his wife in stasis until a cure could be found for her terminal illness. Boyle, though, saw it as a waste of money. In a deadly struggle, Fries is accidentally doused with chemicals—transforming him into Mr. Freeze and unable to live ouside of sub-zero temperatures.
The episode garnered critical acclaim and propelled Batman: The Animated Series, still in its freshman year, into popularity. It would go on to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program. Due to the episode’s popularity, comics and other stories have retconned Mr. Freeze’s origin to match that of the show’s.
Image Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar Animation Studios
#24. The Incredibles
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Dates
October 27, 2004 (London Film Festival)
November 5, 2004 (United States)
Credits
Director: Brad Bird
Writer: Brad Bird
Cast: Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible, Holly Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirl, Sarah Vowell as Violet Parr, Spencer Fox as Dashiell Robert “Dash” Parr / The Dash, Jason Lee as Buddy Pine / Incredi-Boy / Syndrome, Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Beset / Frozone, Elizabeth Pena as Mirage, Brad Bird as Edna Mode, Eli Fucile and Maeve Andrews as Jack-Jack Parr, Bud Luckey as Rick Dicker, Wallace Shawn as Gilbert Huph, John Ratzenberger as The Underminer, Dominique Louis as Bomb Voyage
The Reason It’s Great
Leave it to Disney/Pixar to make a multi-Oscar-winning animated film about superheroes. The Incredibles was unique in that it was the first Pixar animated film to have an all-human cast of characters, which presented many challenges to the technical team.
After the public turns against superhumans, Bob and Helen Parr, former superheroes, retire to suburbia to live a normal life with their superpowered children—Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. However, Bob still longs for the days of being a hero. So, at night, he secretly fights crime as a vigilante.
When a mysterious woman approaches and asks him for his help in stopping a deadly threat, Bob becomes Mr. Incredible again. He soon discovers that the woman is working for Syndrome, a former fan he spurned who’s now looking for revenge. Bob and his family must now work together to save the world from Syndrome’s plans.
The Incredibles was released to critical and fan acclaim, and went on to win Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Sound Editing. It also received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound Mixing. On many lists, The Incredibles is considered to be one of the top films of the decade.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#23. Batman: The Long Halloween
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
December 1996–December 1997
Credits
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale
Letterers: Comicraft, Richard Starkings
Colorist: Gregory Wright
Editors: Archie Goodwin, Chuck Kim
The Reason It’s Great
Batman: The Long Halloween was an opportunity for writers to show Batman’s villains evolving from common criminals into the characters we know today. Special emphasis was given to the transformation of District Attorney Harvey Dent into Two-Face.
Batman, Captain James Gordon, and District Attorney Harvey Dent make a pact to eradicate the mob in Gotham City. Soon, an individual known as “Holiday” starts to take out mob members one by one. The Waynes are suspected to be connected to the Falcones because Thomas once saved Carmine’s life. However, Alfred’s testimony puts an end to the suspicion because the original police report was never shown due to the city’s history of corruption.
When Maroni goes to court to testify against Falcone, he uses that opportunity to throw acid in Harvey’s face. Harvey is rushed to the hospital, but subsequently attacks the staff and escapes. Harvey later reemerges and murders his assistant for helping Maroni scar him. In the end, it’s revealed that there were two Holidays. One was Albert Falcone. The other was Dent’s wife Gilda, who wanted to lighten Harvey’s workload so they could eventually start a family.
Upon release, Batman: The Long Halloween garnered critical acclaim. It is considered one of the most definitive stories in Batman’s mythos. Much of the credit is given to Jeph Loeb’s story and Tim Sale’s art. Elements of Batman: The Long Halloween were used in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios
#22. Guardians of the Galaxy
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
July 21, 2014 (Dolby Theatre)
August 1, 2014 (United States)
Credits
Director: James Gunn
Writers: James Gunn, Nicole Perlman
Cast: Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey, Glenn Close as Irani Rael, Benicio del Toro as Taneleer Tivan / The Collector
The Reason It’s Great
When the first Guardians of the Galaxy teaser was released, the average moviegoer’s response was, “Huh?” Outside of comics fandom, the characters were almost unheard of. They were very different from established Marvel characters like Iron Man and Captain America.
After Peter Jason Quill’s mother dies from cancer, he’s abducted by an alien ship. Twenty-six years later, he goes by the name “Star-Lord” and makes a living stealing valuable artifacts and selling them on the galactic black market. When he steals an orb, he gets the attention of a Kree named Ronan.
Captured by the Nova Corps and placed in prison, he meets Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket. The five escape and form a shaky alliance due to an intersection of their goals. They visit the Collector and discover that an Infinity Stone is embedded inside the orb. Soon, Ronan attacks and takes the stone. To save the galaxy, the team makes a pact to stop Ronan.
Guardians of the Galaxy became on of the highest grossing films for the summer of 2014. The film was lauded for its humor and its geniune emotion. Much of the credit was given to James Gunn’s adept script and the cast’s amazing chemistry.
Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
#21. X-Men: Days of Future Past
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
May 10, 2014 (Jarvis Center)
May 23, 2014 (United States)
Credits
Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Simon Kinberg, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, James McAvoy as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Michael Fassbender as Erik Kehnsherr / Magneto, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkhölme / Mystique, Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm, Nicholas Hoult as Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy / Beast, Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy / Beast, Anna Paquin as Marie / Rogue, Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde / Shadowcat, Peter Dinklage as Bolivar Trask, Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake / Iceman, Omar Sy as Bishop, Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff / Quicksilver, Josh Helman as Major William Stryker, Daniel Ducmore as Peter Rasputin / Colossus, Fan Binbbinb as Blink, Adan Canto as Sunspot, Booboo Stewart as Warpath, Famke Hanssen as Jean Grey, James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Lucas Till as Alex Summers / Havok, Evan Jonigkeit as Toad, Michael Lerner as Senator Brickman, Gregg Lowe as Ink, Mark Camacho as Richard Nixon, Brendan Peddar as En Sabah Nur.
The Reason It’s Great
How do you even meet the standards of a legendary comic book story? You up the stakes and go big on everything. That’s exactly what X-Men: Days of Future Past did when it had the daunting task of recreating the famous “Days of Future Past” storyline on the silver screen. The Sentinel’s weren’t putting mutants in internment camps anymore, they were wiping out everybody—humans too, because they had the potential to create mutants.
In 2023, the X-Men make their last stand (no, not that “Last Stand”) against the Sentinels. The original plan is to have Kitty Pryde send Charles Xavier’s mind back in time to stop the assassination of Bolivar Trask—which would kick off the events leading to their current dire situation. However, the strain of the journey would tear Charles apart, so Logan, who’s invulnerable, volunteers.
Logan soon finds himself in 1973 in his younger body. With time running out, Logan finds Charles and discovers that the powerful mutant is not the same man. Logan must now build a team and act as a mentor to a figure who would later become an inspiration and teacher to all mutants.
X-Men: Days of Future Past was released to critical and fan acclaim. Considered the best installment since X2: X-Men United (another film on our list), it went on to become the highest grossing film in the franchise. That record would later be broken with the release of Deadpool (also a film on our list).
Image Courtesy of Rocksteady Studios
#20. Batman: Arkham (Main Series)
Medium
Video Game
Release Dates
August 25, 2009 (Batman: Arkham Asylum)
October 18, 2011 (Batman: Arkham City)
October 25, 2013 (Batman: Arkham Origins)
June 23, 2015 (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Credits
Developers: Rocksteady Studios, WB Games Notreal, Splash Damage, Human Head Studios, NetherRealm Studios, Armature Studio, Turbine Inc.
Directors: Sefton Hill, Eric Holmes, Benoit Richer
Writers: Paul Dini, Corey May, Dooma Wendschuh, Adam Beechen, Sefton Hill
Main Cast: Kevin Conroy Bruce Wayne / Batman (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Knight), Roger Craig Smith as Bruce Wayne / Batman (Batman: Arkham Knight), Mark Hamill as The Joker (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Knight), Troy Baker as The Joker (Batman: Arkham Origins), Tom Kane as James Gordon (Batman: Arkham Asylum), David Kaye as James Gordon (Batman: Arkham City), Michael Gough as James Gordon (Batman: Arkham Origins), Jonathan Banks as James Gordon (Batman: Arkham Knight), Arleen Sorkin as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn (Batman: Arkham Asylum), Tara Strong as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn (Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Knight)
The Reason It’s Great
Batman was always considered a dark character. So when a story makes him even darker, we’re talking some serious stuff. The Batman: Arkham series did just that. However, the story’s serious nature stands out because it’s a video game.
The series starts out with Batman: Arkham Asylum where the Joker has the Batman trapped in the infamous institution, fighting against a gallery of supervillains. The series would later expand on that and reveal deeper background stories for each character.
The overall series has been given universal acclaim for not only its gameplay, but its immersive story which is partly due to Paul Dini—famous for his writing on Batman: The Animated Series. In addition, longtime Batman franchise voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill enhance the experience.
The main series is still on-going, with the latest release being Batman: Arkham Knight. It also spawned a range of comic tie-ins that expand on the universe and fill in story gaps. Many fans have regarded this video game series as a gold standard for the Batman mythos.
Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures
#19. Spider-Man 2
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
June 25, 2004 (Lithuania)
June 30, 2004 (United States)
Credits
Director: Sam Raimi
Writers: Alvin Sargent (Story), Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon
Cast: Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, James Franco as Harry Osborn, Alfred Molina as Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus / Doc Ock, Rosemary Harris as May Parker, J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, Donna Murphy as Roaslie Octavius, Daniel Gillies as John Jameson, Dylan Baker as Dr. Curt Connors, Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn / Green Goblin, Elizabeth Banks as Betty Brant, Mageina Tovah as Ursula Ditkovich
The Reason It’s Great
Many film franchises start their downward spiral right after the first movie. Not so for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (although it does go down the drain for Spider-Man 3). Spider-Man 2 is an epic superhero movie that expands Spidey’s web in every way.
Superpowers don’t always guarantee a smooth life. Peter Parker can you tell you that. It’s been a couple years since he donned the mask, but his life is as complex as ever. He tries to balance his relationship with the love of his life, Mary Jane, and also keep Aunt May from being evicted.
Meanwhile, famed research scientist Otto Octavius has built intelligent robotic arms to aid him in his research into fusion. An accident fuses those arms to him and the AI technology starts to influence his mind. Peter now has a new problem to contend with. As things become overwhelming, Peter has a mental breakdown and loses his abilities.
Critics have lauded Spider-Man 2‘s character development and story structure. Much of the praise went to Albert Molina’s portrayal of Doctor Octopus, stating that the villain was complex and engrossing. The late Roger Ebert felt Spider-Man 2‘s cinematic magic was on par with 1978’s critically acclaimed Superman: The Movie (another film that’s on our list of greats).
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios
#18. The Avengers
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
April 11, 2012 (El Capitan Theatre)
May 4, 2012 (United States)
Credits
Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Hulk, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Tom Kiddleston as Loki, Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Maximiliano Hernández as Jasper Sitwell, Paul Bettan as The Voice of JARVIS, Alexis Denisof as The Other, Damion Poitier as Thanos
The Reason It’s Great
Ensemble films are the most difficult to make. Well, let me rephrase that: Ensemble films are the most difficult to make … great. You’re dealing with multiple protagonists who each need their own arcs along with a common goal or goals that will intersect. That’s a lot of things to juggle. This looks like a job for … Joss Whedon.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe closed out Phase One with a team-up involving Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. Loki, working in conjunction with the Other, gains access to the Tesseract to launch a full-scale invasion of Earth. Nick Fury, seeing the daunting threat, activates the Avengers Initiative—assembling Earth’s mightiest heroes.
The Avengers don’t come together smoothly, and the team is initially left devastated after one of Loki’s attacks leaves Agent Coulson dead and has the Hulk almost destroying the Helicarrier. However, the team comes together in the final battle, realizing their strength as one unit.
At the time of its release, The Avengers set various box office records and received critical acclaim for it directing, writing, and characterizations. The film would cement Marvel Studios as a leader in the superhero film genre and make shared universes a mainstay of moviemaking.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#17. Superman II
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
December 4, 1980 (Australia)
April 9, 1981 (United Kingdom)
June 1, 1981 (United States)
Credits
Director: Richard Lester
Writers: Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman
Cast: Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Christopher Reeve as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman, Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Terence Stamp as General Zod, Sarah Douglas as Ursa, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Jack O’Halloran as Non, Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher, Susannah York as Lara, Clifton James as Sheriff, E.G. Marshall as The President of the United States, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen
The Reason It’s Great
Richard Donner’s take on Superman was always meant to be epic in every sense of the word. In the 1970s, filming two films back-to-back was unheard of, but Donner did that to provide consistency for the first film and the sequel. Later, a falling out with the Salkinds would see Donner depart and director Richard Lester join. Though much of the film had to be reshot for director credits, it was still a success.
Three supervillains from Krypton are accidentally released from the Phantom Zone when an elevator containing a bomb is propelled into space by Superman. General Zod, Ursa, and Non—who are all bent on exacting revenge on Jor-El’s heirs for imprisoning them—make their way to Earth where they’re contacted by Lex Luthor. Luthor makes a pact with them: give him Australia and he’ll give them Superman.
Meanwhile, Lois has discovered Superman’s secret identity. Reluctant to admit it at first, Clark comes clean and chooses to become human so that he can spend the rest of his life with her. When General Zod takes over the White House and calls out Superman, Clark must sacrifice his happiness and save the world by becoming the Man of Steel again.
Though the production of Superman II had a lot of behind-the-scenes drama, the film received just as much praise as Superman: The Movie. Many again noted the standout charming performance of the late Christopher Reeve as a believable and compelling hero.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#16. The Uncanny X-Men #129–#138: “The Dark Phoenix Saga”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
January 1980–October 1980
Credits
Writers: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
The Reason It’s Great
Jean Grey’s transformation into the powerful Phoenix is already considered a classic in the comic book world. However, her later “evolution” into Dark Phoenix is one of the most fascinating storylines—the allegory of how a hero can be corrupted by power.
After Jean becomes Phoenix, Mastermind manipulates her into thinking she’s Lady Grey, an ancestor of Jean’s. This causes Jean to accept the Black Queen as her identity and join the Hellfire Club. When Mastermind shows an image of Cyclops being killed, Jean’s final restraint is broken—her true power is unleashed and she rechristens herself as “Dark Phoenix.”
Breaking her ties with the limits of humanity, Dark Phoenix travels to a far off galaxy. However, the ordeal leaves her drained. She consumes a star to repower, gaining the attention of the Kree and Skrull, who now see her as a threat. Charles Xavier is later able to put a psychic hold on her, allowing Jean to return. When the Shi’ar threaten to destroy the solar system in order to destroy Phoenix, Jean sacrifices herself to save everyone.
After “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” writers had a problem bringing her back without having her carry the guilt of Dark Phoenix’s acts. The writing team finally came up with a solution: the original Jean Grey was still at the bottom of Jamaica Bay in suspended animation, and what we’ve come to know as Phoenix was actually a duplicate of her.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios
#15. Iron Man
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
April 14, 2008 (Sydney)
May 2, 2008 (United States)
Credits
Director: Jon Favreau
Writers: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Cast: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Terrence Howard as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane, Shawn Toub as Yinsen, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Faran Tahir as Raza, Paul Bettany as The Voice of JARVIS, Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart, Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
The Reason It’s Great
It was the one that started it all—Iron Man. The film starred Robert Downey Jr., who was still making his comeback into Hollywood. Small clues here and there were placed, but fans were still unaware that this film would be the inaugeral installment that would kick off the ridiculously successful Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tony Stark is an egotistical, self-absorbed, genius, billionaire weapons manufacturer. When he’s caught by the Ten Rings and forced to create a weapon for them, he’s given a second chance by Yinsen, a doctor imprisoned with him. Using armor containing state-of-the-art technology, Tony embraces his new mission as a protector.
Little did Tony know, Obidiah Stane (Tony’s father’s friend and business partner) planned his abduction by the Ten Rings. Stane wanted control of Stark International, thinking that Tony was a spoiled child who didn’t deserve the fortune and power that came from such a company.
Iron Man had a semi-quiet release, but quickly garnered critical acclaim and outperformed all box-office expecations. The film was lauded for its strong character arc and Robert Downey Jr.’s iconic portrayal. To this day, Iron Man is still noted as one of the strongest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#14. Daredevil: “Born Again”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
February 1986–August 1986 (Daredevil #227–#231)
Graphic Novel Reprint Includes Daredevil #232–#233)
Credits
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Christie “Max” Scheele
The Reason It’s Great
How do you refresh a hero with years of history behind him? You break him down in every way and give him a “resurrection” of sorts. That’s what famed writer Frank Miller did with “Born Again”—he took everything from Daredevil and made him earn it back in blood and sweat.
Karen Page—who’s in dire straits, sells information that Matt Murdock is actually Daredevil. The information moves up until it reaches Kingpin—who uses it to frame Matt and take everything from him. Now destitute and homeless, Matt attempts to rebuild his life and fight against Kingpin’s continuous onslaught.
When Matt is almost killed, his mother (who disappeared early in his life and is now a nun) nurses him back to health. Kingpin, obsessed with killing Matt, hires Nuke—an enhanced super soldier. Matt soon reemerges as the Man Without Fear to face off against Nuke, vowing to fight for justice in Hell’s Kitchen.
The complex story is typical Miller, diving into the dark psyche of both the protagonist and antagonist. In 2001, Daredevil #227—the first issue of “Born Again”—was voted 11th out of 100 Greatest Marvels of All Time by fans. The story has been up for a film adaptation since 2011. Since the success of Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix, the storyline may find its way to the series.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#13. Batman: The Killing Joke
Medium
Comic Book
Release Date
March 1988
Credits
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Colorist: John Higgins
Creators: Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, John Higgins
Editor: Dennis O’Neill
The Reason It’s Great
Forget about the film adaptation. This is a classic case where the cliched statement “the book was better” cannot be argued. Batman: The Killing Joke is among the most influential Joker stories to-date. The one-shot gave Joker an origin story rooted in tragedy and sympathy.
An unnamed engineer quits his job at a chemical plant to pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. To support his pregnant wife, the engineer turns to helping two criminals in their heist. Little does he know, they want him to act as a patsy—making him wear a red hood.
The robbery goes awry when Batman shows up. The engineer falls into a vat of chemicals, which permanently changes his appearance, driving him to insanity—marking the birth of the Joker. In the present, the Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum and critically injures Barbara Gordon, making her a parapalegic. The Joker also kidnaps Gordon, and taunts him in an abandoned amusement park.
The story had huge ramifications across the DC universe. One of them was Barbara Gordon. Because of her injuries, Barbara was no longer Batgirl and became Oracle (although she’s back to being Batgirl again with retconning). Batman: The Killing Joke went on to win the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album, and Alan Moore won Best Writer. The story’s themes are still debated to this day.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios
#12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
March 13, 2014 (El Capitan Theatre)
April 4, 2014 (United States)
Credits
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter / Agent 13, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Toby Jones as Arnim Zola, Maximiliano Hernández as Jasper Sitwell, Garry Shandling as Senator Stern, Georges St-Pierre as Georges Batroc, Thomas Kretschmann as Baron Wofgang von Strucker, Henry Goodman as Dr. List, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver
The Reason It’s Great
Inspired by the conspiracy movies of the 1970s, director brothers Joe and Anthony Russo set out to make a Captain America movie that was more grounded. Captain America: The Winter Soldier saw the greatest patriot the world has ever known in a world where the lines of good and evil were blurred.
After Nick Fury is seemingly killed by a mysterious figure known as the Winter Soldier, Steve Rogers is called in to meet with S.H.I.E.L.D. official Alexander Pierce. Not knowing who to trust, Steve withholds information from Pierce. He is soon branded a fugitive and goes on the run seeking the truth behind Fury’s assassination.
Steve, partnered with Natasha Romanoff, later learn that Hydra infiltrated SHIELD years ago and has been controlling the agency from the shadows. With the impending launch of drone Helicarriers able to kill millions, Captain America, Natasha, and Sam Wilson must stop Pierce at all costs.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier exceeded all expectations and quickly became the highest grossing film of 2014. The film was lauded for its portrayal of current events—paranoia about government overreach and surveillance. Praise was also given to the film’s usage of practical effects over CGI and amazing stunt work.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#11. Batman #404–#407: “Batman: Year One”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
February 1987–May 1987
Credits
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Richmond Lewis
Editor: Dennis O’Neil
The Reason It’s Great
The Dark Knight’s first year in action are explored in Batman: Year One. Writer Frank Miller starts from Bruce’s return after twelve years of rigorous training throughout the world. The story also documents Detective James Gordon’s fight against corruption, and shows Selina Kyle’s path to becoming Catwoman.
After Bruce is badly beaten in his attempt to save a teenaged prostitute, he receives the inspiration to become Batman. His fight moves him up the chain to notorious mob leader Carmine Falcone. James Gordon, freshly transferred from Chicago with his wife, experiences the corruption of Gotham City and fights against the system.
Both Batman and Gordon come to blows after a mandate is issued to apprehend the masked vigilante. However, District Attorney Harvey Dent sees an ally in Batman. The war on crime comes to a head when Falcone directly targets Gordon and his family.
Batman: Year One was released to critical acclaimed and is considered the second best Batman story behind The Dark Knight Returns (which is also on our list). The story is so influential that it served as inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (a film that’s also on our list).
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#10. Superman: The Movie
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
December 10, 1978 (Kennedy Center)
December 14, 1978 (United Kingdom)
December 15, 1978 (United States)
Credits
Director: Richard Donner
Writers: Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, Robert Benton
Cast: Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Christopher Reeve as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman, Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent, Trevor Howard as The First Elder, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Jack O’Halloran as Non, Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher, Maria Schell as Vond-Ah, Terence Stamp as General Zod, Phillis Thaxter as Martha Kent, Susannah York as Lara, Jeff East as Teenage Clark Kent, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Sarah Douglas as Ursa, Harry Andrews as The Second Elder
The Reason It’s Great
“You will believe a man can fly” was the tagline that was used for 1978’s Superman: The Movie. When we finally witnessed actor Christopher Reeve take to the air, we truly believed he was the Man of Steel with every fiber of our body. Dubbed as the first modern superhero film, Superman: The Movie would become a gold standard for all future superhero films.
On the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El and his wife Lara rocket their infant son, Kal-El, to Earth to save him from their doomed homeworld. On Earth, Kal-El is adopted by an elderly couple, the Kents. Given the name Clark Kent, the alien would grow up to become the greatest superhero the world has ever known—Superman.
As Superman becomes famous for his heroic exploits, criminal mastermind Lex Luthor forms a plan to use a nuclear missile to cause an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. Thereby, sinking California into the Pacific and making his cheap inland territories into valuable oceanfront property.
Richard Donner stressed the term “verisimilitude” to the crew when making the film. Along with this mantra and Christopher Reeve’s iconic portrayal of the Last Son of Krypton, Superman: The Movie goes down in history as one of the greatest superhero films.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios and Netflix
#9. Marvel’s Daredevil Season 1
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
April 10, 2015
Credits
Directors: Phil Abraham, Adam Kane, Ken Girotti, Farren Blackburn, Guy Ferland, Brad Turner, Stephen Surjik, Nelson McCormick, Nick Gomez, Euros Lyn, Stephen S. DeKnight
Writers: Drew Goddard, Marco Ramirez, Joe Pokaski, Luke Kalteux, Douglas Petrie, Steven S. DeKnight, Christos Gage, Ruth Fletcher Gage
Creator: Drew Goddard
Cast: Charlie Cox as Matt Murcock / Daredevil, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Franklin “Foggy” Nelson, Toby Leonard Moore as James Wesley, Vondie Curtis-Hall as Ben Urich, Bob Gunton as Leland Owlsley, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
The Reason It’s Great
Creator Drew Goddard brings the Man Without Fear into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Season 1 of Marvel’s Daredevil. The dark street-level series was the first of many Marvel/Netflix shows that would eventually have its characters combine for the upcoming team-up series The Defenders.
As a child, Matt Murdock was blinded after he saved a man from a truck carrying toxic chemicals. Though he lost his sight, Matt’s others senses heightened to superhuman levels. Years later, after the murder of his father, Matt fights crime on two fronts: as an attorney in the courtrom; and as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen in the streets.
Matt’s fight to save Hell’s Kitchen leads him to investigate a mysterious figure. He later learns that it’s Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin. With the help of his friends—Foggy Nelson and Karen Page—Matt tries to bring Fisk to justice.
The story arc for Marvel’s Daredevil Season 1 gave audiences a phenomenal introduction to the Man Without Fear. The strong script and superb acting were aided by high-octane fight choreography, which cemented this thirteen-episode arc as one of the greatest superhero stories.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios and Netflix
#8. Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2
Medium
Live-Action Television Series
Release Date
March 18, 2016
Credits
Directors: Phil Abraham, Marc Jobst, Peter Hoar, Floria Sigismondi, Andy Goddard, Ken Girotti, Michael Uppendahl, Stephen Surjik, Euros Lyn
Writers: Douglas Petrie, Marco Ramieriz, Mark Verheiden, John C. Kelley, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, Sneha Koorse, Luke Kalteux, White Anderson, Whit Anderson
Creator: Drew Goddard
Cast: Charlie Cox as Matt Murcock / Daredevil, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Franklin “Foggy” Nelson, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / The Punisher, Elodie Yung as Elektra Natchios, Stephen as Blake Tower, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
The Reason It’s Great
Marvel’s Daredevil Season 1 was a great story arc, but Season 2 inches just above it. With an origin story out of the way, Season 2 had the Man Without Fear going up against the Hand and reuniting with Elektra. As a bonus, fans finally got the perfect Punisher after years of mishandling the character by other studios.
The absence of Wilson Fisk leaves a power vacuum in Hell’s Kitchen. As various gangs fight for power, Daredevil investigates a lone vigilante—known as the Punisher—who’s violently taking them out. Meanwhile, Matt’s ex-girlfriend, Elektra Natchios, manipulates him into a deadly war.
When Stick returns, Matt learns about the Hand and Elektra’s true nature. Matt’s day job as an attorney has him looking into Frank Castle and the reasons for his killing spree.
If you thought Season 1 was exciting and well-plotted, Season 2 takes the same formula and ups it exponentially. The original cast returns in top form, but Jon Bernthal’s haunting performance as the Punisher steals the show.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#7. All Star Superman
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
November 2005–October 2008
Credits
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Frank Quitely
Inker: Jamie Grant
Letterers: Phil Balsman, Travis Lanham
Colorist: Jamie Grant
Creators: Grant Morrison, Grank Quitely, Jamie Grant
Editors: Brandon Montclare, Bob Schreck
The Reason It’s Great
Grant Morrison wanted to do a Superman story that was unique—something that would be universal and timeless. Sometime in 1998 or 1999, Morrison had a chance encounter with a Superman cosplayer. After meeting and speaking with the man, Morrison was inspired and created the framework for All Star Superman.
Lex Luthor finds a way to overload Superman’s cells with solar radiation which results in slowly killing him over the course of a year. The Man of Steel chooses to spend his last days with Lois Lane, revealing to her that he’s actually Clark Kent.
Superman later learns that Lex is allied with Solaris, and the latter has tampered with the sun. In Superman’s final fight with his arch-enemy, Luthor gains the brief ability to see the world through Superman’s eyes. When the Man of Steel finally dies, he becomes a solar being—living in the sun and keeping it alive.
Upon its release, Morrison’s story gained critical acclaim. Due to the writer’s strong understanding of Superman’s morals and character, All Star Superman is one of the best Superman stories out here.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#6. Kingdom Come
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
May 1996–August 1996
Credits
Writers: Mark Waid, Alex Ross
Artist: Alex Ross
Leterrer: Todd Klein
The Reason It’s Great
When Alex Ross was working on Marvels (another one of our greatest superhero stories), he kept a notebook on what he wanted to do if he was given the same chance from DC. Soon after, Ross was able to pitch his idea to writer Mark Waid, and the two started work on Kingdom Come.
In an Elseworlds future, the Justice League come back together after being disbanded for a number of years due to the rise of Magog—a superhero that the public preferred. Batman forms his own team known as the Outsiders, and would later oppose the Justice League.
Captain Marvel, under the mind control of Lex Luthor, is used to fight against Superman while the United Nations deploys three nuclear warheads augmented to work against metahumans. After Captain Marvel breaks free from Luthor’s control, he sacrifices himself to stop the warheads. However, the resulting explosion is still devasting enough to have a high casualty count.
In the end, the heroes reintegrate into society and find other ways to serve the world. Batman rebuilds his mansion as a hospital, and Wonder Woman becomes an ambassador for superhumans.
Mark Waid writes a compelling story that offers somethine unique and special, but still adheres to the familiar characterizations of our beloved heroes. However, it’s Alex Ross’s stunning and iconic art that make Kingdcom Come one of the greatest superhero stories.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#5. Batman Begins
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
May 31, 2005 (Tokyo)
June 15, 2005 (United States)
June 16, 2005 (United Kingdom)
Credits
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer
Cast: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Liam Neeson as Henri Ducard / Ra’s al Ghul, Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Craine / Scarecrow, Tom Wilkinson as Carmine Falcone, Rutger Hauer as Williame Earle, Ken Watanabe as Ra’s al Ghul’s Decoy, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Mark Boone Junior as Arnold Flass, Linus Roache as Thomas Wayne, Sara Stewart as Martha Wayne, Richard Brake as Joe Chill, Tim Booth as Victor Zsasz
The Reason It’s Great
After the abomination known as Batman & Robin (1997), the overall Batman franchise was put on an almost decade long hiatus. Warner Bros. was looking to refresh it’s most prized property, but it didn’t have a good enough strategy.
The studio finally put their faith in then relative newcomer Christopher Nolan whose most famous films to-date, at the time, were 2000’s Memento and 2002’s Insominia. Nolan came in with a concept based on the “Batman: Year One” story arc. He was interested in showing Batman’s origin and how the character became a hero. Before Nolan came along, past Batman films had the Caped Crusader already established.
Nolan wanted to dive deep into Bruce Wayne’s pscyhe. On top of that, the auteur had a grounded vision for the Dark Knight. He wanted to know what a superhero would be like if this individual was to actually exist in the real world. To that end, viewers were graced with the start of what would become Nolan’s three-film masterpiece—The Dark Knight Trilogy.
At a young age, billionaire Bruce Wayne witnesses the senseless murder of his parents in a street mugging. As he reaches young adulthood, a need to understand the criminal mind and a means to fight it puts him on a journey to search the world for answers. He eventually encounters Henri Ducard and the League of Shadows. Honing his mind and body to near perfection, Bruce returns to Gotham City—vowing to fight evil and corruption.
He dons the guise of Batman—a symbol of hope to the citizens of Gotham, and a means to instill fear in those who harm the innocent. As he embarks on a crusade for justice, he gains allies—Commissioner James Gordon, Lucius Fox, and Rachel Dawes—as well as enemies.
Batman Begins had a somewhat quiet release, but soon gained momentum as the breakout film of 2005 and garnered critical acclaim. Christopher Nolan would go on to helm two more Batman films—The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rise—and become synonymous with the Batman name. The overall trilogy has been noted as one of the greatest film franchises of all time.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios
#4. Captain America: Civil War
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
April 12, 2016 (Dolby Theatre)
May 6, 2016 (United States)
Credits
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Based On: Captain America by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby
Cast: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes / War Machine, Jeremy REnner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, Paul Bettany as Vision, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter, Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones, William Hurt as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, Daniel Brühl as Helmut Zemo, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Marisa Tomei as May Parker, John Kani as T’Chaka, John Slattery as Howard Stark, Hope Davis, as Maria Stark, Gene Farber as Vasily Karpov
The Reason It’s Great
Captain America: Civil War, at the time, was Marvel Studios’ most ambitious undertaking. The large cast and scope of the film (which was based on the Civil War story arc) was so daunting that fans thought it was a huge risk. At one point, fans even jokingly called it Avengers 2.5 due to the number of characters involved.
However, with the expert direction of the Russo brothers and the guidance of Marvel Cinematic Universe godfather Kevin Feige, the film was released to critical acclaim while breaking box-office records.
In the aftermath of the events in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the United Nations creates the Sokovia Accords—a mandate to register and regulate superpowered beings, barring them from acting independently. The Accords are meant to provide accountability, but Steve Rogers sees it as an infringement on liberty.
Tony, reeling from the guilt of past collateral damage, supports the Accords, which puts him at odds with Steve. When Bucky—the former Winter Soldier and Steve’s best friend—is framed for the murder of King T’Chaka during the signing of the Accords, Steve acts without preapproval to investigate the matter and protect his friend.
Steve’s actions put a further divide between him and Tony. Little do Steve, Tony, and the Avengers know, Helmut Zemo—who blames the Avengers for the deaths of his family in Sokovia—has architected a plan to destroy the Avengers from within. The resulting battle between former allies changes the Avengers forever—once a strong team, now disbanded and broken.
The film had every corner covered—fully fleshed out characters with a script that had drama, high-octane action, and mystery. The introduction of Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe was also singled out as a highlight of the film, praising his faithful characterization. Captain America: Civil War isn’t just a hard movie to top in terms of superhero films, it’s a hard movie to top for any genre of film.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#3. Watchmen
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
September 1986–October 1987
Credits
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Colorist: John Higgins
Editors: Len Wein, Barbara Kesel
The Reason It’s Great
Writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons deconstructed the superhero genre with Watchmen. The story represented a modern wariness of society and was a parody (of sorts) of superheroes. Watchmen isn’t just a great comic book. The story is considered one of the greatest 20th century literary achievements in general.
The story is set in an alternate universe where superheroes started to emerge in the 1940s to 1960s. Their involvement in government allowed the US to win the Vietnam War. Later, costumed superheroes became outlawed and the US gets closer to World War III with the USSR (a reflection of a feared outcome of the Cold War in the 1980s).
Gibbons also wanted the story to have a unique aesthetic. To that end, he set each page to have a nine-panel structure. Comics during that time had panels of varying sizes. Because of this, Gibbons was able to “control” the flow of the story. This gave the pacing and the visuals a much more dramatic effect.
Watchmen also had a lasting effect on culture. Because of its popularity, traditional bookstores and libraries started to devote special sections to graphic novels. The comic book industry now enjoyed a type of popularity that was once only reserved for more mainstream published works.
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#2. The Dark Knight Returns
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
February 1986 (“The Dark Knight Returns”)
April 1986 (“The Dark Knight Triumphant”)
May 1986 (“Hunt the Dark Knight”)
June 1986 (“The Dark Knight Falls”)
Credits
Writer: Frank Miller
Penciller: Frank Miller
Inker: Klaus Johnson
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Lynn Varley
Editors: Dick Giordano, Dennis O’Niel
The Reason It’s Great
Writer Frank Miller creates one of the most memorable Batman stories in the four-issue The Dark Knight Returns. The story is set in an alternate universe (now designated as Earth-51 or the Dark Knight Universe) where a 50-year-old Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement and once again dons the cape and cowl to fight crime and face off with the US government.
In a future dystopian Gotham City, Bruce Wayne has retired from being Batman after the death of Jason Todd years prior. When a gang called “The Mutants” terrorize the city, Bruce returns to being Batman. Soon, Two-Face holds Gotham hostage with the threat of detonating a bomb. Batman defeats Two-Face and, later, the Mutants.
Batman’s activities don’t go unnoticed, as Superman is sent by the White House to control him. In Gotham, Batman is declared a wanted criminal and pursued by the authorities. The Joker awakens from a coma and frames Batman for his own death. Coincidentally, a nuclear explosion wipes out power in the United States.
Batman creates a team to fight looters and rioters in Gotham—soon making it the safest city. An embarassed US government sends in Superman to arrest Batman, and the two have their famous battle—resulting in Batman having a heart attack and seemingly dying. In the epilogue, Bruce is shown to be alive and well, traning new recruits.
Ever since the release of The Dark Knight Returns, the story has influenced multiple Batman narratives. Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman drew its dark nature from the seminal comic. And 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had a fight scene between Batman and Superman that was heavily inspired by Miller’s story. Those who have read The Dark Knight Returns know why Miller’s work still stands the test of time.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
#1. The Dark Knight
Medium
Live-Action Feature Film
Release Dates
July 14, 2008 (New York City)
July 18, 2008 (United States)
July 24, 2008 (United Kingdom)
Credits
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christan Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Heath Ledger as The Joker, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Aaron Edkhart as Harvey Dent, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Nestor Carbonell as Anthony Garcia, Eric Roberts as Sal Maroni
The Reason It’s Great
This is it—the greatest superhero story of all time … The Dark Knight. The film is considered the “Godfather” of comic book movies. Deeply philisophical, it takes Batman and his mythos to new levels. With an amazing script, superior performances—giving attention to the Oscar-winning performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker—the film garnered universal critical and fan acclaim.
Batman’s crusade to rid Gotham City’s corruption has caused the underworld to grow desperate. The Joker suddenly comes into play and consolidates all their operations under him. However, the Clown Prince of Crime isn’t looking for money or power. He wants chaos to reign supreme.
As Batman pushes to bring the Joker to justice, he comes face-to-face with the reality that he needs to become the enemy in order to preserve justice. The Joker’s twisted games forces the citizens of Gotham to reevaluate the definition of good versus evil under the most desperate of consequences.
If you only have time for one superhero story, The Dark Knight is the one you should choose. Director Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece takes the original source material and rockets these legendary DC characters into the stratosphere of storytelling.
Next: Check out our list of the greatest superheroes
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever. Did you agree or disagree with our list and rankings? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!