This week’s Top Comics to Buy for June 14 is headlined by a book with a major surprise in it. I won’t say anything more than that, even if that surprise has been spoiled elsewhere, because I’d rather not play spoiler. I’ll just note that one of these books has something cool and unexpected in it, which is fun if you’re the type to make a weekly Wednesday trip to a shop.
Anyway, happy hunting! Oh, and the usual set of lists can be found below…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for June 14, 2023
Battle Chasers #10
Writer: Joe Madureira
Artist: Ludo Lullabi
Letterers: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
Publisher: Image Comics
JOE MADUREIRA’s beloved fantasy series returns in an action-packed new story, with art by game and comics sensation LUDO LULLABI! “Martial Law” tells the bloody tale of retired swordsman Garrison and the fugitive Red Monika as they face off against Maestro’s gang of supernatural killers-the Martial Paladins! This long-awaited tenth issue is bursting at the seams with 36 pages of story and no ads!
Why It’s Cool: I guess my main fascination with this book is just how unlikely its existence seems. Battle Chasers #9 came out in 2001, before some of the current market for comics readership was even born. It’s got a character design that instantly dates it, and the creator behind it has basically left comics for videogames. Yet here it is this week with legacy numbering intact! I just think it’s cool they’re returning to this story at all.
Price: $3.99
Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea #2
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Jesse Lonergan
Letterer: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
After discovering a shocking truth connecting her to a gladiator from Ancient Hyperborea, the timid Victorian Miss Truesdale is forced to confront the horrifying evils and mysteries that lurk in what once felt like like ancient history… Hellboy creator Mike Mignola teams up with artist Jesse Lonergan to bring you the second installment of a new tale of Hyperborea!
Why It’s Cool: It’s just two issues, but this collaboration between Mike Mignola and Jesse Lonergan has really been an absolute treat. It’s resulting in fun comics, a great aesthetic, and interesting action sequences. This issue was an easy pick for the Top Comics to Buy for June 14, and I could see this series remaining on the list throughout — it’s that good.
Price: $3.99
Second Coming Trinity #3
Writer: Mark Russell
Layouts: Richard Pace
Finishes: Leonard Kirk
Colors: Andy Troy
Letters: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Second Coming‘s “sensitive exploration of faith, hero worship, and the way both exist in today’s popular culture-all wrapped up in a mixed-match buddy comedy” (THR) continues as superhero Sunstar and his roommate, Jesus Christ, take turns on babysitting duty! But Jesus may be even more of a “problem child” than Sunstar’s extra-powered son.
Why It’s Cool: I think this is a rare book that just keeps getting better, despite being on its third volume and well into its run. The voice in this comic is really something, with several laugh out loud lines. And the overall story here is essentially a Jesus origin story. Not like born in the manger stuff, but a lost tale of how he learned to use his powers. This book is as entertaining as it is bold, and I love it.
Price: $4.99
Void Rivals #1
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics – Skybound
War rages around the Sacred Ring, where the last remnants of two worlds have collapsed around a black hole in a never-ending war.
However, when pilot Darak and his rival Solila both crash on a desolate planet, these two enemies must find a way to escape together. But are they alone on this strange planet? And what dark forces await that threaten the entire universe?
Why It’s Cool: From the aesthetic to the concept, this comic feels like part of a lost Saturday Morning Cartoon in the best possible way. It’s an interesting (to say the least) start for a new shared universe. We’ll have more coverage of it on the site tomorrow…
Price: $3.99
Xino #1
Writers: Melissa Flores, Jordan Thomas, Phil Hester, Christopher Condon
Artists: Daniel Irizarri, Shaky Kane, Phil Hester with Eric Gapstur, Nick Cagnetti
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Oni Press
Because the future is getting weirder everyday, we give you XINO #001-the first of three OVERSIZED, 40-PAGE intra-ocular lozenges of subversive, surrealist science-fiction to cure your awful awareness of it all. Try not to worry-the insertion process will be guided by the megawatt brilliance of Oni’s brightest talents (past, present, and future) as they slowly tune your hopes, dreams, desires, paranoia, alienation, anxiety, and adrenaline to produce the desired results.
Why It’s Cool: This concept sort of speaks for itself — it’s a sci-fi anthology series built on dystopia, in a time when the world has never felt so dystopian. And it’s got just an absolute who’s who of rising creators. Every story in this collection is a banger, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Price: $5.99
Others Receiving Votes
Animal Castle #2- Captain Marvel #50
- Carnage #14
- Clobberin’ Time #4
- Don’t Spit In The Wind #3
- Ghostlore #2
- Great British Bump-Off #3
- Monarch #5
- Murder Inc. Jagger Rose #2
- The Nasty #3
- Sandman Universe – Nightmare Country – The Glass House #3
- Something Epic #2
- Superman Lost #4
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #140
- Waller Vs. Wildstorm #2
New #1s and One-Shots
Bettie Page Vol. 4 #1- Black Panther #1
- Captain America – Cold War Omega #1 (one-shot)
- DC Pride Through The Years #1 (one-shot)
- Dead By Daylight #1
- Haunt You To The End #1
- Klik Klik Boom #1
- Magic – Planeswalkers Noble #1 (one-shot)
- Marvel Voices Pride (2023) #1
- My Little Pony – Best of Rainbow Dash #1 (one-shot)
- Queen of Swords – A Barbaric Tale #1
- Spider-Man India #1
- Static Team-Up Anansi #1 (one-shot)
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels
- Absolute Dark Nights Death Metal HC
- Big Ugly HC
- Copra Round Seven TP
- Dark Crisis Young Justice HC
- Murderworld TP
- Night Fever HC
- Superman Camelot Falls – The Deluxe Edition HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
