Top Comics to Buy for August 27, 2025: Another one of those ridiculously packed Wednesdays

The Top Comics to Buy for August 27 list is another one this where I had to read through what felt like two dozen solid to great comics. This, of course, is a good problem to have, but it still makes reducing my final top recommendations down to only five ridiculously painful. Ultimately, I aired on the side of highlighting some of the best artists in comics who are operating at the top of their respective games, from Javier Rodriguez to Michael Lark to Dustin Nguyen, and more. This might be one of the best-looking weeks of the year.

But you really can’t go wrong this week, and I had space for more books. Make sure to check out our Wednesday Comics Reviews column tomorrow, for a spotlight on several other books that are very much worth reading. And hey, speaking of other books: if you enjoy my weekly recommendations here, I’ve written a comic of my own! It’s now in pre-launch on Kickstarter, where you can go to get more info and click NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH to be alerted with an email when it’s live…thanks! 

Top Comics to Buy for August 27

Absolute Martian Manhunter #6
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Javier Rodriguez 
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: DC Comics
Ideas explode like atom bombs, minds melt, and colors clash in the darkness behind the eyes of every person on the planet. It’s Green Martian versus White Martian, John Jones versus madness itself, as he fights to save his family–and the world.
Why It’s Cool: One of the things I’ve liked about DC Comics line of Absolute books is that almost all of them feel so art forward, that they’re almost experimental, at least in the context of superhero comics storytelling form the Big 2. But even within the group, Absolute Martian Manhunter feels especially bold with its ideas and storytelling, and this issue — which is the first arc finale — really sticks the landing for all the risks this title has been taking, delivering a comic that mixes abstract interior narrative touches with its version of classic superhero punch storytelling. This one really worked for me, and I’m so glad it’s coming back later this year to start a second arc.
Price: $4.99

Be Not Afraid #3
Writer: Jude Ellison S. Doyle
Artist: Lisandro Estherren
Colorist: Francesco Segala, w/Gloria Martinelli
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
If Jordy is the disease, then Cora must find the cure-after all, Jordy was born evil. Who is there to blame but his mother? Jordy’s life has been painted by death and decay. In his childhood, it disturbed him. Now a young adult, he relishes the chaos that follows him and its horrifying effects on the people of Enoch. Cora is desperate for an end to their suffering. Jordy’s mere existence puts them all in greater danger than Cora could have ever imagined. Mr. Phim has a plan to help her put a stop to all of it, but Cora doesn’t want the responsibility.
Why It’s Cool: Regular readers of this space know that I’ve really enjoyed the first two issues of this horror book, built on a cocktail of interesting themes, including religion, motherhood, and pastoral creepiness. But this third issue might be the most disturbing chapter of the book yet. It delves deeply into the motherhood ideas here, both with its main character’s child and her own parent, and it comes out with a chilling, almost-cosmic horror story that will also sneak up on you with the way it seems to advocate for empathy. This is just such a complex and well-done horror comic, and one you should absolutely be reading.
Price: $4.99

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: Professor Harvey Is Gone #1
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Giuseppe Manunta
Letterer: Clem Robins
A paranoid antiquities professor goes missing, and Hellboy’s search for him takes a dangerous turn when the same person who was after the professor might be after Hellboy as well. Mike Mignola writes and Giuseppe Manunta (Artemis, Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Haut-Koenigsbourg) draws this new one-shot!
Why It’s Cool: This week’s Hellboy one-shot has the feeling of a classic, lost Hellboy story from years ago. It’s a standalone adventure in which Hellboy investigates the sudden disappearance of a professor — and soon finds himself embroiled in the same spooky hijinks that vanished the man. But what really makes this a standout book and an easy pick for my list of the top comics to buy for August 27, is the gorgeous comics storytelling of Giuseppe Manunta. There are multiple panels in this one I have stuck in my head days after reading.
Price: $3.99

Lazarus Fallen #3
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Michael Lark
Colorist: Santiago Arcas
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Publisher: Image Comics
Sir Thomas Huston is the Armitage Lazarus. He has been hunting for Forever. Now, he’s found her. Unfortunately for him, he’s also found her younger sister, Infinity.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve been pretty direct in this column that I think Lazarus is one of (if not the) best ongoing stories in this era of comics. And one of the highlights throughout its long run has been the high stakes, tense battles between the various Lazarus (Lazurai?) fostered by the handful of wealthy families that run the world as fiefdoms. And this issues serves up one of the greats. I won’t spoil it, but there are some surprises. I always say that one of the many things I love about Lazarus is that it feels hyper-realistic — and also delivers swordfights between regenerating super people regularly. And that’s what we get in this issue.
Price: $3.99

Robin and Batman: Jason Todd #3
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Dustin Nguyen
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: DC Comics
Robin has teamed up with the mysterious villain known only as the Wraith, and Batman is desperate to save his new ward from the sinister temptations of evil. Can the Dark Knight rescue Jason Todd before his corruption is complete? And even if he can, is there any hope that this tortured soul can be rehabilitated into the crime-fighter Batman is so desperately trying to mold him into?
Why It’s Cool: I consider myself to be generally pretty jaded with superhero comics, which is why it’s always nice when one comes along that feels poignant, and that’s what we get this week with the excellent finale issue of Robin and Batman: Jason Todd. This book has been fantastic throughout, but the veteran collaborators Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen really stick the landing here with the heartrending story of a trouble youth, who has been hurt and will be hurt again looking forward. Also, Nguyen’s artwork in the telling is just perfect.
Price: $4.99

Other Comics I Liked This Week

• Absolute Wonder Woman #11
• Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #2
• Green Arrow #27
• Kaya #29
• Minor Arcana #10
• News From the Fallout #3
• Speed Racer #2
• Ultimate Spider-Man #20
• The Voice Said Kill #2
• Void Rivals #22
• You’ll Do Bad Things #6

New #1s and One-Shots

• Bring on the Bad Guys – Dormammu #1 (one-shot)
• Bring on the Bad Guys – Mephisto #1 (one-shot)
• Doomed 2099 #1 (one-shot)
• Dune – Edge of a Crysknife – The Rage of Shai-Hulud #1
• Gatchaman – Joe Bloodlines #1 (one-shot)
• Immortal Legend Batman #1
• Imperial War: Black Panther #1
• Imperial War: She-Hulk #1
• The Man Who Dreamt The Impossible – A Tribute to Jack Kirby Treasure Edition #1
• Masterminds #1
• Nemesis Forever #1
• Red Vector #1
• Sonja Reborn #1
• Star Trek – Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Salvation #1
• Stitch #1
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder #1
• Thor #1
• Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #1
• X-Men – From the Ashes – Tooth & Claw #1 (one-shot)

Graphic Novels and Trade Collections

• Batman ’66 Compendium TP
• Black Lightning – The Standard TP
• Children of the Phoenix Vol. 4 – The Engram Kist TP
• Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 1 Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Find Pirate Gold
• Cry Wolf Girl HC
• Deadweights TP
• Essential Judge Anderson – Childhood’s End TP
• Galaxy of Madness Vol. 2 TP
• Hellhunters TP
• Infinity Watch Universal Destruction TP
• In Mourning GN
• The Knives – A Criminal Book HC
• Laser Eye Surgery TP
• MetaMaus GN
• Miles Morales Spider-Man Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 2 Spider-Man No More TP
• The Nam 1966 – 1969 HC
• New Gods Vol. 1 The Falling Sky HC/TP
• Peanuts All-Year Round Mini Collection HC
• The Question – All Along the Watchtower TP
• Radiant Black Vol. 7 All-New All-Different TP
• Redman’s Muddy Waters Too TP
• Sabretooth – The Dead Don’t Talk TP
• Sandman Mystery Theatre Compendium 2 TP
• Spawn Compendium Vol. 7 TP
• Spectacular Spider-Man by JM DeMatteis & Sal Buscema Omnibus HC
• Star Wars – Kanan Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 1 The Last Padawan TP
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Collection Vol. 7 TP
• Those Not Afraid TP
• Ultramega by James Harren Vol. 2 TP
• Vicarious TP
• Witcher Library Edition Vol. 3 HC
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Old School New School TP

Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!

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