by Dan O

After all the top 100 hip hop lists and reactions I needed to shift gears into a different subject. This list is of great consequence to understanding my interests. It articulates a love of black sheep characters from Marvel and DC (Plastic Man, Lobo, Deadpool, Punisher are all on the list). It is also writer based, with a twist. These are the 100 best runs by a comic writer allowing for 2 entries from each writer. People like Grant Morrison, Warren Ellis, Mark Waid, Alan Moore could have lots of entries without this restriction but the restriction makes it fun. The tough part is sacrificing some key runs (the best Catwoman run is Ed Brubaker but he has so much other great stuff I couldn’t include it). The other factor weighing in my mind was the length of the run. This isn’t the best limited series list. I need the creator to spend time developing in this world. Kurt Busiek has been writing Astro City since 1995 and it is still going strong. My proudest moments making this list was typing in stuff like the Mark Russell’s Flintstones run and Jeff Smith’s Shazam run. In the right hands a great run can change the character’s stock forever. Peter David didn’t create Hulk but over 12 years he defined all the major characteristics of the Hulk we know.  Around the world people love Hulk, love Banner, for reasons Peter David set up. That’s a legacy more important than a numerical order. Writers don’t fight for championships, they build worlds. These are my favorite worlds.

Top 100 comic run 

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• Frank Miller-Daredevil 
• Ed Brubaker-Captain America
• Brian Michael Bendis-Avengers 
• G Willow Wilson-Mz Marvel
• Mark Waid-Kingdom Come
• Denny O’Neil–Batman
• Brian Azzarello-Wonder Woman
• Grant Morrison-Doom Patrol
• Warren Ellis- Transmetropolitan 
• Jeff Lemire-Moon Knight
• Kurt Busiek-Astro City
• Mike Mignola-Hellboy
• Tom King-Martian Manhunter
• Chris Claremont-X-Men
• Peter David-Hulk
• Grant Morrison-Animal Man
• Matt Fraction-Hawkeye 
• Garth Ennis-Punisher Max 
• Jonathan Hickman-Manhattan Project
• Gail Simone-Red Sonja
• Warren Ellis- Planetary 
• Ed Brubaker-Sleeper
• Chuck Dixon-Punisher War Zone
• Keith Giffen-Lobo
• Jim Steranko-Nick Fury
• Kelly Sue DeConnick-Captain Marvel 
• Alan Moore-V for Vendetta 
• Garth Ennis-Hellraiser/Constantine
• Jim Starlin-The Cult:Batman
• Marjorie Liu-Monstress
• Tom King-Vision
• Jonathan Hickman-X MEN
• Brian Michael Bendis-Daredevil
• Nathan Edmondson-Black Widow 
• Remender-Black Science
• Brian Azzarello-100 Bullets
• Christopher Priest-Black Panther
• Mark Russell-Flintstones
• Mark Waid-Daredevil
• Gail Simone-Secret Six 
• Alan Moore-Watchmen
• Joe Kelly-Deadpool
• Donny Cates-Venom
• Greg Rucka-Lazarus
• Matt Fraction-Iron Man
• Keiron Gillen-The Wicked+The Divine
• Walt Simonson-Thor
• Dan Slott-Silver Surfer
• Bill Willingham-Fables
• Jeff Smith-Bone
• Eric Powell-The Goon
• Neil Gaiman-Sandman
• Joelle Jones-Lady Killer
• Reginald Hudlin-Black Panther
• James Tynion IV-The Department of Truth 
• Alejando Jodorowsky-Before The Incal
• Ben Edlund-The Tick
• Stan Sakai-Usagi Yojimbo
• Michael Allred-Madman
• Barry Windsor-Smith-Weapon X
• John Ostrander-Suicide Squad
• Jason Aaron-Southern Bastards 
• Brian K Vaughn-Saga
• Roger Stern-Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment
• Will Eisner-The Spirit
• Denny O’Neil-The Question
• Geoff Johns-Flash
• Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, Karl Kesel-Death of Superman
• Jason Aaron-Scalped
• Kurt Busiek-Avengers
• Marv Wolfman-Deathstroke The Terminator
• Jeph Loeb-The Long Halloween
• Matt Kindt-Mind Mgmt
• Greg Pak-Planet Hulk
• Jeff Lemire-Black Hammer
• Ann Nocenti-Longshot
• Marv Wolfman-Tomb of Dracula
• Geoff Johns-Hawkman
• Roy Thomas-Avengers (Kree-Skrull War)
• Cullen Bunn-Magneto
• Joe Kelly-I Kill Giants
• Mark Millar-Civil War
• Jim Starlin-Infinity Gauntlet
• David Petersen-Mouse Guard
• Scott Snyder-Court of Owls
• Sam Kieth-The Maxx
• Scott Snyder-American Vampire
• James Tynion IV-Something Is Killing The Children
• Greg Rucka-Whiteout
• Jeph Loeb-Spider-Man: Blue
• Jeff Smith-Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil
• Chris Claremont-Wolverine
• Charles Soule-She Hulk
• Darwyn Cooke-DC: The New Frontier
• Kelly Thompson-Hawkeye
• Mike Grell-Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters
• Rachel Smythe-Lore Olympus 
• Deniz Camp-20th Century Men
• Kyle Baker-Plastic Man
• Daniel Warren Johnson-Murder Falcon