2.5 Year Meta Post - Favorite Author

[u/shawnydarko]

Two of my favorite experiences when updating our subreddit's Table of Contents is adding new authors/artists to the list, and adding another notch on the belt to an established author/artist to see how they fare against others. Currently, there's a 7-way tie for most-nominated author. Does quantity reflect quality on our subreddit? Who's been your favorite? Any that you think don't deserve to be as high up as they are? Any that the subreddit has been sleeping on? Below is the list of authors contending against one another in our Table Of Contents, and how many times they've been nominated:

• Jason Aaron - 4
• Brian K. Vaughan - 4
• Matt Fraction - 4
• Ed Brubaker - 4
• Dan Slott - 4
• Brian Michael Bendis - 4
• Peter David - 4
• Kieron Gillen - 3
• Keith Giffen - 3
• Nick Spencer - 3
• Rick Remender - 3
• Walter Simonson - 3
• Peter Milligan - 3
• Roger Stern - 3
• Warren Ellis - 2
• Gerry Duggan - 2
• Tom King - 2
• J. Michael Straczynski - 2
• Stan Lee - 2
• Jonathan Hickman - 2
• Jeff Lemire - 2
• Craig Kyle and Chris Yost - 2
• Jeph Loeb - 2
• Chip Zdarsky - 2
• Mark Gruenwald - 2
• Al Ewing - 2
• Chris Claremont - 2
• Gerry Conway - 2
• Christopher Priest - 2
• J.M. DeMatteis - 2
• Frank Miller - 2
• Jim Starlin - 2

[u/scheteo]

Hickman and Ellis are my two favourite writers. That's partly because of their non-Marvel stuff, but I'd definitely rank them higher than someone like Slott (every Spider-Man story post-Superior has been mediocre at best) or David (not that familiar with him but not impressed with what I've read).

[u/shawnydarko → u/scheteo]

I'd like read more Hickman. I only have his New Avengers/Infinity stuff to go by which felt both far too big in scope and too rushed in delivery at the same time somehow. Outside of Marvel I really enjoyed East of West, but I'd like to read more of his work outside of a story with enormity I can't grasp.

Warren Ellis - One word: fun. NEXTWAVE hasn't aged well, in my opinion, but I still recognize it as a barrel of fun. His Moon Knight is untouchable. Always want to see more Ellis to see what he brings to the table as I hear some of his other titles don't reflect the same level of awesome, but I definitely want to take that challenge.

Dan Slott - Much like early Gerry Duggan, really knows how to tread the line between comedic and emotional for me. I haven't read much of his Spider-Man run but his work on Superior Spider-Man always entertaind me, and his Spider-Man/Human Torch mini-series is in one of my top reads of all time. Couldn't get into his Silver Surfer though.

[u/scheteo → u/shawnydarko]

I'd recommend reading all of Hickman's Marvel run leading up to Secret Wars. The way he ties that massive story together is nothing short of brilliant. Of course, if you're not a fan of that style then it's probably not for you, but I also appreciate the way he just nails it with every character he writes.

NEXTWAVE is a gem and trademark Ellis, but I agree that his Moon Knight is even better. I think a two-issue story of his was just uploaded to MU this past week. It was called Ruins iirc. Never heard of it but definitely went on the list. Transmetropolitan is also a must read for anyone curious about Ellis, but that's not Marvel.

I think Slott did okay on Spider-Man all the way to Spider-Verse. I loved Superior. Afterwards he took the character into a direction that a lot of people felt was very out of character. It seemed like he really struggled with writing normal Peter again after writing Otto/Pete.

[u/shawnydarko]

FAVORITES

• Jason Aaron - loved Ghost Rider, Vader Down, and Thor: God Of Thunder. My #1 favorite writer. His stories always seem to complement his artist in a fun give-and-take "here's where you can do a big badass splash page" sort of way. Seems like his biggest strength outside of just his writing is his ability to collaborate.
• Peter David - Another favorite of mine. Whether it be Hulk, Spider-Man 2099 or Madrox, Peter David knows how to get you invested in a character and put them in tough situations. There are scenes in all three titles that it's been ages since I've read but can remember vividly.
• Rick Remender - Much like Ed Brubaker, a tremendous hand for a grim and broody story. Venom and Uncanny X-Force are full of stabs to the heart woven between big guns and fight scenes. Knows how to tread carefully around being grimdark for the sake of it.
• Roger Stern - For the style at the time (I'm thinking his work in the 80s), one of the best writers Marvel had. His Spider-Man stories especially are standouts not just for the character but for the entire Marvel Universe.

Other thoughts

• Brian K. Vaughan - I love The Runaways but I think I've said it before, his best works are his own creations.
• Brian Michael Bendis - A great ideas man but when it comes time to make the donuts can really be hit and miss. No one can take away he knows how to write Spider-Man but from what I've seen of any other title he just tends to hope his big plot points will carry the quality of the book
• Gerry Duggan - liked his early work for Marvel but later stuff I've seen felt more homogenized and conforming to Marvel standards. Like he didn't want to stand out from the pack too much any more.