It was a good week for experimentation within the Top Comics to Buy for March 6. Buzzy new #1s like Night People and Ultimate X-Men took big swings, Love Everlasting continues to use interesting story abstraction to great effect, and if there’s a more ambitious monthly comic than Beyond Real, I haven’t seen it. You can find my full list of picks below, after my plug…enjoy!
And! If you like my weekly comics picks, I’ve got a project coming soon to Kickstarter, featuring artists like Nick Cagnetti, Ryan Lee, and PJ Holden, among others. It’s great fun, and you can go here, hit NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH, and learn more, thanks!
Top Comics to Buy for March 6, 2024
Beyond Real #2
Writer: Zack Kaplan
Artists: Fabiana Mascolo and Toni Fejzula
Colorists: Jordie Bellaire and Toni Fejzula
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Vault Comics
An artist’s craft. June lands in a strange geometric layer of life’s simulation, where dark creatures hunt corrupted souls who dare to pass over the boundary. With the help of a crew of cynical human survivors, June must come to terms with her new powers and escape this limbo before being formatted out of existence.
Why It’s Cool: Reading this comic is surrendering to a vision of what lies behind reality. That was established last issue (and done really well). What we get here is a glimpse at the darkness that comes along with that, and it makes for another read brimming with bold visual concepts.
Price: $4.99
The Devil That Wears My Face #5
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Alex Cormack
Letterer: Justin Birch
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Left hovering at death’s door after a brutal confrontation, Father Vieri finds himself trapped in a hell of his own making. With the demonic Legion still in possession of his body, will an unexpectedly familiar face be Vieri’s salvation, or his ultimate demise? Meanwhile, Vieri’s attendant Maria stalks Legion through Rome, aiming to expose the Devil’s infiltration of the Church at any cost. But even if she can convince Cardinal Pentecost of the truth, Legion’s influence has grown exponentially…and when his final endgame stands revealed, not even the Vatican will be able to stop him.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve really enjoyed each issue in this excellent Catholic horror body swap series, but this one really goes even scarier and more intense with its imagery as it barrels toward a pulpy and excellent last page.
Price: $4.99
Love Everlasting #13
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Elsa Charretier
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Image Comics
More answers to the ongoing mystery of Joan and her endless Love! The Cowboy is now working inside the system, discovering its depth and secrets, its… intentions. But when he meets Joan in the not-so-real world, will he be able to continue to play his role as deadly enforcer, or will he betray everything for her?
Why It’s Cool: This series has done a really great job of entertaining with relatively self-contained stories or story arcs, while also doling out little tidbits about a larger mystery effecting its main character, like bread crumbs left on a wooded trail. This comic gives us perhaps the biggest glimpse yet of what’s going on with the cowboy who keeps showing up. It’s all great fun and often played to enhance what’s happening on the page. This issue makes me want to know much more about what’s really going on, but I kind of hope it continues to draw it out.
Price: $3.99
Night People #1
Based on the Novel By: Barry Gifford
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Brian Level
Colorist: Ronda Pattinson
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Publisher: Oni Press
In our first tale of desperation, fanaticism, and murder: Two ex-convicts-a pair of inseparable lovers named Big Betty Stalcup and Miss Cutie Early-are out on parole using their newfound freedom to purify the world of men’s evil influence . . . and leaving a trail of mutilated bodies in their wake. As the psychotic dimensions of their star-crossed romance-and the twisting paths that first led them to their fateful meeting at the Fort Sumatra Detention Center for Wayward Women-come into full view, their experiment in righteousness culminates in the kidnapping of Rollo Lamar, a kindly attorney whom Betty and Cutie abduct just to see if they can reeducate at least one man on the planet before the demise of civilization.
Why It’s Cool: I absolutely loved this comic, and I was like 10 pages in before I knew it was going to land on the list for Top Comics of March 6. And then when it ended, I was instantly ready for more. It’s just such a different and engrossing sort of comic. I read a lot of weekly releases, and it’s just always so welcome when a book is this well-done and this far aside from anything else being put out.
Price: $4.99
Ultimate X-Men #1
Writer/Artist: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Visionary creator PEACH MOMOKO (DEMON DAYS, STAR WARS) creates a new generation of X-Men for an all-new universe! Hisako Ichiki is a teenage girl who just wants to live a normal life – go to school, hang out with her friends, ignore the political strife broiling over after the events of ULTIMATE INVASION – but life has other plans for her. In Japan, urban legends have sprung to life and brought some unusual new powers with them…Meet Armor, Maystorm and a group of new Ultimate X-Men the likes of which you’ve never seen before!
Why It’s Cool: It’s surprising that out of the three titles that make up this revived Ultimate Universe, it’s the X-Men book that feels least concerned (at least so far) with what’s happening in the wider world. Yes, this first issue is almost entirely focused on the world of one character. It’s an interesting read though, and I like that surprise and am excited to see where it’s going.
Price: $5.99
Others Receiving Votes
Birds of Prey #7- Kaya #16
- Kneel Before Zod #3
- Pine and Merrimac #3
- Poison Ivy #20
- Red Light #3
- SHAZAM! #9
- Subgenre #4
- Thanos #4
- Void Rivals #7
- Weapon X-Men #1
New #1s and One-Shots
Aliens What If #1- The Bat-Man: First Knight #1
- Godzilla – Best of Destoroyah #1 (one-shot)
- Golgotha Motor Mountain #1
- Giant-Size Spider-Gwen #1 (one-shot)
- Ms. Marvel – Mutant Menace #1
- Spectacular Spider-Man #1
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution #1
- Torpedo 1972 #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Vol. 3 TP- BPRD Omnibus Vol. 10 TP
- Green Arrow (2023) Vol. 1 – Reunion TP
- The Gulf HC
- Harley Quinn (2021) Vol. 3 – Verdict TP
- Nothing Special Vol. 1 Through The Elder Woods TP
- Slip TP
- Strangers in Paradise Vol. 3 TP Updated Edition
- Superman Action Comics (2023) Vol. 1 – Rise of Metallo TP
- Superman: Emperor Joker – The Deluxe Edition HC
- Vixen NYC Vol. 4 TP
- Void Rivals Vol. 1 – More Than Meets the Eye TP
FOC Watch
Mezo: Trial of Roden #1
Publisher: A Wave Blue World
Release Date: May 1, 2024
Mezo, an underrated book from publisher A Wave Blue World, has a new series up for pre-order now with Mezo: Trial of Rodan #1, slated for release in early May. And the creative team is looking even stronger this time around, with returning writer Tyler Chin-Tanner being joined by Jarred Luján. On top of that, artist Val Rodrigues is coming back fresh off a star turn in the Vault Comics series, Unnatural Order. Rogrigues will be colored again by Gab Contreras and Tomi Varga, with lettering by Thomas Mauer. It all adds up to a book you definitely want to pre-order so you don’t miss it.
If you’re a publisher with books available for pre-order ahead of FOC before next week’s column, shoot them to [email protected] for consideration!
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
