Well, 'The Killing Joke' is often considered among the best. It delved deep into the relationship between Batman and the Joker. 'Civil War' in the Marvel universe is also great. It pitted superhero against superhero, making readers question the concept of superhero registration. 'Kingdom Come' is a wonderful story too, showing an older generation of heroes dealing with a new, more violent breed of superheroes.
Another great one might be 'Watchmen'. Its complex narrative, deconstruction of superheroes, and deep exploration of themes like power and morality made it a milestone. It was a story that made people think more deeply about what superheroes could represent.
Some of the top ones could be 'The Dark Knight Returns' which redefined Batman in a darker, more aged setting. 'Watchmen' is also up there, with its complex characters and deconstruction of the superhero concept. And 'The Killing Joke' which delved deep into the relationship between Batman and the Joker.
Sure. 'The Dark Knight Returns' is a great Batman story. 'Watchmen' is a must - read for its complex narrative. 'X - Men: Days of Future Past' has cool time - travel. 'The Killing Joke' for the Batman - Joker dynamic. 'Civil War' for superhero conflict. 'Kingdom Come' about different generations of heroes. 'Maus' for its unique Holocaust story. 'Infinite Crisis' for big DC crossovers. 'All - Star Superman' for its take on the character.
In the case of 'Civil War' in the Marvel universe, it stands out because it divides the superhero community. It makes readers question loyalty, freedom, and the role of superheroes in society. It's a huge event that involves so many beloved characters and their different stances.
At Marvel, the 'X - Men: Days of Future Past' is a great one. It involves time - travel and shows a dystopian future where mutants are hunted. The X - Men have to go back in time to prevent this future from happening, with a great blend of action, character development, and exploration of themes like discrimination against mutants.
One of the top stories is 'The Infinity Gauntlet'. It features Thanos collecting all the Infinity Stones and his attempt to reshape the universe. It's a classic that has been adapted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well.
One of the top 100 could be 'The Dark Knight Returns' by Frank Miller. It's a very influential story that redefined Batman in a darker, more complex way. Another might be 'Watchmen' which is known for its deconstruction of the superhero concept.
One of the worst could be 'One More Day' in the Spider - Man comics. It undid Peter Parker's marriage in a rather contrived way that many fans disliked. Another might be 'Civil War II' which had a convoluted plot and some characterizations that felt off. And 'Hawkeye' (2017) where the story just didn't seem to capture the essence of the character well.
Some of the top controversial comic book stories include 'Hawkeye' where the character's new direction and the art style were polarizing. 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' was controversial as it presented a much darker and older Batman, which was a departure from the norm. Also, 'Infinite Crisis' with its convoluted plot and the way it brought back and changed characters caused a great deal of controversy in the comic book community.