3. Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Snowbirds Don’t Fly (1971)
In a bold move for its time, Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams’ Snowbirds Don’t Fly arc from the Green Arrow and Green Lantern comic book series shattered taboos by confronting drug addiction in a superhero comic. The shocking revelation that Speedy (Roy Harper), Green Arrow’s trusted sidekick, was addicted to heroin sent ripples through the industry.
Not only did this story directly challenge the Comics Code Authority (which regulated the industry at the time), but it also compelled readers to confront social realities that were rarely addressed in comics. Its legacy is a testament to the power of comics to tackle real-world issues head-on.