Comics have been around for a long time. Marvel and DC, in particular, have survived the trials and tribulations of the fickle industry to continually publish comics since the days of WWII. Some of their comics have had the numbers to prove it. Nowadays, companies are constantly rebooting books to get that sweet first issue sales bump, but for decades, large issue numbers were something that fans gravitated towards.
Some of Marvel and DC's comics went very long periods of time without a major refresh or reboot. While some have gone back to legacy numbering, they all still stopped it at some point.
10 Daredevil Went 380 Issues Before A Reboot
Daredevil has proven to be one of the toughest heroes in the Marvel Universe and his comic is no different. For 380 issues, the Man Without Fear thrilled fans and introduced readers to ol' Hornhead, Bullseye, Elektra, and so many more. Frank Miller owes his entire career to Daredevil and writers like Ann Nocenti made their names there.
Diminishing sales plagued the book throughout the '90s and even a critically acclaimed run by writer Karl Kesel and artist Cary Nord couldn't save it. The book ended, but was soon rebooted as the first book of the Marvel Knights line, written by Kevin Smith with art by the team of Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti.
9 The Avengers Lasted 402 Issues
The Avengers have long been Marvel's strongest team, an assemblage of their greatest heroes. Taking a page from DC's Justice League, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby combined their greatest heroes into one team and fans loved it for decades. Like a lot of classic Marvel books not related to the X-Men, the '90s weren't kind to the Avengers.
The book's sales started to fall precipitously and Marvel tried everything to get fans to like the Avengers again, to no avail. The book folded at issue 402 for the ill-fated Heroes Reborn reboot, which gave it a short-term sales boost but is still looked at as a failure by most fans, before returning in the capable hands of writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Perez.
8 Fantastic Four Clocked In 416 Issues Before Heroes Reborn Struck
Fantastic Four was Marvel's first Silver Age comic. Inspired by Kirby's DC team, the Challengers of the Unknown, the FF transformed the comic industry and helped begin Marvel's slow rise to dominance. More of a family than a team, Fantastic Four spotlighted the group as they went on amazing adventures, introducing the likes of Doctor Doom, Galactus, the Inhumans, Black Panther, and more.
Fans of the '90s didn't have much love for the Fantastic Four and the book was part of the Heroes Reborn deal. While considered the best of the four books, the whole thing didn't go as well as Marvel expected and the book was brought back with a new number one from writer Scott Lobdell and artist Alan Davis.
7 The Amazing Spider-Man Swung For 441 Issues
Fantastic Four was the first Marvel book, but the book that really made Marvel was The Amazing Spider-Man. Spider-Man is the quintessential Marvel hero and as successful as Fantastic Four and The Avengers were, they didn't hold a candle to The Amazing Spider-Man. Spider-Man struck a chord and his trials and tribulations thrilled readers for decades.
While Spider-Man was a sales leader in the '90s, the Clone Saga and the abortive John Byrne reboot of the character hurt him and the book ended at issue 454, before being relaunched by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist John Romita Jr.
6 Captain America Led The Fight For Freedom For 454 Issues
Captain America was one of Marvel's oldest books, stretching back to the '50s when it was titled Captain America's Weird War Tales. After a hiatus, the book was brought back when Marvel's most inspiring hero returned in The Avengers #4. While it was never a sales powerhouse, it still did well, with classic stories from Steve Englehart and Marshal Rodgers, Jack Kirby, and Mark Gruenwald and Ron Lim.
Captain America's sales declined in the '90s, although a run by writer Mark Waid and artist Ron Garney gave it a fighting chance. Marvel had already inked the Heroes Reborn deal by that point and Captain America would become the most infamous book of that bunch, with writer Jeph Loeb and artist Rob Liefeld turning in something that is mocked to this day. It was rebooted by Waid and Garney and all was right with the world.
5 The Incredible Hulk Smashed For 474 Issues
The Incredible Hulk proved to be as strong as the titular character. For 474 issues, fans were thrilled by the Jade Giant's adventures. Whether he'd be fighting the military, monsters, or Marvel's greatest heroes, The Incredible Hulk was always exciting and contains writer Peter David's landmark run, one of the greatest in comics, with artists like Todd McFarlane, Dale Keown, Gary Frank, Liam Sharpe, Adam Kubert and so many more.
After David left, the book's sales declined and Marvel eventually pulled the plug on it with issue 474. It wasn't the end, as a new adjectiveless Hulk was launched by writer John Byrne and artist Ron Garney in 1999.
4 Uncanny X-Men Takes The Title For Marvel's Longest Running Series With 544 Issues
Uncanny X-Men began its life as X-Men but the name was changed to distance it from the sales failure of X-Men. It kept the same numbering, though, so it counts. Home to the greatest mutants of all time, Uncanny X-Men was one of the most popular comics ever created, with Chris Claremont's seventeen-year run making it the most important book of the '80s.
The '90s would continue the book's sales dominance and as much as Marvel tried to swing the spotlight away from it, fans never left. The book ended with issue 544 but would be immediately relaunched with a status quo by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Carlos Pacheco.
3 Batman Menaced Crime For 713 Issues
Batman started in 1940 and for 71 years was one of the most popular comics on the stands. Batman was one of the first comic characters to ever star in more than one tile, with this and Detective Comics playing as home to the Caped Crusader. His amazing adventures and accomplishments entertained generations of fans.
Batman survived the rocks and shoals of the comic industry until 2011, when it was restarted in DC's line-wide New 52 reboot. It's continued to consistently be one of the best-selling books on the market, home to one of comics' biggest characters and the best creative teams.
2 Detective Comics Spent 881 Issues Solving Crimes
Detective Comics is the longest-running comic in the industry, starting in 1937 and being continually published until today. DC Comics owes its name to this book and it introduced the world to Batman in issue 27. Since then, it has given readers the adventures of the Dark Knight and many other heroes, telling amazing stories for decades.
The New 52 would close out the book's landmark first run, ending it with issue 881. After DC Rebirth, it would return to its original numbering and now has over a thousand issues under its belt. Its stretch of 881 issues is the second most impressive issue total in comics.
1 Action Comics Had An Unprecedented 904-Issue Run
Action Comics holds the record for the largest issue total in comics with an astounding 904 issues in its first run. Superman's birthplace, DC's greatest role model, Action Comics started two years after Detective Comics but due to it going weekly for a time in the '80s ended with a greater issue total before the New 52 reboot hit the DC Universe.
The book went back to its original numbering once DC Rebirth ended the New 52 and was the first comic to hit issue 1000. Action Comics is one of comics' most venerable books, continuing to this day to publish stories that delight and entertain.