Countdown: My Favorite Individual Comics of 2025 (#10–#6)
As I round out the year, I wanted to spotlight the individual single issues that stuck with me the most in 2025. These aren’t runs or collections — they’re the specific comics that hit hardest, lingered longest, or simply reminded me why I love this medium.
Narrowing this down after reading more than 720 comics this year was brutal — but that’s a great problem to have.
Here are #10 through #6.
#10 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8
Jason Aaron & Juan Ferreyra
This entire TMNT run was spectacular, and I was genuinely sad to see this creative team step away. Issue #8 stands out as the emotional high point — a deeply unsettling, character-driven chapter focused on Donatello as his mental state begins to fracture. It’s tense, uncomfortable, and unforgettable, proving just how far these characters can be pushed when creators truly understand them.
#9 — We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #6
Matthew Rosenberg & Stefano Landini
I loved this whole series. Stylish, sharp, and consistently fun, it never lost momentum and always knew exactly what it wanted to be. While I was sad to see it come to an end, this final issue landed perfectly — a fast, confident close that made the whole run feel complete.
#8 — Superman Treasury
Dan Jurgens & Bruno Redondo
Everything about this comic worked for me. Big, joyful Superman storytelling paired with absolutely killer art, elevated even further by the oversized treasury format. This was the kind of comic that had me smiling and cheering as I read — a pure celebration of what Superman represents at his best. I loved it so much that, in an effort to hook friends on comics, I gifted this to several people this Christmas.
#7 — Fantastic Four #2
Ryan North & Humberto Ramos
Ryan North’s Fantastic Four run has been a delight, but this issue is where it really locked in for me. Splitting the team across time and then watching them fight their way back together is smart, heartfelt, and adventurous in exactly the way Fantastic Four stories should be. Clever structure, emotional payoff, and a real sense of wonder — this is the team firing on all cylinders.
#6 — Detective Comics #1100
Anthology issues often struggle — too many voices, not enough pages. Detective Comics #1100 is the rare exception where DC absolutely gets it right, giving each creative team space to tell a distinct, meaningful Batman story that explores different facets of the character and his world.
Tom Taylor opens the issue with a wordless Batman story that’s quietly devastating — pure visual storytelling that captures compassion, exhaustion, and resolve without a single line of dialogue.
Greg Rucka explores Gotham before Batman through the lens of a hospital emergency room, using incoming injuries to paint a vivid picture of a city overwhelmed by unchecked crime and corruption. It’s grounded, inventive, and occasionally darkly funny, while making a strong case for why Gotham needed something to change.
Mariko Tamaki turns inward, examining the relationship between Batman and Bruce Wayne and the emotional cost of living as both. It’s reflective, character-driven, and quietly powerful.
Dan Watters, paired with the unmistakable art of Bill Sienkiewicz, closes the issue with “The Fall,” a story loaded with tension and unease. The expressive, jagged visuals heighten the psychological pressure and leave a lasting impression.
Rather than feeling fragmented, Detective Comics #1100 reads as a true celebration of Batman — his city, his history, and the incredible range of creators who continue to define what Gotham can be.
With a group this strong not even cracking my Top 5, the comics still ahead are something special. The next five didn’t just stand out — they defined my year.
Coming next: #5–#1.