Since we have a good thread going about the Worst Runs, I figured I should start a thread about the Best Runs.

What comics do you still go back to re-read, they were that good?

For moi:

1) Watchmen. I love this series even after all this time. And as fetty_pet notes here, the ending was something I never say coming.

2) Uncle Sam (2 issues, Vertigo Comics). As a history major, I like how Steve Darnall covers the flaws and growing pains of America's history, and all the truth that's there. Plus Alex Ross. Which brings me to my next point...

3) Kingdom Come. Even if it's in an alternate timeline, it's still chilling to watch Superman try and save lives, and then fails; killing off almost all superheroes still is a shocking thought, in this day and age where the X-Men all regenerate apparently and others have trouble staying dead.

4) Captain America: Winter Soldier. I know some may not like it for retconning what happened to Bucky, but it's the same way Cap came to the Avengers and makes sense, unlike others returning after a wall gets punched *CoughJasonToddCough*. We know the villains, the heroes don't, and in the end, there is no clear winner. Fun read.

What do you guys think?

My all-time favorite run on comics, bar none, was the J.M. DeMatteis Run on Captain America, roughly issues 261-301. In some sense, it’s not really comparable to what you’ve listed, as it encompassed multiple stories, but it is the defining run for me from when I was a kid, and I’d estimate I’ve gone back and read the whole thing at least six or eight times over the years. Plus, it came on the back of an outstanding run by Roger Stern and did it one better. Some highlights:

DeMatteis’ introduction of Jack Monroe as Bucky/Nomad – In my opinion, this demonstrates how Cap should have reacted on the return of his old partner (or someone who was intended to be a carbon copy thereof) – very conflicted and with a renewed guilt over what happened to his original partner.

Great villains like Arnim Zola, Baron Zemo (II), and especially the Viper. The nightmare sequence in #283 with Steve Rogers’ parents scared the holy heck out of me as a kid, as much for the writing as for Zeck’s art.

The Death of the Red Skull story. It’s not even so much a single arc as it is an epic that ties together almost all of what DeMatteis had worked on throughout his entire run – Mother Night and Zemo vying to be the Skull’s heir, Nomad coming trying to be a hero on his own yet wrestling with living in Cap’s shadow, the wholesale dismantling of Cap’s personal life through the Skull’s machinations, and of course Cap’s own aging.

However, the best part of the whole run for me was the subtlety of how DeMatteis’ incorporated social issues in his writing – he didn’t hit you over the head with them, he just laid them out there and trusted the intelligence of the reader to make a connection. Two examples come to mind: First, at one point, Steve Rogers visits a synagogue with his Jewish then-girlfriend, Bernie Rosenthal. Up to this point, we had never (at least as far as I could remember) seen Cap in a religious situation or had any inkling of his religious affiliation. I remember thinking to myself as a kid of six or seven “Does this mean Cap’s Jewish?” and then, after ruminating on it for awhile, thinking “Well, does it matter?” Same thing with the character of Arnold Roth. Arnold Roth, one of Steve’s longtime neighbors, had a male roommate, both of whom were later kidnapped and psychologically tortured by the Red Skull. Again, as a kid of six or seven, I found myself thinking “Is Arnold Roth gay?” and coming to the conclusion “It doesn’t matter, it still sucks that the Skull did those things to him.” And that’s what earns DeMatteis a permanent place in my Comic Hall of Fame – in addition to being a writer of thrilling and chilling stories which incorporated a lot of psychological elements, he trusted his readers (some of whom were grade-school kids like I was) and let them wrestle with the issues he presented on their own.

I’ll step down off my soapbox now, but for those of you who have $50 or so to spend (as I don’t think these stories are available in a collected format), I’d strongly encourage you to go out and get the entire run – it’s what I think is the gold standard of modern writing for Captain America, maybe for any comic, period.

Walter Simonson's work on Thor. Quite possibly the best Thor author ever, his stuff was simply incredible.

Mark Waid/Ron Garney's Captain America. I loved their work on Captain America. The two were made to write the good Captain, dragging him from one rock 'em to the core epic battle to the next.

Invincible Issues 1-49
Walking Dead 22-35
Ultimate Spider-man - Clone Saga
Age of Apocalypse
Identity Crisis

First, a few of the previously mentioned:
Watchmen: By and far, one of the greatest superhero stories ever told. Hell, one of the greatest in any genre. I read the ending with a sense of shock every time I decide to read the trade.

Kingdom Come: Amazing storiy, beautiful art, and I seem to be able to find something new in said art every time I read it.

Age of Apocalypse: Quite possibly the best crossover and alternate reality story starring the X-Men. Seeing how everyone's lives are different without Xavier was defintely interesting. So many characters get a raised eyebrow from me when I see them in the normal 616 books just from remembering how they were in AoA.

And now for something completely different:
Batman: Hush: Solid story that keeps you on the edge of your seat while bringing forth things that some fans thought were a long time coming. This, along with the majority of his run on Superman/Batman and his collaborations with Tim Sale on Batman are what Jeph Loeb is more than capable of doing. Makes me want to cry when I read Ultimates 3 and his Wolverine arc.

Nextwave: Agents of HATE(Issues 1-12): The reason I proudly proclaim Warren Ellis to be an insane genius of a writer. I eagerly anticipated every single issue and hope to see a second series at some point. Though Arron Stack's appearances in Ms Marvel have been very rewarding.

100 Bullets: Just got into this through a friend and have read the first two trades. Can't wait to read the rest of this book, as it truly delivers with every issue.

The Boys: This is something that might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I get a kick out of it. Ennis is one of my favorite writers and I love seeing his take on superheroes as even more flawed than Marvel and DC would ever have their heroes. Plus, the titular team, The Boys, are amongst comicdom's best enforcers, legal or otherwise.

I'm going to add a few more.

The entire current Dark Horse Conan series. It's my favorite comic on the market right now. The writing, art, pacing, story, and colors are all perfect. It really reminds me of how comics used to be. Your arcs could be 1 issue, or 4, but background plot elements would keep running and pop up from time to time. It's not all 6 issue arcs that go to slow to start, and then end to quickly. This is how comics SHOULD be done.

Roy Thomas/Sal Buscema/John Buscema on Conan for Marvel. This was another great run on the Cimmerian. The brother's art was perfect for the sword wielding barbarian. Roy always seemed to enjoying every moment of each story. I've really enjoyed picking up the Dark Horse reprints of this series (I have 1-13). They're all enjoyable in their own way (after Barry Windsor Smith left as artist anyways).

Kurt Busiek/Fabian Ni(whatever, I can never remember how to spell his name)'s New Thunderbolts up to the Civil War issues. This was a fun book, with lots of interwoven plot threads, with great characterization. It was fun, entertaining, stayed true to the characters, and delivered in an old fashioned Marvel way. I was really sad to see them go and Ellis take over, as his Thunderbolts aren't nearly as fun to read, or nearly as interesting. Like Conan's Dark Horse series, this is what comics should be.

Avengers: The Initiative: I cannot praise this series enough. The idea of a superhero boot camp is so simple but is executed so well.

Teen Titans: OYL and Titans East: Geoff Johns ends his run on the series on such a high note. KD and Ravager are the coolest new heroes out there and Deathstroke's team of juvenile delinquents are so well written. Wonderful stuff.

Justice Society of America v.III: Again, praising Johns. The team is now up to at least 20 members and yet the important characters get their words in and still maintain a great story.

52: Yes. Moving on.

Nextwave: Double yes. Moving on.

Ultimate Spider-Man: Amazing Friends: This has always been Bendis' best series and I chose this story arc because it balances all the characters involved so well. In the first issue of the arc, we see the point of view of each of the main people and it shows them off so well.

That's my two cents (Which, when compared to your two cents is, like, fifty bucks).

Walt Simonson on Thor is one of my all time favorites. Jurgens on Thor was also good but very underrated.

Grant Morrison on New X-Men was what brought me back to X-men

Annihilation- brought me back to the Marvel space characters and made them relevant again.

The entire run of Fables has been outstanding and deserves mentioning


Age of Apocalypse,Kingdom Come,Watchmen, The Authority, Top Ten, Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity Crusade and Paradise X are faves as well

There will be no finer run in comics than Alan Moore's seminal run on Swamp Thing. Nothing even comes close to touching it.

Of course, if something did, it was Neil Gaiman's Sandman, which was amazing in it's own right in terms of brilliant storytelling.

I also loved Ostrander's "Suicide Squad" ongoing, Paul Levitz's Legion of Super-Heroes, and Jim Aparo's run as an artist on "Brave and the Bold".

I've hemmed and hawed, now I'll chime in.

Geoff Johns run on The Flash transformed the character from that guy who runs fast to the Working Class DCU hero, and his rogues from a colorful collective of failures to the tightest knit group of cutthroats around under the heading of Len Snart, the baddest mother you ever laid eyes on. He also made Grodd terrifying, and Zoom one of the most compelling characters in comics.

Also, Geoff's supporting cast: Linda,l Joan, Iris, Bart, Jay, Chunk, Chyre, Morrillo, and others made the book feel alive. Wonderful stuff, aided by Livesay, Kollins, Porter, and Dose.

Another fave?

Millar's The Ultimates 1 & 2.

High Octane Thrillride. The Characters sizzled and the pencils of Bryan Hitch are REAL.

One to watch? If it closes correctly, Ellis run on Thunderbolts stands to join my shortlist.

I still love Chuck Dixon's run on Nightwing.
Frank Miller's first run on Daredevil, especially the issue where DD plays Russian Roulette with a paralyzed Bullseye in his hospital room.
Kevin Smith's run on Green Arrow.

Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley on Thunderbolts. And then Nicieza and Bagley after that. Everything up to issue 50 was great.

Bendis on Daredevil. This one doesn't even need explaining.

Alias. Same as above. It's just amazing.

Brubaker on Captain America. Someone mentioned the Winter Soldier story above, but the first 25+ issues have all been great.

I think that's where it ends. That's the stuff I go back to over and over again.

I absolutely loved Nextwave

My other favorite is Astonishing X-Men.