WhileDCis still trying to sieve out its cinematic universe in the theatrical distance , withBlack Adamnext on the plastic film studio ’s slating , the publisher has a storied legacy in the funny book informant stuff . DC Comics is responsible for having draw in some of the best writers and artists in the industriousness for their serial , with many of them being considered some of the good piece of work in the manufacture overall .

Book rating aggregatorGoodreads has compile a listof the 10 best in the publishing company ’s chronicle ground on substance abuser votes . That think that the ranking might not line up with the intermediate rating for each story but all are iconic .

Superman: Red Son (4.17)

While the trope of " Superman but immorality " has become played out in more recent years – even when it is n’t necessarilySupermanhimself – Mark Miller’sRed Sonwas an exciting estimation for the time . sic in theElseworldsimprint ’s countless alternating timelines , this miniseries reimagines Kal - El / Superman ’s origins and bringing up if he were to put down in Soviet Union - era Russia .

Even today it ’s regarded as one of the most iconic Superman comics in the capability of a absorbing " what if ? " type of taradiddle . It ’s a concept that finally got revisited in the the like ofInjusticewith another despotic Man of Steel , but it was a novel thought in the early 2000s .

Batman: The Court Of Owls (4.33)

The Dark Knight has an plethora of riches when it come to having an acclaimed comic book mythos , and author Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo’sThe Court of Owlsarc is regarded as a modern classic and one of thebest Batman comics from the 2010s . It also introduce one of the torpedo ’s most compelling villain(s ) in the variant of Talon and the Court of Owls he serves .

Part of what shit this arc so memorable is how Snyder takes the Grant Morrison - esque theme of a clandestine Illuminati - like organization that whole flips the belief that Batman knows Gotham City indoors and out on its head . It put the incubation hero through one of the biggest physical and psychological tests of his life , gain his triumph all the more evacuant .

All-Star Superman (4.09)

Grant Morrison is moot a DC Comics writing caption , and on top of Batman , they ’ve been accredit with pen some of thebest taradiddle in Superman ’s mythos . Longtime fans and critic praise the storey bow for how it captures the essence of what makes Superman a timeless character .

The assumption open with the Man of Tomorrow discovering he ’s going to cash in one’s chips from radiation poisoning , prompting him to go on a mission to do as much honorable as physically possible before his time comes . It incarnate everything that ’s made him such an icon of the superhero musical style ; a shine example of what man can achieve if they perfect in on their compassion .

Kingdom Come (4.26)

Mark Waid is another comic book writer known for landmark running with both DC andMarvel(including his swashbucklingDaredevilseries ) , andKingdom Comewas for certain that for the Justice League pantheon of lineament . Combined with the at once - recognisable nontextual matter of manufacture caption Alex Ross , this news report sees two generations of the Justice League battle it out .

The newest crop has lose its moral way and has become as crowing of a threat as the villain they fight , compelling the original Justice League batting order ( include the once disillusion Superman ) to reclaim what it truly stand for to be a hero . Kingdom Comewas praise for being a one thousand - scaleElseworldsstory with thrilling stakes that do n’t lose mint of Waid ’s mark of hopefulness in his composition .

Batman: Hush (4.28)

Though it does n’t live up to author Jeph Loeb ’s past work with the World ’s Greatest Detective , Hushwas overall heartily received as one of thebest Batman comics of the other 2000s . It was n’t as engrossing of a enigma asThe Long HalloweenorDark Victory , but alongside Jim Lee ’s fashionable artistic production , Hushproved to be an exciting globetrotting adventure sport a revolving door of some of DC cartoon strip ' most iconic heroes and villains .

A cryptic successive killer who on the face of it cognise Bruce Wayne ’s personal identity is trying to orchestrate his destruction , which is what leads him along a milestone example that realize him mat with several rogues , team up up with Superman , and grow his family relationship with Selina Kyle / Catwoman . Many fans have look at it as a great beginner ’s Batman story , as well as a honorable " blockbuster action movie " equivalent of a Dark Knight comedian .

Batman: The Killing Joke (4.37)

Despite leaving the industry for quite some metre , Alan Moore is still celebrated in the amusing Christian Bible residential area for write some of the most influential stories in history . And by teaming up with the first-class creative person Brian Bolland , the brace created one of themost influential Batman comics ever– especially for Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight .

While still ultimately a Batman story , it also became the quintessential Joker tarradiddle . This brief one - shot chronicles the Clown Prince of Crime ’s ( possible ) origin tarradiddle and the downcast dynamic between him and the Caped Crusader . Some scenes are true heinous by comic book standards , but it ’s a riveting story that find out Batman expose Joker ’s fearful , sadistic , and nihilistic perception of human race while examine both eccentric ' psyche .

Batman: Year One (4.23)

Lauded as one of the best superhero lineage account ever written , Frank Miller and creative person David Mazzucchelli ’s ( both also of temerarious fame)Year Onehas been wide accepted by warhorse devotee as Batman ’s determinate beginnings . Part of the crescendo of the Dark Knight ’s emphatic reinvention that the tardy - and - great Dennis O’Neil set out in the early ' seventy , Year Oneis a tantalizingly dour crime - noir rendering of how the Batman came to be .

It also function as a parallel line of James Gordon as he affect to Gotham City , with both lineament eventually working together to root out the corruption of machinate crime and the city ’s police department . It ’s a riveting and ground arc detailing when mobster were Batman and Gotham ’s greatest plague .

Batman: The Long Halloween (4.32)

Somewhat similar to Miller’sYear One , the iconic mating of Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale put together what ’s regard as one of the near Batman comic strip to date by perfect in on the crime - noir subgenre . And also like the said inception report , The Long Halloweenmasterfully nails the glooming atmosphere of Gotham thanks to Sale ’s unforgettably stylized art charge and an engrossing mystery tale that emphasizes Batman ’s tec roots .

It marks the keister - oddment of organised crime ’s rule over Gotham , with a mysterious serial killer dubbed " vacation " fueling the fire of a blinking , year - long gang warfare . Along withThe Dark Knight , The Long Halloweenserved as polar reference textile for Matt Reeves ' praisedThe Batman​​​​.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (4.26)

Miller’sThe Dark Knight Returnsmight be the most popularElseworldscomic book , with the writer take an aged Batman hail out of retreat in the middle of a political dystopia . Superman is being used as an fire dog by the U.S. President overseas , while Gotham is being actively neglected by the federal government as it ’s being infest by extremist - violent gang war .

The Dark Knight and his novel Robin fight to take the city back , culminate in some of the most memorable moments and scrap between Batman , Superman , and the Joker . The Dark Knight Returnswas widely acclaimed for its alternative take on an onetime , more cynical Batman forced into unique extreme fate .

Watchmen (4.37)

Watchmenmight be Alan Moore ’s good comic record overall , as it distinguish an original report with an exciting alternate account angle . In this world , superheroes go forth in the ' 40s and were used by the U.S. government to win the Vietnam War and cover up muddy political scandals like Watergate .

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Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

bucky barnes winter soldier in front of several thunderbolts villains

thor alongside the marvel god atun

Split image of TDKR, Watchmen, and All-Star Superman cover art.

Jason Fabok’s variant art of Batman and the Court for the Court of Owls arc.

Superman soaring with the sun in the background in All-Star Superman.

Superman flying with the rest of the pantheon of DC heroes behind him.

Batman and Hush’s faces split in comic book cover art.

Joker laughing and clutching his green hair in The Killing Joke.

Batman covering himself with his cape in Year One cover art

Comic book art: Batman leaping with his cape billowing behind him in The Long Halloween cover art.

Batman covered in shadows and perched on a tightrope as lightning strikes behind him.