This week’s Top Comics to Buy for August 23 is a bit of an eclectic grab bag, featuring a mix of crime comics, superhero comics, a two-story anthology, and a very chilling horror comic. It is also, in other words, a Very Good week to be reading weekly comics, especially if your tastes list toward the offbeat and slightly more grounded. You can find my five favorites below, along with our usual set of lists…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for August 23, 2023
Knight Terrors – Harley Quinn #2
Writer: Tini Howard
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colors: Triona Farrell
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: DC Comics
What unseen horrors lurk beyond the borders of the known and the klown? A whispered secret from the elbow of a garden gnome, a parking-lot pass that was lost under the antediluvian car seat from hell, and a nihilistic grease trap that does taxes incorrectly—all of these things and more…are not in this comic. It’s Harls again! Part two of this story is just as weird and wacked-out to the max as the last one. This time we’ll reveal the one true secret origin of Harley Quinn, and I’ll go toe-to-toe-to-toe with one of Superman’s greatest foes!
Why It’s Cool: I am a sucker for superhero comics that incorporate different character art styles in ways that make sense narratively, and this is certainly that. The work Hayden Sherman and Triona Farrell put out here is just fantastic; liable to give you shades of what Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Jahnke’s classic work on the ’90s event, Zero Hour. Pick this up even if you aren’t reading Harley Quinn or Knight Terrors — you won’t regret it.
Price: $4.99
Newburn #10
Writer: Chip Zdarsky, with back-up by David Brothers
Artist: Jacob Phillips, with back-up by Nick Dragotta
Color Assistant: Pip Martin
Publisher: Image Comics
Newburn’s list of allies is growing shorter, alienating police contacts and his employers at the Black Castle. And he’ll need allies, soon, with a reporter on his tail.
Why It’s Cool: Newburn is really just such a clever concept for a crime comic, and this book continues to go deeper with it, using character-driven stories to do so. Add to that just a stunning back-up story in this current arc, and you’ve really got something special. You’ll definitely want to be reading this one.
Price: $3.99
The Penguin #1
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Rafael de Latorre
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
REVENGE IS FOR THE BIRDS. After retiring to Metropolis following his “death,” Oswald Cobblepot finds himself forced back into the unpredictable and violent Gotham City underworld as a pawn for the United States intelligence community! Gotham’s criminal element has been evolving since he was last in the city, with his bastard twin children ruling the Iceberg Lounge. And what of the man he framed for his death—Batman? Is the Penguin walking into a death sentence?
Why It’s Cool: A deep and thorough look one of the DC Universe’s top criminal masterminds, The Penguin #1 sets out to show why you should never underestimate Oswald Copperpot — and it succeeds. Armed with a great framing sequence that has a wounded Batman and Penguin going down together in a disabled Bat-boat, this comic will grab you from the start and not let go.
Price: $3.99
Ribbon Queen #2
Writer: Garth Ennis
Penciller: Jacen Burrows
Inker: Guillermo Ortego
Colorist: Dan Brown
Detective Amy Sun watched the prime suspect in her case unravel before her eyes, leaving no doubt that supernatural force was at work — and that work is grisly in the extreme! It’s up to her to piece together a case involving murder and police corruption before more people die. But when members of the corrupt cabal within the department corner Detective Sun, they too start to unravel.
Why It’s Cool: Through its first two issues, this book is such an interesting mix of a very gritty, police department-focused crime comic…with a truly chilling horror concept. The way its blending them serves the ideas and themes in this story so well, making it an easy choice for the Top Comics to Buy for August 23.
Price: $3.99
Tales of Syzpense #2
Les Mort 13, Co-Creators: T.P. Louise and Ashley Wood
Dreamweaver, Co-Creators: Chris Ryall and Nelson Daniel
Dreamweaver Letterer: Ian Chalgren
Publisher: Syzygy Publishing – Image Comics
The split book revival continues at Syzygy! In T.P. LOUISE & ASHLEY WOOD’s “Les Mort 13,” Les Mort is schooled in the way of the unseen world, and he may not survive the experience!
In “Dreamweaver” by CHRIS RYALL & NELSON DANIEL, the aged mystic’s attempts to pass on his abilities to the much younger Jennica Howard threaten to ruin his life and prematurely end hers!
Why It’s Cool: This split book concept series has been excellent through two issues, giving readers a pair of very different yet excellent comics stories. The first story in this issue is a more abstract, sort of experiential piece, while the second gives readers an interesting and vibrant take on superpowers and legacy and perspectives. But again, both pieces are very well-done, making this one an easy choice to snag on new comics day.
Price: $4.99
Others Receiving Votes
Batman and The Brave and The Bold #4- Battle Chasers #12
- Black’s Myth – Key To His Heart #3
- Bone Orchard Mythos – Tenement #3
- Dark Knights of Steel #12
- Earthdivers #9
- Fire Power by Kirkman & Samnee #26
- Ice Cream Man #36
- Indigo Children #6
- Knight Terrors #4
- Knight Terrors – Detective Comics #2
- Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #3
- Terrorwar #5
- Unstoppable Doom Patrol #5
- Xino #3
New #1s and One-Shots
The Addams Family – The Bodies Issues #1 (one-shot)- Captain America Finale #1 (one-shot)
- Fantastic Four Vol. 7 Annual #1
- Immortal Thor #1
- Jean Grey #1
- Magic – Planeswalker Notorious #1 (one-shot)
- Marvel Unleashed #1
- My Little Pony – Classics Reimagined – Unicorn of Odd #1
- Realm of X #1
- The Schlub #1
- Star Trek – Strange New Worlds – Scorpius Run #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Absolute Sandman Overture HC- All Tomorrow’s Parties – The Velvet Underground HC
- Archie Horror Presents Chilling Adventures Anthology Collection TP
- Art Brut Vol. 1 – The Winking Woman HC
- Beatrix Rose Vigilante GN
- Giant Days Library Edition Vol. 1 HC
- In Search of Gil Scott-Heron – The Godfather of Rap HC
- Infamous Iron Man TP
- Ironheart – Saga of Riri Williams TP
- Lobster Johnson Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
- Lonesome Days, Savage Nights – The Manning Files Vol. 2 GN
- Lost Boy Vol. 1 TP
- Low Compendium TP
- Mother Nature HC
- Of Thunder & Lightning HC
- The Ones TP
- Robin & Batman TP
- Spy Superb HC
- What’s The Furthest Place From Here Vol. 2 TP
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
