Top 10 Comic Book Mini-Series

By Connect2Mason Comic Columnist Greg Pelkofski

I considered making this the Top 10 Graphic Novels, but since most graphic novels were originally individual comics and either reprinted comics from mini-series and series, I decided to do a Top 10 list of mini-series (and Top 10 series next week). So here they are, the best of the best in the world of comics (according to me at least).

10. 300 – Frank Miller’s gruesome and violent retelling of the battle of Thermopylae is one of the best mini-series out there and one of the best comic book movie adaptations. Though not as violent as the movie, the graphic novel still brings up themes of honor, duty, sacrifice, and freedom that still have as much meaning today as it did in 480 BC.

9. JLA/Avengers – The ultimate superhero team-up: Marvel’s Avengers and DC’s Justice League of America, with Captain America, Superman, Batman, Iron Man, Thor and Wonder Woman all in a four issue mini-series. Excellently written by Kurt Busiek and masterfully drawn by artist George Pérez, this is the best comic book crossover of all time. As in all superhero team-ups, the two legendary forces for good wind up fighting each other at first, then joining together to stop a threat that neither team could handle on their own. Chock full of plenty of heroes and villains from both publishers’ universes; this comic is a fan boy’s dream that even non-comic book readers will enjoy.

8. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale – While this is not technically a comic book mini-series, I felt that it was too good to leave off this list. Written and drawn by Art Spiegelman, he tells the true story of his father’s life as Jew in Poland during World War 2. The only thing that sets it apart from other Holocaust stories (other than being printed in comic book form) is that all the characters are portrayed as animals. Nazis are mice, Poles are pigs, Americans are dogs, and Jews are mice (the title, Maus, is German for mice). This story is so engrossing that sometimes you have to take a step back and say, “Even though these people are portrayed as animals, it is all true, every last detail.”

7. Civil War – One the best Marvel mini-series/crossovers to come out in the past few years. It is superhero versus superhero when the government passes a law that forces superhumans to register and work for the government, with Iron Man leading the pro-registration side and Captain America leading the anti-registration side. While some claim that this is an allegory for certain policies the United States has passed to ensure the safety of America (myself included), writer Mark Millar claims that it became “accidentally political.” Either way it is a great read.

6. Kingdom Come – This DC Comics mini-series shows a somewhat desolate future where the old superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have retired and a new generation of “heroes” has taken over. Wonder Woman then persuades Superman to come out of retirement to restart the Justice League, forcing the kids that have taken their place to behave or be locked up. However, Batman doesn’t agree with his old friends and starts his own team; the rest of the story is building toward a confrontation between the two groups that has apocalyptic consequences. Mark Waid writes this epic tale and the art is beautifully painted by Alex Ross.

5. Marvels – Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross are back on this list again with a mini-series that examines the early history of the Marvel universe from the perspective of a newspaper photographer. The story follows photographer Phil Sheldon as he encounters superheroes. Sheldon follows major Marvel Comics’ events from the 40’s to the 70’s like the appearance of Captain America in World War II, the coming of Galactus in the 60’s, and the death of Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man’s first girlfriend, in the 70’s. The comic shows the average man’s perspective on these “marvels” and is a groundbreaking work in comic books.

4. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Imagine if Batman was like every Clint Eastwood character from any western or Dirty Harry movie he made and that’s what Frank Miller did to Batman in this futuristic tale. This is one of those comics from the 80’s that changed the genre forever and took Batman back to his dark and grim roots after being turned into a campy caricature by Adam West. This is the best Batman story you will ever read.

3. Sin City – Frank Miller’s third time on this list (because I love his comics so much) and his best. There are seven Sin City mini-series that portray a world of anti-heroes all in the classic film noir style. Grim, gritty, sexy, violent, and with so many good, repeatable lines of dialogue makes this a must read for any reader.

2. Earth X – This is Marvel’s greatest work. A trilogy of mini-series starting with Earth X, then Universe X, and ending with Paradise X. The story is very similar to DC’s Kingdom Come, where it shows a future in which the old superheroes are either retired or dead and all of Earth’s population now has superpowers. This is a deep read that delves into the history of Marvel’s heroes, how it affects the future, and looks into the very nature of humanity. Written by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, this is the best Marvel story I have ever read, but would not recommend it to anyone unless you really know your Marvel history and its characters.

1. Watchmen – Of course it had to be Watchmen. It is the single greatest work that I have ever read fiction or nonfiction, comic book or novel. This is Alan Moore’s alternate universe where the heroes are all too human and have all the flaws and personality disorders that comes with it. I don’t care if you loved the movie or hated it, this is one thing that once you read it you will want to read it over and over again. I wish that all comics could be as good as Watchmen.

Do you agree? Disagree? Think something is missing from the list? Leave your thoughts in the comments.