I used to read a lot of comic books when I was a kid. Eventually, I grew up and grew out of them. Until high school when I started picking them up again and experienced my first wave of nostalgia for those childhood favorites: The Avengers, The Amazing Spiderman, and Batman. In time, my interest in comics waned once again. Until sometime in college when my interest was renewed. And so it has gone over the course of my life – my interest in comics waxing and waning and waxing in an endless cycle of nostalgia and fresh discovery.
So this morning I was thinking about the thousands of comic books I’ve read over the years and tried to come up with a list of those singular issues that hold a special place in my heart. Now they may not be the most critically acclaimed or the most popular or even all that memorable to many, but whenever I rediscover comic books, I’m always trying to recapture the joy I experienced when reading these single issues for the first time…
UNCANNY X-MEN #133
The rest of the X-Men have fallen to the fearsome Hellfire Club and it’s up to Wolverine, last mutant standing, to save the day. I remember being blown away by this one because it was the first time I’d seen Wolverine really cut loose in a bad-ass way.
AMAZING SPIDERMAN #130
The only thing I like more than a colorful supervillain is a colorful supervillain with depth. Spiderman and Doctor Octopus have few things in common, but one thing they do share is an affection for dear old Aunt May. And when Hammerhead crashes one of comicdom’s weirdest weddings, the two longtime enemies become the unlikeliest of allies in order to save her.
UNCANNY X-MEN #141
Arguably the most awesome storyline in the title’s run foresees a grim future for our uncanny anti-heroes.
HITMAN #14
This title was hilariously over-the-top, and the pinnacle of its outrageous run was this issue that sees Tommy and co. taking on the undead denizens of a local zoo.
AMAZING SPIDERMAN #131
A seminal issue back in the day when, for the most part, dead characters stayed dead.
BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE
A bit of a cheat here because it’s a special release rather than an issue of an ongoing title, but I include it because it ranks as my very favorite Batman story.
AVENGERS #177
One by one, Earth’s Mightiest fall to the unstoppable Korvac. Shocking stuff.
UNCANNY X-MEN #137
I recall being so surprised and amazed by the audacity of this double-issue that I ended up returning to my local comic book shop and purchasing another dozen copies – for safe keeping.
AVENGERS ANNUAL #7
The bittersweet opening to of an epic two-parter. The final, soul gem reunion of Adam Warlock and his loved ones gets me every time.
DEADPOOL #11
The greatest time travel story in comic book history sees Deadpool travel back to The Amazing Spiderman #47. No, not the 1960’s when that issue was set but actually The Amazing Spiderman #47. The high point of writer Joe Kelly’s brilliant Deadpool run.
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