Your Favorite Mini Series, and Why?

GJB · Post by **GJB** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:07 pm

Well, one of my favorites is Cosmic Odyssey. The combination of Darkseid, New Gods, Supes, Batman and Mignola's art makes this series a classic. After 15? years, I still dig these books out and read them over and over.

Plus I like the way Batman is portrayed. Even though he has no super powers, he seems like the one hero with the most confidence in handling the situation. After Orion questions the ability of Batman and Forager to handle the Anti-Life Aspect, his response is "We'll Manage." Classic. Bats is also perceptive enough not to trust Darkseid.

Others?

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 11:57 pm

This might be a little hokey, but I loved the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries. Thanos is a great bad guy, but only in the most epic settings.

mattboh · Post by **mattboh** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 6:29 am

One of my all-time favs that I've read over and over is the Gilgamesh II mini that Starlin did for DC back in the late 80's.

It was basically a re-working of the Superman story into a cold war era socio-political commentary with an emphasis on dark humor. Definitely a nice break from the deadly seriousness of Starlin's cosmic operas and still funny as hell 15 years later. Mile High has all four issues on sale for $1 a piece right now, so check them out.

Funy how all 3 shouts so far have been for Starlin works.

GJB · Post by **GJB** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 7:49 am

mattboh wrote: Funy how all 3 shouts so far have been for Starlin works.

I was thinknig the same thing mattboh. Gigamesh II sounds like it's a little off the beaten path, which are the types of stories I enjoy. I'll check it out.

Depluto, I G was one of the better mini series, IMO, when it came out. The story was well thought out and it carried over well from Silver Surfer. I need to go back and read it to refresh my memory.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 6:44 pm

Funny about Gilgamesh II...I FINALLY read it after all these years about a month ago. It was....eh...it was ok. The plot didn't flow, it was a bit disjointed, but...the creature from the pit was cool.

Thematically, it was nice. And I love his mom.

I'm still thinking about my favorite mini-series. It's pretty much Dark Knight Returns at this point, but Thanos Quest (Go Starlin) is up there, and naturally Watchmen.

Does Miracleman count as a mini series...?

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 6:46 pm

Oh, and hey, it's not a mini-series...but Starlin roared back into cosmic Marvel stories with a vengeance beginning in Silver Surfer #34. The storyline from 34-50, with Thanos Quest in between, and Infinity Gauntlet right after, is about as thematically cohesive as it gets. Starlin DID NOT stumble in any of these issues, from start to finish.

And heck....it was his first Marvel mainstream work since Death of Captain Marvel 9 years before, and it came out of nowhere. Definitely THE BEST series of 1990-91.

dellamorte · Post by **dellamorte** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 8:47 pm

You really can't beat DKR.

dellamorte · Post by **dellamorte** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 8:53 pm

Oh wait, does Unity count as a mini. Probably more of a maxi-series. Anyway it's up with DKR.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 9:11 pm

This might be a little hokey, but I loved the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries. Thanos is a great bad guy, but only in the most epic settings

The Infinity Gauntlet was very well written, I'll have to dig the books back out and read them again sometime. I also really liked the Crisis on Infinite Earths Saga.

TLC55555 · Post by **TLC55555** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 9:43 pm

The Elseworlds Batman series: Red Rain, Crimson Mist and Bloodstorm. Batman vs Dracula and Batman as a vampire. Art by Kelley Jones. Doesn't get any better.

GJB · Post by **GJB** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 9:56 pm

It doesn't have to be a mini series, it could be a story arc, crossover event, short lived series, etc...

I figured this topic would generate some ideas on stories I missed that I should check out.

ZWH, I had you down for DKR as your series of choice. I'd include MM and from the five issues I've read, I'd say it's pretty damn cool. I'd love to get my hands on the full run.

An idea, rank your top five all time favorite stories/arcs/mini/whatever.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 10:19 pm

You really cannot top DKR, really. Watchmen comes close, but #12 wasn't Moore's. DKR is thematically brilliant, totally cohesive...there's not a SINGLE word, phrase, thought, idea, or concept that's out of place, it's a streamlined piece of brilliance.

The art, as well, is the last of Miller's 'Old Style', before he got so incredible heavy handed with his inks. Don't get me wrong, I DIG modern Miller...but....Klaus just added a....delicacy...to Frank's pencils, which is funny, because Klaus is a heavy handed penciller himself. There's nothing 'ugly' in all of DKR.

It's just the perfect story, where not a thing is out of place. And....it's Batman.

mattboh · Post by **mattboh** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:02 am

GJB wrote:An idea, rank your top five all time favorite stories/arcs/mini/whatever.

This one's tough.

-Starlin's Dreadstar run under the Epic banner-Did anyone else think this series lost steam upon moving to First? I bought it until the bitter end, but I don't think the series recovered from the switch until Peter David took over.

-Miller's Batman Year One-I love DKR and have worn out multiple copies of the TPB, but I've always appreciated Year One more for it's stark realism, bird's eye view and Mazzuchelli's gorgeous art. It pulls you in to the point where you almost feel like you're inside the story.

-Byrne's early run on Fantastic Four-I don't think any series has ever captured my imagination like this series did. Especially memorable to me were the Galactus appearances, culminating with the 'Trial of Galactus' storyline. As good as anything Byrne did on X-Men (maybe not as good as Dark Phoenix, but damn close).

-Perez and Wolfman's 'Judas Contract' from the New Teen Titans-I was a full-on X-Men fan when this came out, but the way these characters were portrayed made them seem so much more human, like you could actually meet them on the street. Plus, the art was some of the best Perez ever produced.

-Miller's 'Born Again' storyline in Daredevil-Something about the chemistry between Miller and Mazzuchelli...As much as I loved Miller's first run on Daredevil, I think he took everything over the top with his return to the series. His complete deconstruction and rebuilding of the character is still breathtaking nearly 20 years later.

Flinx · Post by **Flinx** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:44 am

GJB wrote:An idea, rank your top five all time favorite stories/arcs/mini/whatever.

In no particular order;
Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek & Stuart Immonen
'Breed & 'Breed II by Jim Starlin - wish he finished the story
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
Astro City by Kurt Busiek

screamingdc · Post by **screamingdc** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:19 am

Deathmate.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:34 am

depluto wrote:This might be a little hokey, but I loved the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries. Thanos is a great bad guy, but only in the most epic settings.

That is my favorite as well. I have the TPB and read it at least 2 times a year.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:38 am

screamingdc wrote:Deathmate.

No soup for you!

Next!

screamingdc · Post by **screamingdc** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:05 am

x-omatic wrote:
screamingdc wrote:Deathmate.

No soup for you!

Next!

what, nobody else like that you can read the conclusion before Deathmate: Red came out?

actually, i'll have to go with DKR like previously mentioned.

and Batman: The Long Halloween for good measure. i still can't figure out wha the ending meant and who exactly killed whom.

oh, and SiP, since the first 3 issue arc is sorta considered a mini.

tssgery · Post by **tssgery** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 7:03 pm

There are a couple of other minis that no-one has mentioned that I really enjoy...

Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn
The Ray, some of the first art by Joe Quesada and a great story

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 8:24 pm

tssgery wrote:There are a couple of other minis that no-one has mentioned that I really enjoy...

Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn
The Ray, some of the first art by Joe Quesada and a great story

Emerald Dawn was the very first Hal Jordan story I ever read...missed #1 at the stands (Dec of 89) but got #2-up. Paid $7.50 for a copy of #1.

Of course, I've bought many more over the years at $1 or less.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:17 am

More Starlin, eh?

Breed is a great read, but I've never picked up all of Breed 2. I'm gonna have to do something about that right away.

myron · Post by **myron** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:03 am

x-omatic wrote:
depluto wrote:This might be a little hokey, but I loved the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries. Thanos is a great bad guy, but only in the most epic settings.
That is my favorite as well. I have the TPB and read it at least 2 times a year.

gotta agree...IG was a great mini and cross over

OneArmedBandit · Post by **OneArmedBandit** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 4:56 pm

I, myself, really liked Kingdom Come. Hard to beat Alex Ross art and a good story.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 5:07 pm

OneArmedBandit wrote:I, myself, really liked Kingdom Come. Hard to beat Alex Ross art and a good story.

The Marvels mini by Ross was also great.

mike rok lok · Post by **mike rok lok** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:17 pm

that`s a hard question... in all honesty i`d say Death:the high cost of living from Vertigo comics...Marvels is also one of my favs.