Top 10 Comics of All Time

Canal Cultura POP
28 de abr.
9 min de leitura

The Ninth Art is home to many of the greatest legends of modern pop culture, such as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and so many others, as well as countless stories that defined eras—despite often being underestimated as a lower form of literature.But today, we’re going to explore the most fantastic comic book stories ever created, crafted by geniuses like Alan Moore, Frank Miller, and Alex Ross. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list!

The Killing Joke

The definitive origin story of the Joker.Written by Alan Moore in 1988, The Killing Joke portrays the peak of the Clown Prince of Crime’s madness, as he shoots Barbara Gordon and kidnaps Jim Gordon in a plan to break the Commissioner’s mind, proving that all it takes is "one bad day" to drive a man insane.

It all starts when Batman visits Arkham Asylum to confront his nemesis. Batman tells him their relationship cannot continue the way it has; it would eventually end with one of them dead, and it didn’t have to be that way—he could help him. However, Batman soon realizes he’s speaking to an imposter, while the real Joker is busy setting up his greatest joke at an abandoned amusement park.

Through flashbacks, we see the Joker’s past: once a failed comedian struggling to support his pregnant wife, he was pressured into committing a robbery at Ace Chemicals. To protect his identity, he donned the Red Hood—a criminal disguise. Right before the robbery, the police informed him that his wife and unborn child had died in a domestic accident. Despite his grief, he was forced to go through with the crime. The robbery went horribly wrong, the gang was intercepted by police, and he alone was left to escape—only to fall into a vat of chemicals after a terrifying encounter with Batman. The chemicals disfigured him, and upon seeing his reflection, his mind shattered. Laughter consumed him. Life was now a cruel joke. Thus, the Joker was born.

The psychopath breaks into Jim Gordon’s home, brutalizes him, and leaves Barbara paralyzed. At the amusement park, Gordon is subjected to a horror ride showcasing photos of his wounded daughter. The Joker’s goal was simple: to prove that even the sanest man could descend into madness after one bad day.Barbara survives and begs Batman to stop the Joker once and for all. Batman scours Gotham for his enemy, and eventually the Joker sends him an invitation to the showdown.

Batman rescues Gordon, who, to Joker's disappointment, remains sane. Batman then faces Joker in a brutal battle, ending with a crushing punch that sends the villain flying through a window. Defeated, Joker expects the usual cycle of beatings and imprisonment, but Batman once again offers to help him rehabilitate. Joker refuses—it was too late for him. Then, Joker tells a joke about two insane men in an asylum. Strangely, Batman laughs. His hand rests on Joker’s shoulder—and slowly tightens.

Though the scene fades away without explicitly showing it, Alan Moore later confirmed: Batman kills the Joker, ending their endless game. In a twisted sense, the Joker wins.

This is arguably the greatest Batman and Joker story ever told, giving the Joker a profound origin and taking the rivalry between hero and villain to its darkest depths.

Dark Knight Returns

After government restrictions on vigilantes, Batman is forced into retirement, spending twenty years away from the streets. Unsurprisingly, Gotham falls deeper into chaos, despite criminals like the Joker and Two-Face disappearing. Only one hero remains active: Superman—now a government agent.

When the Mutant Gang terrorizes Gotham, the aging Bruce Wayne can no longer stand by. Despite his age, Batman returns and dismantles the gang, sparking a media frenzy that brands him as a criminal himself.The President orders Superman to intervene if Batman doesn’t cease his activities.

As the story progresses, Batman gains a new Robin: Carrie Kelley, a young, fearless girl with remarkable intelligence and agility.

Batman’s troubles escalate: Jim Gordon retires, replaced by a commissioner who despises vigilantes; old foes like Two-Face and the Joker resurface; and, ultimately, Superman is sent to bring Batman down once and for all—culminating in an epic showdown.

Marvels

Written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by Alex Ross, Marvels follows photographer Phil Sheldon, a New Yorker who witnesses all the legendary milestones of the Marvel Universe—from the emergence of Namor and the original Human Torch to the death of Gwen Stacy during Spider-Man’s battle with the Green Goblin.

Ross’s breathtaking, lifelike art offers a magical view of every Marvel hero.The plot is simple but powerful: Sheldon captures these iconic moments first to sell to newspapers like the Daily Bugle, then to compile into a heartfelt book honoring the heroes—whom he calls "Marvels."

This love letter to Marvel lore explores historic moments like Secret Wars, the Death of Gwen Stacy, the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, Galactus’s invasion, and the rise of the Sentinels.

Ultimately, Marvels delivers a profound, nostalgic, and dynamic story, with Sheldon perfectly representing us—the ordinary citizens—marveling at these wonders.The highlight of the graphic novel is undoubtedly Alex Ross’s stunning debut work, solidifying it as the best Marvel graphic novel ever made.

Kingdom Come

To conclude, we have one of the most magnificent works by Alex Ross and Mark Waid. Kingdom Come takes place decades after Superman’s retirement, following the death of Lois Lane at the hands of the Joker — an event that revealed Superman’s old-fashioned ways to be outdated in a world demanding harsher justice against villains.

Magog, the greatest hero of a new generation, leads the world into absolute chaos, with heroes disregarding laws and imposing "justice" in their own ways. In response, Superman, at Wonder Woman’s request, gathers old heroes like Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Robin to reestablish order — but their methods become as authoritarian as Magog’s.

Batman has exiled himself in Gotham City, monitoring it with an army of robots. Shazam has become a servant of Lex Luthor, while a man named Norman observes everything alongside Spectre, the Spirit of Vengeance.

The story carries a messianic and apocalyptic tone, portraying heroes — especially Superman — as godlike beings whose own worldviews endanger humanity. It sparks deep reflection on how superheroes would truly behave in our real world. Even with good intentions, their megalomaniac desire for justice could easily turn them into monsters.

Batman: Year One

Written by legendary author Frank Miller, Batman: Year One marks a fresh beginning for the Dark Knight, placing him in a Gotham overrun by corruption and dominated by the Falcone crime family. Simultaneously, the story follows Lieutenant Jim Gordon, newly arrived in Gotham, struggling against the corrupt police force and personal hardships with his pregnant wife.

Returning to Gotham, Bruce Wayne prepares for his crusade but struggles with his inexperience. After a disastrous first night out, a gravely wounded Bruce contemplates giving up—until a bat crashes through his window. Conquering his childhood fear, he adopts the image of the bat to strike terror into the hearts of criminals, becoming Batman.

Batman prowls Gotham’s streets, targeting low-level thugs and culminating in a stunning moment where he crashes a mob party and declares that their time leeching off Gotham is over.

Meanwhile, Gordon is tasked with capturing the vigilante. A brutal confrontation sees Batman wounded and cornered by SWAT teams, but he outsmarts and outmaneuvers them.

In the end, both Batman and Gordon overcome their personal struggles, forging a legendary partnership in Gotham’s fight against crime.

Watchmen

Another masterpiece from Alan Moore—this time alongside artist Dave Gibbons—Watchmen is undoubtedly one of the greatest comics ever written. It’s one of the only graphic novels to be listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best English-Language Novels and won the prestigious Hugo Award.

Granted full creative freedom by DC, Moore crafted a realistic, politically charged narrative set in an alternate 1980s America on the brink of nuclear war.

Amidst the chaos, someone begins murdering retired superheroes, starting with the Comedian—a brutal, alcoholic former hero. This prompts Rorschach, a rogue vigilante, to investigate. Other key characters include Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, and Doctor Manhattan—the only superpowered being, capable of near-omnipotence after a lab accident.

Watchmen presents superheroes as flawed, corrupt, and broken, reflecting a rotting society. Rorschach is a merciless, paranoid zealot; Ozymandias exploits his fame for personal gain; Nite Owl and Silk Spectre engage in an affair; and Doctor Manhattan gradually loses touch with humanity.

The comic is at once a political commentary, a deconstruction of superhero myths, and an innovative narrative masterpiece—an essential milestone in the evolution of comics.

V For Vendetta

In a dystopian future where England has fallen under totalitarian rule, a masked figure emerges, using poetry, explosives, and anarchist ideals to resist the system. That figure is "V"—more than just a revolutionary, he’s a symbol.

Alan Moore (easily the most dominant name on this list) delivers one of the sharpest works in comic history—a graphic manifesto against authoritarianism, repression, and the erasure of individual identity.

David Lloyd’s dark, stylized art perfectly matches the oppressive atmosphere, making every page feel heavy with tension.Crime, corruption, despair—they’re omnipresent, making V for Vendetta an intense, unforgettable read.

Daredevil: Born Again

Another masterpiece by the duo Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, delivering one of the most dramatic story arcs in Daredevil’s history. Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, finally uncovers the secret identity of Daredevil — lawyer Matt Murdock.

Murdock’s life descends into chaos, with the media, police, and of course, his enemies relentlessly hunting him. Even amidst this downward spiral, he continues his career as a hero, fighting against Fisk, pushing himself to his physical and mental limits.

Just like in Batman: Year One, the duo masterfully explores the character’s emotional struggles, dilemmas, limits, and vulnerabilities, making Daredevil one of Marvel's most complex characters. After the overwhelming success of Born Again, Marvel expanded on this storyline, which led to another fantastic arc: Daredevil: The King of Hell's Kitchen.

In the aftermath, Murdock tries to rebuild his life but finds his identity exposed in the newspapers. While suing the press, he faces a new war against the Owl — and a calculated return of Fisk, ready to reclaim his empire. After a brutal attack on his beloved Milla, Matt savagely defeats Bullseye and proclaims himself the new King of Hell's Kitchen. As crime spreads to other neighborhoods, his allies confront him. Murdock’s sanity unravels, and even after cleansing the city with the help of Luke Cage, Spider-Man, and Iron Fist, he ends up alone, consumed by his own darkness.

Maus

Maus is, without exaggeration, one of the most impactful works in the history of comics. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, it tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust, while also exploring his difficult relationship with his son, Art, the very author of the graphic novel.

What makes Maus so special is how it transforms the unutterable into something deeply human. Jews are depicted as mice; Nazis, as cats. It may sound simple or even cartoonish, but the result is profound and devastating.

The narrative shifts between the tragic past and the turbulent present, exploring not only the horrors of war but also the traumas passed down through generations. It is a testimony about memory, identity, and survival — a definitive proof that comics are also literature with a capital "L."

Sandman

Published between 1989 and 1996 under DC’s Vertigo imprint, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is one of the most critically acclaimed comics in history.Eschewing traditional superhero tropes, Sandman blends dark fantasy, mythology, classical literature, and philosophy into a deep, unique narrative.

The story centers on Dream, also known as Morpheus or Sandman—an anthropomorphic personification of dreams and a member of the Endless, a family of powerful cosmic entities including Death, Desire, Delirium, Destiny, Despair, and Destruction.

After decades of imprisonment by an occultist, Dream escapes and must recover his lost relics while grappling with the consequences of his absence on both the Dreaming and the waking world.

Sandman explores themes of identity, loss, change, and the significance of storytelling itself, featuring poetic writing and breathtaking visuals by artists like Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, and Jill Thompson.

The series elevated comics to a new literary standard, becoming the first comic to win a World Fantasy Award. A timeless classic, still profoundly influential decades later.

Well, these are the 10 greatest comics of all time! Of course, many amazing titles were left out — feel free to share your favorites in the comments below! Check out our list of honorable mentions, and don’t forget to like and share the post. Thanks for following along!

🥈 Honorable Mentions

Batman: Death of the Family (Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo)A brutal return of the Joker in a story that redefines his relationship with Batman and his allies. Psychologically tense and visually striking.
Superman: Red Son (Mark Millar)A brilliant reimagining of the Superman myth — what if he had landed in the Soviet Union instead of the United States?
Batman: The Long Halloween (Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale)A noir thriller exploring Gotham's criminal underworld, directly influencing The Batman (2022). One of the greatest detective stories of the Dark Knight.
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Chris Claremont)The definitive comic book about intolerance and prejudice, reflecting real-world issues powerfully within the mutant universe.
The Dark Phoenix Saga (Chris Claremont & John Byrne)An X-Men classic showcasing the ultimate sacrifice a hero must make when power and humanity collide.
Fantastic Four: The Galactus Trilogy (Stan Lee & Jack Kirby)A Silver Age milestone that brought cosmic scale to comics and introduced two icons: Galactus and the Silver Surfer.
Y: The Last Man (Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra)High-level modern science fiction with a gripping story about identity, survival, and rebuilding a broken world.
Preacher (Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon)An insane, existential road trip across America blending violence, religion, dark humor, and redemption.
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction (Mike Mignola)Supernatural horror, mythology, and folklore come together in a comic with a unique aesthetic and an irresistibly dark atmosphere.
All-Star Superman (Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely)A lyrical and emotional tribute to Superman. Grant Morrison reinterprets the hero with humanity, mythology, and grandeur, resulting in one of the most beautiful versions ever written.