I really shouldn’t complain about this week’s Top Comics to Buy for May 20, but it’s not in my nature to suffer silently, so I’m going to do it anyway — there were just too many great comics this week. There’s three fantastic first issues for bold new books, the US arrival of the UK’s best weekly comics anthology (and one of the best weekly anthology comics worldwide), and much more.
So, I’d say this week more than ever pay attention to the 10 Other Comics I Enjoyed section, because in most weeks, all of those books would have made my top five. As always, you can find that top five below, followed by the usual subsections … enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for May 20
2000AD #2481
Writers: Ken Niemand, Dan Abnett, Mike Carroll, Paul Starkey, & Ian Edginton
Artists: Andrea Mutti, INJ Culbard, Joe Currie, Paul Marshall, & D’Israeli
Colorists: Pippa Bowland, & Dylan Teague
Letterers: Annie Parkhouse, Simon Bowland, & Rob Steen
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing
The iconic weekly sci-fi anthology which smashes hard-hitting reality against a universe of infinite possibility, 2000 AD is The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic — every single week! In this issue: the vampiric Baroness DeSilva continues her bloody mission of mechanised revenge as fan-favorite new series Silver continues! Dredd, and more!
Why It’s Cool: The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic is returning to US comic book shops on a weekly basis, and we are all better for it. One of the best and longest-running anthologies in all of comics, 2000AD has been a must-read for me for some time, and I’m very excited it’ll be physically available in the States, just a few weeks after each issue debuts in the UK. Tomorrow I’ll have a guide for Americans who want to jump into this book, but my advice in brief is to just start reading and enjoy yourself. This is going to be fun!
Price: $7.99
Absolute Green Arrow #1
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Jeff Powell
Publisher: DC Comics
A serial killer is slaughtering corrupt billionaires. The only clue to their identity is the mysterious green arrows sticking out of his victims’ corpses. Executive protection specialist Dinah Lance, a.k.a. Absolute Black Canary, is one of the people tasked to uncover this murderer’s identity as she investigates her suspects… all familiar DC archers uniquely linked to a recently murdered Oliver Queen. I Know What You Did Last Summer for billionaires, Absolute Green Arrow reimagines the Emerald Archer’s mythos into a dangerous, urban horror murder-mystery.
Why It’s Cool: This book is a total banger, start to finish, a gritty urban murder mystery that takes aim at the billionaire class — and nails a bullseye. This is just a fantastic comic, and it also reimagines the Green Arrow mythos in really interesting ways. And it’s all elevated by being part of DC Comics’ still red hot Absolute Universe.
Price: $4.99
Odin #1
Writers: James Tynion IV & Marguerite Bennett
Artist: Letizia Cadonici
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: Image Comics – Tiny Onion
Adela will do anything for the perfect story. Including going undercover with Neo Nazi punks headed to the frozen forests of Norway under the misbegotten belief that they can summon Odin and achieve their promised white destiny. But what awaits them in the woods is far older and stranger than any of them can comprehend. And no gods are coming to answer their prayers for help.
Why It’s Cool: This is a tense, undercover horror thriller that tangles up Norse worship with white supremacy, and slaps a veneer of absolutely chilling artwork atop it all. Tense and awesome and poignant, Odin #1 is a debut issue you do not want to miss.
Price: $4.99
Of the Earth #1
Writers: Chris Condon & Andrew Ehrich
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Colorist: Pip Martin
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
Tabitha ‘Tabby’ Black flees a sordid life for her quiet hometown of Solitude, Texas and the comfort of her Gramma’s home where she was raised. Only home isn’t what it once was…. and neither is Gramma.
Why It’s Cool: Oil country, what a great setting, and it works wonders here in this neo-noir eco-horror crime mini that gets off to a blazing start with its first issue. This is also character-driven comics at its best, with a perfect creative team working on the book.
Price: $4.99
Powers 25 #9
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Colorist: Nick Filardi
Letterer: Josh Reed
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics – Jinxworld
The controversial Christian Walker Powers Act is tearing the city apart. Super-scientists are at war with the Powers Division, and dangerous lines are being drawn in blood.
Why It’s Cool: Regular readers of this space know that Powers 25 has been one of my favorite comics of the year, and so should come as no surprise that yet another issue of the book lands in my top 5 picks for the week, even within a week as jam-packed as this one. This is just such a great continuation of the original series, as well as a perfect superhero murder mystery. I’ve been on this book from its debut, and I actually think this is the most interesting case that the Powers detectives have ever had to solve.
Price: $4.99
10 Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week
Dead Teenagers #3- Death Fight Forever #4
- End of Life #4
- Everyone Loves a Jewel Thief #2
- Fantastic Four #11
- Murder Podcast #7
- Nightwing #138
- Seven Wives #1
- Sirens Love Hurts #4
- Usagi Yojimbo Kaito ’84 #3
New #1s and One-Shots
Absolute Green Arrow #1- Babylon Cove #1
- Odin #1
- Of the Earth #1
- Rocketfellers #0
- Seven Wives #1
- Ultimate Impact Reborn #1
- Young Hellboy: Thrilling Sky Adventures #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
- 30 Days of Night Deluxe Edition Vol 3 HC
- Barrier The Collected Edition TP
- Book of Murmurs TP
- Breakthrough Life on the Brink TP
- Circus Maximus TP
- Conan the Barbarian Vol 7 The Conquering Crown TP
Copra Master Collection Book 2 HC- D4VE IDW Classic Collections TP
- DC Finest – Sgt Rock – The Rock of Easy Co. TP
- Doctor Doom Epic Collection Vol 2 Revolution in Latveria TP
- Dungeon Crawler Carl Vol 1 TP
- Elseworlds Superman Omnibus Vol 1 HC
- End of the Arab of the Future Vol 1 A Youth in the Middle East TP
- Fear Agent Compendium TP
- Ferocious TP
- Flash Gordon The 1995 Special TP
- Gender Queer A Memoir The Annotated Edition HC
- Gotham Central TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
- Gunslinger Spawn Origins Book 1 HC
Hello Darkness Vol 4 TP- How I Make Comics HC
- Juniper Lodge HC
- Justice League Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Watchtower TP
- Liquidator TP
- Marsh Fellows TP
- Marvel Zombies Red Band Death Story TP
- No Man’s Land TP
- Opiods & Organs HC
Punderworld Vol 2 TP- Red Vector TP
- Slaine The Definitive Edition Vol 3 TP
- Spider-Man ’94 The Return TP
- Star Wars Doctor Aphra Chaos Agent TP
- Star Wars Legends Legacy Omnibus Vol 1 HC
- Terrorbytes Vol 1 TP
- Thunderbolts Dark Reign Omnibus HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
