Top 13 Favorite Comic Books

Comic books have been an American cultural icon for many youths. Today, many adults read comic books. Maybe it’s because of the nostalgia or maybe because of cool characters, interesting stories, or great art. Or, maybe it’s because of our inner geek.

It’s difficult to come up with a Top 13 List of my favorite comic books. My interests in hobbies and comic books tend to go through cycles. Over the years, the entire comic book industry has changed. Of course, my favorite comics are ones that I had when I was young (Silver Age Comics of the 1960s and early 1970s).  So here’s my list—basically organized in reverse chronological order.

Deadpool (Marvel Comics). I don’t know how (or why) I didn’t catch on to this character earlier. Now, I can’t get enough of Wade Wilson, the talkative mercenary or merc with the mouth.

Madman (Dark Horse Comics/Image Comics). I’ve always enjoyed the artwork and character created by Mike Allred back in the early 1990s. It’s very cool and retro looking.

Spawn (Image). This comic by Todd McFarlane was very popular when it came out in the early 1990s and was supported by lots of cool action figures.

The Tick (New England Comics). I prefer the color editions of the comic book. “Spoon!”

Judge Dredd (Eagle Comics). When I think of the comic book, I also think about the Anthrax song, “I am the Law.”

Power Pack (Marvel Comics). I started reading this when it first came out in 1984 about four siblings who gain superhero powers who work with a race of horse like people to battle against a race of lizard like people.

Blue Devil (DC Comics). Another comic from 1984 in which a stuntman, Daniel Cassidy, gets fused into his Blue Devil superhero costume.

The Uncanny X-Men (Marvel Comic). The series and characters have always been pretty cool. When I started reading this comic, it was in the 1980s—when Storm had the Mohawk.

Archie/Betty and Veronica/Sabrina/Josie and the Pussycats (Archie Comics). All the comics from the Archie series from the 1960s and 1970s are classic.

Dennis the Menace (Fawcett Comics). I still remember the story in which Dennis and his family go to Washington D.C. and Dennis’s dad tells Dennis that the discoloration half-way up the Washington Monument was caused by a flood.

Casper/Richie Rich/Sad Sack/Hot Stuff/Little Dot (Harvey Comics). All the Harvey Comics series from the 1960s and 1970s are classic.

Silver Age Comics—Spiderman, Fantastic Four, Avengers, Thor, Iron Man. X-Men (Marvel Comics). All the comics from Marvel during the 1960s and early 1970s are classic.

Silver Age Comics—Batman, Superman, Flash, Teen Titans, Metal Men (DC Comics). All the comics from DC during the 1960s and early 1970s are classic especially the ones with the Go-Go Checks.