This week’s Top Comics to Buy for May 13 is lead by Absolute Batman, which remains the hottest book in monthly comics, both in terms of sales and buzz. But along with ol’ reliable, we’ve got new Vertigo, a pair of fantastic first issues, and the finale of a super sexy art heist comic. You could do a lot worse than the books this week, that’s for sure.

As always, you can find my five top recommendations below, followed by 10 more comics I enjoyed, and the usual set of new #1 and graphic novel release lists…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for May 13

Absolute Batman #20
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
As the dust settles in the city of Gotham after the loss of [redacted], Robins enter the scene ready to hunt and more than one secret will be revealed in this seminal issue.
Why It’s Cool: Still the hottest and most surprising book in superhero comics, Absolute Batman #20 barrels ahead this week with more great art from Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin, as well as the go-big twists that Scott Snyder has consistently scripted into this book. Also, mechs.
Price: $4.99

Bleeding Hearts #4
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Stipan Morian
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: DC Comics – Vertigo
How do you bond with a human when you have little humanity yourself? Poke is figuring it out firsthand, but his best friend Mush is starting to notice. Poke is disappearing all the time, and when he’s around, he’s barely interested in preparing for the joyous holiday of Out-Break. Doesn’t he want to celebrate the devouring of Live One flesh? Poke has a tough decision to make… but the collision of his two worlds might end up making it for him!
Why It’s Cool: It’s got the great Stipan Morian drawing funny zombie buys, with color by the also great Matt Hollingsworth. It’s also taking a patient approach to pulling readers into its zombie dramedy (dram-zomb-edy?), and I’m enjoying the slow exploration.
Price: $3.99

Hidden Springs #1
Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: Nil Vendrell
Colorist: Berta Sastre
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
While on a retirement community field trip, a group of aging ex-Hollywood stars encounter a baby kaiju on the run from military agents. Bonding quickly with the creature, the cantankerous cadre of former celebrities have to somehow get the kaiju to safety—before it causes the end of the world!
Why It’s Cool: When a first issue has a clever concept, great characters, and sense of joy to its execution, it almost feels like a magic trick, and that’s certainly true of Hidden Springs #1. This is, unequivocally, one of my favorite debut issues of the year so far, just a fun and engrossing book I’d recommend to anyone.
Price: $4.99

Joe Palmer’s Destination Kill #1
Cartoonist: Joe Palmer
Publisher: Oni Press
The year is 2125, and the all-powerful corporation Overcon uses its robot workers to pour our drinks and dispense our meds, all while rebuilding London’s Central City into a hyper-modern megalopolis bolted together in its own image. But as Overcon prepares to celebrate the first year of its Paradise Loop—a superfast transatlantic train that connects the Central City to New York in under 60 minutes—an unwieldy army of displaced human workers floods the streets with weapons, plotting an attack at the anniversary gala. Enter: Gina Serene, a stressed-out, pill-popping police detective in desperate need of a vacation and her ex-partner turned P.I., Lance Wingman—who are now the only thing standing between Overcon’s skyscraper-sized fist and the worker uprising that threatens to bring Britain’s capital crashing down around them.
Why It’s Cool:
Because this book sets a fantastic, idiosyncratic cartoonist in Joe Palmer entirely free to tell a bonkers near-future sci-fi dystopian story loaded with jokes and kinetic action. It’s nice to feel someone operating so freely on a monthly comic, brining their vast talents to bear on the format.
Price:
$5.99

Voyeur #5
Writer: Leah Williams
Artist: David Baldeon
Colorist: Eva de la Cruz
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: Ignition Press
All the pieces are in place. Rook and Madeline have planned every move to rob the Koh Kingfisher resort of all its art. Unfortunately, they didn’t plan for the ghosts of their pasts to reach them all the way out on the island. When faced with a choice, will this steamy couple choose love, freedom, or riches? Or will they go for broke and try to get all three? Only Leah Williams and David Baldeón, the writer/artist team from X-Factor and Power Girl, know for sure!
Why It’s Cool: This super sexy art heist comic comes to an end this week, and it’s a great finale, fitting of a book that’s been a great read since it launched. This is just a good-looking, stylish comic, and if you’re into thrillers with a strong sense of eroticism, it is not to missed.
Price: $4.99

10 Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week

  • comics to buy for may 13Arcadia #5
  • Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1
  • Department of Truth #37
  • Godzilla vs. America: Godzilla vs. Texas #1 (one-shot)
  • The Forged #10
  • The Fury of Firestorm #2
  • Hello Darkness #21
  • Iron Man #5
  • Supergirl #13
  • Ultimate Endgame #4

New #1s and One-Shots

  • comics to buy for may 13Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral Body Count (one-shot)
  • Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1
  • Conan & Dragonero #1
  • Excommunicated #1
  • Godzilla vs. America: Godzilla vs. Texas #1 (one-shot)
  • Hidden Springs #1
  • Innards #1
  • Joe Palmer’s Destination Kill #1
  • Lenore Ghost Story #1 (one-shot)
  • Showdown #1
  • Spectacular Spider-Man Brand New Day #1

Graphic Novels and Trade Collections

  • comics to buy for may 13Beast Vol. 1 HC
  • Blood & Thunder Vol 2 Showdown On the Outskirts of Infinity TP
  • Cemetery Kids Don’t Die Vol 2 Run Rabid TP
  • Complete Hate Vol 3 TP
  • DC Finest – Wonder Woman: Before the Darkness TP
  • Dune House Harkonnen Vol 3 TP
  • EC Archives – The Complete Extra TP
  • G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Vol 5 TP
  • Gunpunch HC/TP
  • Hana and Taru – The Forest Giants TP
  • Immortal Legend Batman HC
  • JLA: A League of One Deluxe Edition HC
  • Justice League Red TP
  • Lobster Johnson Omnibus Vol. 1 TP
  • Magic Order Library Edition Vol. 2 HC
  • OraclesNew Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection Vol 4 Secret Invasion TP
  • Oracles TP
  • Planet Hulk TP (Marvel Premier Collection)
  • Star Trek Red Shirts TP
  • Star Wars – The High Republic Adventures – Complete Phase II TP
  • Star Wars New Republic TP
  • Tank Girl Motherload HC Slipcase Book Set
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium Vol 2 HC

Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!

And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!

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