I’ve never been much for solo books. Maybe it’s more that I’m not much for the characters who dominate solo books.
Superman has always bored me to tears. (Though I’m glad that they’re collecting Superman: Secret Identity, as I’ve heard it’s a great Superman book for people who aren’t particularly interested in the character.) Spider-Man was never quite escapist enough for me; the personal angst was always a little too recognizable, if that makes any sense. Batman works for me depending on who’s writing him (I’ve enjoyed runs by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker.) And Captain America has never held my interest in his own title.
That’s not to say there aren’t solo books that I like, but they fall into a fairly narrow category. I would call it “solo books that read like team books.” I like a richly developed supporting cast, and I think it can go a long way towards illuminating different qualities of the lead (Dan Slott’s She-Hulk, Peter David’s Incredible Hulk and, to a lesser extent, Captain Marvel).
But it’s the team book that got me into super-hero comics and has kept me there. I like the interpersonal dynamic and the inherent soap opera that are part and parcel of a good team book. I like that they can serve as a showcase for B-list characters, keeping their stories at the forefront while throwing in some solo heroes as window dressing.
So what are some of my favorite runs on team books?
Avengers 141-149: I’m glad they’ve collected the Avengers/Defenders War and Celestial Madonna, but this period was always my favorite of Steve Englehart’s work on the series. (Art by George Perez didn’t hurt, either.) The concurrent stories were a great way of showcasing a large cast, allowing lots of interesting character development. Packed with plot, there was also a good dose of humor and some sly political satire. And if you’ve ever wondered why some longtime readers never thought Hellcat got her due, these issues demonstrate the great potential she had.
Uncanny X-Men #129-137: The Dark Phoenix Saga. Everything that needs to be said about this has already been said elsewhere, so… “ditto.”
Avengers #181-199: With a fluid line-up (featuring Ms. Marvel!), gorgeous art by John Byrne, Perez, and Carmine Infantino, these are just some terrific Avengers stories. A highlight was the resolution of the ongoing conflict with Agent Gyrich, the sharpest thorn in the team’s side ever.
New Teen Titans: Marv Wolfman and Perez created what was, for me, the platonic ideal of a super-hero team book. Colorful, distinct characters, a healthy dose of soap opera, and a steady stream of great new antagonists… it just didn’t get any better, from my point of view.
Legion of Super-Heroes: I got spoiled by starting with this book with the Mike Grell issues. It wasn’t as good again until Keith Giffen took over, but boy, were those some good stories. The Great Darkness Saga stands as the Best. Legion story. Ever.
Uncanny X-Men (the Paul Smith issues): Glorious Paul Smith art is the icing on this cake, as is the last gasp of seriously great storytelling from Chris Claremont. (And Ms. Marvel was there! Well, Carol Danvers. But she used to be Ms. Marvel!) These are the ones before everything went south.
Defenders 31-41, Annual 1: Ah, great Steve Gerber weirdness… the Headmen, Nebulon, a cult of clowns, and a nifty little character known as the Red Guardian. (She’s a communist neurosurgeon who fights crime, whether the Kremlin likes it or not!) It’s really long past time Marvel put out a collection of these stories. It’s the best Defenders story ever, and I don’t mean that as a left-handed compliment.
Justice League of America 139-150: These came after Englehart left Avengers, I think, and they share a lot of that book’s strengths. Some of my favorite B-listers got some great face time in these stories – Red Tornado, Hawkgirl, the Atom. And the pencils by legendary Dick Dillin are gorgeous.
Justice League: Giffen again, injecting intentional humor into a traditionally straight-and-narrow super-team. (I hear Justice League Detroit was hilarious, but I don’t think anyone meant it to be.) While I think the joke wore out before the series did, there are some real gems here.
More recently, there’s a lot to like in Kurt Busiek’s run on Avengers, readily available in trade paperbacks. I never liked Grant Morrison’s JLA as much as some, but the first arc is a winner. Morrison’s stories worked a lot better for me in New X-Men, particularly in the earlier arcs. And if you haven’t tried Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men, you really should. It’s glorious fun.