My Top Ten Favorite Jonah Hex Stories

10. Hex #18



"Thanksgiving"

Thanksgiving is the final issue of a follow up series to the original Jonah Hex title that started in 1985 following the events of the DC Maxi-Series Crisis On Infinite Earths. This took Jonah out of his previously established setting and flung him into a dystopian Mad Max type future complete with acid rain and Motor Bike gangs made popular in comics with the manga Fist of The Northstar or the Cursed Earth from Judge Dredd. While some dislike the abrupt change of setting for the character, I myself am a sucker for science fiction even when it goes off the beaten path. Also the series was still being penned by long-time Jonah Hex writer Micheal Fleisher, who while not the creator of Jonah Hex, wrote the majority of Jonah Hex stories after his creation in the early 70's. The first dozen or so issues sported the early art of Mark Texeria who is best known for his work on the Marvel Comic Ghost Rider. The pencils in Thanksgiving are those of Keith Giffen who was just starting a new art style with blacks and shadows that is almost cubist in nature.

The art style and setting was also revisited in a fairly humorous manner in Justice League Europe Annual #2, where one possible future for team member Metamorpho that the all-seeing Waverider discovers is a witty exchange with Hex.



What is great about the final issue of Hex is that while the premise of time travel to the far future and back is usually apt to give most people splitting headaches, Fleisher does not ignore the big pink elephant in the room. In fact he has Hex stare it straight down in the face. Of course the Hex series was conceived long after Fleisher wrote the final Jonah Hex story in 1978, but that provides a rare opportunity to showcase Hex facing a tragic fate any long time reader and follower of the character is sure to know that would bring chills down any man's spine.



9. Justice League of America v1 #198 - 199



"Once Upon A Time, In The Wild, Wild West..."
and
"Grand Canyon Showdown"

Gerry Conway writes this 2 part Justice League team up story which involves the Justice League facing off against master villain the Lord of Time. The Lord of Time ends up sending 4 amnesiac League members, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), The Flash (Barry Allen), Zatanna, and Elongated Man, back in time to 1878 where they team up with American West DC Icons Jonah Hex, Bat Lash, Cinnamon, and Scalphunter respectively.

This is a classic Justice League team-up tale with each pair of Heroes working together and finally facing off against the Lord of Time's robot cowboys in the finale. I particularly like the juxtaposition of Hal Jordan's aversion to killing versus Jonah Hex's notion that GL's ideals are out of place, Luckily it's just a robot cowboy Hex shoots down so they don't have to go at it or anything, but it still cracks me up when Hal after being rescued from near death by Jonah Hex, turns on a dime on the guy because Hex doesn't exactly follow the superhero code against killing.



Also more than likely this two part comic story served as the inspiration for the first half of the Justice League Unlimited 2-parter "The Once And Future Thing." Throw in Batman, Wonder Woman and John Stewart for the League side, replace Scalphunter with Pow-Wow Smith, Cinnamon with El Diablo, and the Lord of Time with Chronos and you've still got a cowboy-Justice League team-up where they fight robots from the future.



8. All-Star Western v3 #10



"Welcome To Paradise"

I'd feel remiss if I did not include a tale by the creators of Jonah Hex, John Albano and Tony DeZuniga, so I figure why not include the very first Jonah Hex tale from All-Star Western? This story lays the groundwork and framework for pretty much every single one-shot Jonah Hex story I've ever read. Sure the details will get changed ever so slightly, but the key elements remind the same. A small frontier town. Bounties on wanted men. Gunfights. Both saving and being shunned by town locals. The art has a realism and grit to it that makes it grounded and reflective of the harsh reality of life on the frontier and the writing usually leaves you thinking, "Well doesn't that just figure?"

7. Jonah Hex v2 #44 - 49



"Six Gun War"

A six part saga probably crafted to be "written for the trade" as they say these days by Justin Gray Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Christiano Cusina. This one is just a huge bonanza featuring almost all the great elements and characters featured in the most current Jonah Hex volume. Hex's arch enemies Quentin Turnbull and El Papagayo are out for blood and they end up drawing in all of Jonah's friends and allies in this fracas to end all fracas'. On Jonah's side we've got Tallulah Black who could best be described as the female equivalent of Jonah Hex, Bat Lash eloquent womanizer and gambler and Lazerous Lane who becomes the vengeful spirit El Diablo. Even if you are not a fan of the pacing of comics from an earlier day and age, this story is still true to Jonah Hex and the other DC characters from the old west while being fast-paced, violent and action-packed. Even for long time readers there are twists and unexpected turns. The exchanges and relationships between the 4 characters in this super-team up extravaganza are laced with snark and humor that hides great comradery and friendship.

6. Jonah Hex v1 #61 - 63



"In the Lair of the Manchu's"
"Belly of The Malay Tiger"
and
"Ship of Doom"

Not sure why I exactly like this 3 part story by Micheal Fleisher over some of the other stories that feature Jonah Hex's wife Mei Ling, but I think it has to do with the fact that Jonah Hex being abducted and sent to China is a real fish out of water story and that this particular adventure is the first reunion of husband and wife after they had long since parted ways. You kind of got the idea once Mei Ling left Hex, it was forever that she was never to return. While Mei Ling still loves Jonah very much, she too was abducted by the White Lotus Society who want Jonah to assassinate the current Emperor to make way for their reign of terror. Jonah wasn't fighting people or things he usually fought, and for 3 issues along with a long awaited reunion with his wife (which one can't help but think of Peter and MJ in Brand New Day) it was an interesting and complex change of scenery. Plus Jonah adds Shark-killing to his already expansive resume. Sadly the reunion was only temporary and bittersweet, but does end with a kiss, so it's not all down and out.



5. Jonah Hex v1 #7 - 8



"Jonah Hex Son of the Apache"
and
"The Mark of the Demon"

A two-part tale by Micheal Fleisher that reveals Hex's upbringing after he was sold into slavery to the Apache Indians. This tale ties directly into how Jonah Hex acquired his particular disfigurement referred to by the Apache's as "The Mark of the Demon." So if you don't buy the whole "I cut myself shaving" answer, this is the pair of books to check out.

This aspect of the origin was also revisited in the current volume of Jonah Hex, but I kind of like the romanticized version of the art in this story better. The current book makes some slight alterations in terms of story and perhaps Jonah's fight with the mountain lion is a bit more realistic for today's audiences, but I still dig the covers for the original version of this story as well.



4. Weird Western Tales #29 - 30



"Breakout At Fort Charlotte" and " The Trial"

Micheal Fleisher is at it again with this two part story that reveals all the details of Jonah Hex's time in the Confederate Army, his friendship with Jeb Turnbull and father Quentin and how after the Fort Charlotte massacre their relationship became a bitter feud leading to Turnbull putting Jonah Hex on this mock trial for his so-called crimes against the Confederacy. I'm sure to many people it's not very politically correct, but I really like the dimensionality of the relationship that Jonah Hex shares with Quentin Turnbull's manservant Solomon. He knows Jonah is a good man, but he also can't help but be loyal to the good man he remembers his master to be as twisted as he has become currently.

3. Jonah Hex v2 #50



"The Great Silence"

Another Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti penned tale from the current volume of Jonah Hex that features a sad but memorable tale between Jonah and Tallulah Black. Darwyn Cooke does the art chores on the 50th issue and it is really great work that enhances all the moving and touching moments in this piece. You might know his work better from The New Frontier or as the main title animator for the Batman Beyond introduction. Don't want to spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't read this story yet, but much like the end of the movie Seven, the ending is something that fills one with a lingering haunting feeling for some time after you finish digesting the events that occur.

2. Secret Origins v2 #21



"Requiem For A Gunfighter"

In some ways this Micheal Fleisher penned story is a sequel or follow up to my #1 pick "The Last Bounty Hunter" which you can read more about next. The story is set in modern day and follows the trials and tribulations of a Professor Lawrence who is hired as a historical expert to confirm the validity of an old Cheyenne Woman called Tall Bird who claims to have been Jonah Hex's common-law wife in his later years. When a stuffed display of Jonah Hex is discovered on a film set, all she wants is the right to her man's remains, but unscrupulous collectors try to stand in her way. In visiting Tall Bird Professor Lawrence finds her to be the genuine article and she reveals the story of Jonah Hex's "Secret Origin." Also the story does tend to end on a happier note than we last see in "The Last Bounty Hunter" with the minor exception of Tall Bird briefly mentioning but not revealing a "horrible fate" that befell Jonah's son with Mei Ling, Jason.

1. DC Special Series v2 #16 aka Jonah Hex Spectacular



"The Last Bounty Hunter"

I think one of the reasons I like this Jonah Hex story by Micheal Fleisher so much is that it makes Jonah one of the few characters to have a beginning, middle and end in the DC Universe. Since the character in his prime is set in the 1870's, Fleisher had the luxury (unlike say Superman and Batman who perpetually stay 35 years old) of writing Jonah Hex's final tale.
I must admit I'm drawn to these kinds of final stories whether it be Spike facing off against Vicious for the final time in Cowboy Bebop or the finale to the Vertigo title Preacher. This is probably the Jonah Hex story I've read the most and come to have enjoyed the most.

I remember asking one of the employee's at my then Local Comic Book Shop, Comics Ink in Culver City, CA what his favorite Jonah Hex story was when I hadn't read very many. He of course suggested Two Gun Mojo, possibly because he really liked it, but also maybe because it had a trade paperback I could buy. While the Vertigo Jonah Hex stories are not bad (I think I prefer Shadow's West of the three the best) they are a little more fantastic in nature and how I feel about those stories is probably kind of how old school Punisher fans tend to feel about the Garth Ennis MAX run. Lots of Black Humor and gory violence that while not necessarily bad, just wasn't really a part of the character before the new imprint label took hold.

Anyway, "The Last Bounty Hunter" takes place in 1904 as Jonah Hex has taken to wearing spectacles and is the only remaining bounty hunter there is. By this point with Automobiles emerging he is a man past his prime and out of his time. After bringing in a bounty to a former friend and police chief from the old days, he runs into writer Micheal Wheeler who has arrived in town hoping to chronicle Jonah Hex's life and times for the history books.We discover along with Wheeler that Hex has been living with a very youthful and beautiful young Cheyenne woman who goes by the name of Tall Bird. Jonah agrees to regale Wheeler with tales of his past and the two men begin to learn a great deal from one another.

Unfortunately things aren't meant to go well for Jonah Hex for very long and sure enough his refusal to participate in Lew Farnam's dog and pony show called the Spectacular Wild West Review leads Farnam to hire a George Barrow's gang of thugs to kidnap Tall Bird and sets Jonah on a path for his final showdown. While Jonah shoots down the gang, Wheeler frees Tall Bird, but Jonah getting on in years only wounds Barrow and he escapes.

The next day while Wheeler takes a ride in an oldsmobile, Jonah sits down for a game of Poker in a local tavern. While cleaning his spectacles, George Barrow enters the saloon and shoots him with a double-barrel shotgun at point blank range. Jonah dies in Wheeler's arms and the Police Chief whom Jonah was friends with guns down Barrow in retribution.

Here's the part where you wish you could jump into the comic panel and stop what happens next like in the Ah-Ha video for "Take on Me." Wheeler returns Jonah's body to Tall Bird, who comforts him suggesting that men like Jonah choose their own time and place for going. Farnam and one of his goon's break down the cabin door intending to use Jonah's corpse for his Wild West show. Wheeler is shot dead, Tall Bird smacked into unconsciousness and Jonah's cabin burned to the ground. Farnam then has Jonah's corpse taxidermied and dressed in a ridicolous sideshow costume (this is the same costume Jonah sees himself when stuck in the future in the final issue of Hex). In a bit of poetic justice Farnam's thug who shot Wheeler, is eventually shot himself from playing around with the taxidermied Hex's pistols and Farnam is shot and robbed of his cash box by a group mobsters. Hex's corpse is shifted around to various antique stores until ending up as part of the West World Amusement Park in New York City. A very hollow feeling comes into your heart as you see the display Hex's body has become sitting out in the middle of the rain. Almost like the end of a surreal Twilight Zone episode.

Whut ah reckon 'bout Jonah Hex...

So I watched a 6:55pm showing on Saturday. Probably no big surprise to anyone that knows me, but I disliked the movie.



To be fair I can understand the need or desire to streamline the back story of the character. Quentin Turnbull being responsible for his disfigurement rather than the Apache tribe Jonah was sold into, then focusing on Turnbull as the main villain while bringing up Jonah's Confederate army background and "betrayal" of Quentin Turnbull's son Jeb all in one shot.

But what's funny is they still needed random Native American's (who are never introduced nor explained) to explain the "I can talk to dead people and refuse to die" bits, so it didn't really help like it "should have." Also the whole crow popping out of Jonah's mouth to symbolize the removal of death was cringe-worthy.

I think the main problem with the streamlining was it made Jonah's character another typical superhero movie cliche of "my family was taken from me by {insert villain here}and I require vengeance!" when Hex, while having a strict moral eye-for-an-eye fiber to him, was never in the business of revenge. Hex is a bounty hunter. In this movie the bounty hunting is pretty much a side note for a 2 sided feud with Quentin Turnbull that was pretty much one-sided in the comics. While Hex eventually had limited happiness with a family of his own in the comics, he never had a family to avenge in the first place. Also there wasn't ever much need for revenge--as retribution in a Jonah Hex comic was usually swift and deserved. Even when it came to his father selling him into slavery as well as the Apache's who betrayed him and mauled his face it was never about revenge. Retribution and the honor of reputation maybe, but not this whole Punisher, Batman, Spider-Man vibe.

The alteration in the film in which Jonah Hex is given the ability to talk to corpses didn't really serve to do much but move the story along by providing a weak explanation of how Hex tracks down Turnbull rather than focus on his skill as a tracker. The back story between him and Jeb is fairly twisted and rather than Hex being tricked at Fort Charlotte and Jeb's death being an accident, the film has Hex as some kind of whistle blower on a Hospital raid during the Civil War in which he kills Jeb. Rather than actually writing or shooting any of this alternate "story", they just use the dead talk power to tell you this rather than show you which is pretty poor storytelling regardless of any alterations of the source material.

The take on Turnbull is clearly a post-9/11 vibe as his men say he is called the "Terroriste" by the Mexicans and his dynamiting Railroads and using Eli Whitney's left over tools of war after he created the cotton gin (which somehow involve explosive Dragonballs on a non-Transforming Broadside).

Also Hex's arsenal in the film actually made the character weaker in my opinion. Instead of being a sharpshooter with his twin Ivory handled Colt .45 Dragoons, there are the Twin Gatling Guns on Horseback (which still made me wince even though I knew they were coming) and also these ridiculous steampunk hand cannons (we'll call them). No point in being a sharpshooter or the fastest draw in the west when you can just unload 40,000 bullets into 5 men or fire a single shot from a modified Colt/Dynamite Firing/Crossbow hand cannon and blast the 6 men to your left, right and behind all with one shot where firing accuracy matters little.

I also should've known this from the leaked and promotional photos, but in the film with all the squinting close ups on his eyes, it is painfully obvious they did NOTHING to his eye on the scarred side of his face. I'm sure to most people, "who cares?" But it just may as well have been a whole 'nother movie to me.

I thought the scene between Lance Reddick and Brolin was not bad in that it at least gave a politically correct version of the revealing exchange that would take place between Hex and Solomon (Turnbull's black man-servent in Weird Western Tales).
Jonah's reasons for being in the Civil War had nothing to do with race and at least this was explored.

This is actually the first time I've seen Megan Fox in a movie. She couldn't really hold her accent, but was believable enough as a whore. Though I've heard criticism's regarding her character's eventual "damsel-ness", she seems to fight a pretty good fight to me. The Irish guy that finally captures her and takes her down also "kills" Hex, so I'd say she comes off better than Hex does in a fight anyway. Fox's gun fight was probably better than all the Gatling Gun, exploding hand cannon BS Hex does. Though when she lock picks their bonds and mentions that her hooker name is Lilah, but then states "Tallulah Black's momma didn't raise no idijits" or something along those lines it threw me for a loop. If Megan Fox is supposed to actually be Tallulah Black, that has got to be the worst casting I've ever seen. Seems like a Smallville fanboy nod gone horribly, HORRIBLY awry. Also having either the pleasure or misfortune of having known many an actress over the years, I have a sneaking suspicion if she let David Silver off the hook for coming out with her to the premiere of the movie, she's probably not all that proud of the movie or her work anyway.

Also plot points that didn't make much sense to me:

Hex is wanted for $500 before the movie even starts and he guns down the "law" in the opening scene. Why is he wanted? What for?

President Grant grants Hex a pardon him at the end of film. For what?

We are never shown or told this to my recollection. Feel free to correct me on this if I'm in error.

(Also maybe it was just the center channel in the theater I was in, but dialogue felt really drowned out by that awful score).

Also the stupid plot device "dud" balls that are fired just before the nuclear Dragonballs are launched are insulting. For the first small town, I could buy them as testing out the launcher, but when they attack the capital, there's no reason why they shouldn't use all Dragonball ammo, other than to give Jonah and Lilah an "extra life" and/or create false suspense.

And Finally President Grant offering Hex the position Sheriff of America?!?! Stupid. Just stupid on so many levels.

This is probably better than Catwoman, Elektra or Man-Thing, but those movies are f-ing terrible. So Jonah Hex is just plain terrible and highly disappointing due to my interest in the real character. If The Spectre short is any indication of the standard quality of the DC Showcase shorts, I'll bet you the 11 minute DC Showcase short for Jonah Hex before Batman: Under The Red Hood with Thomas Jane is good though. Also if you have "yerself a hankering ta watch" some real Jonah Hex, give the motion comics a shot. They're are more entertaining and true to the comics then this film will ever be.

My Top Ten Favorite Supergirl Stories

10. Supergirl v2 #19



"Who Stole Supergirl's Life?"

Intriguing mystery story by Paul Kupperberg that begins with the surprise that while Linda Lee is watching tv in her shared apartment, she is shocked to discover Supergirl is currently stopping a crime in progress. Soon we learn Linda's powers are slipping away from her one by one and that Supergirl has no memory of ever having the secret identity of Linda Lee.

The final revelation is about as complicated as explaining the hows and whys of The Return of Superman, but at least it's all done within the confines of a single issue and you only need to have read a previous arc from when the book was titled The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl. I guess after the first year they weren't as daring or new anymore. ;)

9. Brave and The Bold #147



"Death Scream From The Sky"

Supergirl and Batman team up against the Terrorist threat of the Children of The Light!

The Children of The Light use red solar energy to prevent Supergirl from destroying a hijacked Wayne Tech satellite. Batman attempts to destroy the hijacked satellite only to have his Bat-Jet destroyed by the built in defenses, but not before he ejects out of it into the cold of space. Luckily Supergirl uses her heat vision to stop him from freezing to death and her indestructible cape to protect him upon re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Batman being the awesome Detective that he is discovers that Dr. Light is the leader behind the Children of Light and he and Supergirl bring down the villain together.
Awesome Jim Aparo art and a story that would never get past Bruce Timm's desk make this one a winner
in my book.

8. Valor #2



"Boy Meets Supergirl"

This one's a standard hero fight by Robert Loren Fleming with some nice art by M.D. Bright. This is back when the Matrix Supergirl was dating the Aussie Lex Luthor II (don't ask). The basic plot is Supergirl is sent out to bring Lar Gand back to Lexcorp and a fight between the two ensues after Supergirl accidentally destroys the memorial Lar Gand built to his deceased father.

7. Superboy v1 80



"Superboy Meets Supergirl"

While building a huge Snowman and goofing around with her cousin Superman, the Man of Steel laments to his cousin that he never had anyone to play with as Superboy like Supergirl does today. This gives the Girl of Steel the idea to break the time barrier and go hang out with Superboy. They basically spend the issue doing all kinds of things only a Kryptonian could do, fly through stars, launch super darts at each other's chests, swim around on an alien water world and have super speed races from planet to planet. Superboy even wonders how a "mere girl" could beat him in a race and of course she does beat him, advising that she is just as "super-duper" as he is. Of course then Supergirl realizes she's probably damaged the space-time continuum and has Superboy sniff some flower that makes him forget that past week they spent goofing around together. Could be worse, I mean at least it wasn't a super-french kiss that made him lose his memories. ;)

6. Superman/Supergirl Maelstrom



This one's a five issue mini-series brought to you by the same writing team that is writing the current Jonah Hex and Power Girl series, Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. The focus is on the villain Maelstrom who hails from Apokalips and intends to get into Darkseid's good graces and become worthy of being his Queen by destroying Superman as a bridal gift of sorts. Of course when she first shows up Supergirl is the first citizen of Metropolis to greet her, but her bellowing brings along Superman as well soon enough.

Darkseid's cruelty in stringing along Maelstrom for his own personal amusement and schadenfreude is perfectly written and when Kal and Kara go to survival train on a planet with a red sun, it's nice to read a piece where just b/c a Kryptonian is powerless, he or she isn't completely worthless (even if he did learn some tricks from Batman about survival techniques).

Anyway by the 4th issue Superman is poisoned and this gives Supergirl a chance to shine and come into her own in this mini-series. By the final issue they are newly charged with yellow solar energy thanks to Supergirl's best efforts and are back in Metropolis in time to have a rematch with Maelstrom who's brought along the Female Furies this time around.

5. Supergirl v4 #28



"Hell Hath No Furies..."

Amusing Peter David piece where The Female Furies from Apokolips Bernadeth, Lashina, Artemis, Stompa and Mad Harriet crash a "Space Girls" concert to bring back the ongoing villain called Twilight (who it turns out is a former student of Granny Goodness). Lots of good action scenes by Leonard Kirk and my favorite line is in Supergirl's fight with Stompa. Stompa has been going on and on about how "Granny taught us..." this or that and so on. Stompa of course mentions this as she tries to crush Supergirl with her boot. Supergirl then catches her foot and says, " Did Granny give you tips...on dealing with...Broken Ankles?" and proceeds to break her ankle and toss her away like a beach ball. Ah, classic Peter David swarmy wit-tastic goodness, gotta love it.


4. Supergirl v5 #14



"Special"

Let me start out by saying I've never really cared for the "evil" League of Assassins Cassandra Cain Batgirl, but it just so happens to make for a really good face off between her and Supergirl in this issue. Hired to take out Supergirl, Cain kidnaps Kid Boomerang or whatever he should be called now that his dad's not croaked anyway to lure Supergirl into a one on one face off. A nice little exchange between Kara and Tim Drake in the Batcave when she's doing her background check on Cassandra Cain. Pretty cool imagery of Batgirl almost looking like Darth Vader coming after and slicing up Supergirl with Red Solar powered Katana Blades. Normally I suppose I'd abhor Bat-Fan Aura stuff, but since it's the female version (which hadn't really been done to death before) and it's written by Joe Kelly (a favorite Superman writer of mine), I have to say I enjoyed this story a lot. Even with the lame "evil" Batgirl she got cool lines about how she wore the Batgirl outfit while assassinating Supergirl "out of respect for our 'fathers' and how neither of them is truly special. The Ian Churchill art might be a little too Rob Liefield for some folks but it's okay by me.

3. Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the 8th grade #2



"My own best Frenemy!"

This book is part of the kid friendly DC Kids line of comics. When a lab accident occurs with the school projector and various forms of Kryptionite, it creates a nefarious duplicate of Linda Lee who calls herself Belinda Zee who decides to go about making Linda/Supergirl's life miserable. Kind of a Veronica looking version to Supergirl's "Betty" look, Belinda makes it look as if Linda's trying way to hard to fit in and finding everything she can to put her in the worst possible light.

Luckily for Linda, new student, science whiz Lena Thorul shows up and zaps Belinda Zee with a machine she invented that stops her lies and makes her quack like a duck instead. So in the end Linda has made a new friend in Lena. Now if you're familiar with classic Superman lore you'll probably know the "twist" ending to this story right away involving Supergirl sending off an email to Superman at the Fortress and Lena sending off her own email to her big brother Lex, but if you were a first time reader I think this would throw you for a bit of a loop in a good way.

2. Supergirl v4 # 75-80



"Many Happy Returns"

Great Peter David story that features the then current Supergirl's final arc in which she teams up with the classic Silver Age version.

Lots of poking fun at the "science" of the Silver Age of Comics and Filmation cartoons, but when the shit hits the fan and The Spectre shows up to remind the girls of Silver Age Kara's fatal destiny in regards to the Crisis On Infinite Earths proper weight and pathos is given its due. Ed Benes really creates some nice moments here as well and of course you've gotta love Superman under the influence of Pink Kryptonite as he hits on Jimmy Olsen and tells him what a great looking bow-tie he's wearing.


1. Crisis On Infinite Earths #7



The penultimate Supergirl story in which her sacrifice helps to save the entire multiverse. Awesome epic artwork by George Perez and a really emotional script by Marv Wolfman.

note: I'd also like to cheat and mention the opening of Crisis #4 and how I really like the opening scene between Batgirl and Supergirl in the first few pages as well.