I've been thinking about Ultimates 2 #11, and how it's clearly the single best issue of comics Marvel has put out in several years. As we look back on comics history, there are great series, great arcs, and great minis; classic events and groundbreaking innovations.

If you had to pick one single issue to point to and say, "This is the best comic book ever," what would it be? Please don't list ten or twenty; just pick one or (if you must) two. And I'm not talking about "events," I'm talking about quality storytelling for the length of the book.

For my money, it's Watchmen #4: "Watchmaker," which tells the origin story of Dr. Manhattan. Jon Osterman, naked and blue-skinned, walks the surface of Mars with an old photograph in his hand, reminiscing about the path he has taken to get here. But Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons do so much more than just give exposition; the constantly-shifting time frame gives us the clearest look ever into the mind of a superhuman thinker. It's 100% pure exposition and it's gripping, intriguing, and dramatic all the same. The repetition of images and words gives a sense of Dr. Manhattan's immense power while simultaneously making appear incredibly sad and lonely.

I was also thinking about The Dark Knight Returns #2, Earth X #12, Iron Man #232, and any number of Hellboy issues, but I'll let others talk about them.

A tie between Superman Action Comics #775 and Spider-Man Tanlged Web #4. Can't decide.

Ultimate Spider-Man #85, Warriors part 7. Ok look I haven't read any classic stories, and this issue was awesome. 3 people(Electra, Spider-Man, and hammerhead) got thrown out of a window of the same building! Moon Knights in it. Black Cat learns Peters a kid. And it just was so much fun to read. The whole arc kicked ###, but this issue is my favorite issue of any comic.

This is one of my choices.

X-Men 211 & 213 are both Mutant Massacre issues, and they were both really damn good.

Superman Annual 8. The best comic with DC's big three, plus Robin saves the day.

Avengers 171. A great finale to the Ultron storyline.

You and Darth already beat me to it.

Such a great book.

1. Uncanny X-men 133 (Wolverine vs the Hellfire Club Guards)

2. Miracleman #15 (Kid Miracleman decimates London.)

3. Kindgom Come #4 (Shazam!)

4. Ultimates Vol 1. #5 (Hulk takes Manhattan!)

Deadpool #12(I think this is the issue)
The issue that Deadpool takes over spiderman's life.

Thanos Quest #2
He finishes gathering the infinity gems, and all through out the series he had out-witted, out-schemed- and just generally out plotted and out thought the Elders of the universe. Some of the most powerfull people in the Marvel U.

Surfer Annhilation #3
The wave is wreaking havok across the universe, most entire races are just trying to figure out what to do and Thanos all on his lonesome can intimidate the leader and thus the entire wave.

I'll go old school. New Gods #7 ("The Pact") is one of the finest stories of all time. Here is where Jack Kirby defined the origin of Orion and Mister Miracle by putting it all together as a classic struggle between good and evil. On the one hand, you had Izaya the Inheritor, who cast aside his weapons to become Highfather. On the other, you had Darkseid who had just schemed himself into the throne of Apokolips. This was probably one of Kirby's best efforts as an artist and a comics creator.

Loved Watchmen #4.


That arc almost made me stop reading USM.

Horrible.

Hulk #92 "Planet Hulk Exile #1"
Annihilation Prologue

I was kind of hoping for a little description, rather than just title and issue number...

I've been reading for an awfully long time, but I didn't even have to think twice about this. Thor #362, Skurge's last stand at Gjallerbru. I don't recommend blogs lightly, but this post at Dave's Long Box sums up better than I could why this issue is so amazing.

Blimey - what a question!

I'm sure, if I sat and thought about it, I could come up with a list of about 100, but we've been specifically requested NOT to do that, so I'm going with my first thought:

DEFENDERS v1 #50

Why?

Great cover, which immediately communicates there's going to be one mother of an all-out battle inside.

The issue is basically a huge fight between the Defenders (great line up) and the first ever Zodiac revamp. The Zodiac redesigns are great. Shame we never get to see Pisces, Capricorn and Virgo in full.

The characterisation is superb. There are some really funny moments of dialogue mid-battle. Every small fight-scene or conflict between characters is perfectly choreographed and adds something to the tale.

The art, while perhaps stylized and not to everyone's taste, is perfect for the tale. Giffen's early work here is very reminiscent of Kirby. Nearly every panel has a decent background as a frame of reference (artists could learn from that these days). When a character damages the surroundings, it really looks like a powerful blow. You feel every punch, swipe and slash.

Then there's the pathos - the Jake Fury back-story with the Nick Fury LMD, the end of the issue is really powerful and very, very sad.

Superb moments from the all out team-fight:

Leo being caught in the death-trap that Moon-Knight ingeniously escaped the previous issue.

Nighthawk dumping a huge piece of machinery VERY painfully on Taurus' head. OUCH!

Perhaps the MOST peed-off, hyper-angry Hulk EVER. Period.

Libra and Aquarius debating which side to take! Honest!

It's just an all-out fab issue. And those were the days when an issue like this would appear, largely unheralded (sans-hype), on a pretty regular basis. The product sold itself back then.

Aww. Darn it. That doesn't allow me to mention Avengers v1 #160 where the Grim Reaper holds the team on trial in relation to his 'brother' Wonderman - no, Vision - no, Wonderman, - no - AAARGH! Perez at his best.

I'll spare you the other 98...

Great thread - cheers - StellarX