#4. “Lex Luthor: Man of Steel” (2005)

A look into the mind of Superman’s arch rival Lex Luthor to discover what drives Luthor in his tireless quest to rid the world of Superman.

Writer: Brian Azzarello
Penciler: Lee Bermejo
Inker: Lee Bermejo, Mick Gray, Karl Story, Jason Martin
Colorist: Dave Stewart, Lee Bermejo
Letterers: Rob Leigh, Phil Balsman, Pat Brosseau, Nick J. Napolitano

I found this reframing of Luthor’s motivations for wanting to rid the world of Superman fascinating as he is driven, not by personal ambition or petty jealousy, but a sincere distrust of Superman as an outsider, a powerful alien whose god-level powers and abilities could, one day, be turned against humanity. Thus, his misinformed mission is to warn humanity of the dangers presented by the man of steel before it’s too late. But as we watch Luthor’s carefully crafted plot unfold, we ask ourselves “Does the end justify the means”? and it doesn’t take long for any level-headed reader to answer no in this case it doesn’t. But the fact that Luthor undoubtedly believes so, that killing civilians, children among them, is the price to be paid for the greater good demonstrates a villain who is as equally mad as he is brilliant. And yet, for all of the death and destruction he causes over the course of the story, he remains unnervingly objective and seemingly devoid of emotional vulnerabilities – which marks him as perhaps the most dangerous of Superman’s foes. That said, his repeated breaking of his word, killing of innocents, and sacrifice of those once loyal to him paints him as a less nuanced, less sympathetic character in comparison to the likes of Dr. Doom or Magneto.

#5. “Kraven’s Last Hunt” (1987)

Kraven the Hunter has killed every animal known to man. But there is one beast that has eluded him: the web-slinging Spider-Man. To prove that he is the hero’s master, Kraven will don his costume and become the wall-crawler…after he shoots and buries him six feet under.

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Penciler: Mike Zeck
Inker: Bob McLeod
Colorist: Bob Sharen, Janet Jackson, Mike Zeck
Letterer: Rick Parker

Published in the late 80’s when books like The Killing Joke and Watchmen were heralding a darker turn in comic book storytelling, Kraven’s Last Hunt presents a grim tale that explores a hitherto C-list villain, granting him lethality and gravitas far beyond his previous appearances. DeMatteis’s detailing of Sergei Kravinov’s obsessive pursuit of his most dangerous game is a riveting slow-build descent into madness complimented by Zeck’s atmospheric and, at times, unconventional artwork. Haunting.

#6. “The Sinestro Corps War” (2007)

Sinestro has gathered an army of soldiers fueled by the fear they instill in others. And as one of the Book of Oa’s prophecies comes true, the Green Lantern Corps makes a last stand that reveals the reincarnation of one of their fold!

Writers: Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi
Pencilers: Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Angel Unzueta, Pascal Alixe, Dustin Nguyen
Inkers: Oclair Albert, Prentis Rollins, Drew Geraci, Vicente Cifuentes, Julio Ferreira, Rodney Ramos, Rob Hunter, Mario Alquiza, Jamal Igle, Derek Fridolfs, Tom Nguyen, Dan Davis, Rebecca Buchman
Colorists: Moose Baumann, Guy Major, Jerry Ordway, David Curiel, JD Smith
Letterers: Rob Leigh, Phil Balsman

In terms of landmark books, it’s tough to top this 18 issue, multi-title tie-in cosmic event. The scope and scale of the story and its visuals are enormous, Its exploration and expansion of Lantern lore delighted hardcore fans while leaving some more casual viewers overwhelmed. I landed more in the latter category, occasionally mired down by the complexities of the mythology while, at other times, finding myself somewhat exhausted by the extended high-stakes battles. Standout for me were Ethan Van Sciver’s gorgeous detailing and character designs as well as the work of other artists and the book’s overall vibrant green and yellow palette. Unlike a lot of critics, I didn’t find it particularly compelling as a character study although I did find Sinestro’s machinations fascinating.