Who are the top 5 writers in comics?
 

This goes along with my previous question about the top 5 current monthly comics....

Who are the top 5 writers in comics today? Who would you read no matter what title they were writing?

Who are the top 5 writers in comics of all time?

While we're at it, what story arcs/trade paperbacks feature the best work of these writers?

while not specifically about writers, here are just some of my favorite runs...

kurt busiek/george perez--the avengers relaunch after the heroes reborn junk. they went for about 2-3 years and it was great. check out the ultron battle in issues 19-22.

marv wolfman/george perez--the 80's new teen titans run from #1-about 50 or so. the runaways, brother blood, and espcially the judas contract storylines were fantastic.

i am really liking mark waid's current run of fantastic four as well.

Alan Moore
Neil Gaiman

That's two.

I'd pick Daniel Clowes, although I think it may be almost two years since the last issue of Eightball came out.

Chester Brown's Louis Riel series was terrific. It wrapped up but I expect a collection out soon.

Neil Gaiman
Warren Ellis
Garth Ennis
Peter David
J. Michael Straczynski

Runner-up: Mark Waid, Bendis, Alan Moore (would have made the list if he wasn't so flaky and paranoid), and Brian Azarello.

My top 5:

Frank Miller - Sin City, Daredevil, Batman: Year One, Batman: Dark Knight Returns.

Brian Bendis - Goldfish, Torso, Powers, Ult. Spidey

Alan Moore - League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Watchmen

Warren Ellis - Transmet

Geoff Johns - Flash, Teen Titans

Garth Ennis - Preacher (last because after the last two years on Punisher, the Rifle Brigade, and Born, I don't read just *anything* by him anymore...but Preacher is one of my favorite comic series EVER)

(yes, I know that is 6)

It's a tough question. Most people will probably just give you their 5 "favorite" which does not mean they are the 5 "best" writers working. For instance you will probably get a lot of votes for "brian bendis" but I think he is THE single most overrated writer in all of comics. That said. My 5 "favorite" writers right now are . . .

1. Brian Azzarello - The is responsible for the most intense, most complex, most unique comic being published today in 100 Bullets. He gave the best Hulk story I've read in years in Banner. And is responsible for the most entertaining Hellblazer run in a very long time. I'll check out anything this guy does.

2. Ed Brubaker - The guy writing one of the single best superhero comics I've ever read in Catwoman. Responsible for a fresh take on Gotham City & telling the police point of view in Gotham Central. Also writes one of THE most underrated comics being published in Sleeper. Right now he is the master of hard-boiled noir influenced comics.

3. Greg Rucka - Possibly the second best comic being published is Queen & Country. There is just nothing on the stands like it & the detail & research that goes into each issue dealing with the British S.I.S. is incredible. The guy got me interested in a character I've never liked nor read in my life with his recent run on Wonder Woman. Plus, the guy can write a good novel as well. He does have his misses though, his Elektra run was a mess & his recent run on Wolverine is as pointless as the series is.

4. Warren Ellis - If his work came out on time he would be my #1 favorite writer. Planetary when done, may end up being my favorite comic book of all-time, & seeing it come out again on time the book is as good as it ever was. And Global Frequency is the best new series of the past 2 years.

5. Alan Moore - In term of purely BEST writer in comics. Alan Moore is the BEST writer in the history of the medium. I don't even see how that can be argued. There is no writer more diverse, more creative, & that puts more research into their work than Alam Moore. League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen 2 delivered, which is a very big accomplishment considering the masterpiece the first series was. And Smax is reminding how brilliant my favorite work of Moore's was, Top Ten.

Man, I'm so ready to read more comics. I just read Amazing Spider-Man and think JMS is writing the character the way he is supposed to be written.

I've already fallen for Azzarello thanks to Sessa's comments in the other thread and will most likely be picking up some Catwoman in the near future.



Does anyone know if Chris Clairemont is top notch? Way back in the day he was supposedly one of the best, and I hear rumours he's going to head up an X-Men title in the next few months. If he's still good, I might wait for that starting point to jump into any X-titles.

my top 5 for current writers:

garth ennis
brian michael bendis
brian azzarello
warren ellis
kevin smith

Quote:

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Originally posted by Sessa17
For instance you will probably get a lot of votes for "brian bendis" but I think he is THE single most overrated writer in all of comics.

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:up:

Doesn't matter how many books he writes..

I'd go with:

Alan Moore
Frank Miller
Neil Gaiman
JMS
Garth Ennis

Well, apparently it can be argued, because he didn't make everyone's list.

Like I said in my post, he's too paranoid and flakey. He threw a hissy fit over something inconsequential and destroyed what would have been a great anniversary celebration for Watchmen.

Then Marvel makes a slight error in the Captain Britain TPB and he runs around screaming like a little bitch and hurling accusations instead of contacting Joe Quesada.

When you look at the overall package - not only what he writes (which is, for the most part, very good), but how he conducts himself professionally, Moore is not all that.

Quote:

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Originally posted by JestersTear
Then Marvel makes a slight error in the Captain Britain TPB and he runs around screaming like a little bitch and hurling accusations instead of contacting Joe Quesada.

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There's a lot more history between Moore/Marvel than just that one incident...

What on earth does any of that stuff have to do with his ability to write? I could care less if the guy eats baby kittens & bitches to Marvel all he wants. That is all irrelevant to the stories he creates.

And B2K, Chris Claremont right now is DEFINITELY one of the wortse writers out there. And his Uncanny run is pretty much responsible for me being a comic book fan. So I'm not a Claremont hater. He writes like an old man that doesn't have a clue anymore but he can't let go of the past. His stories are all re-treads of his old material. There is no characterization in X-treme X-men, everyone acts the same. The comic is one of the worste books out there. Die-hard X fans may tell you otherwise, but they are just blinded X-fans. I use to be one also, until I saw the light.

I'll second the fact that Claremont sucks now. I too, grew up on his Uncanny x-men, and I have been holding on the xtreme x-men out of some misguided sense of loyalty. Marv Wolfman sucks now too. And, as much as the Dark Knight, Batman Year one, and his run on Daredevil ment to me Frank Miller has become fairly mediocre (DK 2, anyone?). It makes me wonder if all writers eventually run out of ideas and slip into mediocrity (John Byrne is another).

My top Five:

Garth Ennis (Preacher, Fury, Rifle Brigade)

Warren Ellis (Stormwatch, Global Frequency, Red, Reload)

Greg Rucka (Bruce Wayne: Fugative, Queen and Country, GCPD, Wolverine, Ultimate Daredevil and Electra)

Bendis (mostly just for Alias)

Peter David (his run and the Hulk, and the early issues of Supergirl, Fallen Angel is okay so far, but he is the author of one of my favorite stories, Future Imperfect)

10 - 15 Years ago I would have said,

Frank Miller

Peter David

Chris Claremont

Marv Wolfman

Well, since eating babies has nothing to do with his profession, you're blowing hot air and making stupid comparisons.

I'm stating that as far as some people are concerned, the way he handles himself professionally also has an impact on how he's viewed.

If you don't agree with it, I really don't give a damn. I was just showing that the "this can not be argued" claim was false. I did, discussion over.

If you don't give a damn, then why did you post twice explaining yourself? You VERY MUCH give a damn & at least read my posts before you respond to them. I never said that the way he handles himself doesn't impact how he's viewed. It absolutely does, but it does NOT impact how his work is viewed. Nor did I make any comments about him "eating babies" & the comment I did make is not a stupid comparison at all. I exaggerated to make a point. Whether he eats "kittens" is as relevant to his work as you saying he bitches at Marvel.

I stick by all my comments, whether you like him or his work is irrelevant, he simply is the best writer the comic book medium has ever seen. His work is more diverse than any other writer, he puts more research into his work than any other writer, & Watchmen was YEARS ahead of it's time & remains one of, if not THE most influential comic book ever written & IS without a doubt the most grounbreaking comic book ever written. Not to mention all of his other insanely influential books he has written. In countless polls he is ranked as the most influential comic book writer of all-time, he has been ranked as the BEST writer of the modern age countless times. He is the most critically acclaimed comic book writer of the past 30 years & on top of all that he is one of the most prolific writers of the past 20 years constantly cranking out new material. And I am looking at this objectively, there are other writers I like WAY more than him & I would MUCH rather say they are the "best" writers b/c I agree, Moore is a complete ASS. But I asbolutely cannot see how anyone can make a case that he is not the "best" writer in the business.

And you in no way showed "this can not be argued" claim was false. All you did was write one sentence "Well, apparently it can be argued, because he didn't make everyone's list", which I explained doesn't matter, b/c all these lists consist of is who one's "Favorite" writers are. And then you went on talking about his personal life which has NOTHING to do with his body of work. As a "complete package" as a writer, one's personal life has NOTHING to do with anything, all that matters is the material they create, so that theory of yours doesn't make sense. And Moore is no where near as bad as you make him out to be, b/c the guy as NO problem whatsoever getting the best talent in the business to work with him, & there isn't a artist or creator in the business that wouldn't jump at the chance to collaborate w/ him.

Uhh,

Alan Moore's eccentricities don't affect his writing, but they affect his work, which hurts the fans.

Example, when he flipped over the whole watcmen 15th anniversery thing. DC was going give us Watchmen action figures, and a new slipcase hardcover, but since Moore had some bug up his but, they scrapped the whole thing.

Watchmen action figures and a new slipcase would've kicked ass, and fans would have bought them. It's to bad moore couldn't just chill a little.

He's talented, but damn if his actions hurt those who have given him his fame in the first place, the fans.

I still disagree. (sorry, B2K, this is quite off topics). I don't see how Moore's "eccentricities" hurt his work. And the example you provided just proves my point, his actions hurt what you think of him, NOT his work. His work speaks for itself, & his work is the best in the business. Tthe only reason you (or anyone, I would love a new slipcase) are pissed there is no slipcase or action figures is b/c the WORK is so amazing. Yeah, his actions may hurt those who have given him his fame, but STILL they are not hurting his work. Plus, you point out that his negative eccentricities effect his work & then give "figures" & "slipcase" as an example when neither of those are Moore's work. They are DC's work merely to make more money out of Moore's groundbreaking work, which is exactly why Moore trashed the whole idea.

Not that I really want to throw myself into this whole debate, but the question posed by B2K is an opinion question as to the 'top' writers. Some people just do not like some things and/or haven't read enough of a writer's body of work to make a fair judgment.

For me, on the topic of Alan Moore, I didn't like Top 10, didn't read Swamp Thing, Man of Tomorrow, V for Vendetta or From Hell, but I did read and enjoy Tom Strong, Watchmen, Killing Joke, and LXG. That body of work that I have read from him was strong enough to make him appear on my 'Top 5' writers list.

However, those who aren't as familiar with Alan Moore or just don't find his works to be their cup of tea, I can completely understand. Had I just read Top 10 (which is one of his more recent works), I would have not had such a favorable opinion of Alan Moore.

In the same vein, I can't imagine those who are only familiar with Frank Miller from DK2 or Garth Ennis from Punisher to rank those two highly, as that is certainly not their strongest work (imo).

Sessa17,

Dude. I was arguing in agreeance with your point, not against it. I was just saying how one could think Moore's a freak but still respect his talent, even though he doesn't seem to respect his fans.

Sorry for getting off topic.

Currently (not in order):

Jeff Smith (Bone)

Warren Ellis (Planetary, Ministry of Space, Authority, Global Frequency)

Alan Moore (Top Ten, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)

Eric Powell (Goon)

Mike Mignola (Hellboy, BPRD)


Less current folks (not so much recent work - so to speak):

Dave Sim (Cerebus) -- finished 2nd TPB recently - great stuff -- awesome writing.

Frank Miller (300, Sin City, Give Me Liberty, Hard Boiled, Dark Knight Returns)

Alexandro Jodorowsky (Metabarons, Incal, Technopriests)

Enki Bilal (Nikopol Trilogy)

1. Alan Moore
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Grant Morrison
4. Jaime Hernandez
5. Dan Clowes

Warren Ellis doesn't make the list because I've been horribly unimpressed with his output for the past few years. Those three-issue "pop comics" of his are nearly unreadable.

Garth Ennis -- though his runs on "Preacher," "Hellblazer," and "Hitman" are excellent -- has been putting out too many bad Marvel comics these days to be considered by me for such a list.

I probably would have listed him, but I forgot about Hitman and his "War Stories" one shots and I'm too lazy to edit.

I argued it. I disagreed with you.

You thought everyone agreed with you, you were wrong.

You have the right to your opinion that he's a great writer, but you don't speak for everyone in the world, as I have just demonstrated.

Now quit your childish sputtering and move on, ok?