Number 6: Secret Origins #1"The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Superman" (DC Comics, April 1986)
Of all the versions of Superman's origin, this one is my favorite. This issue features a thorough retelling of the origin of Superman of Earth-2, also known as "The Golden Age Superman." The tale is a post-Crisis version and it is told against the backdrop of the revised continuity of the DC Universe. The story successfully integrates the time-honored classics elements of Action Comics #1, along with Earth-2 stories from the 1960s and 1970s, and new material written specifically for this version. The issue was written by Roy Thomas and it features art by Jerry Ordway and Wayne Boring.
All this and it's got a great cover, too!
Super bonus link: Read the whole issue here!
Number 5: Fantastic Four #4
"The Coming of...Sub-Mariner!" (Marvel Comics, May 1962)
I can still recall where I was the first time I read a reprint of this issue—I was sitting in my 7th grade Pre-Algebra class. There was a special event going on that week called "Right to Read Week" and in many classes we simply had hour-long sessions of "sustained silent reading" (instead of our regularly scheduled lessons) in which we could read anything we wanted, with the exception of magazines and comic books. I would assume that I had a book with me that day, but I was apparently uninterested in it and I borrowed a digest-sized paperback volume of Fantastic Four comics from the guy that was sitting in front of me. When I say that it was "digest-sized," I mean that it was indistinguishable from a regular paperback book, which allowed me to secretly read comics for the better part of an hour. The collection featured complete reprints of Fantastic Four issues 1 through 6 and this is where I first read this story as well as Fantastic Four #6, which was featured in an earlier entry of my favorites list.
This story chronicles the Silver-Age resurrection of Sub-Mariner. Early in the tale, Subby is found by Johnny Storm (aka The Human Torch). His identity is initially somewhat of a mystery as Sub-Mariner has fallen on difficult times. He is found wandering the streets of New York as a homeless man with no recollection of his past. With Johnny Storm's help, Subby is cleaned up and his memory is restored. Sub-Mariner remembers that he is Prince Namor of Atlantis and he recalls that mankind is to blame for the destruction of his kingdom. He swears vengeance on all humans and he subsequently attacks the Fantastic Four. During the fight, Sub-Mariner develops a crush on FF's Invisible Girl and although he decides not to vanquish them in this round, he vows to return someday as their greatest foe.
I bought an original copy of Fantastic Four #4 in 1992 or so for only $20. The current Overstreet value for a mint copy is about $5000, so one can gather that my copy is not in the best of shape. The official grade for the condition my copy would likely be "Poor." I haven't removed my copy from it's protective bag for over 10 years and doing so now would probably cause more damage than necessary, but if I recall correctly, my copy is complete and largely intact.
Whatever the case, FF #4 is a great read, regardless of the format or condition.
