You might see a familiar name pop up more than once in this week’s Top Comics to Buy for April 26 — James Tynion. Reason being, of course, that the writer has not one but two great new (disturbing) books landing among my five favorites. You can find the rest of my picks — as well as the usual set of lists — below…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for April 26, 2023
Behold Behemoth #5
Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Nick Robles
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
In the heartbreaking FINAL ISSUE, Grey and Wren find themselves closer than ever to finding answers about who, and what, the Behemoths are!
Kavita has ulterior motives though-ones that may be deadly to Wren, and put Grey in an impossible choice.
Why It’s Cool: This series pairs together two great creators with a really interesting concept — some combo of ancient fantasy bond story with kaijus. This issue delivers a finale (for now) that packs in some gorgeous high-action artwork with plotting that delivers on the emotional throughlines that have gone through the entire series. I liked this one quite a bit, and really hope the duo returns with more at some point.
Price: $3.99
Blue Book #3
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Back-Up By: Lonnie Nadler and Jenna Cha
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics – Tiny Onion
Trauma takes hold as nightmares plague the Hills with visions of the strange creatures they encountered. Were these just dreams or actual missing memories? These questions set the two of them off on a path for answers by retracing their bizarre journey and encounters with the unknown.
Also including True Weird: Grande Peur by Lonnie Nadler, Jenna Cha, and Aditya Bidikar!
Why It’s Cool: We’ve been covering a lot of horror comics in this space (hey, they’ve been really good lately), and that includes the first two issues of this series. Well, this one is the creepiest chapter of the book yet. Blue Book is a different kind of horror, quieter and more patient, but the idea that it might be true it’s just as disturbing as any other comic out there.
Price: $4.99
Green Arrow #1
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Sean Izaakse
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Publisher: DC Comics
The Emerald Archer is lost, and it will take Oliver Queen’s whole family to find him! But dangerous forces are determined to keep them apart at any cost! Spinning out of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, Green Arrow by DC architect Joshua Williamson (Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman) and artist Sean Izaakse (Thunderbolts) is an action-packed adventure across the DCU that sets the stage for major stories in 2023!
Why It’s Cool: One of my favorite superhero characters returns this week with a new series, his first as the sole headliner since 2019. It’s a different sort of Green Arrow solo comic, one that expands its focus to include a big supporting cast, while also picking up on plot threads from a recently-concluded event. And it looks absolutely great doing all that, with some of the best Green Arrow art since the Rebirth title had the alternating team of Otto Schmidt and Juan Ferreyra.
Price: $3.99
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #2
Writer: Dennis Culver
Artist: Chris Burnham
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Publisher: DC Comics
Explore the World’s Strangest Superheroes’ new headquarters, the Shelter, as they welcome their brand-new member, the Worm! Catch up with Niles Caulder, Mento, Flex Mentallo, and more as we learn terrible secrets that could bring the new team to their knees before they even have a chance to get started. There’s a traitor in their midst and it’s not who you think!
Why It’s Cool: I was really high on the first issue of this series, and while this week’s second chapter is a very different sort of comic, it manages to keep up the momentum. There’s some twists in this one I don’t want to spoil, so I won’t go into specifics, other than to note that I just continue to think Chris Burnham is basically the perfect choice for a DoomPatrol artist.
Price: $3.99
w0rldtr33 #1
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Image Comics – Tiny Onion
In 1999, Gabriel and his friends discovered the Undernet, a secret architecture to the Internet. They charted their exploration on a message board called W0RLDTR33.
Then they lost control. Someone broke into W0RLDTR33-someone who welcomed the violent hold the Undernet had on them. At great personal cost, Gabriel and the others thought they sealed the Undernet away for good.
They were wrong. And now they will know the meaning of PH34R.
Why It’s Cool: There must be something in the culture right now, motivating creators to explore ideas around the Dark Web, Red Rooms, and something sweeping through social media that inspires murder. I sure have read a lot of comics around those things of late, but this is easily the best one. It’s as unnerving, disturbing and gruesome as it gets, really, but the art is fantastic and the script anchors the whole thing with a couple of characters who are sympathetic, which something some other books in this space haven’t done. This is an easy pick for this week’s Top Comics to Buy for April 26, with the caveat that this one is not for the squeamish.
Price: $3.99
Others Receiving Votes
Action Comics #1054- Captain America – Symbol of Truth #12
- Clobberin’ Time #2
- Detective Comics #1071
- Door to Door, Night by Night #5
- Dungeons and Dragons Saturday Morning Adventures #2
- Gargoyles #5
- Indigo Children #2
- Kaya #7
- Killadelphia #30
- Sandman Universe – Dead Boy Detectives #5
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Armageddon Game #7
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – The Last Ronin Lost Years #3
- Torrent #3
- Wasp #4
New #1s and One-Shots
Alien #1- Deep Cuts #1
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Bane of Blastaar #1 (one-shot)
- Money Shot Comes Again #1
- Sins of Sinister – Dominion #1 (one-shot)
- Star Wars – Darth Vader – Black, White, and Red #1
- Star Wars High Republic Adventures – Quest of the Jedi #1 (one-shot)
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels
- 3Keys TP
- BLAB Vol. 1 TP
- Black Cat Social Club TP
- Duo HC
- Hawk The Slayer – Warght for Me in the Night TP
- Legends of the DC Universe – Carmine Infantino HC
- Midnight Suns TP
- Reynard’s Tale – A Story of Love and Mischief TP
- Sacred Lamb GN
- Starman – David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust Years GN
- Witches of World War II GN
- Work-Life Balance GN
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
