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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 15, 2017 20:52:08 GMT -5
I'll mention these 2 books just because of all the talent involved. The stories were crap.   |
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Post by chadwilliam on Jan 16, 2017 0:33:50 GMT -5
Batman 201 (1968)
In this issue, Batman's greatest foes unite to... save the Caped Crusader's life. The Penguin has learned of a criminal syndicate planning to take over Gotham's underworld. Step One: Kill The Batman.
Knowing that they won't tolerate the presence of their ilk, Batman's mortal foes decide to save Batman's life during each of their attempts in a manner by which Gotham's Guardian won't know of their involvement - after all, why lose face?
This issue has it all - Batman vs the police (though it isn't the actual police), deathtraps galore, the use of multiple Bat-vehicles (the Batmobile, Batcopter, and Batboat all make an appearance), The Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Clue Master, Getaway Genius, Johnny Epps, and Mr Esper all acting as his guardian angel from behind the scenes, and because of that last detail - a mystery Batman will never solve (just who spent their evening saving his life from an assortment of traps?).
As I think the cover indicates, the issue also captures the perfect atmosphere for Gotham City at 3am - purple skies, empty streets, but a richness of activity you'd never suspect transpires if you weren't either a masked crime fighter or member of the criminal elite.
This, and not the Scarecrow story which preceded it by one issue, would have served as the perfect anniversary tale to go with Batman 200. (On another note, I feel the same way about Superman 199 - why DC chose to publish Superman's first race with the Flash as the issue before his 200th issue and not the issue to go along with that milestone, is a mystery to me). |
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jan 16, 2017 0:43:14 GMT -5
This is the first that comes to mind under the OP's criteria. I might could think of more and some do come to mind as close seconds or ties. But this is a really excellent self contained story that stood out in this franchise.  |
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Post by berkley on Jan 16, 2017 2:26:48 GMT -5
I was always predominantly a Marvel reader in the 60s and 70s, and their tendancy towards multi-issue stories meant that a lot of the best stand-alones were fill-in stories printed because of deadline problems. here a a few of my favourites: Russ Heath drawing Son of Satan:  Excellent story and art by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen on Killraven (plus a nice Keith Pollard cover):  And the infamous Howard the Duck Deadline Doom story, perhaps the greatest and definitely the most daringly innovative fill-in issue of all time:  |
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Post by Nowhere Man on Jan 16, 2017 7:43:32 GMT -5
 This was a tough one for me, but the issue that still resonates with me more than any other is probably Fantastic Four #247. This was Byrne at his height. Even though he didn't create the character, I'm going to go out on limb and say that his version is the definitive take, even over Lee and Kirby (though Roger Stern certainly deserves an honorable mention for Triumph and Torment alone). It not only illustrates the depth of Doom's character superbly, but shines a light on the complex political and psychological relationship Doom has with his Latverian subjects. This issues hammered home that Doom, when done right, is the greatest, and most interesting, supervillian in the history of comics. Byrne did the character so much justice I often found myself, if not outright rooting for him to succeed, admiring his strength of character and charisma. |
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Post by brutalis on Jan 16, 2017 7:59:24 GMT -5
My go to read in the day was Avengers King Size Special #2: A spectacular John Buscema cover wrapping a spectacular Roy Thomas/Don Heck/Werner Roth/Vince Colletta over sized adventure pitting Avenger against Avenger
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 16, 2017 8:20:08 GMT -5
My go to read in the day was Avengers King Size Special #2: A spectacular John Buscema cover wrapping a spectacular Roy Thomas/Don Heck/Werner Roth/Vince Colletta over sized adventure pitting Avenger against Avenger I absolutely love that book. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Jan 16, 2017 8:40:22 GMT -5
Batman 201 (1968)
In this issue, Batman's greatest foes unite to... save the Caped Crusader's life. The Penguin has learned of a criminal syndicate planning to take over Gotham's underworld. Step One: Kill The Batman.
Knowing that they won't tolerate the presence of their ilk, Batman's mortal foes decide to save Batman's life during each of their attempts in a manner by which Gotham's Guardian won't know of their involvement - after all, why lose face?
This issue has it all - Batman vs the police (though it isn't the actual police), deathtraps galore, the use of multiple Bat-vehicles (the Batmobile, Batcopter, and Batboat all make an appearance), The Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Clue Master, Getaway Genius, Johnny Epps, and Mr Esper all acting as his guardian angel from behind the scenes, and because of that last detail - a mystery Batman will never solve (just who spent their evening saving his life from an assortment of traps?).
As I think the cover indicates, the issue also captures the perfect atmosphere for Gotham City at 3am - purple skies, empty streets, but a richness of activity you'd never suspect transpires if you weren't either a masked crime fighter or member of the criminal elite.
This, and not the Scarecrow story which preceded it by one issue, would have served as the perfect anniversary tale to go with Batman 200. (On another note, I feel the same way about Superman 199 - why DC chose to publish Superman's first race with the Flash as the issue before his 200th issue and not the issue to go along with that milestone, is a mystery to me). I will have to dig this out, chadwilliam. I love being reminded of a long-forgotten issue I should never have forgotten. And welcome back! Always enjoy your commentary. |
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Post by chadwilliam on Jan 16, 2017 10:41:46 GMT -5
Batman 201 (1968)
In this issue, Batman's greatest foes unite to... save the Caped Crusader's life. The Penguin has learned of a criminal syndicate planning to take over Gotham's underworld. Step One: Kill The Batman.
Knowing that they won't tolerate the presence of their ilk, Batman's mortal foes decide to save Batman's life during each of their attempts in a manner by which Gotham's Guardian won't know of their involvement - after all, why lose face?
This issue has it all - Batman vs the police (though it isn't the actual police), deathtraps galore, the use of multiple Bat-vehicles (the Batmobile, Batcopter, and Batboat all make an appearance), The Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Clue Master, Getaway Genius, Johnny Epps, and Mr Esper all acting as his guardian angel from behind the scenes, and because of that last detail - a mystery Batman will never solve (just who spent their evening saving his life from an assortment of traps?).
As I think the cover indicates, the issue also captures the perfect atmosphere for Gotham City at 3am - purple skies, empty streets, but a richness of activity you'd never suspect transpires if you weren't either a masked crime fighter or member of the criminal elite.
This, and not the Scarecrow story which preceded it by one issue, would have served as the perfect anniversary tale to go with Batman 200. (On another note, I feel the same way about Superman 199 - why DC chose to publish Superman's first race with the Flash as the issue before his 200th issue and not the issue to go along with that milestone, is a mystery to me). I will have to dig this out, chadwilliam . I love being reminded of a long-forgotten issue I should never have forgotten. And welcome back! Always enjoy your commentary.
Thanks! Hopefully you'll let us know what you think of the issue when you get around to it.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 16, 2017 12:17:41 GMT -5
Excellent story and art by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen on Killraven (plus a nice Keith Pollard cover): I can see it's signed Pollard but it looks so much like a Marie Severin cover. |
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Post by chaykinstevens on Jan 16, 2017 13:18:07 GMT -5
Excellent story and art by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen on Killraven (plus a nice Keith Pollard cover): I can see it's signed Pollard but it looks so much like a Marie Severin cover. It's signed by Keith Pollard to the left of Daredevil, but GCD says Marie Severin made alterations to Killraven's and perhaps a few other characters' faces. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 16, 2017 13:25:39 GMT -5
Good catch , man. It looks like it was altered.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jan 16, 2017 16:28:03 GMT -5
I've only read about 3 of these so far....  You have some catching up to do! Me too! |
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Post by dbutler69 on Jan 16, 2017 16:28:55 GMT -5
This was one of the first ones that popped into my head. |
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Post by tolworthy on Jan 16, 2017 18:36:31 GMT -5
Do adaptations count? I think they should, as not all adaptations are equal. E.g. "Classics Illustrated" deserves respect for shear quantity, plus those later covers, but I thought the insides were often dull. But for my money (and I count every penny!), Marvel Classic Comics, especially the British reprints, were are the best single issues ever. Every single one was a guaranteed unforgettable hit.  I loved the Marvel UK cover design. Even though they messed up the last two issues (Moonstone and Food of the Gods) and accidentally swapped some of the pages! Even in the years when I didn't keep any other comics, I always kept these. Love, love LOVE them. |
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