The Best Comics of All Time Update! 16 Comics Added – Now 150 Stories

The “Dave’s Faves” list (aka all the best comics I’ve ever read, ranked) is updated! The list of favorites (and also, Wanted) has grown from 134 to 150 comic book stories.

Significant additions include:

#18) Preacher

It was a happy accident that I made my way through Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher just in time for the AMC teaser-trailer. I read the first volume years ago, was generally non-plussed, but then gave the book a second look with my Hoopla digital subscription.

It’s great. An absolute all-timer. I’m not sure I’ve read a comic book series that has better tackled the American dream and religion (and how the two are inextricably tied). Which is fairly incredible when you factor in Irish Vampires, Arseface, and  more fights and grossout humor than you can shake a stick at.

Ranking Preacher was difficult. Objectively, there’s really no denying Preacher is a more influential and substantive comic than Punk Rock Jesus (which I have ranked 14^th), and while Starman (15^th) is similarly ambitious, Preacher has far more freedom to roam, with language, art, and subject matter.

Nonetheless, I put Preacher just behind Invincible (17^th) and before Chew (19^th). If nothing else, it slots a Vertigo title in between two Image books.

#34) Fear Agent

I moved Fear Agent up 8 spots in the rankings after completing the second and final Ultimate Deluxe collection. This science-fiction space adventure bonanza could quite conceivably move up even higher the more I think about it. Fear Agent is great and the ending darn near brought me to tears (not that I’d ever admit that).

#38) Fables Vol 1 – Vol 6

Another Vertigo title I’m enjoying with Hoopla, Fables enters the top 40 on the strength of its first six volumes. Fables is strong and substantive right out of the gate, and does amazing work with storybook characters most of us relegated to a single, simple theme or role.

Fables seems to only be getting better, so we’ll see if its intimidating length ultimately helps or hurts.

#66) Gotham Academy

I purchased Gotham Academy, Grayson, and Batgirl as part of a Comixology .99 cent Batman sale, and Gotham Academy was definitely the winner (although I like Grayson quite a bit as well at #76). Yes, it’s part Morning Glories and Harry Potter set inside Batman’s Gotham City, but that familiarity is also one of the best things about the title. Good mystery and great young characters infuse new life into the DC Universe.

#74) Strikeforce: Morituri

Believe it or not, even though it sounds nothing like a Marvel comic, you can actually read Strikeforce: Morituri as part of Marvel Unlimited. I highly recommend you do – it’s a bit dated, but Strikeforce is conceptually perfect. What if Earth was under alien siege, and our only powered heroes only had a year (at most) to live before their powers killed them?

#89) Superannuated Man

One of two Ted McKeever Image books to enter the list, Superannuated Man looks absolutely incredible. This is no surprise if you’re familiar with McKeever’s art, but for everyone else, black and white pencils rarely convey this much anthropomorphic discomfort. Much like Miniature Jesus, Supernannuated falters a bit after a stellar opening, but the book makes my top 100 forever for one reason: I have a quote from my review at Capeless Crusader on the trade paperback!

#94) 47 Ronin

I was entirely unfamiliar with the tale of the 47 Ronin, and it’s a wonderful samurai mythos. This Dark Horse presentation of the story benefits significantly from Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) drawing the action.

#100) Deadshot: Beginnings

As Jane’s Addiction said nearly 30 years ago, nothing’s shocking.

Deadshot: Beginnings is shocking.

I still can’t quite believe the way this Deadshot solo story plays out, and if you’re a fan of Suicide Squad (or want to get into it before the movie), don’t let this 4 issue miniseries pass you by.

#118) Doom 2099

The 2099 universe remains one of the great untapped pockets in the Marvel Unlimited universe. I couldn’t wait it out for a Doctor Doom story set in 2099 written by Warren Ellis, and the impatience was worth it.

This is far from a perfect story, and you’re thrown dead in the eye of a hurricane with just the Doom 2099 trade, but there are some great Doom moments, and that electric blue Doom costume is quite possibly my favorite in the whole world.

Those are some of my main additions for this month. Check out the full list of my favorite comics here, and let me know what you think, or what you’d like to see added!