We’re celebrating Image Comics‘ 25th anniversary all this week by breaking down the company’s all-time best 25 series. With so much diversity in its catalog, Image truly has comics for everyone. Check them out for yourself! And leave some of your own favorites in the comments.
This celebration was originally published as a five-part series, but has been consolidated here for your convenience. Thanks to writers Tony Wendel, Nick Enquist, Wes Messer, and Manny Gomez (who thought of and organized this project).
21. Criminal
There is no shortage of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips noir comics, but Criminal may be the best one they have done. Essentially one family’s sordid and tragic history, Criminal also plays with the comic book format and narrative by experimenting in form, time passage, and length. Individual parts are fantastic, but when it is read as a whole, a large and violent family portrait is painted that will stay with readers for ages.
