New #1s are a big part of any week, but it’s still nice when you get a pair of them as good as the books on today’s Top Comics to Buy for March 20. I’m talking here about Dawnrunner #1 and Man’s Best #1, a pair of fantastic idiosyncratic new comics that seem likely to be among the buzziest books of the year. Find more on each below, as long as the usual list of recommendations … enjoy!
And if you like my weekly picks, I’ve got a comic coming to Kickstarter, featuring art by Nick Cagnetti, Ryan Lee, PJ Holden, and more. It’s very fun, promise, so please go here and hit NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH, thanks!
Top Comics to Buy for March 20, 2024
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees #4
Writer/Artist: Patrick Horvath
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: IDW Publishing
“So now the stage is set, and Sam has ID’d her foe
But this town’s not big enough for both, so one of them must go
But first, there’s a meeting, where they’ll come face-to-face
If they can’t work it out, there will be a gruesome race
But it’s not quite that simple, and for once, Sam is scared
This foe knows quite a bit about her, and the things of which she cares”
Why It’s Cool: The rising action in this creepy children’s book murder comic has been fantastic, and this issue is where things really start to come to a head. It’s not to be missed.
Price: $3.99
Dawnrunner #1
Writer: Ram V
Artist: Evan Cagle
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
A century ago a portal opened over Central America and the Tetza that came through changed our world. Now the world bends all its effort to making the Iron Kings-great mechs that must battle the Tetza for humanity’s continued survival in gladiatorial combat. Anita Marr is the greatest of the pilots and is chosen to pilot a new prototype that could change the tide in humanity’s favor. An all-ages sci-fi epic from rising stars Ram V and Evan Cagle.
Why It’s Cool: Every great once in a while, a comic comes along that is so stylish, it makes you rethink how cool this medium can be. This, friends, is one of those comics.
Price: $3.99
Holy Roller #5
Story: Rick Remender, Andy Samberg, and Joe Trohman
Artist: Roland Boschi
Colorist: Moreno Dinisio
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics – Giant Generator
Levi infiltrates a secret meeting of neo-no-goodniks and discovers a resurrected 20th-century supervillain with a sinister sales pitch, forcing the Holy Roller to offer his own teeth-shattering sermon of justice! Action! Intrigue! Double-cross and vitamin pills!
Why It’s Cool: This is one of the funniest satires in comics, and this fifth issue is, for my money, the funniest chapter yet. This book has really found its groove, using its central concept for both fun comics action as well as big laughs. It’s no wonder it found its way onto the Top Comics to Buy for March 20 list.
Price: $3.99
John Constantine – Hellblazer: Dead in America #3
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: DC Comics – Black Label
John and crew find themselves traveling west and contending with some of the tall tales that permeate the American frontier. It’s here that John probes an ailing Clarice about her past run-ins with Dream’s power. The sands have caused quite a stir, but just how far have they lodged themselves in the heart of the American dream?
Why It’s Cool: My favorite series in all of superhero comics just keeps getting better. Taking the action to America in this second season has really opened up new possibilities for mythical magic and monsters to explore, and this issue makes great use of that, while also advancing the story that ties into Sandman. If you’re still not reading this one, I don’t know what to tell you.
Price: $4.99
Man’s Best #1
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artist: Jesse Longergan
Letterer: Jeff Powell
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Homeward Bound on an alien planet, Man’s Best follows three emotional support pets living on the Starship Horizon – a spacecraft searching for a new planet to house a humanity compromised by bad decisions and corporate corruption.
But after the ship crashes and their crew is captured, these loyal pets are their owners’ only hope. Outfitted in outrageous mech suits, these three best friends must traverse a hostile world to rescue their owners – leaving them the only hope for a humanity that might not be worth saving, in an adventure threatening to tear their friendship apart.
Why It’s Cool: Two of the most interesting creators in comics team up for this book that sends animals into space. It’s kind of what you think … but also not what you think at all, so interesting is the execution here.
Price: $4.99
Others Receiving Votes
Batman/Superman – World’s Finest #25- The Displaced #2
- Dutch #2
- If You Find Them I’m Already Dead #2
- James Bond 007 #3
- Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong #6
- The Infernals #2
- Lotus Land #5
- Superman #12
- Wonder Woman #7
New #1s and One-Shots
- Ape-Ril Special #1 (one-shot)
- Bloodshot Unleashed Reloaded #1
- Chilling Adventures Presents Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe of Horrors – Fresh Meat #1
- Dune – House Corrino #1
- Star Wars: Jango Fett #1
- Star Wars Visions: Takashi Okazaki #1 (one-shot)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #1
- Web of Spider-Man #1 (one-shot)
- Wrong Earth: Dead Ringers #1
- X-Men Forever #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Almost Summer Vol. 1 GN- Army Of One Vol. 1 TP
- Astonishing X-Men: Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 1 Gifted TP
- Captain America Omnibus Vol. 4 HC
- Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay Vol. 2 – The War-Hound of the Vishanti TP
- Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
- Harley Quinn Vol. 5 – Who Killed Harley Quinn TP
- I Feel Awful Thanks GN
- Justice League – The New 52 Book 1 TP
- Ms. Marvel – The New Mutant TP
- Project Riese TP
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow TP
- Taka GN
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter TP
- Swan Songs TP
- Ultimate Marvel by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus HC
- Wolverine by Benjamin Percy Vol. 7 TP
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
