Weekly Question – Best Single Issue Story 12/08/16
Comic stories can be told in many different ways. A six issue mini series. An ongoing story that is 900 plus issues in. An original graphic novel. But for me, the best is the one off. The single issue story. 26 to 20 pages (depending on the publishing year of course) and you get a complete story, a beginning, middle and end for one low price, again, also depending on the publishing year. My first example, however, breaks that page count rule and shows up in an annual, a very unlikely place for one of the most iconic Superman stories of all time.
Another place where these stories happen is the fill in issue. Back in the day, when the main story was running late, the big publishers would have a file of ‘fill in issue’ to publish so a shipping date wasn’t missed and product was on the stands. Most times the fill ins were filler, but every once in a while, they hit gold, like with the Kid Who Collects Spider-Man.
Other times, the single issue story is used as a break between bigger stories. A pause for the readers and characters in the book. Sometimes it’s to lay the ground work for a future story line, or in this instance, it’s to introduce one of the most popular characters in DC/Vertigo history.
So this week, gentle listener, what is the best single issue story comic?
Just tweet us with your answer using the hash tag #LBHQuery. Don’t like or have Twitter? Need more room to explain your choice? Just leave a comment on this post!
We’ll compile up all the answers and talk about them on next week’s show! And maybe even more!
I’d like to vote for pre 52 Jonah Hex series? Grab pretty much any issue of that for an excellent one and done tale. Very rare in this age of writing for the trade.
BUT ,as far as one single issue, The Mighty Thor #385 has stuck with me through the years. Just a straight up brawl with the Hulk that tested them both to thar limits.
Animal Man 5: the coyote gospel.
The Wicked and the Divine issue 13. Absolutely one of the hardest issues to read but so damn important to read.