10 Iconic Comic Runs for 10 Iconic Superheroes

Superheroes are everywhere in today’s pop culture landscape, appearing across media, from film and television to video games and cartoons. With the endless supply of media adaptations, it can seem a little daunting to try and get into the comic book source material. The biggest roadblock appears to be the sheer number of comics available to read, all from different eras and writers and sometimes lacking any true unified story. Half the fun of reading comics is exploring the hidden corners of history with your favorite characters and teams, but to find that fun, one must have a solid foundation to build upon.

Some stories have become pillars of comic book lore, capturing iconic heroes in their most defining, inspirational forms. These key tales serve as both introductions to and celebrations of these heroes at their very best. With the right starting stories featuring iconic heroes at their best, new readers can dive into comics and celebrate their favorite characters.

10 Batman by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle

Detective Comics #583-594/Batman #455-480

The Dark Knight has had no shortage of classic stories, thanks mainly to his various media adaptations. Still, very few feature the Caped Crusader in his element. One notable exception is Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle’s Batman comics run. Initially starting with the Detective Comics title, the comic that gave DC its name, the pair quickly established a format and structure that would become timeless. There are very few iconic villains to be seen here, and no multipart game of wit plays out across the globe. Most of these stories are intimate showcases of crime in Gotham and the people it affects, with Batman literally swooping in from high to participate in the story.

These initial tales of crime and citizens were popular enough to see the pair reunited in the much more prestigious Batman comic, where the two would tell some of the most timeless yet unconventional Batman tales ever spun. Like the similarly structured cartoon Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Bruce Wayne is almost nowhere to be seen, and we are allowed time with just the Batman himself, represented by Norm Breyfogle’s beautifully gothic yet cartoonish artwork. Despite introducing classic Batman villains like Scarface and Victor Zsasz, the actual draw of these stories is not the colorful characters but the regular people impacted by these larger-than-life tales.

9 Iron Man by Denny O’Neil, Luke McDonnell and Mark Bright

Iron Man vol. 1 #160-208

Iron Man is a unique character, as it seems the MCU version of him has completely supplanted any idea of what Tony Stark was supposed to be in the comics. Traditionally a much more somber and serious character, the comic book version of Tony Stark had a much more prolonged and public battle with his darker impulses that led to some heartbreaking moments. Such is the framing for Denny O’Neil’s time as the main writer of Iron Man. O’Neil was no stranger to reinvention, as just a few years prior, he had helped redefine DC’s Green Arrow and Green Lantern into more politically minded individuals.

O’Neil’s run sees Tony Stark relapse back into alcoholism, lose control of his company, and fall into homelessness on the streets of New York. As Tony’s life falls apart, James Rhodes assumes the armor of Iron Man and attempts to live up to his friends’ legacy. Other writers would have been tempted to upend the status quo entirely. Still, O’Neil’s time writing the book sits in the discomfort of wearing clothes made for somebody else, expertly shown in Luke McDonnell’s very human illustrations. The constant demand for normalcy eventually dictates a hard shift back to the status quo, but before he ever took flight as War Machine, James Rhodes was the only Invincible Iron Man.

8 Captain America by Mark Gruenwald, Paul Neary, Tom Morgan and Kieron Dwyer

Captain America vol. 1 #307-442

Captain America can be a hard character to engage with, especially as time marches forward. During his introduction in 1941, it was easy for the United States to envision a champion who stands for all that is just and good about their country. But even as far back as the 1970s, keeping Cap separate from the tough conversations surrounding him was becoming increasingly more complex. By the 1980s, the question for writer Mark Gruenwald became, “What happens when Captain America’s ideals stand apart from the American people?” The exploration of that question saw the man, the myth, and the legend of Captain America examined and questioned until it emerged more robust on the other side.

Gruenwald’s time in the book, spanning over ten years, features the introduction of many now-iconic elements, like John Walker as the Super-Patriot, Captain America and later U.S.Agent; the Serpent Society, a group of snake-themed supervillains that functioned more like a labor union; and Crossbones, favored hitman for the Red Skull, while also examining the political implications of somebody like Captain America from a perspective outside of Steve Rogers. Gruenwald’s lengthy and politically focused run on the book helped pave the way for the more morally gray and political espionage-focused stories featuring Cap down the road, like those written by Ed Brubaker, Nick Spencer, and Ta-Nehisi Coates.

7 Wolverine by Greg Rucka and Darick Robertson

Wolverine vol. 3 #1-19

Every character evolves; it’s the nature of storytelling. But Wolverine is unique in that he has literally shifted from what he was originally intended to be. The simplest way to explain this change is to view the release of the live-action X-Men movie in 2000 as the dividing line. Before this point—from the early ’70s up until the movie’s release—Wolverine was portrayed as an older, more experienced member of the relatively young X-Men team. He was a soldier who had spent significant time as a spy, and while now a superhero, he always retained his memories before joining the X-Men. After the movie’s release, however, Wolverine’s life before the X-Men began to be presented as a blank space in his memory.

Around the time of this comic’s release, circa 2003, Wolverine was in the middle of that transitional phase between experienced veteran and despondent loner. Thus, this comic helps cement the tropes for which Wolverine would be known later: People famous for their violent lifestyle try to leave all that behind and live normally until circumstances outside their control force them to get involved. Rather than following the typical action movie structure of something like Rambo or Predator, this comic walks in the shoes of classic westerns, with Logan positioned as the modern Man With No Name, a violent but principled person in a dark and disturbing world.

6 The Flash by Mark Waid, Greg Laroque, Mike Wieringo, Various

Flash, vol. 2 #62-159

Barry Allen has seemingly upended Wally West in terms of public recognition, largely thanks to the nine-year run of the Flash TV show on the CW. Ever since his return to comics in 2008, Barry Allen has wasted no time in becoming the widely recognized Flash he used to be, which has unfortunately come at the cost of displacing his successor, Wally West. Barry debuted in 1956 and helped usher in the Silver Age of DC Comics, which ended with his death in 1985 and resetting the company’s fictional continuity. When the dust settled, Wally West, once Kid Flash, stood as the inheritor of his uncle’s legacy.

It took some time for Wally to find his footing—pun intended—but the run that truly establishes Wally West as more than a sidekick or just another speedster came during Mark Waid’s tenure on the second volume of The Flash comic. Wally’s personality and outlook are so well-defined, and many of his stories go beyond simply beating the villain; they’re about overcoming the inner voice of doubt that tells us we’re not good enough. Wally West repeatedly proves that we are more than our self-imposed limits and that we can always be greater than we imagine. He even stands his ground against Eobard Thawne, cementing, now and forever, that he is the true Fastest Man Alive.

5 The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett

The Immortal Hulk #1-50

Is the Hulk scary? The answer is probably no if one’s experience with the character is limited to the MCU. But that leads to a follow-up question: Could the Hulk be scary? Absolutely. The Immortal Hulk is one of the most thought-provoking and engaging superhero comics to emerge in recent years, largely thanks to its horror-driven tone and body horror-inspired imagery. Here, the Hulk is reimagined as a cursed entity that can never truly die, and as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that something else is coming through the mysterious Green Door with him each time he returns to the mortal world.

This series doesn’t require any prior familiarity with the Hulk. In fact, it seems to thrive on subverting everything typically accepted about Hulk’s internal logic. Even the transformations are presented with a dark twist, with Bruce Banner’s body defying reason as it twists, bursts, and stretches to release the immortal demon within. Dark, disturbing, and filled with grotesque imagery unfortunately illustrated by Joe Bennett—who was later dismissed from Marvel for his antisemitic actions—the series masterfully balances a claustrophobic horror tone with probing questions about the human condition that only a metaphor for rage like the Immortal Hulk could explore.

4 The Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze

Black Panther vol. 6, #1-18/#166-172; Black Panther vol. 7 #1-25

What happens when civil unrest comes to the Golden City? What happens when a proud man refuses to be humbled? How does a nation poison itself with its own lies? These questions are beautifully explored in this politically charged comic series that exposes the flaws in Wakanda’s seemingly flawless society. Written by award-winning journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of Between the World and Me, and masterfully illustrated by Brian Stelfreeze, this series delivers a harsh critique of isolationism and examines how a nation, left to its own devices, can breed demons of its own making.

In the years leading up to and including 2015’s Secret Wars, the Black Panther, as a symbol and T’Challa as a person, went through a grueling crucible. After fighting to prevent the collapse of the multiverse and battling to reclaim his lost kingdom, T’Challa emerged stronger. But now, this strong man must confront the harsh realities of the nation he has often left unattended. When a voice calls for an end to the monarchy, T’Challa is forced to reckon with the voices of the people he loves, confronting the fragile state of Wakanda and his own role in its discord.

3 Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka and Liam Sharp

Wonder Woman vol. 5, #1-25, 2016 Annual #1

Classic stories are classics for a reason, especially their historical significance. And while plenty of historically significant classics are talked about far too little, there is also something to be said about the accessibility of modern media. With this in mind, the 2016 relaunch of Wonder Woman proved to engage readers with respect and a healthy challenge of the traditional status quo. Walking in the spiritual shoes of the 1987 post-Crisis relaunch by the late George Perez, this particular volume of Wonder Woman walked into the past and the present to recontextualize the Amazon Princess and her existence in the world.

DC’s previous relaunch, 2011’s infamous New 52, stirred significant controversy by reworking Wonder Woman’s character—changing her origin from a miracle child formed from clay to the biological daughter of Zeus—and by allowing numerous other characters to take up space in her story. The 2016 series seeks to challenge these controversial changes to Wonder Woman, questioning the nature of objective truth in a world where retcons and reality resets are commonplace. It also tells new stories that embrace the inherent contradiction of Wonder Woman herself: a warrior on a mission of peace and love.

2 Spider-Man by J. Michael Stracynzski, John Romita Jr., and Mike Deodato Jr.

The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #30-58/vol. 1 #500-545

Spider-Man is one of those characters with clear high and low points in comic book history. For every classic story that resonates across generations, there’s at least one tale that fans criticize for completely missing the essence of the character. A strong character can play many roles, and nowhere is this more evident than in writer J. Michael Straczynski’s time with the web-slinger. Creator of the beloved TV show Babylon 5 and a seasoned sci-fi writer, Straczynski had a landmark six-year run on Spider-Man that introduced many major changes, such as Aunt May discovering Peter’s secret and Spider-Man joining the Avengers.

Straczynski’s run begins in an unusual spot, as Marvel had attempted to relaunch The Amazing Spider-Man with a second volume, which is why his first issue is numbered #30. The series soon reverted to its original numbering, creating a visual reminder of how much Spider-Man had evolved. No longer the socially awkward teenager or the overburdened young adult, Peter was now a confident—if occasionally silly—husband and experienced superhero, navigating life’s challenges with Mary Jane by his side. Straczynski’s focus on Peter Parker as a unique individual was beautifully complemented by the art of John Romita Jr. and Mike Deodato Jr., each delivering some of their best work.

1 Superman: The Triangle Era by Roger Stern, Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Karl Kessel, Jerry Ordway, Jon Bogdanove

Superman, vol 2 #51 (1990)-Action Comics #785 (2001)

It would be fair to say that Superman was the most popular hero of the 1990s. At the time, he had four ongoing comic books, and a live-action TV show focusing on his time as Superboy was wrapping up just as another series was in development. This new show, envisioned as a workplace romance between Lois and Clark, was set to debut in the fall of 1993. By 1996, a brand-new animated series, created by the same team behind the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, hit the airwaves, and there was even talk of a new theatrical film to be directed by Tim Burton. It seemed that, wherever you looked in the ’90s, Superman was everywhere.

This remarkable popularity for the Last Son of Krypton carried over beautifully into his comics, each written and drawn by an all-star team dedicated to telling interlinked stories about the Man of Steel. While there’s plenty of action in this era of unified storytelling, it’s the exceptional character work that truly stands out. These stories fleshed out the Daily Planet bullpen, explored the friendships of Lois and Clark, and captured the day-to-day intrigue of life in Metropolis. The Death of Superman is just one of many great stories told during this “Triangle Era,” a period that spanned well over a decade and officially began in Superman vol. 2 #51.