More and more, the world of comic books has taken over pop culture — through movies, TV shows, and countless related products.
But do you usually read these stories in their original comic book format?
In this article, we’ve put together a list of 5 of the best comic book stories of all time.
Follow along to discover why these works are considered some of the most iconic creations in comic book history!
1. Watchmen
Released by DC Comics in 1986, Watchmen often tops lists of the greatest comics ever made.
Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, the story originally came out in 12 monthly issues and can now be found in collected editions.
The graphic novel was so groundbreaking that it was even included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 best novels published since 1923.
Moore and Gibbons depicted a world strikingly close to the real 1980s — Cold War tensions, nuclear fears, and a politically divided planet.
The main differences: the U.S. had won the Vietnam War, and superheroes had once roamed the Earth — but were now banned from acting as heroes.
In 2019, an acclaimed sequel — without Alan Moore’s involvement — was released as an HBO TV series.
Other notable works by Moore include V for Vendetta, The Killing Joke, and his celebrated run on Swamp Thing.
2. The Dark Knight Returns
Also in 1986, Frank Miller — along with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley — wrote and illustrated a Batman story like no other.
Older and more cynical, Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement to fight crime once again in Gotham City.
The story introduces a new Robin and features an epic showdown where Superman tries to stop Batman’s vigilante actions.
Miller also created other comic book masterpieces like Batman: Year One, Daredevil: Born Again, Elektra: Assassin, and Sin City.
More recently, alongside Brazilian artist Rafael Grampá, he released the fourth installment of the Dark Knight saga, titled The Golden Child.
3. Marvels
Marvel Comics, as many know, is one of the biggest comic book publishers in the world.
Some of its most famous stories include X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Dark Phoenix Saga, The Death of Gwen Stacy, Kraven’s Last Hunt, Secret Wars, and Civil War, among many others.
However, Marvels offers a unique perspective — telling the history of the Marvel Universe through the eyes of Phil Sheldon, a journalist and photographer for the Daily Bugle.
Throughout his career, Sheldon witnesses the rise of heroes like Namor, Human Torch, and Spider-Man, while also dealing with his own personal life.
One of his most significant assignments is covering the death of Gwen Stacy, initially portrayed in a story written by Stan Lee.
Marvels brings this moment back with a new emotional depth, enhanced by the stunning artwork of Alex Ross.
4. Maus
Maus is widely regarded as one of the greatest comics ever created.
Written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman, it portrays the Holocaust based on interviews between Spiegelman and his father.
In this graphic novel, Jews are depicted as mice, Germans as cats, and Poles as pigs, among other symbolic representations.
Originally serialized between 1980 and 1991 in Raw magazine (published by Pantheon Books), Maus was eventually compiled into a single edition.
It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 — one of the highest honors in journalism and literature.
5. Sandman
Considered one of the most important comic series of all time, Sandman was written by Neil Gaiman during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Various artists collaborated with Gaiman to tell the saga of the Endless.
The original 75 issues were published under the Vertigo imprint (DC Comics’ adult-oriented label), which also housed titles like Hellblazer and Preacher.
The story follows Dream (also known as Morpheus or Sandman), one of the seven Endless, who escapes captivity after decades imprisoned by humans.
His complex relationships with his siblings — Death, Delirium, Despair, Destruction, Desire, and Destiny — form the emotional backbone of the series, especially in arcs like The Doll’s House and Season of Mists.
Besides the phenomenal storytelling, Sandman gained fame for its stunning covers by British artist Dave McKean.
A live-action adaptation of Sandman is set to debut on Netflix, though no official release date has been confirmed yet.
Did you enjoy our list of the best comic books of all time?
We hope so!
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