Most important modern comic book

[StarBrand]

What is your pick as the most important modern comic book? Why?

[kjjohanson]

What is your pick as the most important modern comic book? Why?

What are you limits on "Modern"?

[StarBrand]

What is your pick as the most important modern comic book? Why?

What are you limits on "Modern"?

I'm leaving that open to the interpretation of whoever wants to comment in this thread. I don't think there should be too much variation on the time period. Thanks.

[Elveen]

Walking Dead #1

For me It's an easy choice.
Quick bullet points why:
Media = $$$
Independent
crossover fans
supply / demand
Kirkman

I don't know the "official" (or argued) definition of modern, but for me it is everything after Valiant/Image.

[kjjohanson]

Walking Dead #1

For me It's an easy choice.
Quick bullet points why:
Media = $$$
Independent
crossover fans
supply / demand
Kirkman

I don't know the "official" (or argued) definition of modern, but for me it is everything after Valiant/Image.

According to CGC, it's everything after 1975.

[StarBrand]

That's a strange view of the modern age CGC has taken. I think when they changed it to 1975 it was more of a business move than an actual interpretation of when the modern age of comics began.

[Elveen]

Walking Dead #1

For me It's an easy choice.
Quick bullet points why:
Media = $$$
Independent
crossover fans
supply / demand
Kirkman

I don't know the "official" (or argued) definition of modern, but for me it is everything after Valiant/Image.

According to CGC, it's everything after 1975.

People are ready to about kill each other over what era is what on the CGC boards.

My knowledge is not great for 1975-1990. I'm pretty good from Valiant on up.
I'll stick by my TWD choice.

[nscc]

That's a strange view of the modern age CGC has taken.

I thought the term modern from the submission fee page was just a way to offer newer books at a lower cost (or older at a higher depending on how you look at it) and they have just moved the cutoff to 1975.

The other tiers are economy, standard, express, etc, not silver, gold.

Unless they say something on the label I'm not aware of that ties to this.

[lorddunlow]

Second for TWD #1.

[nscc]

What is your pick as the most important modern comic book? Why?

TWD is what I would say. but also...

Most important as in ushering in a new era? watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns.

Stuff like TMNT 1 for similar to TWD like Elveen said and that it was created by a couple kids moving into more creator owned stuff.

Superman 75? First Big hyped death, massive media attention, big part of the end of speculation.

Youngblood # 1 I know but it was Images first book I think. That is pretty big I think (in a historical fact kinda way, not an actually good quality entertainment way)

[StarBrand]

Let's not forget TWD seems to be losing some momentum. Screw the CGC boards, btw. They need to be talking about what we're saying here.

[ShadowTuga]

TMNT #1. Because it's the friggin Ninja Turtles, aka, characters from a comic book that are more recognisable than most (not all) superheroes.

[nycjadie]

Modern? I would pick an early successful creator owned property. In that way, early Image is probably one of the most important eras in comics. I would pick Spawn out of all those books, as it's been arguably one of the most successful from an artistic and financial standpoint. It was one of the few that also got a movie produced (along with Hellboy, Sin City).

[kjjohanson]

No mentions of Sandman yet? That opened up the world of comics to a lot of people that weren't reading them before. It may be one of the big reasons that comics (once again) has a lot more to offer that's not superheroes.

[slym2none]

Define: "modern"





-slym (sees a lot of stuff in this thread he wouldn't call 'modern')

[400yrs]

Twd #1 is probably the correct choice, but 20 years down the line, I hope it's Invincible 1.

[Ramses818]

I would have to say (choking) Youngblood. This was the first Image book. It had its predecessors like Grendel, Cerebus, TMNT, and other small creater owned books. This was the first time that the talent said "we could do more" and walked away from the big money at the main two. It opened up what would eventually lead to things like vertigo, valiant, and other smaller successes. Because of these trailblazers we had so much more media cross over. There were cartoons, live action movies, video games, toys and so many other things. Without these guys we wouldn't even be talking about TWD. For all their failures and shortcomings they would have to be the most influential modern book/company hands-down. No matter what you think of their successes or failures they changed the entire system. So from a historical standpoint I think you would have to agree that Youngblood is the most important modern comic book.

[kjjohanson]

I would have to say (choking) Youngblood. This was the first Image book. It had its predecessors like Grendel, Cerebus, TMNT, and other small creater owned books. This was the first time that the talent said "we could do more" and walked away from the big money at the main two. It opened up what would eventually lead to things like vertigo, valiant, and other smaller successes. Because of these trailblazers we had so much more media cross over. There were cartoons, live action movies, video games, toys and so many other things. Without these guys we wouldn't even be talking about TWD. For all their failures and shortcomings they would have to be the most influential modern book/company hands-down. No matter what you think of their successes or failures they changed the entire system. So from a historical standpoint I think you would have to agree that Youngblood is the most important modern comic book.

I think the scope of what we mean by important is key here too. Certainly the creator-owned movement is a huge thing in comics, but while Youngblood 1 might be a symbol of that, it's not important for doing that.

[GGSAE]

If modern is 90s and up then TWD without a doubt; if it's the 80s until now that TMNT no contest.

[wwise03]

Important to what? To American society? To world peace? To comic book sales?

I find comic books to be largely unimportant...the only ones I find important are the ones that entertain me. In that sense, I will vote The Mercenary Sea because it is the comic book that gives me the most entertainment. It doesn't try to preach to me. It doesn't try to predict the future if the rich get richer (Lazarus). It doesn't try to tell me that liking pop musicians is like praying to a god (Wicked and the Divine). It doesn't try to make me aware that domestic abuse is a problem (like the ESPN and the NFL are trying to do...by the way, do we really need someone to tell us that?). I hope others are enjoying The Mercenary Sea as much as me.

Sorry to disappoint with my answer...it's just the way I see it.

[kjjohanson]

It doesn't try to make me aware that domestic abuse is a problem (like the ESPN and the NFL are trying to do...by the way, do we really need someone to tell us that?).

Sadly, some people do.

[lorddunlow]

Important to what? To American society? To world peace? To comic book sales?

I find comic books to be largely unimportant...the only ones I find important are the ones that entertain me. In that sense, I will vote The Mercenary Sea because it is the comic book that gives me the most entertainment. It doesn't try to preach to me. It doesn't try to predict the future if the rich get richer (Lazarus). It doesn't try to tell me that liking pop musicians is like praying to a god (Wicked and the Divine). It doesn't try to make me aware that domestic abuse is a problem (like the ESPN and the NFL are trying to do...by the way, do we really need someone to tell us that?). I hope others are enjoying The Mercenary Sea as much as me.

Sorry to disappoint with my answer...it's just the way I see it.

I figure you were being somewhat facetious in your answer, but I definitely think comics are important! Comics are a form of art. They actually are a very unique combination of visual art and literature. As an art form, comics are a great way of exploring a multitude of the various aspects of humanity and society. There are some things that can only be done in comics. If we didn't have comics, we would lose that unique art.

[wwise03]

I don't think I was clear about what I meant when I said that I find comics to be largely unimportant. I typically attempt to stay away from making blanket statements like "comic books aren't important," but in this case, I slipped up.

Now in fairness, I did state that I find the comics that entertain me (or you, or anyone) to be important, as I find entertainment to be important.

On a micro level (i.e., these message boards, you, me), the comic book industry is vital. Why? Because we love them. Because they entertain us. Because they give two complete strangers a reason to talk about how awesome Armor Hunters is or how Shadowman can be saved.

However, on a macro level (i.e., the 7 billion people in the world), I think we (as a message board community), vastly overstate how important comic books are. While I am proud of Valiant when they move 10,000 copies of X-O Manowar, 10,000 books is virtually nothing. 10,000 is less than the population of Lumberton, Texas (look it up, it's two hours east of Houston). Most of the people I see on a regular basis scoff when I try to tell them that they ought to try out comic books (sad, but true).

That is what I was trying to say.

When we start talking about the importance of comics as art, that opens a whole new can of worms. It feels wrong to say something like "X is art, therefore X is important." While I would be devastated if comic books were to disappear, I don't think the world would skip a beat. In fact, such news would likely not even make the little ticker on the bottom of the screen of CNN.

By the way, I still vote The Mercenary Sea as the most important comic book.

And, to me at least, Valiant is the most important comic book company

[lorddunlow]

While I would be devastated if comic books were to disappear, I don't think the world would skip a beat.

You could literally replace "comic books" in this sentence with almost anything and it would still be true. That doesn't mean it isn't important to the world.

[Elveen]

Important to what? To American society? To world peace? To comic book sales?

I find comic books to be largely unimportant...the only ones I find important are the ones that entertain me. In that sense, I will vote The Mercenary Sea because it is the comic book that gives me the most entertainment. It doesn't try to preach to me. It doesn't try to predict the future if the rich get richer (Lazarus). It doesn't try to tell me that liking pop musicians is like praying to a god (Wicked and the Divine). It doesn't try to make me aware that domestic abuse is a problem (like the ESPN and the NFL are trying to do...by the way, do we really need someone to tell us that?). I hope others are enjoying The Mercenary Sea as much as me.

Sorry to disappoint with my answer...it's just the way I see it.

I take the ? as to ask: important to the comic universe (all things related to comic books).
And I'll agree with Lord D, comics are important. Expression, free thought, inventiveness, creativeness, mythmaking, ... IMO, these are all important. Same way that movies, or books, or art, or sculpture is important.