10. Detective Comics #741DC - February 2000
Writers - Greg Rucka & Devin Grayson
Artists - Damion Scott & Dale Eaglesham
This was the finale of the year-long No Man's Land event in the Batman books, and to make it a harrowing and unexpected conclusion, the writers brought the Joker back into the fold. Having kidnapped all the newborn children conceived throughout the year, the Joker plans to execute them all; this in itself would be a horrific plot, but it's made all the more brutal by his murder of Sarah Gordon, Commissioner Gordon's wife, as she attempts to save the children. It's terrifying stuff, but the true menace comes when the Joker turns himself in afterwards, adamant that he will not be executed by the police and mocking Gordon openly over his actions. It's a wonderful finale, and sets up just how different things will be when the new status quo sets in for the new millennium.
Vertigo - April 1995
Writer - Garth Ennis
Artist - Steve Dillon
This is where it all began; Vertigo's masterful epic of a Preacher gaining Godly powers and deciding to hunt down God and make him answer for all the wrongs in the world. As an introduction, this is near perfect; we get the feel of just the kind of man Jesse Custer is, he's a tortured soul driven by his own sense of self-loathing and a desire to break free of the bonds that have held him back most of his life. Then you've got Tulip, his ex-girlfriend, running from a darkness she cannot hope to escape; and finally, Cassidy, the sadistic Irishman revealed as a vampire at the end of issue 2. Their journey begins and we follow, begging for more brilliance and sheer cinematic poetry.
Marvel - January 1994
Writer - Kurt Busiek
Artist - Alex Ross
Marvels was an historic event for Marvel Comics; an epic retelling of the early days of the Marvel Universe from the perspective of an every man. The first issue of the series deals with the impact of superheroes on the world, with the creation of the Human Torch, and the introduction of Namor into the world. It's a wonderful period portrait of humanity and the injustices of the world, while Alex Ross' gorgeous painted artwork captures realism and maintains a permanent sense of awe and suspense throughout; every character feels unique and real, and the pages seem to emit an unnatural glow of brilliance from start to finish.
7. Superman #75DC - January 1993
Writer - Dan Jurgens
Artist - Dan Jurgens
The coming of Doomsday in the Superman books was going to be something special, that much is obvious right from the start, and the final chapter of the epic confrontation between the Man of Steel and this monster of destruction ended the only way it could: with Superman sacrificing himself to save the world from the creature. Every page in this issue is a full-page panel, highlighting the impact of the two behemoths' battle throughout Metropolis and punctuating the devastation of Superman's death. This is arguably one of the five most famous comic books of all time, and certainly the most historic death issue ever published; but, unfortunately, it falls just sort of perfection - losing out to a more recent death of an icon.
6. Captain America #25Marvel - April 2007
Writer - Ed Brubaker
Artist - Steve Epting
The final chapter of Ed Brubaker's epic Captain America storyline featuring Steve Rogers and highlighting the return of Bucky ended the only way it could in the wake of Civil War; Steve Rogers was assassinated on the steps of the courthouse where he'd gone to stand trial for his part in the Civil War. It was a brutal moment, perfectly punctuating the end of an era for superhero comics and start of Bucky's journey to become the new Captain America. As far as shocking moments go, very few compare; this has a raw quality to it that seems to define the characters featured within and draw on the loyalty of us, as readers, to maintain it's own sense of foreshadowing and integrity.
Next: 5-1
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