4. Planetary (DC/Wildstorm)

First Issue: April 1999
Most Recent Issue: #26, December 2006
Longest Time Between Issues: Two years and six months - Issue #26 (December 2006) - #27 (still unreleased)

Planetary, by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday (his second appearance on this list!) as a whole, is unique. In premise, obviously; but for our purposes, even more original in its publishing schedule. The series officially launched OVER TEN YEARS AGO, in 1999. At the time, it was billed as a twenty four issue series that was to ship bi-monthly. Obviously, it didn't really turn out that way. After numerous shipping issues, the series finally went on official hiatus in 2001, not releasing a new issue for two years.

When it restarted in 2003, it was decided that Planetary would extend to be twenty seven issues, and we're still waiting. Teased to be completed in 2008, it was not to be. However, according to Ellis, Cassaday has finished the last issue as of April 2009 and it should be hitting shelves soon. Maybe.


3. Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk (Marvel)

First Issue: February 2006
Most Recent Issue: #6, July 2009 (final issue)
Longest Time Between Issues: Three years and one month - #2 (April 2006) - #3 (May 2009)

Man, oh man. I remember going to the comic shop when issue #2 came out back in 2006, and a friend tried to convince me to pick it up. Citing lack of interest in both the Ultimate Universe and Wolverine has a whole, I neglected. It's a good thing too, otherwise I would've had to wait over three years to pick up the next installment. Getting a hot writer like Damon Lindelof (creator of Lost) to write a comic about two of its most popular characters sounds like a great idea from Marvel. However, it's rather ironic that the top three entries on this list are all victims of delays by Hollywood writers, likely taking on an "easy comic book gig" to add something else to their resume, only to find out that it's not exactly like dusting crops.

Regardless, issue #3 just recently released to little fanfare or excitement, but it fascinates me to see that Marvel didn't just give up on this book. Marvel dominates a majority of this list; but if nothing else, they are commited to finishing what they started. Most of the time.