10 Criminally Underrated Miniseries From DC & Marvel

Over the many years that DC and Marvel have been in business, they’ve printed countless publications for readers to consume, love and enjoy. Both companies currently put out over 50 new comics a month — that’s more than anyone can even keep up with. So, naturally, some of even the greatest stories are bound to fly under readers’ radars and go unnoticed.

A lot of those stories end up being miniseries or limited series that get overshadowed by the hype of ongoing titles. When everyone is so busy trying to keep up with the current storylines in Avengers and Batman and Spider-Man and Justice League, hardly anyone is going to concern themselves with a four-issue miniseries that’ll be over and forgotten about by the end of the year. However, that doesn’t mean miniseries like Quicksilver: No Surrender and Joker: Killer Smile can’t be absolutely stellar in quality and tell refreshing, more self-contained tales of their own.

The Thing: Freakshow

Out of all the iconic stories dedicated to the Fantastic Four and its members, it’s an inevitable but true shame that something like The Thing: Freakshow is a largely ignored great. Writer Geoff Johns is extremely well-known for his DC work, but the job he did with this four-issue miniseries solidifies that he’s a living legend who can thrive with any character he should choose to write for.

This series is centered around an integral part of Ben Grimm’s character that dates all the way back to when he first got his powers: self-image and insecurity. But what it specifically does well is showcase The Thing’s uglier qualities on the inside — the wrinkles in his past. Sending a heavy message about how actions and words will always matter more than looks, this incredibly sentimental and emotional tale proves once again why The Thing is the true heart of the Fantastic Four.

9 The Downward Spiral of Matt Murdock’s Brain

Man Without Fear (2019)

Not to be confused with the popular storyline from the 1980s by Frank Miller, Man Without Fear is extremely overlooked by comic fans, likely due to the previously mentioned iconic story arc that overshadows it. This story cuts deep into his psyche and exposes Matt Murdock’s greatest weaknesses, fears and reservations. It showcases the less-heroic, angry side of Daredevil and works because it comes at an unfortunate low point in his life when he’s hospitalized and comatose.

Even though there’s a new artist for almost every installment, this five-issue miniseries feels extremely consistent in its visual identity, as well as its story, thanks to Jed MacKay. This existential nightmare explores all facets of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen and intrigues readers as they’re forced to watch him experience a fight that he can’t win with martial arts.

8 Spider-Man’s Storm Before the Storm

Spider-Man: Death & Destiny

The overwhelming majority of fans are well aware of Gwen Stacy’s death and how it forever affected Spider-Man as a character, but not as many people talk about how the death of George Stacy — Gwen’s father, the police captain — did, too. Spider-Man: Death and Destiny is for those people. This is a great retro story that takes place right after that tragedy and uses it to highlight what makes Peter Parker and his supporting cast so special and beloved.

With Spider-Man backed into a corner and emotionally cut off from everyone he cares about, readers get a look at a more desperate, angry version of him that’s not seen too often. This story introduces Peter at one of his darkest moments and explores how he can still pull through via pure determination. The tone is wonderful, the art is simple and beautiful, and it’s highly efficient at telling an impactful story in a small number of issues.

7 The Most Miserable Man on the Planet

Karnak (2015)

Marvel’s Inhumans have had a rough time in the eyes of most fans as a result of Marvel’s hard push in both live-action and comics. However, Karnak is one project that deserves all the praise in the world and yet rarely receives it.

This series exploits the ever-intriguing Inhuman Karnak’s unique ability to see the flaw in all things to tell a story about eternal loneliness. It paints a clear picture — through his interactions with others and the mission he goes on — of how truly miserable and fragile a man like Karnak can be when he’s able to see everything wrong with the world around him. The art by Zaffino, Fuso and Boschi perfectly represents the swiftness of the character’s martial artistry while also proving to be super creepy in certain panels. While Ellis brings out the worst in Karnak’s character for the story, the team on art brings it out visually, and it beautifully combines in favor of the overall narrative.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

There really is just something special about retro stories. Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is an eight-issue miniseries that retells the origin story of the most iconic Marvel team of all time. In doing so, it modernizes it in a very refreshing and unique way that lets readers feel like they’re experiencing the Avengers forming for the first time again. This story also does a great job showcasing the legal and logistical ramifications of forming a superhero team like this and details how the public’s perception can play a big role in it.

Overall, while it’s pretty short, Casey’s story is quite extensive and thorough. He brings a lot of charm to the characters and fleshes out their dynamics while also capturing that familiar spirit of comic books from the early 1960s.

5 What Does Quicksilver Do When He’s Alone?

Quicksilver: No Surrender

If anyone ever required more proof that Quicksilver as a character is highly underutilized by Marvel, this series is just that. A five-issue tie-in miniseries to the Avengers: No Surrender event in 2018, this book provides a look at Pietro Maximoff in a completely new light by placing him in a world of statues. It’s his world, his earth, but time has frozen outside of him — leaving readers with only Quicksilver and his own speed to tell a story.

Such a simple premise proves to be surprisingly effective when Saladin Ahmed showcases some of the best parts of the character. However, the equally simple yet effective art by Eric Nguyen and Paul Renaud also plays a role by offering a sleek style that perfectly contrasts the fluidity of Quicksilver’s power in a world that stands still.

4 The Joker at His Most Inhumane

Joker: Killer Smile

Without a doubt one of the most jaw-dropping Batman stories — if one can even call it that — since the turn of the century, Joker: Killer Smile tends to get drowned out by all the other greats. Despite this, the talent displayed within its pages proves why Jeff Lemire is largely considered one of the best comic book writers in the industry today and why Andrea Sorrentino’s breathtaking art is so highly sought after. In a mind-bending tale with twists, shocks and brilliantly wicked imagery throughout, this comic stands as likely one of the strongest releases of DC’s Black Label line.

Killer Smile not only embodies what makes the Joker an ever-intriguing villain for the famous Caped Crusader but also what makes him such a harrowing threat to the average, everyday citizens of Gotham. Through the eyes of one of those very citizens, readers experience the first-hand effect that simply being in the Clown Prince of Crime’s presence can have. It’s scary, gripping and exactly what one would expect, but most of all, it’s worth a read.

3 Arguably the Best Wonder Woman Miniseries Ever

Wonder Woman: Dead Earth

Despite her obvious popularity, many have argued that Wonder Woman is one of DC’s most painfully underappreciated superheroes. And with a character dissection as beautiful and hardly talked about as this one is, that argument only grows stronger. Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is a captivating four-issue miniseries from DC’s Black Label that sees the warrior from Themyscira awaken in a post-apocalyptic wasteland filled with hopeless survivors and no heroes to be seen for miles. Written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson, this short tale showcases Wonder Woman’s heart and determination, giving fans a look at what makes her such an inspiring hero.

Throughout this miniseries, readers are treated to plenty of ghoulish creatures, brutal combat scenes, and superb dialogue. But above all else, Dead Earth highlights precisely what makes this character special. Without the overwhelming presence of other DC superheroes, Diana Prince is allowed to shine as the beacon of hope that she was always intended to be.

2 The Most Visually Stunning Aquaman Origin

Aquaman: Andromeda

Aquaman: Andromeda could quite possibly be the most gorgeous Aquaman story that will ever exist. Writer Ram V takes an interesting approach with the narrative of this DC Black Label book by retelling the way in which Arthur Curry is discovered by the world. After establishing a suffocatingly gloomy and tender tone early on, he allows fans to uncover the secret of the Aquaman alongside a team of marine biologists and researchers — and the way in which this is executed is positively riveting.

But as much as Ram V deserves praise for this narrative, there’s also a visual narrative to follow throughout the story. With Christian Ward’s groundbreaking artwork, fans are roped into an incredibly daunting and moody atmosphere below sea level. The colors, the imagery and Ward’s vision all work together to provide one of the most immersive experiences the comic medium has ever seen. Painstakingly put together by an all-star creative team, this book undoubtedly deserves more praise and conversation than it receives.

1 Batman Returns to His Golden Age Roots

Bat-Man: First Knight

Bat-Man: First Knight is a three-issue miniseries based on The Dark Knight’s tenure as Batman during the Golden Age of comics. This is easily one of the most gratifying stories for longtime Batman fans who’ve been yearning for more retro stories that take place during that time period. This painfully short-lived story by Dan Jurgens tells one of the most intimate, grounded Bruce Wayne stories in years and perfectly revives the time period it’s set in.

Mike Perkins and colorist Mike Spicer do a large portion of the heavy lifting, as well, when it comes to the visual identity of the book. Perkins does a phenomenal job bringing a more life-like appearance to the classic elements and characters from the 1930s and ’40s comics, while Spicer constantly provides astonishing colors that establish mood, tone, setting, and allow action sequences to pop right off the page.