As I work on this week’s Top Comics to Buy for July 23, I’m also preparing to head out to San Diego Comic-Con. For me out here on the East Coast, this entails a six-hour flight, as well as (obviously) a six-hour flight back. And while that’s not ideal for the purposes of basic comfort, it is ideal for the purposes of catching up on comics I’ve been meaning to read.
All of that is to say that when I get back next week, it’ll be with even more recommendations. For now, however, you can find my current list of the Top Comics of 2025 (so far) here, in my July newsletter. Also, if I may indulge in a quick bit of self-promotion (isn’t that the true meaning of San Diego Comic-Con week, after all?), I also rolled out the pre-launch page for my newest comic this week. So please visit this link, check out the book, and click the NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH button to get an email when we go live. Okay! Now, your usual list of recs and references…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for July 23
Absolute Martian Manhunter #5
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Javier Rodriguez
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: DC Comics
An attack on Middleton power stations! A city-wide blackout! As night falls, dark sides are unleashed! It’s John Jones and the Martian against a city full of psychopaths! And the one behind it all!
Why It’s Cool: It’s not often we get a superhero comic that’s trying to do something truly different and unusual, but that’s what the creative team has been serving up with Absolute Martian Manhunter, a book that’s always taking interesting risks, both with its narrative structure as well as with its very good artwork. In good news for readers of this one, DC has announced it will be returning later with year for a second arc, too. That’s a great win for comics.
Price: $4.99
The Seasons #6
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Paul Azaceta
Colorist: Mat Lopes
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics – Giant Generator
Things go from bad to worse for Spring Seasons as she searches for her family and tries to make heads or tails of reality inside the evil carnival’s big top of lies.
Why It’s Cool: The Seasons has lowkey been one of my favorite monthly comics of 2025. And a big part of the reason is that try as I may, I just have absolutely no idea what this series is trying to do. Much to its credit, it does not fit into any pre-existing box we have for comics. It’s very much it’s own thing, a pastel-soaked anachronistic lost folktale laced with colorful characters striving against the darkness. What else could you want from your comics in 2025?
Price: $3.99
Superman #26
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Publisher: DC Comics
Since the start of All In, Darkseid’s Legion has stalked the DC Universe. And now they finally attack Superman! What is this Legion’s deadly mission and how does it kick off the next phase of All In?! Don’t miss out on this crucial issue that sets up a massive event for Superman and the DC Universe!
Why It’s Cool: If you love big DC Comics events as much as I do, this issue is a must-read, regardless of whether you’re up on this current run of Superman or not. This issue picks up on some of the story threads the creators have seeded in this new DC All-In era, and it leaves a tantalizing trail to what’s coming next. If you keep up with the whole of the DC Universe, you need to read this comic.
Price: $4.99
Vanishing Point #3
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli
Colorist: Ellie Wright
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Publisher: Mad Cave
In “Cell Structure”, a floating research station performs horrifying experiments on alien prisoners to discover the common elements of life and all living things. The brainchild of Mark Russell, Vanishing Point is an anthology series of short stories that are part science fiction and part existential horror, with an exceptional roster of artists tackling each tale. These are stories with a twist in which the twist is not the point of the story, but a beginning point from which to ask what it means to be alive.
Why It’s Cool: This series has been one of the true hidden gems of the direct market so far in 2025. It’s writer Mark Russell doing what is essentially his take on The Twilight Zone. And he’s teaming with some of the best artists in comics to do it. This issue is particuliarly a treat, featuring as it does the artwork of Alberto Ponticelli (colored to perfection by Ellie Wright).
Price: $4.99
The Voice Said Kill #1
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Vanesa R. Del Rey
Colorist: John Starr
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
Fargo meets Deliverance in a sweaty swamp-thriller from VANESA DEL REY (Black Widow, The Creeping Below) and SI SPURRIER (Coda, X-Men). The wet heat of the Louisiana bayou. Alligator poachers prowl the mudbug mire. A park ranger, heavily pregnant, raises a hateful mug of moonshine with a criminal matriarch. And one deadly sonuvabitch, out of his mind on shrooms and retribution, loads his rifle for the Human Hunt and screams down the stars.
Why It’s Cool: I mean to start this one just has a perfect title. But also look at that cover art and this creative team. It’s a book that reels you in right away, and then brings you down into the muck (complimentary) with its excellent story, making it an easy pick for this list of the top comics to buy for July 23.
Price: $4.99
Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week
Absolute Wonder Woman #10- Captain Planet and the Planeteers #2
- Exquisite Corpses #3
- Green Lantern #26
- Ice Cream Man #44
- Justice League Unlimited #9
- Kaya #28
- Minor Aracana #9
- Mr. Terrific Year One #3
- Sleep #3
- Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums #5
New #1s and One-Shots
Cal-Exit: The Battle of Universal City #1- Fantastic Four Presents Franklin Richards Son of a Genius #1 (one-shot)
- Flash: Bad Moon Rising Special #1 (one-shot)
- Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #1
- Look Into My Eyes #1
- Sixth Gun – Battle for the Six #1
- Space Ghost Annual #1
- Texarcanum #1
- Thundercats / Powerpuff Girls #1
- Vampirella Armageddon #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
- Amazing Spider-Man – The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man TP
- DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos TP
- Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre TP
- Letter 44 Compendium TP
- Living Hell TP
- Marvel Masterworks Incredible Hulk Vol 19 HC
- Monstress Book 3 HC
- Nightwing by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
- Patchwork Girl of Oz Vol. 1 TP
- Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 2 Yoda’s Secret War TP
- Superman: The City of Tomorrow Compendium TP
- Welcome to Maynard TP
- West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 The Gospel of Ultron TP
- X-Factor by Peter David Omnibus Vol. 4 HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
