Top 20 Comics Writers - As Listed By Mania.com

Top 20 Comics Writers - As Listed By Mania.com

Guess Who is #1?

Feature Opinion
By Spock - Jun 03, 2009 12:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: Mania

Check out Mania for the reasoning behind this list...

20. Tie! Mark Millar and Jim Starlin
19. Steve Englehart
18. Warren Ellis
17. Mark Waid
16. Marv Wolfman
15. Peter David
14. Kurt Busiek
13. John Byrne
12. Gardner Fox
11. Garth Ennis
10 Geoff Johns
9. Chris Claremont
8. Len Wein
7. Neil Gaiman
6. Denny O’Neil
5. Grant Morrison
4. Roy Thomas
3. Frank Miller
2. Stan Lee
1. Alan Moore

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Betty
Betty - 6/3/2009, 5:02 PM
Hey niiicee editorial piece.

Where did all your txt go? I was about to read it. Oh I see the link.
Spock
Spock - 6/3/2009, 5:26 PM
I guess it was to much Betty.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/3/2009, 5:27 PM
Pretty good. But Stan Lee no.2? Look i know the guy is a legend and theres no doubt hes a good writer and creative genius, but hes far too fond of the exposition thought bubbles, as is Claremont imo. So i would stick Gaimen in place of Lee. And i cant believe Ed Brubaker aint on there!
Betty
Betty - 6/3/2009, 5:36 PM
Isn't this your article, Mr. Spock? I went to the link, nicely done.
Spock
Spock - 6/3/2009, 5:40 PM
I didn't write it just set up the link.
@ Ror you are right Ed should have been on there, Puzzling isn't it?
Spock
Spock - 6/3/2009, 6:09 PM
They all are good, but what about rank?
realfirstavenger
realfirstavenger - 6/3/2009, 8:42 PM
Gaiman is definately top 3, if not number 1
Moore is good but slightly over-rated imo

other than that, it is a list of 20 [frick]ing awesome people that I would like to shake their hands
ps: no Mignola? :(
SlurpeeGuy
SlurpeeGuy - 6/3/2009, 11:46 PM
Walt Simonson doesn't even get an honorable mention? Damn, that's so wrong! Same goes for Tom DeFalco. Geoff Johns, Mark Millar and Jim Starlin should have all been listed higher in my opinion.
Sorry guys but Loeb needs to be on the bottom 20 list. Just try to read his current Hulk work or worse yet the butchering of the Ultimates in Ultimates 3.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/4/2009, 4:32 AM
Thats true, i liked some of Loebs earlier stuff but his Rulk is awful! I think Brubakers Daredevil is the best take on the character since Millers. I would also put Mark Miller higher up because of Civil war and most importantly, the awesomeness that is Old man Logan!
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 6/4/2009, 5:31 AM
I gotta say this list is shit! The fact that Alan Moore is #1 is to me quite questionable. I mean yeah he wrote Watchmen and Vendetta and the League, but seriously is anyone here really think this guy is better than Neil Gaiman? That to me is a big red flag, and MARK WAID is only #17 WTF?!?!?! He should be in the top ten if you ask me.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/4/2009, 7:18 AM
Everyone has different qualities they look for in writers. Versatility is something i think is very important. I think Moore deserves to be 1 for a lot of reasons. He has covered such a wide array of themes and characters. Like lastson said, obviously hes best known for Watchmen and V and stuff but hes also wrote Batman, Swamp Thing, Mr Miracle etc and did outstanding work every time. As much as i love Gaimen hes done Sandman and Black Orchid and..thats pretty much it! Theres no way he should beat Moore(or Miller for that matter) to the top spot. And im saying this as a Sandman fanatic!
Spock
Spock - 6/4/2009, 8:24 AM
I got u CBM, no big deal!!

The list is incredible by its self, but there could of been possibly others.
SuperSkrull
SuperSkrull - 6/4/2009, 9:36 AM
I'm stunned that Grant Morrison is so high considering the mess he's made out of, well, anything he's touched recently. Leaving off Brian Michael Bendis and Walt Simonson is a big mistake.
TheMyth
TheMyth - 6/4/2009, 9:37 AM
OMFG this list is such horse shit lol. Some people on it are only there for one particular instance in their career, which is ridiculous. Having one bright shiny moment does not qualify you amongst the best comic writers of all time. Len Wein even being on that list is a joke. He had a small role in the creation of Wolverine, and you should all be thankful it was just that, a small role. And where is Ed Brubaker and Brian Bendis, and if we are counting bright shiny moments, then Bruce Jones should be on here as well, without him, no Hulk comic from the past 15 years would have never found its way into my collection. Now I may be a bit biased, but Morrison and Claremont should be higher on the list than they are. I am almost pissed that Claremont could even be compared to Wein and the traitor Roy Thomas, let alone be given a lesser standing. Furthermore, Alan Moore is good, but not #1.
TucsonRican
TucsonRican - 6/4/2009, 9:56 AM
Yeah, Stan Lee created the Universe, but man some of his writing was terrible. I've read that comic that came with X-3, it had X-men#1,2 &4 I think. They sucked.

I wonder if Jack Kirby was still alive, if he would get all the cameo's too?
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/4/2009, 12:11 PM
TheMyth Claremont is really no great shakes. Hes a great story writer but his dialogue leaves a lot to be desired. I re read the mutant massacre recently and as much as i love the story, he is far too fond of huge chunks of exposition that is really insulting to the intelligence. Like say Wolverine is fighting Sabertooth and Angels name is mentioned, a thought bubble will pop up saying

"i hope Sabertooth fights fair this time and not runs away like he did last time when i almost had him beat but the marauders got involved and pinned Angels wings to the wall"

lol, im exaggerating of course but anyway, i think hes a bit over rated but each to his own, im sure you think the same about Moore, whearas i really dont see how any other comic writer could be numero uno!
Shaman
Shaman - 6/4/2009, 12:13 PM
Alan Moore is overrated and IMO, so is Gayman. Not saying they're not great, just saying let's not rush off to buy knee pads ya know. They are very innovative and appeal to most but to revere them is a bit much i find.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/4/2009, 12:27 PM
They are a bit maybe. But someone has to be number 1 and if not Moore then who? Everyone has their favorites but if you can tell me another writer as diverse, poetic, exiting and thought provoking as Moore..or Gaimen for that matter(minus the diversity bit!) lets hear em.
Shaman
Shaman - 6/4/2009, 1:04 PM
Thing is that i don't agree in putting someone #1. I feel they're all great in there own way and this list is nothing but someone's preference which will always go against others. I hate lists for that. I certainly feel that Kevin Smith, Simonson and J. Michael Strazinski should have been on there. I also enjoy Haberlin, Augustyn and Peter Allan David but none of them IMO should be first. Also the thing is with comics is that, the art is a huge part in the story telling. So one writer could have been great in a book but not as good with a different one on account of the artist.
ElBeaster
ElBeaster - 6/4/2009, 1:09 PM
Shaman, you told be that you've never read any of the Sandmans so I don't even want to hear it! lol. It's my favorite series of all time and the best written IMO. Gaiman dserves to be higher up. But I only base that on Sandman and Apocrypha.
Shaman
Shaman - 6/4/2009, 1:11 PM
Take Strazinski for an example. I've always prefered him on Midnight Nation than his run on Spider-man. But he was as talented in both books. But because IMO, Gary Frank was waaayyyy better at visualising the story than Romita Jr, it made Mike appear as a better writer. I know i'm not gonna win points in saying that cause Romita Jr. has a huge fan base (can't for the life of me figure out why though) and of course, there will always be the die hard spidey fans that don't go for the type of story Midnight Nation was. But you get my drift :)
Shaman
Shaman - 6/4/2009, 1:13 PM
ElBeaster- LOL i knew that was gonna come bite me on the ass LOL But i actually sat down and checked out a few issues. It never blew me away and they were on the shelf at the comic book shop i used to work at so i didn't see the point in buying them to read the whole thing :P It was just not my style and at the time, i was all gung ho on art and Sandman's art never tickled my fancy really. I wouldn't say it was bad art like Romita Jr. but not up my alley.
Shaman
Shaman - 6/4/2009, 1:17 PM
The Myth- i agree on ED Brubaker!!! Loved his Batman run!!! He should be up there :))

Oh and David Mack should definitely be up there as well :)
ElBeaster
ElBeaster - 6/4/2009, 1:21 PM
The first and fourth Sandman graphic novels have great art. Its different in all of them.

I just think Kurt Busiek should be higher up because Marvels is my favorite graphic novel of all time and Astro City: Confessions is amazing
Shaman
Shaman - 6/4/2009, 1:30 PM
Astro City kicked ass for the very little i've read of it :))
ElBeaster
ElBeaster - 6/4/2009, 1:33 PM
lol I have the first and second. If you liked them then you have to pick up Confessions. It's incredible.
JerusalemJr
JerusalemJr - 6/4/2009, 2:09 PM
I have to confess that I like Gaiman the most but it is actually for his books more than comic book writing so I am not sure it would matter for this list. The reason I have some trouble with the list itself is because you can't really compare these people from differant times in comic book history with those who write them now. Back in his day Stan Lee had some awesome stuff but now he doesn't really write and in comparison to what the new guys put out there his stuff isn't so great. However, without his writings in the past these new guys probably wouldn't be as good as they are.
GunRyder
GunRyder - 6/4/2009, 2:26 PM
LOL didn't even have to guess
BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 6/4/2009, 4:10 PM
I'd have to agree with JerusalemJr on this

Stan Lee at No. 2 for me is a stretch. But if you take into account that some of these people may have never gotten into comics if not for Stan Lee, you can actually argue that he should be No. 1. Jeff Loeb not making the list is nonsense to me. His body of work certainly deserves a place on this list.
TheMyth
TheMyth - 6/4/2009, 5:30 PM
@Rorschach01: I know what you mean, but that is something that is nearly in all comics. I too hate when they explain things like it's the first time we've ever picked up a book. I was referencing his penchant for wonderful, thrilling, and complex storylines.

@ElBeaster: Sandman best comics of all time? I don't know about that. X-Men has it beat easy ;P just kidding, it's one of those matter of opinion things just thought I'd throw in my bid.

@BillyBlack: I totally agree about Stan Lee. He could arguably be #1 on the list, as without the universe he created, most of these guys would have never been comic writers.
ElBeaster
ElBeaster - 6/4/2009, 5:38 PM
I've read up to the eighth graphic novel of the Sandman so far and it's just incredible. Gaiman creates a whole new mythology and creates characters that are so in depth. Idk, you just have to read the series in order to know what I mean. His writing is just amazing.
JonF
JonF - 6/4/2009, 5:50 PM
What happened to Denny O'Neil?
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/4/2009, 6:55 PM
Sandman is by far the best long running comic series i have ever read. I cant even describe how many emotions Gaimen can bring out in you with his writing and his characters. Not to mention how deep the subject matter goes. Its one of the main reasons why i favor Dc/Vertigo over any other brand. Between Sandman, Preacher and Transmetropolitan, nothing has come close. Although Old Man Logan is amazing, i wish Mark Millar decided to do a full series with it.
ElBeaster
ElBeaster - 6/4/2009, 7:34 PM
I just got into Preacher, but I've never read any Transmetropolitan. I'll check it out
verbicide
verbicide - 6/4/2009, 10:33 PM
C'mon, Stan the man all the way, how can you argue? the guy (co)created some of the most iconic characters & properties ever... Brubaker & Bendis should be on the list fo sho
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 6/5/2009, 2:31 AM
mark millar and mark waid should be way nearer the #1 spot as should ed brubaker and dan slott!
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