What is the best debut issue in a comic series? We asked the question on social media, and you answered in droves — here’s the most popular answers.
Out of the gluttony of comic book series out there, which one gets off to the best possible start? In order to find the answer, we asked the question across social media, including Reddit, X , and so on, in an attempt to find the most popular answer. We did not expect to get the over 100 responses that we did, but after scouring through all of the top choices, there’s some recurring titles.
Most mentioned debut issues:
- Saga
- East of West
- The Authority
- Y: The Last Man
- Ex Machina
- The Department of Truth
- Kingdom Come
- The Walking Dead
Most Upvoted on Reddit
Comments mentioning these issues received the most upvotes on total on Reddit. These figures are correct at time of writing, but of course, the numbers are liable to change as the post remains live on Reddit. This is a volatile section due to fast changes, but it helps track trends.
- Thunderbolts (1997) (107 total upvotes)
- Absolute Martian Manhunter (87 total upvotes)
- Transmetropolitan (35 total upvotes)
- The Dark Knight Returns (26 total upvotes)
- Y: The Last Man (22 total upvotes)
- Scalped #1 (16 total upvotes)
- East of West (12 total upvotes)
- Welcome Back Frank (10 total upvotes)
What are people saying?
Looking at raw figures is one thing — it’s another to see how people are backing up their choices. Below are some of the most popular comments.
“Technically not a new #1, but the start of a new run/take on a character: I think Saga of the Swamp Thing #21 is one of the best stand-alone comics of all time. It also leads into an incredibly creative, imaginative, beautiful sequence of stories. But even if you cut all that away and only ever read this one issue – it’s perfect.” [Comment link]
“Ex Machina #1. I don’t know if the last page will hit the same for readers under like 35 but it gave me the chills when I read it as a kid. I lost interest in the series but that first issue is forever. “[Comment link]
“Recency bias but Ultimate Spider-Man #1 starting starting 2024 and Absolute Batman #1 ending the year are both perfect issues, that, on a meta textual level have serious alpha and omega storytelling energy. The New Frontier #1 is also a perfect issue on every single level.” [Comment link]
“Deep cut but I would say the !mpact comics Black Hood series. It sets you up to think it’s a certain kind of common 90s vigilante book and then hits you with its supernatural twist.” [Comment link]
“THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH has one of the best debut issues I’ve read in the last 30 years. Remember putting it down after first reading it and being totally blown away…” [Comment link]
All of this is to say, while we don’t have a definitive winner, there are myriad standouts. Tell us your favorite debut issue in the comments down below!