3. Kingdom Come
If you're thinking about an epic comic, Kingdom Come is usually at the top of the list. Written by Mark Waid and illustrated wonderfully by Alex Ross, this is one of DC's best miniseries ever...and that's not an exaggeration. Detailing a possible future where the superheroes of today are cast aside for new heroes, this 4-issue mini-series analyzes whether the heroes that we worship today are fit to help us in a world that no longer has black and white problems. The story takes place ten years in the future, and most of the superheroes we all know have retired and disappeared. In their place are dangerous and irresponsible super-humans lead by the energy wielding Magog, who has no problem with killing others. The main character of the story is pastor Norman McKay, who has apocalyptic visions of a war coming that will tear Earth apart. After a failed attempt by these new heroes to catch the Parasite ends with most of Midwest being irradiated, Superman comes out of retirement to re-form the Justice League and teach these new heroes the responsibility that comes with power. Although many join his crusade, others, led by Batman, feel that Superman's idealism on humanity is outdated, and they form the Outsiders to confront the Justice League. Meanwhile, a group of villains called the Mankind Liberation Front have hatched a plan to eliminate the heroes and bring the world under their control. This story has everything you could want in a comic: great plot, fleshed-out characters, and most importantly, fantastic visuals. Not only does Alex Ross' photorealistic art breathe a new kind of life into these characters, but the fight scenes in this book look so epic, that it almost looks like the ancient gods have come down from the heavens to do battle. Obviously I don't expect the animated movie to use Ross' style of art, but this story's plot stands well enough on its own that it could even fill a whole two hours rather than the traditional 90 minute mark for these movies.