https://www.cbr.com Covering comics, movies, TV like no other in the world. CBR.com is all you need! Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:15:26 GMT en-US hourly 60 Since Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, the company has turned it into a multimedia franchise. This has had many benefits, including a renewed interest in the comic book exploits of heroes featured in the MCU.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-disney-variant-covers-ranked/ DC Comics pioneered the superhero, creating the first, and many would argue greatest, heroes of all time. These Golden Age originals were bold new creations. Early DC creators took inspiration from the world of pulp detective stories, sci-fi, fantasy, and more to bring them to life. Many of the origin tropes most associated with superheroes came from DC at this time, and creators working for the publisher have re-used them time and time again.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 20:01:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-overused-origin-tropes/ The Guardians of the Universe chose their Green Lantern Corps members based on several requirements: those worthy must have strong wills and must possess the ability to overcome great fear. While the majority of Green Lantern members are heroes like Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner and John Stewart, the power rings have chosen several villains like Sinestro and Harley Quinn.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:20:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-best-villains-green-latern-rings-worthy/ It's no secret that DC Comics have made Batman the centerpiece of their publishing strategy, through both miniseries and ongoing titles. Having been created in 1939, Batman was one of the company's first heroes. Over time, his story got reimagined and reinvented through multiple eras of comics. Many of these takes on Batman are more than overdue for a revisit.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:10:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-batman-miniseries-timeline-wishlist/ Unquestionably one of the most iconic Star Wars characters, Darth Vader has some of the best stories in the series even in the comic book space. It might not be the primary medium fans will think to look into the villain considering how strong the franchise's presence is on screen.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:50:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-dark-horse-marvel-best-darth-vader-comics/ Doctor Doom may have debuted as a Fantastic Four villain, but he has repeatedly threatened the entire Marvel Universe, using his power and resources from Latveria to challenge Spider-Man and the Avengers, and gaining godlike powers in multiple Secret Wars events. If Doctor Doom crossed over into the DC Comics universe, which villains would he team up with?

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:40:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/doctor-doom-dc-villains-team-ups-wishlist/ The Penguin stars in his own ongoing comic series written by Tom King and illustrated by Rafael de Latorre. Three issues into his run, the Penguin is probably not the Batman villain that most DC readers expected to headline his own comic book. Surely, the Dark Knight's rogues gallery is full of foes who deserve the spotlight more.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:16:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-best-villains-deserve-comic-series-after-penguin/ The Justice League was formed by DC Comics in 1960 to unite seven of their greatest heroes in comics at the time, from Batman to Aquaman. In the over six decades since their creation, the team has expanded greatly, with a slew of unique rosters that assembled heroes from across the DCU. With such variety on the powerhouse team, countless heroes from across indie comics would also be great fits to serve on the JLA alongside Batman and Superman.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-indie-comic-heroes-who-could-join/ Over the hero's sixty-one-year publishing history, Spider-Man has demonstrated an astounding capacity for genre-hopping. The misfortune marring Peter Parker's life coupled with his unimpeachable quippy nature means the Web-Slinger is just as home in a romping comedy as he is in a heartbreaking tragedy.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:20:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-spider-man-comics-from-other-genres/ Comics are an amazing synthesis of art and writing. The creators who work on comics aren't in it for the money, as the vast majority of creators never make enough money to be creators full-time. The ones who are lucky enough to get to Marvel or DC have made it through an industry that is known for chewing up and spitting out creators. Artists have long been the superstars of the comic world, as their work is the first thing people see when they buy a comic.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 17:10:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-artists-who-clearly-adore-what-they-draw/ In 1983, DC acquired Charlton comics. With it, they also acquired their catalog of superhero characters, many created by Steve Ditko. Alan Moore (an admirer of Ditko despite their polar opposite politics), saw an opportunity to use these characters for a story he'd been eager to write: a superhero murder mystery.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 15:50:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/watchmen-charlton-comics-inspiration-explained/ The world of DC Comics is populated by a wide variety of heroes and villains, whose abilities range from feeble mortals to god-like beings from beyond the stars. Sometimes, even the weakest of villains can get an upgrade, occasionally developing abilities that make them almost unbeatable. These upgrades are sometimes accompanied by the heroes gaining an upgrade, finally meeting their match or even being overpowered, forcing them to use their intellect.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:40:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-weak-villains-who-went-god-mode/ As the cover to Batman/Superman: World's Finest #20 promises, "Mark Waid returns to the world of Kingdom Come!" Created by Waid and artist Alex Ross, Kingdom Come explored an alternate DC future where a new generation of heroes and a misguided older Batman force Superman out of retirement. The new arc of the World's Finest comic teases the Superman and Batman of the main DC continuity journeying to this beloved Elseworld.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/worlds-finest-batman-superman-elseworlds-comic-wishlist/ Superhero stories have some pretty well-known tropes. One of these is the comeback story. Marvel and DC have told countless stories that have had characters, heroes, and villains alike, taken out of play. Sometimes they're killed, sometimes their books are canceled, and sometimes the characters lose popularity and just go away. Comeback stories bring these characters back in a variety of ways.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-superhero-comeback-comics/ DC Comics has given readers some amazing superheroes over the years — DC's heroes are seen as some of the greatest ever and held to a higher standard. However, that doesn't mean those standards are upheld for everyone. There are some pretty apparent double standards in the DC Universe, where one hero can get away with something that others can't, or some heroes are treated better when their actions are pretty reprehensible.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 19:30:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-biggest-double-standards/ The X-Men's Krakoa Era has been the most fruitful era for the team since Grant Morrison took over the rechristened New X-Men. The whole thing started hopefully, with the X-Men creating a mutant nation and finally taking power for themselves in the world. However, these are X-Men comics, so things have to get pretty dark. Marvel would never allow the X-Men to get a moment where the world isn't trying to destroy them.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:21:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/x-men-darkest-krakoa-age-comics/ The Justice League was created in 1960 to assemble DC Comics' greatest heroes to protect Earth, with an all-star line-up that included Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The team has since become one of the biggest hits in comics and is arguably the biggest and most well-known superhero team alongside the X-Men. It should come as no surprise that such an iconic team would have many analogs and homages throughout the industry.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/indie-comics-variations-of-the-justice-league/ In the world of superhero comics, there is an age-old question: who would win — Marvel's heroes or DC's? This issue has caused discord among fans for years and sometimes the companies themselves have gotten in on it. This was most notable at Marvel during Stan Lee's time and Joe Quesada's, who stoked the fires of this friendly rivalry.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:50:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-heroes-vs-dc-heroes/ Wolverine is the best there is at what he does. This is something Wolverine has reminded people of for ages now, but everyone knows it isn't exactly true. Wolverine's healing factor, adamantium skeleton, and claws have made him an incredibly dangerous mutant, and his over a century of life has made him into an extremely skilled fighter. Wolverine might not always win, but he definitely does a lot of damage. However, he could do way more damage.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:40:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wolverine-best-useful-villain-upgrades/ From the dawn of the Marvel Universe, there have been high-flying heroes dedicated to protecting their world in any way that they can. Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long after the debut of Marvel's original heroes before super teams such as the Invaders and Avengers began to form.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 13:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-horrifying-superhero-teams-ranked/ Spider-Man wasn't Marvel's first hero, but he was the first of a new breed. The Silver Age brought Marvel back to the superhero game, and while they had a lot of success right out the gate, Spider-Man represented a new level. Up until Spider-Man, Marvel's heroes were basically Cold War exemplars of what an American should be - talented people who used their gifts to help the people around them - that were role models but not really relatable.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spiderman-biggest-moments-changed-marvel-comics/ The Flash is one of DC's most powerful heroes and his ability to harness the Speed Force presents writers and artists with unlimited narrative possibilities. Across comics, television shows, animated series and movies, the Flash has traveled DC's multiverse, interacting with alternate Flashs, battling evil versions of the Justice League, and saving infinite worlds from the Anti-Monitor.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:50:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/flash-dc-multiverse-best-comics-episodes/ While Marvel and DC primarily print superhero comics, Mad Cave Studios publishes series spanning nearly every literary genre. Mad Cave primarily presents creator-owned, indie comics, and while they only established themselves in 2014, the independent publisher has already amassed quite the collection of amazing comic books.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:40:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mad-cave-studios-greatest-comic-series-ranked/ New York City houses the majority of Marvel's superheroes, operating as the hub of the Avengers, X-Men, and Defenders. Nearly every Spider-Man game takes place in the sprawling city, and many comic events use the city as their backdrop. Some of Spider-Man's best comics actively involve New York's heroes or the whole city itself.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spiderman-best-comic-events-featuring-new-york-ranked/ BOOM! Studios has been quite impressive in the horror genre. Their most popular title is Something is Killing the Children from James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'edera, Miquel Muerto and Andworld Design. Netflix is adapting Something is Killing the Children, mining the scary stories of young kids who are attacked and mutilated by invisible creatures.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:15:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/something-is-killing-the-children-best-boom-comics/ Calvin and Hobbes has been a cultural cornerstone for decades. The comic strip features the six-year-old Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, as they experience numerous adventures that often torment Calvin's family. As an energetic child with an incredible sense of imagination, Calvin sometimes becomes a constant source of frustration for everyone around him.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 21:16:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/calvin-hobbes-best-calvin-stories/ The DC Universe boasts an astonishing array of villains, each with their own unique malevolence. While Iconic adversaries like the Joker, Lex Luthor, and Sinestro often take center stage, their stories endlessly retold, they cast a shadow over countless lesser-known foes, buried in the annals of time.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 18:20:52 GMT https://www.cbr.com/forgotten-dc-comics-villains/ Batman is a DC icon. The character is the most popular DC character of them all, overtaking Superman and Wonder Woman in recent years. Batman is a massive part of DC's media output, from comics to movies to TV to video games. Batman sells and even when there were other characters more popular than him, he was still massively influential on both the comic industry in general and DC Comics in particular.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:10:29 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-important-moments-dc-comics/ Image Comics emerged as a dominant force in indie comics in the 1990s when some of Marvel's premier artists banded together to form the company. Known for its commitment to creator rights and creator-owned properties, Image houses some of the greatest new heroes of the Modern Age. Like any great comic book company, these heroes have crossed over with both fellow Image characters and heroes from the Big Two.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 14:40:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/image-comics-best-crossovers/ In the rich tapestry of DC Comics, iconic relationships like Superman and Lois Lane, Batman and Catwoman, and Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor have stood the test of time. Yet, in alternate narratives like Elseworlds tales, fan-generated online content, and adaptations in film and TV, new and compelling romantic dynamics emerge.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:00:31 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-romances-canon-wish-list-ranked/ DC Comics has made Batman their flagship hero through a long history of brilliant and iconic comic book stories. With one of the biggest supporting casts of any superhero, Batman is surrounded by friends, enemies and everything in between. From cops who are reluctant allies of the Dark Knight to former sidekicks and morally grey villains, the hero has been betrayed on all fronts throughout his history.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:15:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-biggest-traitors-ranked/ The Avengers are a household name because of the MCU, but it wasn't always that way. The Avengers burst onto the scene in 1963, combining Marvel's greatest heroes and pitting them against threats that no one hero could face on their own. Avengers was long the place for Marvel fans to read about their favorite heroes in one place, taking on big stakes threats that made comics exciting. The Avengers' popularity fell down a well once the X-Men became ascendant in the 1980s, only coming back in the '00s because Marvel toned down on the X-Men hype.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:21:30 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-avengers-comics-important-history-trivia/ With characters such as Ben Reilly, Spidercide and even the demonic Rek-Rap becoming more and more prominent in the last few years of Amazing Spider-Man, now is an appropriate time to go over the various Spider-Man clones in the Marvel Universe.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:10:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-clone-history/ Over decades of X-Men comics, several plot threads have become iconic. The X-Men fight for those who hate and fear them, take on gigantic mutant-killing sentinels, and live in a mansion filled with young mutants. While they're rarely connected with Marvel's sci-fi line-up, the team also became known for their constant time travel adventures.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:40:36 GMT https://www.cbr.com/xmen-best-time-travel-stories/ In 1993, Mike Mignola introduced Hellboy in John Byrne's Next Men #21, a hero who captivated a generation of comic book fan as the perfect indie occult superhero. Following his breakout solo miniseries, Seed of Destruction, Mignola established an entire shared universe around his Hero with a Red Right Hand. This universe, dubbed the MignolaVerse, contains many great heroes who frequently have their stories told without the inclusion of Hellboy.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mignolaverse-non-hellboy-comics-ranked/ Boom! Studios has established itself as a dominant force in indie comics, with a combined strategy of fantastic creator-owned comics and masterful adaptations of licensed franchises. Like all the best comic book publishers, Boom! has published some excellent comic book crossovers, both in-house and intercompany collaboration. From the meeting between adventure heroes and A-list superheroes to the collisions of movies, the company is a master at crossovers.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:15:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/boom-studios-comic-crossovers-ranked/ For decades, the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, created and drawn by artist Bill Watterson, entertained fans of all ages. The main characters in Calvin and Hobbes are the titular Calvin, a six-year-old child, and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, who comes to life when he and Calvin are alone. Every day, the pair go on adventures, whether in their living room, the woods near their house, or even at school.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hobbes-better-than-calvin-comic-strips/ Going all the way back to the first comic book stories, demons, the supernatural, and occultism have been a thriving and popular aspect of the medium. Dark magicians, mystical villains, and magical dimensions were present in superhero comics from the start, and modern stories have only doubled down. Naturally, many heroes with a skill for occult mystery have made a name for themselves through some brilliant stories.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:30:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-occult-detectives-best-ranked/ The first Flash, Jay Garrick, was introduced in the Golden Age, founding the Justice Society, and creating a mantle that would extend over 80 years into the future. The next Flash was Barry Allen, whose debut kicked off the Silver Age of comics. Wally West would become the third Flash in the '80s, followed by John Fox, Bart Allen, and Avery Ho. The Flash is the greatest legacy mantle in comics.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:20:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/flash-comics-most-important-lore-new-readers/ Secrets are present all throughout Marvel Comics. Many superheroes like Spider-Man are desperate to protect their identities from supervillains, and others are even more terrified of their families facing threats. Many characters even develop secret societies meant to either protect or destroy entire sects of the Marvel universe. Whole events, including House of X, Time Runs Out, and Secret Wars, revolve around these secrets.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:10:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/good-marvel-secrets/ Batman and Catwoman clash in Gotham War after years of an on-again-off-again unofficial relationship. As many Batman comics have explored, there's several ongoing trends in Bruce Wayne and Batman's dating life. Given the Dark Knight is "married to the job," it's extremely difficult for him to maintain long-term relationships.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:50:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-bruce-wayne-major-love-interests-chronological-order/ A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts. Some of the greatest comic book series of all time are finite. While Batman and Spider-Man will always exist in ongoing comics, released month after month, Image Comics dedicated much of its publishing catalog to miniseries and limited series. Creators like Scott Snyder, Jeff Lemire and Kelly Sue DeConnick flexed their creative muscles and crafted the beginning, middle and end to these tales.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:40:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/image-comics-best-miniseries-ranked/ Before Marvel revolutionized superheroes in the Silver Age, the publisher had been doing monster comics. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby took inspiration from those older Marvel comics, a man made into a monster, chased by the military, and finding himself in the strangest situations possible. The Hulk would quickly become hyper popular and since then the Jade Giant has become a fixture of the Marvel Universe.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hulk-most-important-comics-lore-new-readers/ In the 1990s, Dark Horse Comics established itself as one of the greatest indie comic book publishers through a combined strategy of original content alongside iconic licensed franchises. Many iconic heroes, from RoboCop and Tarzan to Terminator and the worlds of Alien and Predator have had their stories told under Dark Horse. However, the company also has a thriving roster of original heroes created by some of the industry's most prolific creators.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 01:31:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dark-horse-best-heroes-ranked/ One thing many DC fans often argue about is just how capable Batman is as a father. Sure, the Dark Knight is a cerebral, competent vigilante. But as a man, Bruce Wayne has many flaws and often, his stewardship leaves a lot to be desired. A key weakness seems to be Batman's habit of indoctrinating child soldiers, namely the Robins.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:15:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/robin-dc-comics-deaths-chronological-order/ Batman is one of the most successful heroes in comics, as well as the flagship superhero of DC Comics. In a city full of super villains, organized crime and potentially world-ending threats, Batman is one of the best-equipped heroes in comics. However, his foes are similarly equipped with some heavy weaponry, and the city is no stranger to these characters wreaking havoc with their gadgets, guns and toxins.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:16:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-weapons-powerful-ranked/ The Justice League is the greatest team in the DC Multiverse. The group comprises the greatest heroes on Earth and they've saved creation many times over. The Justice League's history remains one of the most complicated in comics. When multiple continuity reboots have changed things, this can make it very difficult for new fans. It's hard to know where to start and what counts, which can be daunting.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:30:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-important-justice-league-comic-lore/ DC Comics has made magic a focal point since the Golden Age, borrowing from a combination of old mythology, Biblical concepts and sorcery. This has led to one of the best and most thriving magical worlds in fiction, replete with some of comics' most iconic heroes, powers and artifacts. These items have led to some incredible upgrades for DC's heroes and villains, allowing for some brilliant feats in their stories.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:21:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-magical-upgrades-ranked/ Horror has always been an indelible part of the comic book medium, and while it has waned in popularity at times, the genre has never truly disappeared. In fact, the past few years have seen a resurgence of horror comics, and 2023 has been no different.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 17:10:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/horror-comics-2023-best/ Marvel Comics has pushed forward with the gorgeously crafted Black, White and Red format. While the House of Ideas initially branched out into the limited color palette publishing strategy with its own superheroes like Moon Knight and Deadpool, Marvel has now begun producing a version centered on Darth Vader.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 15:10:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-characters-need-black-white-red-marvel-comic/ Superhero comics are defined through characters, both heroes and villains, who possess extraordinary abilities and powers and the battles that ensue. Marvel and DC Comics have come to dominate the industry, and the template for what makes a good hero and villain can be found in the many series published by them. Villains, in particular, have been given a wide array of abilities designed to give the heroes fresh and interesting challenges.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 13:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/most-common-super-villain-powers/ Batman has been built up as DC's flagship superhero, as well as one of the most successful and versatile characters in comics. Debuting in Bob Kane and Bill Finger's Detective Comics #27, the hero has been established as Gotham's Dark Knight and a quintessential antihero. Throughout his history, Batman has been embroiled in some of the greatest battles in comics, but some were definitely over-the-top.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:01:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-silliest-wars-ranked/ The comic book industry has been defined through the superhero genre above all else, most notably using a vast array of superpowers to elevate their characters. Marvel and DC Comics have emerged as the leaders of the industry, but there's a wide range of heroes across the industry who share some common abilities. Ranging from elemental control to mind-reading, many of these are well-known and loved and often subject to debate among fans.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/most-common-superhero-powers/ Boom! Studios has emerged as a dominant force in the indie comics scene, combining creator-owned stories with masterful treatment of licensed franchises. Everything from treasured Saturday-morning cartoon characters to cult horror characters have found a home at the company. Fans of some of these franchises have been fortunate enough to see their original creators pen continuations of their stories, offering up semi-official sequels or prequels to iconic movies and TV shows.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 20:31:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/boom-studios-vital-licensed-comics-ranked/ Wolverine is ridiculously popular. The ol'Canucklehead first appeared as a third wheel in a battle between the Hulk and Wendigo, but big things were on the horizon. Wolverine joined the X-Men and became the breakout star of the team. Soon, Wolverine jumped to the head of the popularity line, joining Spider-Man as one of the most popular Marvel superheroes. Wolverine is a massive star, but there are always new fans learning the gospel of Logan.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 20:15:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wolverine-vital-lore-new-fans/ The X-Men rose from extremely humble origins to overtake Marvel's most popular characters. X-Men comics are the bestselling comics of the last 40 years, and they've become a fertile corner of the Marvel Universe. New fans are always getting into the X-Men, and that can be rather difficult. X-Men history is quite convoluted and has a reputation for being opaque to new fans. However, there are some pieces of lore that every new fan needs to know.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 19:10:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/xmen-vital-lore-new-fans/ Marvel has gotten very good at taking advantage of their own success. Over the years, Marvel has made characters popular, sometimes as sidekicks and sometimes in team books, and pushed those characters to the moon. This will usually involve them getting a miniseries, and a character has truly made it when they finally get an ongoing. A solo ongoing is the ultimate test for a character. They're the stars of the show, and they have to be able to keep everyone interested.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 16:40:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-heroes-no-solo-ongoing-comic/ Werewolf by Night isn't the most mainstream Marvel character, but he has been howling around for several decades. Introduced during the horror boom of the Bronze Age, this era gave Jack Russell and his lycan alter ego several supernatural adventures. This has allowed him to face just as many enemies, some of which have proven particularly deadly.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 15:10:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/werewolf-by-night-villains-ranked/ Just one year after DC Comics debuted the Justice League, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby crafted a super-team of their own called the Fantastic Four. Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Thing, and the Human Torch are cosmic explorers, and their paths have crossed with plenty of other Marvel superheroes.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 13:16:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fantastic-four-comics-best-hero-team-ups-ranked/ Peter Parker lives a very extraordinary life battling supervillains, fighting off alien symbiotes, and disproving false claims from renegade clones. Time travel doesn't seem beyond the realm of possibilities and Spider-Man has surprisingly traveled Marvel's timestream quite a lot.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 23:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spiderman-best-time-travel-comics/ Spider-Man is Marvel's most popular superhero and has been for a long time. Even with the success of the MCU, Spider-Man is still in the driver's seat, selling merch and comics like no one else. When Spider-Man comics are good, they are some of the best ever, as evidenced by stories like The Night Gwen Stacy Died and Kraven's Last Hunt. When they're bad, they're infamous, like the Clone Saga or the current The Amazing Spider-Man run where editor Nick Lowe and writer Zeb Wells are finding new ways to make Spider-Man fans unhappy.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 21:20:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-comics-biggest-unaddressed-issues/ The comic book industry is full of brilliant characters, pulled from original comic book stories to licenses of popular, mainstream franchises. Throughout industry history, readers have been enthralled by the idea of comic book grudge matches, which let them see how some of their favorite characters stack up against each other. Some of these fights can last several issues and show why two characters are such a good match.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 20:45:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/comics-grudge-fights-fans-want-after-predator-versus-wolverine/ For more than 30 years, the franchise that began with 1993's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers has enthralled fans with dozens of iterations of its iconic color-coded superhero team. Along the way, the franchise has also introduced just as many unforgettable villains, though not all of these monstrous foes have been what anyone would describe as menacing.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 19:51:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dangerous-power-rangers-villains-in-comics/ After Barry Allen survived the lightning strike, he could harness the Speed Force, a force that holds the multiverse together, allowing him to travel at great speeds and even break the time barrier. The Flash is undoubtedly one of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe, meaning equally powerful, cunning and intelligent villains oppose him. If the Flash harnessed their powers and abilities, he could give himself an upgrade.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 19:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/flash-comics-best-useful-villain-upgrades/ For more than sixty years, Peter Parker, better known as the Amazing Spider-Man has astonished fans of all ages through his web-slinging exploits. However, Peter isn't the only one to take up the mantle of Spider-Man, as several different versions of the iconic webslinger have been seen thoughout the years.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 16:40:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spider-men-most-horrifying-multiverse-marvel-ranked/ Spider-Man is the face of Marvel Comics, with the character being a major hero since his introduction in the Silver Age of Comics. Of course, popularity leads to imitation, with other companies trying to create their own takes on the webslinger over the years. In fact, even Marvel's tried to emulate the formula that made one of their most iconic heroes such a popular character.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 15:10:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/superheroes-spider-man-marvel-ranked/ Batman's Bat-Family is built upon mutual respect and trust, unfortunately, in a city as warped as Gotham, trust is hard to come by. Despite being a family, there have been numerous instances where a member of the Bat-Family has betrayed their teammates to pursue their own agenda.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:15:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bat-family-betrayals-batman-comics/ After Disney acquired the rights to various Marvel properties, the beloved Spectacular Spider-Man was canceled ahead of its third season. The producers never officially unveiled season three's content, but they hinted at characters and story arcs that could have appeared. Spectacular Spider-Man season three rumors involved debut appearances from Scorpion, Hobgoblin and Carnage.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 00:15:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spectacular-spiderman-season-3-comic-adaptations/ Batman has featured in countless DC comics, and has earned his status as one of the most successful characters in fiction. At any given time, the hero features in anywhere from five to a dozen titles, ranging from his inclusion on the Justice League to his many miniseries. However, many of these stories, great as they may be, were held back by going a little too hard on fan service.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 23:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-comics-fan-service-held-back-ranked/ The Avengers are Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and often stand at the forefront of the most climactic battles in the universe. The Avengers are heroes through and through, so they put up with a lot from the heroes they work with. Many of them aren't exactly favorites of the Avengers.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 20:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/avengers-dislike-deadpool-other-marvel-heroes/ A hero is only as good as their villains and Marvel has amazing villains in spades. Marvel characters have layers. Heroes can be villainous and villains can be heroic. Many villains are multifaceted characters and have amassed massive fanbases. Over the years, there have been multiple villains who have become heroes and others with origins that share a lot in common with heroic ones.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:16:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-comics-villains-make-better-heroes/ Daredevil has seen a deserved resurgence in mainstream spaces, partly thanks to the character's acclaimed TV show, and Marvel has plenty of comics available for the uninitiated reader. The Man Without Fear has the benefit of being one of the publishers' most consistently well-written superheroes over the course of his long career as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:11:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/daredevil-comics-non-fans-ranked/ Comic book crossovers have made for some of the most enjoyable concepts in the industry, giving readers a rare look at two or more characters or teams from different worlds teaming up. Although many of these stories don't make their way into canon, they rank top of the list in the annals of some heroes' histories when it comes to their best comics. Unfortunately, some crossovers are woefully short.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:40:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-crossovers-too-short-ranked/ DC Comics recently showcased a merger of their two biggest heroes, Batman and Superman, in World's Finest. Their fusion created the "SuperBat," an idea that became an instant hit, prompting talk of future mergers. As interesting as the idea might be for more heroes, there's just as much potential when for villains to fuse, whether from DC, Marvel or elsewhere.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:16:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/worlds-finest-superbat-villain-fusions/ Justice League comics house some of DC's best stories. Naturally, many writers on the team love to play into good fan service to please readers and boost sales, an idea that has been put to great use over the years. Fan service can be a great thing in comics, but it certainly has its drawbacks too, and can throw off the pacing of a great story.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-best-comics-too-much-fan-service/ The Bronze Age of DC Comics existed from 1970 to 1985 ending with the massively successful and legendary Crisis on Infinite Earths. The comic event effectively reset the DC Universe, creating the "pre-Crisis" and "post-Crisis" terminology referring to the times before and after. Barry Allen's Flash was a central figure in the birth of the Silver Age and helped conclude the Bronze.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/flash-greatest-bronze-age-comics-ranked/ Batman and Spider-Man have a lot in common. Batman and The Amazing Spider-Man are consistently the bestselling titles in the superhero comic industry. Their respective publishers milk them for all they're worth. Everyone knows who they are and there's a good chance that one or both of them is the favorite superhero of someone who has never read comics before. They both are based on animals that some people are scared of and have "man" in their name.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 19:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-spiderman-biggest-differences/ The DC Universe is populated by countless heroes, villains and everything in between, who enrich the stories told about the ongoing war between good and evil. The company has turned some of its best characters into icons of fiction, in part thanks to their well-known origin stories and histories. However, some characters, interesting as they may be, are still shrouded in mystery despite appearing in many great stories.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:41:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-characters-cool-mysterious-ranked/ The Justice League are the DC multiverse's greatest team. They've battled everyone from universal destroyers to D-list mad scientists. Over the years, the Justice League's roster has included just about every major hero on Earth. Some members and allies of the Justice League are more trouble than they're worth.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:10:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-dislike-guy-gardner-other-heroes/ In the early 2000s, IDW Publishing established itself as a leading publisher of indie comics. Ever since, it has earned its reputation among readers for striking a great balance between original stories and honoring classic franchises. Considering both its creator-owned properties and rights to publish some of TV and film's greatest heroes, it's only natural that the company would invest in a number of fantastic crossover stories.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:15:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/idw-comic-book-crossovers-ranked/ Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel are arguably the biggest superheroines in the comic industry. The argument can be made that Jean Grey, Storm, or Scarlet Witch are more important and perhaps more beloved, but Captain Marvel has had her own book longer than all of them put together. Wonder Woman is a feminist and queer icon, a hero who blazed a new trail for everyone that came after her, including Captain Marvel.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:43 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wonder-woman-captain-marvel-major-differences/ The Green Lantern Corps represent the greatest peace-keeping force in the DC universe. Created by the Guardians of the Universe, they channel the power of will through their rings, which allow them to form hard light constructs. As great as these heroes are at battling evil throughout the universe, they can always use an upgrade that can help them in their mission, and some of these come from villains.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 23:00:40 GMT https://www.cbr.com/green-lantern-villain-upgrades-ranked/ DC has made the Doom Patrol their home for strange heroes and weird stories. Throughout the six decades since the team were first introduced, they've partnered with a number of characters from across the DCU. Having been first united and created by Niles Caulder, also known as "the Chief," the team have since been left without a mainstay leader. Although members of the team have taken up that role, looking outside could bring in someone better suited for the role.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:30:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/doom-patrol-potential-superhero-leaders-ranked/ Since the 1990s, Dark Horse has been a fan-favorite publisher in the indie comics scene, thanks to a great combination of licensed franchises and original content. With heroes like Hellboy, RoboCop and Judge Dredd all having made their way into the pages of Dark Horse, the company has a particularly strong list of miniseries.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:10:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dark-horse-comics-best-miniseries-ranked/ The Joker easily stands as Batman's most iconic supervillain, responsible for countless atrocities against the extended Bat-family and Gotham City's turmoil. Debuting in 1940, even without notable superhuman powers, he's established himself as a world-class villain, able to believably take on the Justice League even if he'd rather focus on the Dark Knight.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 18:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-joker-stories-dc-comics/ 40 years ago, 1984's Secret Wars changed Marvel Comics forever. Heroes and villains were torn from the Earth and thrown into a makeshift Battleworld. The Beyonder made a name for himself as a devastating cosmic threat, Doctor Doom rose as a premiere villain, and superheroes began revealing their true colors in the face of devastating circumstances.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:40:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/secret-wars-1984-marvel-best-event-comic/ There are some excellent relationships in comics. Many partners, like Lois Lane and Superman, are inseparable. In their own way, these relationships make both characters better. It strengthens them and motivates them to do better, which ensures that they both remain relevant and compelling in their comics. Without those relationships, both of characters will suffer.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:11:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/toxic-comic-romances-marvel-dc/ The Green Lantern mythos is one of the greatest parts of DC Comics. With fan-favorite heroes like Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Alan Scott and Jessica Cruz, the Green Lantern Corps represent the epitome of science fiction superhero comics. Whether it's space cops or the Golden Age magic of Scott, these one-shot annual comics can be great done-in-one adventures or tie-ins for bigger stories.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:16:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/green-lantern-comics-best-annuals-ranked/ Marvel and relaunches go hand in hand, but they're rarely as ambitious as House of X. Writer Jonathan Hickman was given carte blanche to do whatever he wanted with the X-Men mythos and was able to create Marvel's hottest line of books in years. The X-Men books became the most exciting comics at the publisher, and a big reason for that was the way House of X and its sister book Powers of X took a big swing, knocking it out of the park.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 23:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/house-of-x-marvel-comics-need-reset/ DC Comics is home to many great heroes, villains and powers. Some of the ideas the company has always excelled at include the subject of magic, history and mythology. Considering DC's aptitude for these, it's only natural that they'd make good use of a series of artifacts, from both their own canon and real world mythology.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 22:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-most-powerful-artifacts-ranked/ Over the course of its 10-year run, Calvin and Hobbes thrilled readers with the joyous stories of Calvin and his stuffed best friend. Until 1995, Bill Watterson spent his days portraying the duo in outer space, stuffy classrooms, and even prehistoric Earth, and it captured the attention of countless readers.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:30:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/calvin-and-hobbes-best-comic-strip/ My Adventures with Superman re-imagines Superman's story as a Western-style lighthearted shonen and fans love it. This series is a refreshing take on the Superman mythos without greatly altering it, so fans would love to see more series like My Adventures with Superman for other DC characters. Besides Superman, there are plenty of DC heroes -- and even villains -- who could star in their own shonen-like cartoon.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 19:11:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/my-adventures-with-superman-dc-characters-deserve-animated-series/ DC Comics has been creating superheroes for almost a century, so it's not really surprising that many of its heroes' names haven't aged well. Cultural mores and trends change, and names that sounded interesting in 1938 can now come across as ridiculous or even problematic. Some heroic personas have too much baggage attached to them, some are simply outdated, and others were simply unlucky.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 18:10:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-superhero-names-aged-poorly/ Spider-Man's "Clone Saga," is a sprawling epic that dominated his books for more than two years in the mid-1990s. Simply put, the plot revolves around a clone of Peter named Ben Reilly who returns to New York and is declared the original Parker, even taking on the mantle of Spider-Man for a time before dying heroically. The main problem was it was anything but simple, and the endless twists and turns exhausted the web-head's fanbase. By the time the long-running storyline finally ended, fans wanted to put it behind them and Marvel was happy to oblige. Peter Parker was back in the Spidey suit and the whole event was swept under the rug.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:41:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-clone-sage-best-event-ranked/ Marvel Comics houses many events that fans consider the greatest. Secret Invasion, stands tall, for example as it focused on Skrulls assuming positions of power, hoping to take the planet for themselves. It's a concept the MCU recently adapted. However, there are quite a few reasons that 2006's Civil War from Mark Millar, Steve McNiven and a slew of other creatives outshine the rest.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:15:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/civil-war-best-avengers-comic-event/ Wolverine and the X-Men was a reboot of the X-Men cartoon from 2009. Much like X-Men: Evolution before it, this show focused on Wolverine as the linchpin of the X-Men, while also using parts of the team from Astonishing X-Men. The going consensus for the show is that it was pretty good, but it did only last one season. It had some rather interesting plot lines, many of which were re-imaginings of classic X-Men stories, but its short length meant that much of what was set up in the first season never got paid off.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:45:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wolverine-xmen-animated-series-season-2-marvel-comics-adaptations/ The breakout success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was arguably the final push for getting Andrzej Sapkowski's beloved dark fantasy franchise into the mainstream, but the property has also spawned some excellent comics, courtesy of Dark Horse.

]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2023 23:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/witcher-dark-horse-best-comics/ The X-Men have gotten a reputation for dark stories over the years. Comics like The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past threw brutal endings at readers, but honestly they mostly made sense for the stories they were in. X-Men stories since those two have often gone in pretty dark directions, but most of the time it made perfect sense because they were built up to be dark stories. That's not the case with all of them, though.

]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2023 20:30:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/xmen-best-comics-surprise-dark-endings-ranked/ The finale of My Adventures with Superman set the tone for the second season by introducing Brainiac and the rest of the Kryptonians during its last scene. This was only a sneak peek of what is yet to come for this show. Like Brainiac, fans are excited to see which other DC characters will appear on the show in the future.

]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/my-adventures-with-superman-dc-characters-wishlist/ Being a mutant is no joke. Whether they're a hero in the X-Men or a villainous member of the Brotherhood, death is always lurking around the corner. If it isn't a team on the opposite side trying to hunt them down, it's the humans who think mutants are freaks trying to usurp their place in the evolutionary chain. And that's not even counting all the times the Avengers showed up looking to start a fight for no discernible reason.

]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:11:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-mutant-powers-ranked/