10 Most Intense Comic Books Of All Time

From Marvel to DC, and even beyond, these moments were unforgettable.

Captain America Iron Man Civil War
Marvel Comics

Comic books have been an industry for nearly a century, but it's only recently they've become recognized for what they are: amazing artwork and intricately-woven storylines revolving around thoughtful and intense characters.

For anyone who reads them, comics are amazing stories that depict characters whose relationships and ordeals mirror our own lives. These stories are told with stark imagery in ways traditional print media could never achieve.

Thanks to the success of superhero movies in recent years, more attention has been given to comic books, but those in the know have enjoyed these stories for years. Comics have told some intense tales over the years. Whether a hero dies or some tragedy befalls the characters people identify with and have loved for years, some comic book stories are far more memorable than others.

These ten stories told in these issues represent the most intense comic books ever written, but there are far more fan favorites out there. Sound off in the comments with your favorite "intense" story and let us know which you think is the most intense of them all!

10. Iron Man #128

Captain America Iron Man Civil War
Marvel Comics

Back in the 1970s, it was pretty unheard of for a comic book publisher like Marvel Comics to tackle a topic as controversial as alcoholism. The Comics Code Authority put a lot of restrictions on publishers at the time, but that didn't stop David Michelinie and Bob Layton from putting out Iron Man #120-128.

The books covered a story arc called Demon in a Bottle, which dealt with Tony Stark's alcoholism. The story has been widely recognized as one of the best Iron Man stories put to print and it all culminated in this issue.

The Demon in a Bottle storyline put Tony Stark to the test and the readers absolutely loved it. It became a quintessential Iron Man story and even went on to inspire John Favreau's character development for Stark in 2008's Iron Man.

Seeing as the MCU was launched with that film, the book's impact on the modern superhero film genre is certainly noteworthy. While the words were certainly important, it would be criminal not to point out the amazing artwork done by John Romita, Jr., Bob Layron, and Carmine Infantino. Their work helped further refine the character making this one of the most important Iron Man issues of all time.

Contributor
Contributor

Jonathan is a graphic artist, illustrator, writer, and game designer. Jonathan retired from the U.S. Army in 2017 and enjoys researching and writing about history, science, theology, and many other subjects. He writes for ScreenRant, CBR, NerdBastards, Listverse, Ranker, WhatCulture, and many other sites online. You can check out his latest on Twitter: @TalkingBull or on his blog: jonathanhkantor.com