Our friends Leonard and Todd of the Weekly Longbox gave out their Twitter question of the week and I have debated on it so much that it has become this article.

If you love intelligent witty and never degrading comic book talk, listen to the Weekly Longbox every Wednesday.  Hosted by Leonard F Chikarason and Todd Rowker, it is a long standing weekly tradition here at the Hellions HQ.  Check out the link below and be sure to subscribe through your podcast player of choice.

http://grizzlyproductions.tv/the-weekly-longbox/

 

This week they asked the fans to name our favorite limited series in comics history.  More than 2 issues, but no more than 6 issues is the rule.  Arguments can be made for other series (Thanos Quest) but I’ll stay within those parameters.

I have debated on this for nearly a week, and in the end I cant break it down any further.  I have three selections for best limited series.

 

1.  The Man of Steel.

Screw your New 52.  This was THE definitive Superman reboot, and is still thought of as such by many fans.  Six issues from 1986, right after Crisis on Infinite Earths, written and penciled by John Byrne and inked by Dick Giordano.  This was who I thought Superman was for over 20 years.  For my entire comic book reading life, up until last year’s reboot.

This series made Superman a more believable and well rounded character.  He could no longer move planets, but he could still do more than any other being on Earth.  No travelling in time, no unlmited Silver Age myriad of powers.  Superman had his very easy to name short checklist of powers and by stripping away the bullshit ones, his remaining powers became that much more interesting.  Flight, strength, x-ray vision, heat vision.  His battle against Doomsday would not have been as powerful if he could just freeze time.

Best of all, Superman and Clark Kent became more independent.  While the non comic book reading world still makes jokes about Superman and Clark Kent looking the same, Byrne came up with a brilliant answer.  No one tries to guess Superman’s secret identity because no one thinks he has one.  He doesn’t wear a mask and he always appears.  Therefore Superman must be Superman all the time and have nothing to hide.  Its the hiding in plain sight disguise!

Lex Luthor as evil businessman.  Krypton and kryptonite simplified.  As we have seen, reboots can suck but this is one of the few that holds up the hope we all have for our heroes.

2. The Infinity Gauntlet.

 

Half the universe is killed in the first issue.  Then it gets bigger.  Heroes that don’t usually team up are bound together to try to save all of existence.  Ron Lim becomes a household name.  Thanos became a villain so big he is worthy of taking on the 3rd biggest movie in all of history.  Plus, there are those two images that still remain in long time readers’ minds over twenty years later.

 

 

Its a six issue series that still effects Marvel to this day.  Try saying that about Siege or Fear Itself in twenty years.

 

3.  Bullet Points.

Yes.  I’m totally serious.  A 5 issue series from 2007 with a very simple concept that completely changes the Marvel Universe.  A single bullet from a German spy kills not only Dr. Abraham Erskine but also Ben Parker.  Due to this one event, Captain America is never created through Project Rebirth.  An orphaned Peter Parker no longer has his Uncle Ben to teach him how to be a good responsible man.  Every single character you have loved for decades is here, but not as you expect.  Some are the same, which means that fate is an incredibly strong force.  However, others are vastly different.  Then there is a major turn when a classic bad guy shows up and that moment is in my top reads of all time.  My fiance had read the book before me and I came running to her so we could talk about the book.  I’ve yet to talk to anyone who disliked the series.  Its like this little known treasure.  A cult film within the cult film fan world.