This week’s Top Comics to Buy for June 4 features something we haven’t had in a good long while — multiple top picks from Marvel Comics. But it’s definitely a welcome site. And, really, I could have also added Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #1 or even Ultimate Wolverine #6. Hell, even Ghost Rider Vs. Galactus was a nice romp with killer artwork. It was, in other words, the strongest week from Marvel Comics in a few years.
But ultimately, I landed on Imperial and the Marvel Knights revival as my two top 5 recommendations from the publisher, and I’ll explain why in my recommendations below. You can also (as always) check out the other books I recommend, followed by the usual set of weekly release lists … enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for June 4, 2025
Be Not Afraid #1
Writer: Jude Ellison S. Doyle
Artist: Lisandro Estherren
Colorist: Francesco Segala
Color Assists: Gloria Martinelli
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cora Reims lived the isolated life of a simple farm girl until one fateful summer day, prophetic visions brought her a visitor made of pure light… an angel. In the aftermath, Cora gave birth to a child, a Nephilim: the offspring of an angel and a human woman, seemingly imbued with evil itself. 17 years later, that child’s cherubic appearance can no longer hide his monstrous nature. Frogs boil in their skins as he passes. Crops rot. The townspeople live in fear, knowing that atrocities follow closely behind him. Now, on the eve of his 18th birthday, Cora receives a new vision… Heaven itself has called upon her to destroy the abomination born of her own flesh and blood.
Why It’s Cool: Creepy and gothic, this book is liable to give you chills with its spare scripting and absolutely creepy imagery. There’s also an interesting thematic blend of religion, parenthood, and insular smalltown life. This is a striking comic that you definitely want to check out.
Price: $4.99
DC Pride #1
Writers: Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston, Sam Maggs, Tim Sheridan, Josh Trujillo, and Jenny Blake
Artists: Don Aguillo, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, A.L. Kaplan, Guilio Macaione, Alex Moore, Skylar Patridge, Emilio Pilliu, Max Sarin, Phillip Sevy, and Sara Soler
Colorists: Don Aguillo, Eren Angiolini, Jordie Bellaire, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, Triona Farrell, A.L. Kaplan, Marissa Louise, Giulio Macaione, and Alex Moore
Letterers: Aditya Bidikar, Frank Cvetkovic, Lucas Gattoni, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, and Jodie Troutman
When a 100-year-old queer speakeasy-turned-bar-turned-restaurant-and-community-space in Gotham announces that it will soon be closing its doors, generations of patrons come to pay their respects–including Alan Scott, the Green Lantern. After all, this is the place where he and his first love, Johnny Ladd, long ago carved their names into the basement wall before it all went to hell…and a love lost is never a love forgotten. But they weren’t the only ones to put their names in the wall over the years, and suddenly queer heroes, villains, and civilians alike from across the DCU–the Question, Midnighter and Apollo, Harley Quinn, Green Lantern Jo Mullein, Bunker, Connor Hawke, and Blue Snowman among them–find them-selves spirited away to a strange alternate dimension that seems to provide everything they could possibly want…but at what cost?
Why It’s Cool: The annual DC Pride issue continues to evolve in 2025, going from an anthology of mostly disparate pieces to a new shared story model. I was really blown away by how this book wove together so many different artists, writers, and superhero characters into one shared narrative, with a compelling mystery at its center that made this a big comic you want to read all at once in one sitting. Great work from all involved, and I’ll be writing more about it for tomorrow’s DC Round-Up column.
Price: $9.99
Imperial #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artists: Iban Coello & Federico Vicentini
Colorists: Federico Blee
Letterer: Cory Petit
A sweeping Marvel cosmic event! Imperial is a story of intrigue, mysteries and war, which takes place against the backdrop of the formation of new galactic order in the Marvel Universe. Featuring HULKS, BLACK PANTHERS, NOVAS, GUARDIANS and COSMIC KINGS and QUEENS.
Why It’s Cool: Writer Jonathan Hickman has come to cosmic Marvel, and after the first issue of this four-parter, he seems poised to reinvigorate this corner of the Marvel Universe much the same way he did Avengers, X-Men, and most-recently The Ultimate Universe. And with art by Iban Coello and Federico Vicenti (with absolutely perfect colors by Federico Blee), he’s got the perfect collaborators to do it. This first issue isn’t quite House of X #1 in terms of accessibility, but it’s a complex and rewarding space superhero story that’s ambitious as monthly shared universe comics get. An easy addition to this week’s Top Comics to Buy for June 4.
Price: $6.99
Marvel Knights – The World to Come #1
Creators: Joe Quesada and Christopher Priest
Colorist: Richard Isanove
Letterers: Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith
Publisher: Marvel Comics – Marvel Knights
The King of Wakanda is DEAD, leaving unguarded the world’s most advanced technology, most precious metal, and a cryptic vault of dark secrets while triggering global conflicts among Marvel’s heroes, villains and mutants. With T’Challa gone, the future of the Marvel 616 Universe will be determined by a final tribal challenge for the Wakandan throne and the mysterious victor who will change Wakanda, and the Marvel Universe, forever.
Why It’s Cool: Look, I’m of the age where Marvel Knights raised me, so I was probably always go to like a Marvel Knights revival, especially one by Priest and Quesada that centered Black Panther. But that aside, I just think this is a well-done comic, complete with stunning Quesada art (and Richard Isanove colors), Priest’s complex untethered in time scripting, and one hell of a last page reveal.
Price: $5.99
Plague House #3
Writer: Michael W. Conrad
Artist/Letterer: Dave Chisholm
Publisher: Oni Press
The crew of ghost hunters-separated, jealous, and suspicious of each other-reels in the wake of an unexpected and violent loss. Del tries to cleanse a location like he always does, but not before Holland takes it on themselves to find an answer and confronts a curse as deep and pernicious as blood soaking into the earth. But is Del up to the task required of him?
Why It’s Cool: I’ve been loving this modern haunted house story (there’s influencers!) from Michael W. Conrad and Dave Chisholm, and I think this third issue has the best artwork yet. Chisholm-drawn comics are always a must-read, and the ghostly horror cartooning in this book is no exception. Pair that with a character-driven script that feels both dark and inevitable, and you’ve got a fantastic book.
Price: $4.99
Other Comics I Enjoyed
Absolute Superman #8- Arcana Royale #2
- Batgirl #8
- Buried Long, Long Ago #2
- Justice League – The Atom Project #6
- Kaya #27
- The Moon Is Following Us #10
- Poison Ivy #34
- The Slasher’s Apprentice #2
- Ultimate Wolverine #6
New #1s and One-Shots
DC Pride #1 2025- Endless Night #1
- Ghost Rider vs Galactus #1 (one-shot)
- Hard Case Crime – Heat Seeker Exposed – A Gun Honey Series #1
- Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong 2 #1
- Kid Juggernaut #1 (one-shot)
- Marvel Knights – The World to Come #1
- Sixth Gun – Road to the Six #0 (one-shot)
- Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Alien – Galaxy of Nightmares TP- The Avant-Guards Complete Collection TP
- Castle Swimmer Vol. 2 HC
- Chrononauts Library Edition HC
- Cypress Hill – Black Sunday 30 HC
- Dan In Green Gables – A Graphic Novel Modern Reimagining of Anne of Green Gables HC
- DC Finest – Superman Kryptonite Nevermore TP
- DC Pride Box Set
- DC Vs. Vampires World War V Vol. 1 HC
- DCeased TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
- The Deviant Vol. 2 TP
- Fantastic Four 1 2 3 4 TP (new printing)
- Fantastic Four – Solve Everything TP (Marvel Premier Collection)
- Gamemasters – The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games HC
- Garfield Bacon Me Drool SC
Gatchaman – The Solo Adventures Vol. 1 TP- Geiger Vol. 3 TP
- G.I. Joe Vol. 1 – The Cobra Strikes TP
- Hour of the Wolf TP
- Iron Man Epic Collection Vol. 7 – Ten Rings to Rule the World TP
- Kang-U Tests and Tournaments – A Wonder Woman Graphic Novel TP
- Long Cold Winter TP
- Murder Kingdom TP
Nemesis The Warlock Definitive Edition Vol. 3 HC- New X-Men Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 2 New Worlds TP
- Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos Vol. 2 TP
- Other Jay & Eve GN
- Power Rangers Prime Vol. 1 TP
- Savages Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TP
- Seance In The Asylum TP
Search And Destroy Vol. 2 GN- S.I.R. TP
- Spawn Origins Collection Vol. 16 HC
- Spider-Man – Legend of the Spider-Clan TP
- Star Wars – Battle of Jakku TP
- String TP
- Your Wish Vol. 2 Wishborn GN
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
