Top 5 BA Keys-non variant

[CurrinComics]

I'd like to know everyones choices for the top 5 BA keys, and for me my 1-4 is pretty clear cut, but #5 could be one of many books. Here is my top 5.

#1 Hulk 181
#2 GL/GA 76
#3 GSX-Men 1
#4 ASM 129
#5 Werewolf by Night 32

#5 could be one of many

X-Men 94
Iron Fist 14
Tomb of Dracula 10
House of Secrets 92
Marvel Spotlight 5
Marvel spotlight 2
Iron Man 55
ASM 122

Please feel free to list any I may have left out-Peace CC

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

This is my "off the shelf" period of collecting and I know that the book I always wanted the most was X-MEN #94. I knew it was the second app. of the new X-MEN but it was more desirable for me because it was within the series.

My second book of choice would have been the Hulk #181 and excuse my ignorance but I don't know what that Werewolf by Night 32 even is.....Ahh, Moon Knight, not a big one for me. Back then I really wanted that ASM #129, but now I won't even keep it if I get it.

[comicstock]

I'd knock out Marvel Spotlight #32 & stick X-Men #94 in your list at #4 moving Spidey #129 to #5. Spidey #122 would be at #6 then HOS #92. Everything else is just Honorable Mention IMHO.

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

I think ASM #121 is a more important comic than #122 IMO.

[comicworkbench]

#1 Hulk 181
#2 GL/GA 76
#3 GS X-men 1
#4 Amazing Spider-man 121
#5 House of Secrets 92

I like your top 3 Currincomics Gwen Stacy's death and Swamp Thing round things off for me. It helps I have 4/5 of them.

[marvelguy]

I think Marvel Feature #1 should be included. It's the first appearance of the Defenders. It could be a Honorable Mention book for BA keys.

[malaprop]

I was champing at the bit to post until I saw Comicworkbench's post, which I agree with. The Punisher was a flash in the pan, ASM 121/122 are much more significant to the developing of Spidey's legend.

[jaeldubyoo]

I'm surprised there's no mention of Conan #1. That one is on my list of five. I believe it to be the beginning of the Bronze Age. It may not be as popular as it once was, but it certainly is significant.

[SolitaireOne]

I'm surprised there's no mention of Conan #1. It may not be as popular as it once was, but it certainly is significant.
I certainly agree w/ that one! :mrgreen: Man, pulling together only "The Top 5" is a tough one...

My personal "Top 5":

1) ASM #121
2) ASM #129
3) Conan #1
4) GL #76
5) GS X-Men #1

* What, no Hero for Hire #1? :cool:

[Mr.Digglerstanley1]

I certainly agree w/ that one! :mrgreen: Man, pulling together only "The Top 5" is a tough one...

My personal "Top 5":

1) ASM #121
2) ASM #129
3) Conan #1
4) GL #76
5) GS X-Men #1

* What, no Hero for Hire #1? :cool:

Conan #1 should be on "the list". IMHO.:)

[comicworkbench]

You guys make some excellent points. Conan #1 and Marvel Feature #1 (Defenders 1st app.) should be in there but I cannot make room in my list to put them in. It should be a top 7 list. :o



#1 Hulk 181
#2 GL/GA 76
#3 GS X-men 1
#4 Amazing Spider-man 121
#5 House of Secrets 92

I like your top 3 Currincomics Gwen Stacy's death and Swamp Thing round things off for me. It helps I have 4/5 of them.

[marvelguy]

You guys make some excellent points. Conan #1 and Marvel Feature #1 (Defenders 1st app.) should be in there but I cannot make room in my list to put them in. It should be a top 7 list. :o


The list is huge for BA keys. I just thought of Adams works in DC. Should it count as keys like Ra's Al Ghul first appearance? That book sells for good money.

Conan #1 is a good key. Isn't there a earlier appearance before that in Tower of Shadows or some other Marvel horror book? I think it was a prototype of sorts.

[comicworkbench]

Was Savage Tales the 1st apearance of Conan? I do not have reference material with me right now.

[comicstock]

I think Savage Tales #1 hit the newsstands a year or two after Conan #1

[68 Guns]

From a historic point of view,Star Reach #1.
The first direct sales comic,first comic where creators recieved royalties and were able to keep their work.
Cerebus #1,from the collectors POV,should be on there.It certainly sells better than Spidey 121.

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

Cerebus is a good one, but it's so rare. Does it really belong on that list? It almost seems that it is in a separate category.

[fulltimer56]

There's talk that Conan #1 is the start of the BA!!

My list would be:

1) Conan #1
2) Giant-Size X-Men #1
3) 1st Issue #8
4) Hulk #181
5) X-Men #94?

[malaprop]

I've got no problem with Conan Linda, but you can't let 2 X-men books knock GL/GA 76 completely off the list.

[stupidman]

Based on artistic merit (I know, wishful thinking), my Top 5 would be:

#1 GL/GA 76 - Adams
#2 Conan #1 - BWS
#3 Amazing Spider-man 121 - Kane
#4 House of Secrets 92 - Wrightson
#5 GS X-Men #1 - Cockrum

Hulk #181 wouldn't even be in my Top 20. Herb Trimpe is terrible.

[SolitaireOne]

3) 1st Issue #8


Ah, yes... #cloud9# Another personal favorite ~ good call, Linda! ;)

[mordo]

Based on artistic merit (I know, wishful thinking), my Top 5 would be:

#1 GL/GA 76 - Adams
#2 Conan #1 - BWS
#3 Amazing Spider-man 121 - Kane
#4 House of Secrets 92 - Wrightson
#5 GS X-Men #1 - Cockrum


That's my Top 5 too, notwithstanding Kane on ASM #121. :)

[oxbladder]

Cerebus #1 and Batman #232 have to be on the list.

[fulltimer56]

Was Savage Tales the 1st apearance of Conan? I do not have reference material with me right now.

Conan first appearance in comics was in Conan the Barbarian #1 in October, 1970. There was a Conanesque (is that a word) hero with only one appearance in "Chamber of Darkness" in April, 1970 called "Starr the Slayer" that was written by Roy Thomas and art by Barry Windsor-Smith which is what you might be thinking of, comicworkbench!

Linda

[marvelguy]

That's it! It is Chamber of Darkness. I posted that it could be Tower of Shadows.

[stupidman]

That's my Top 5 too, notwithstanding Kane on ASM #121. :)

Gil Kane is my # 2 favorite artist, behind Neal Adams. Kane rocks!

[jaeldubyoo]

It’s really tough to just narrow it down to just five. There are so many to choose from. The criteria I used to choose my top five is based on the significant impact they had in comics. These are not necessarily my favorites in art, story or anything else. I think of these as major catalysts for change in comics. I did not include any independent ones because, while some are important, they did not have as much of widespread influence in the industry, which is dominated by the Big Two.

Here’s my list of five.

1. Giant-Size X-Men #1. Who can deny the importance of this comic? This marked the beginning of the mutant madness that became so prevalent in comics. I think of this comic as the most significant in the Bronze Age. No BA comic had more of overall impact to the comics industry.

2. Conan, the Barbarian #1. IMHO, this is the beginning of the Bronze Age. The start of something different in comics since the Comic Code was established. The rules must have changed because this savage anti-hero slashed and hacked his enemies to death. Who’da thunk the Comic Code would allow such murderous mayhem in a comic book? It was a turning point in comics that, for the most part, was rather squeaky clean and sterile up to that point. Conan was a barbaric thieving, reaving and all-around bad-ass kinda guy. Conan killed with blood-splattering regularity. The art by Barry Smith isn’t too shabby either.

3. Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76. Some would argue this is the beginning of the BA. I wouldn’t put up too much of an argument. Definitely a new direction by DC to bring more realistic and relevant stories in their comics. Certainly not the same old fluff they were churning out at the time. The art by Neal Adams is classic.

4. Actually I kinda cheated here. Amazing Spider-Man #121 and #122. For me, the two are really are one. This story changed the direction of comics to a darker, grittier era in comics. They actually did the unthinkable, killing off major, popular characters. I was really blown away by the deaths of Gwen Stacey and the Green Goblin when I first read it. Why, oh, why did they have to kill Gwen off?

5. Incredible Hulk #181. Wolverine, anybody? This is the most popular character to emerge from the BA. Punisher is a distant second. Ghost Rider, Moon Knight… all others are not even close. While not my favorite character, there’s no denying he is a hugely popular one. For the longest time, Marvel would put in a guest appearance of Wolverine to increase sales for a title. I don't really care for the art or story but it certainly ranks up there as one of the most important BA comics.

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

I'm outta the loop on that conan thing, I was reading fantasy books and playing D&D around when I would've gotten into Conan comics. I guess I just didn't look for my fantasy stuff from comics because I got it elsewhere. I never read Conan so I cannot say that I would put that on my top 5 list.

[malaprop]

I really really concur with your list JLW. The fact that I have the first 4 in NM has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[fulltimer56]

I really really concur with your list JLW. The fact that I have the first 4 in NM has absolutely nothing to do with it.

I HATE YOU!! :p I would love to have a NM Conan #1, I believe the best one I have is a Good maybe a Very Good!!

Linda

[malaprop]

I wasn't quite smart enough to get it off the rack, I paid $20 for it sometime in the '70s.