Top Comics to Buy for December 3, 2025: Holiday comics are here, plus plenty of others

This week’s Top Comics to Buy for December 3 sees a holiday comic make its first appearance in these picks this year (so far), and that comic is Dread the Halls, a horror anthology now in its second year and just getting better. On top of that, we’ve got a new Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips comic, the end of a killer Star Trek miniseries, and much more.

You can find all five of my top recommendations below, along with the usual set of weekly release lists … enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for December 3, 2025

Batman #4
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Jorge Jimenez
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
ORGANIZED CRIME IN GOTHAM CITY HAS BECOME REALLY, REALLY ORGANIZED! As Bruce Wayne investigates the Crown of Storms, Batman pursues Anarky and discovers a criminal conspiracy hiding in plain sight that will change the game for crime and criminals in Gotham City… and the world!
Why It’s Cool: This new run of the flagship Batman title may not be as loud as Absolute Batman, providing a more traditional Bat-take, but I’m just as excited about it on the weeks it comes out. This run is doing one of my favorite Big 2 things, giving us thematically self-contained chapters that add up to a bigger whole (see also the very good Superman Unlimited). And each issue is better than the last.
Price: $4.99

Briar: Night’s Terror
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Alex Lins
Colorist: Mar Silvestre & Luis NCT
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
The epic conclusion to Briar Rose’s journey begins here!
Briar Rose and Spider finally share a moment of romantic bliss in the village of High Scrape — but the final challenge still awaits! The gang must navigate the perilous Fallswitch Traps, the last barrier to reach Grendid’s lair.
And though the journey is treacherous, what awaits is even more so… with one last spell to revive Grendrid to the height of her powers, will our heroes be prepared for the ultimate showdown?
Why It’s Cool: I’ve loved every arc of Briar, a fantastic Fairy Tale deconstruction, and I’m so glad that the book is back for a conclusion. It’s just such a great example of taking familiar fantasy elements and turning them over in surprising, compelling ways.
Price: $4.99

Dread The Halls 2025 #1
Writers: Jordan Hart & Chris Ryall
Artists: Luana Vecchio, Lee Ferguson, Keithan Jones, Walter Pax, and Fabio Veras
Letterer: Jordan Hart
Publisher: Image Comics – Syzygy Publishing
Dread the Halls returns to haunt another Christmas season with a 72-page gift of all-new tales of holiday horrors for only $6.99! This time out, Jordan Hart and Luana Vecchio deliver a seasonal blend of Hallmark movie and brutal revenge flick; Chris Ryall and Keithan Jones turn Mars red when “The Martians Conquer Santa Claus!”; Walter Pax and Fábio Veras return to the series rendering festive terror; and Ryall and Lee Ferguson close things out with an even darker Christmas Carol!
Why It’s Cool: This is the third installment of Dread the Halls (and the second themed around Christmas), and this horror anthology series really feels finely-honed. Each story is fun in conception and execution, and it brings something different to the table. We’ll have a full review of this one in tomorrow’s Wednesday Comics Review column, but definitely pick it up at your shop!
Price: $6.99

Giant-Size Criminal #1
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist/Letterer: Sean Phillips
Colorist: Jacob Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
This oversized, annual-style issue is packed with everything CRIMINAL fans love from BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS — and much more. Headlining the issue is a novella-length story starring fan-favorite character RICKY LAWLESS (a major player in the upcoming TV adaptation) as he goes solo on his latest heist — what could possibly go wrong?
Why It’s Cool: Simply put, it’s more Criminal from Brubaker and Phillips. This is one of the best long-running projects in comics, and this year it’s gotten a new energy to it due to having an upcoming television adaptation. 
Price: $5.99

Star Trek: Red Shirts #5
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Megan Levens
Letterer: Jodie Troutman
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Only two red shirts remain. The other ten crewmembers on Mission Squawkbox have plummeted hundreds of feet to the ground, been eaten alive by giant alien insects, or been exploded into a million tiny bits by falling torpedoes. Each death has dealt a blow to Ensigns Raad’s and Miller’s morale… Is Starfleet really the paragon of cooperation it claims to be? Or is it willing to expend its members’ lives for the sake of peace? With both Klingons and Romulans breathing down their necks, Raad’s and Miller’s loyalty will be tested. Are they for Starfleet? Or themselves?
Why It’s Cool: As a Star Trek casual fan, I really appreciated this series that basically anyone can pick up. All you need is basic knowledge of Star Trek, including the tradition that the red shirt characters are always killed. And you can access this fantastic mini-series, which ends with an incredible twist this week.
Price: $4.99

Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week

• Absolute Green Lantern #9
• Batgirl #14
• Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League #5
• DC K.O. Knightfight #2
• G.I. Joe #15
• JSA #14
• Kill All Immortals II #2
• Orphan and the Five Beasts: Bath of Blood #3
• Poison Ivy #39
• Speed Racer #5
• The Voice Said Kill #4

New #1s and One-Shots

• Cyberarchy #1
• DC K.O. Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 (one-shot)
• Doctor Strange #1
• Hulk Smash Everything #1
• Inferno Girl Red Book 2 #1
• Rick and Morty The End #1
• Startling Tales of Santa Claus 2025 Annual #1 (one-shot)
• Terminator Santa Claus Is Coming to Town #1 (one-shot)
• Ultimate Universe Two Years In #1 (one-shot)
• Wiccan Witches Road #1

Graphic Novels and Trade Collections

• A Quick & Easy Guide To Healthy Relationships TP
• All-New Wolverine Modern Era Epic Collection Vol 1 The Four Sisters TP
• Always Raining Here TP
• Animals Outbreak GN
• Batman The Demon Trilogy HC
• BRZRKR Bloodlines HC
• Christmas 365 TP
• Complete C Comics HC
• Complete Hate Vol 2 TP
• Creepy Presents Alex Toth TP
• DC Finest Superman The Invisible Lex Luthor TP
• Deadpool by Cody Ziglar Vol 3 Revenge of Wade Wilson TP
• Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe One Last Time TP
• Death’s Immortal Hunter TP
• Dragons of Paris HC
• Eerie Archives Vol 11 TP
• Electric Life The Hidden Radiance of Everything HC
• Flip HC
• Frankenstein New World Vol 2: The Sea of Forever HC
• Garfield Crash Diet TP
• Geiger Deluxe Edition Vol 2 HC
• Hitman by Garth Ennis and John McCrea Omnibus Vol 2 HC
• I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer TP
• Money Shot Vol 5 Big Bang TP
• Namor The Sub-Mariner Epic Collection Vol The Invasion of New York TP
• Paying The Land TP
• Petra Cherie HC
• Private Eye TP
• Slices of Life: A Comic Montage TP
• Sister Imperator HC
• Sonic The Hedgehog Vol 20 Cause & Effect TP
• Sonic The Hedgehog Sonic Prime Vol 2 TP
• Star Wars Doctor Aphra Friends and Enemies Omnibus HC
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Original Motion Picture Special Edition 35th Anniversary
• Total THB Vol 1 GN
• Tuck Everlasting The Graphic Novel TP
• Wynd Book 4 The Power of the Blood HC

Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!

And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!