Posted: 10 August 2020 at 8:18am | IP Logged | 6
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The biggest issue I have is not arbitrary choices; everyone likes something else, and someone calling their list "the best" is simply their effort to express their appreciation for what they really like.
After all, we really have no standard for "the best" - art? Plot? Scripting?
My issue is that so few readers have a sense of historical perspective. In an earlier age, I would smile, shrug, and say, "I'm gettin' old. I have these books and younger readers don't."
But between classic collection, Essential/Showcase collections, and availability through so many venues, we can read most everything published by Marvel etc. Why would any list not include Fantastic Four #1? Amazing Fantasy #15?
Because while they're historic, maybe they're not great. Or maybe they are - but if FF#1 were FF #80, would it be a great story?
The other matter is brought forth by seeing Secret Wars and Civil War on the list. Neither of those is much of a comic book; neither is a comic book at all. One is a 12 part maxi-series and one is a God-only-knows how many issue cross company event. I can say Daredevil #7 or Fantastic Four #51 is an excellent book; I can say that Neal Adams' run on X-Men or Captain America's Secret Empire storyline is a short collection. So is it best story or best single issue?
Mr. Byrne has noted that eras of comics could be defined by decade; perhaps that's how "best comic" should be judged, e.g., best story of the 90s.
Having said this, the list completely lost me when it shows X-Men #157 as part of the Dark Phoenix Saga. Of course, to Chris Claremont, I suspect that every X-Men book after #137 was part of the Dark Phoenix Saga, but...
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