This week’s top comics to buy for April 5 features new #1s from Vault Comics and AHOY Comics, two of my favorite publishers. On top of that, I’m also recommending new issues from two of the consistently best-selling mega titles in comics, Batman and Saga. It is, in other words, a strong week. You can find my full set of the usual picks below…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for April 5, 2023
Batman #134
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Pencils: Mike Hawthorne
Inks: Adriano Di Benedetto
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
It’s all-out war as only Batman stands between Red Mask and a Gotham City full of bodies! How much is the Dark Knight willing to sacrifice to save this city?
Why It’s Cool: I’ve really enjoyed this entire story arc — with its multiversal hijinx — and this issue is no exception. In fact, it might be the most action-packed (and fun) issue of this arc yet. Plus, something happens to Batman in it that — while maybe not permanent — could make this a key issue down the line, if you care about such things.
Price: $4.99
Love Everlasting #6
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Elsa Charretier
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Image Comics
NEW STORY ARC “TOO HIP FOR LOVE,” Part One The critically acclaimed, Harvey-nominated series continues with the launch of an epic new five-issue story arc: “TOO HIP FOR LOVE”!Joan now understands the horror of her trap. Every time she falls in love, she disappears into another love story and starts again. However, a new boy introduces a new twist, and Joan discovers that what she thought was her life was just the entrance to a maze of madness.
Why It’s Cool: This has been a complex and interesting series from the start, one that feels a bit like a trip through the history comics trends and story conventions. This issue is another strong one, sort of upping the stakes for our main character, Joan.
Price: $3.99
The Nasty #1
Writer: John Lees
Artist: George Kambadais
With: Adam Cahoon
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
‘Calling all scary movie fans! Scotland, 1994. Eighteen-year-old Thumper Connell still has an imaginary friend: the masked killer from his favourite slasher film. Thumper is obsessed with horror and always has been. He fills his time with scary VHS rentals and hanging out with his fellow fans, The Murder Club. But everything changes when his local video shop acquires one of the notorious films known as ‘video nasties’ – films so scary, they’re the target of the British Moral Decency League’s crusade to ban and burn. But it’s only a movie, right? It’s all just imaginary, isn’t it? A story about the perception of evil, the power of genre, the love of fandom, the need to create art, oh, and crap-your-pants TERROR!’
Why It’s Cool: Harkening back to an age of videostore horror fandom that no longer exists — or at least is no longer based around a shared experience in a physical space — The Nasty #1 is an incredible strong first issue. It plays with reality in certain ways, reminding me (in a good way) of a couple of my favorite past Vault titles, Submerged and Finger Guns, just with really fun horror touches.
Price: $4.99
Saga #63
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Letterer: Fonografiks
Publisher: Image Comics
Is this hell?
Why It’s Cool: Saga has been so good for so long that it’s easy to take it for granted, but this latest story arc has been excellent. It’s testing its characters with challenges in ways that the book (which regularly challenges its characters, to say the least) hasn’t quite done before. And it’s doing so in interesting ways that feel relevant to real life, which has long been at the heart of Saga’s success. In other words, Saga remains excellent, and absolutely deserves its spot as one of the most-read stories in modern comics.
Price: $3.99
Second Coming – Trinity #1
Writer: Mark Russell
Layouts: Richard Pace
Finishes: Leonard Kirk
Colors: Andy Troy
Letters: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
The book that turned the comics industry upside-down with ‘quite a bit of humor [and] a lot of heart’ (The New York Times). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, tackles his biggest challenge in 2000 years: babysitting a child with super powers! Meanwhile, his roommate-the superhero called Sunstar-faces his greatest enemy, and his own guilt, in a court of law. Written and co-created by 2022 Eisner winner Mark Russell with art by co-creator Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk.
Why It’s Cool: The best satire in comics is back with another new miniseries, and this first issue serves up a heartrending look at a character who has been depicted here as a villain so far. It’s an issue as melancholic as it is poignant, and a great start for the latest arc of this returning title.
Price: $4.99
Others Receiving Votes
Adventures of Superman – Jon Kent #2- Almighty #3
- Amazing Spider-Man #23
- Batman & The Joker – Deadly Duo #6
- Breath of Shadows #3
- Flawed #6
- Hell to Pay #4
- I Hate This Place #7
- Icon Vs. Hardware #2
- Koshchei in Hell #4
- Poison Ivy #11
- Scarlet Witch #4
- Stillwater #18
- Venom #18
- Where Monsters Lie #3
New #1s and One-Shots
- Archie & Friends – All Action #1 (one-shot)
- Disney Villains – Scar #1
- Hairball #1
- Junk Rabbit #1
- Mirka Andolfo’s Sweet Paprika – Black, White, and Pink #1 (one-shot)
- Planet of the Apes #1
- Sonic The Hedgehog #1 – Fifth Anniversary Edition
- Star Trek Deep Space Nine – The Dog of War #1
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels
Batman Vol. 1 – Failsafe HC- Batman Spawn – The Deluxe Edition HC
- Black Science – The Complete Story TP
- Codex Black Vol. 1 – A Fire Among Clouds TP
- Essential Judge Dredd – Judgement Day TP
- Legacy of Violence Vol. 1 TP
- Madman – Library Edition, Vol. 4 HC
- Sandman Universe – Nightmare Country Vol. 1 HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
