Lesser Known Comics as Good as DKR and Watchmen

[Timothy Hunter]

A few weeks ago I put a trade paperback collection of a 4 issue Deadshot miniseries written by John Ostrander on hold at my library. I was rather reluctant at first, because considering it was published in the eighties, while that period definitely was a great one for comics, there was also a high chance it could've ended up being rather slapdash and dated l. Little did I know truly how superb this aforementioned Deadshot mini was going to be. The characterization was so good that it could have kickstarted a Deadshot ongoing that had decades of potential. Ostrander transformed Deadshot into a character with so much sickening tragedy that it would make Garth Ennis blush. It was that brilliant. Already it is cemented in my mind as one of the greatest superhero comics I have ever read, among the lines of Watchmen, Mike Grell's Green Arrow, and the New Teen Titans.

That brings me to the topic of this thread. What DC Comics that you consider to be up there with the greats, that don't get as much attention as they should?

[Bored at 3:00AM]

A few weeks ago I put a trade paperback collection of a 4 issue Deadshot miniseries written by John Ostrander on hold at my library. I was rather reluctant at first, because considering it was published in the eighties, while that period definitely was a great one for comics, there was also a high chance it could've ended up being rather slapdash and dated l. Little did I know truly how superb this aforementioned Deadshot mini was going to be. The characterization was so good that it could have kickstarted a Deadshot ongoing that had decades of potential. Ostrander transformed Deadshot into a character with so much sickening tragedy that it would make Garth Ennis blush. It was that brilliant. Already it is cemented in my mind as one of the greatest superhero comics I have ever read, among the lines of Watchmen, Mike Grell's Green Arrow, and the New Teen Titans.

That brings me to the topic of this thread. What DC Comics that you consider to be up there with the greats, that don't get as much attention as they should?

John Ostrander's Suicide Squad got a lot of lip service sent its way when that crappy movie got released, but I think that stands up as one of the best runs DC produced during the '80s. It went on too long (probably should have ended with the death of a certain lead character that ended up being reversed later anyways), but is a solid comic.

[Clark_Kent]

Superman: Secret Identity. One of the best Superman stories ever made, and ironically Superman (Kal-El) isn't even a character in it. I read this once a year and just feel good afterwards.

I'd probably also toss the first dozen tpb's or so of Fables in there. I wouldn't call the series "underrated", it seems to get all the credit it deserves, but I rarely (if ever) see it mentioned in the same paragraph as something like DKR.

[numberthirty]

- The Wild Storm

The 1997 Unknown Soldier Vertigo limited series

[numberthirty]

Also, one guy's grumble...

TDNR isn't on the same level as Watchmen. No one should be grouping them on some level that other comics should aspire to. TDNR is solid, but not on that level.

[Timothy Hunter]

Also, one guy's grumble...

TDNR isn't on the same level as Watchmen. No one should be grouping them on some level that other comics should aspire to. TDNR is solid, but not on that level.

I agree. I don't think very much of the Dark Knight Returns, or quite frankly any of Frank Miller's comic work for that matter. In contrast I think Watchmen is a masterpiece that infinitely outshines even Frank Miller's best work.

Nevertheless both are considered to be equals, not by me, but by the comic industry.

[dancj]

Also, one guy's grumble...

TDNR isn't on the same level as Watchmen. No one should be grouping them on some level that other comics should aspire to. TDNR is solid, but not on that level.

I'd probably put Watchmen in third place, just behind TDKR and Batman: Year One - so I'd disagree with you on that one.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Superman: Secret Identity. One of the best Superman stories ever made,

Absolutely.

[K7P5V]

John Ostrander's Suicide Squad got a lot of lip service sent its way when that crappy movie got released, but I think that stands up as one of the best runs DC produced during the '80s. It went on too long (probably should have ended with the death of a certain lead character that ended up being reversed later anyways), but is a solid comic.

Agree about Ostrander & Yale's run being a solid read. I would also add their "Oracle: Year One" from Batman Chronicles #5.

[superduperman]

It doesn't get as much attention but Alan Moore's run on Supreme. It's basically the SA Superman run through the nineties. It even has a tongue in cheek take on the constant reboots.

[Flash Gordon]

Alan Moore's SWAMP THING beats both of those out.

[married guy]

James Robinson's Starman is a modern superhero comic masterpiece.

[Robotman]

Alan Moore's SWAMP THING beats both of those out.

Totally agreed! Maybe the best comic ever.

[dornwolf]

It doesn't get as much attention but Alan Moore's run on Supreme. It's basically the SA Superman run through the nineties. It even has a tongue in cheek take on the constant reboots.

The absolute best Superman story ever written. I like comparing it Watchmen actually. If Watchmen, as everyone claims, deconstructs the superhero then that Supreme run is the tonal opposite and puts it all back together.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

The absolute best Superman story ever written. I like comparing it Watchmen actually. If Watchmen, as everyone claims, deconstructs the superhero then that Supreme run is the tonal opposite and puts it all back together.

Agreed. I prefer Moore's "reconstructist" work on Supreme and Tom Strong much more than his "serious work" like Watchmen.