This week’s top comics to buy for August 16 is essentially headlined by the grand finale of one of my favorite Hellboy Universe miniseries of late — Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea #4. But past that, I also enjoyed quite a few other books this week. In fact, this was one of those good weeks were I could have easily gone to six or seven or even eight recommendations. Anyway, as always you can find the books I did settle on below…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for August 16, 2023
Dark Spaces: Hollywood Special #1
Writer: Jeremy Lambert
Artist: Claire Roe
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: IDW Publishing
All aboard The Hollywood Special, the 1942 luxury train touring the United States to support the war effort. On board is fading star Vivian Drake, doing her part to boost morale and finally give the tabloids something other than her nose-diving career and shambles of a family life to write about. But when the Special pulls into the coal-mining town of Minersville, PA, amid the collapse of a mine, Vivian finds herself facing every failure and bad memory she’s bottled up in the form of what the miners found in the dark-the thing they call the Mismatch Man, who feeds on pain and regret.
Why It’s Cool: I could make that one Vince McMahon meme here with the laser eyes and put stuff like: “set in old Hollywood”, “creepy undertones”, “Sunset Blvd. vibes”, etc. And that would all be apt. I love the ingridients in this comic, but I also love how the creative team brings it together, with stunning art and script that knows how to pace its contributions for maximum intrigue and tension. This is a great start.
Price: $3.99
Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea #4
Story By: Mike Mignola
Art and Color By: Jessen Lonergan
Letters by: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Miss Truesdale’s past, present, and future collide in a battle with a terrifying creature. Will the Victorian-era Miss Truesdale be able to claim her power, or is she doomed to be consumed by her past? Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Jesse Lonergan bring the final installment of a Miss Truesdale’s story and of ancient Hyperborea!
Why It’s Cool: This series has been an absolute must-read from the start, armed with the singular and fascinating artwork of Jesse Lonergan. It’s also a great tangent into one of the many interesting side streets the Hellboy comics have created over the years. This finale is an absolutely perfect end.
Price: $3.99
Knight Terrors: Superman #2
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Nathan Fairbairn
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Publisher: DC Comics
SUPERMAN AND SUPERGIRL TEAM UP IN THE NIGHTMARE REALM! In the terrifying Nightmare Realm, Superman and Supergirl search for answers and the rest of their family, but Superman is pulled into a haunted part of Metropolis’s past, where he learns more about Marilyn Moonlight! In the waking world, an unlikely DC superhero family works to save the world from the Sleepless Knights.
Why It’s Cool: This is just a strong comic about Superman and the Superman family, one that builds on writer Joshua Williamson’s excellent current Superman run while tying into the Knight Terrors event. It’s also got artist Tom Reilly, who is supported to perfection here by colorist Nathan Fairbairn and letterer Ariana Maher. This was an easy pick for the Top Comics to Buy for August 16.
Price: $4.99
Queen of Swords – A Barbaric Tale #2
Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Corin Howell
Colorist: K.J. Diaz
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
Dive deeper into Soren’s past, as Serra takes her to The Master-where perhaps she’ll finally learn to contain her dark magic. Meanwhile, in the present, the world’s deadliest and dysfunctional trio encounter Shriekers capable of bending reality around fear. Fortunately, Ga’Bar (who’s stuck inside Deadheart’s sword) is starting to really enjoy getting swung around by his new muscle mommy. Heads will roll!
Why It’s Cool: This offshoot of Vault Comics’ breakout Barbaric title has been a delight, exploring characters outside the main narrative and giving artist Corin Howell (colored here by K.J. Diaz) a chance to absolutely shine.
Price: $4.99
Void Rivals #3
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer:Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics – Skybound
Fighting for their lives to return to the Sacred Ring, Darak and Solila face a new threat-capture! And they’re not the only prisoners on this ship…
Why It’s Cool: I’ve been intrigued by this comic since the first issue, which surprised readers by establishing that it was the jumping off point for a new shared universe featuring the Transformers and G.I. Joe properties. This third issue to me is when the story of these characters really starts to take shape more, both in terms of their individual character development and the twists and turns we are following them through. On top of that, there’s some references pulled right out of the 1986 Transformers animated movie, an undeniable classic.
Price: $3.99
Others Receiving Votes
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18- Daredevil #14
- Groo in the Wild #2
- Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #2
- Loki #3
- Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child #2
- Money Shot Comes Again #3
- Monomyth #4
- Panya: The Mummy’s Curse #2
- Second Coming – Trinity #5
- Sirens of the City #2
- Something Is Killing the Children #32
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #142
- Under The Influence #2
- The Vigil #4
New #1s and One-Shots
Alpha Flight #1- Chilling Adventures Presents Strange Science #1 (one-shot)
- The Cull #1
- Dark X-Men #1
- Disney Villains – Hades #1
- Dwellings #1
- Godzilla – War for Humanity #1
- Iron Man Annual #1
- Many Deaths of Laila Starr Pen & Ink #1
- Marvels Voices X-Men #1 (one-shot)
- Rare Flavours Menu Ashcan #1
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Splintered Fate #1 (one-shot)
- Uncanny Avengers #1
- What If Dark Moon Knight #1 (one-shot)
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels
Absolute V For Vendetta HC (2023 Edition)- Approach TP
- Batman Vol. 2 – The Bat-Man of Gotham HC
- Batman – Detective Comics – Gotham Nocturne Overture HC
- Batman One Bad Day Complete Box Set
- Blessed Curse HC
- Immortal Hulk Omnibus HC
- Little Monsters Vol. 2 TP
- Monkey Prince Vol. 2 – The Monkey King And I HC
- New Realities – Comics of Dash Shaw GN
- Red Zone TP
- Specs TP
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
