This week’s Top Comics to Buy for May 21 is striking for not only how good the books are but for how varied they are as well. I’ve regularly noted in this space that I think 2025 is shaping up to be the best year for comics in some time, at least critically speaking, and a week like this is illustrative of what I like about it. We’ve got two giant superhero swings that feel interesting, combined with a set of fearless, idiosyncratic indie books.
It’s really the exact type of week that reminds me why I’ve been writing this column for more than six years (across two websites!) with no plans to stop. Phew. And you can find my five picks for the best books of the week below, followed by the usual set of release lists … enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for May 21, 2025
Moonshine Bigfoot #2
Writers: Mike Marlow and Zach Howard
Penciller: Steve Ellis
Inker: Zach Howard
Colorist: Nelson Daniel
Letterer/Designer: Thompson Knox
Publisher: Image Comics – Syzygy
Ah, Buzzard County, where dealing with mysterious mushrooms, sinister squirrels, and ghosts from Delaware are just part of an average day! A routine car chase has already changed Moonshine Bigfoot’s life forever—only problem is, he’s too stubborn to see it. Moonshine better wise up quickly, as Amethyst’s Tarot cards can’t even predict the chaos about to be unleashed by Big Level!
Why It’s Cool: A lush, maximalist pulp cryptozoological adventure comic of the highest order, Moonshine Bigfoot will remind you of how fun comics can be when you pump the outrageousness factor up to 11. This book looks great, brims with laughs, and has built a world where any genre touch feels right at home. This second issue does a particularly good job of making the moonshine part of Moonshine Bigfoot matter. This is a good one, for sure, and you should absolutely be reading.
Price: $4.99
Out of Alcatraz #3
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist/Letterer: Tyler Crook
Publisher: Oni Press
As the threat of discovery draws too close for comfort), the escaped convicts and their secretive handler are forced to pull an unplanned hit-or risk tipping off the Feds. Frank and Clarence are reluctant, while the mysterious woman orchestrating their escape is willing to do anything to preserve her own freedom . . . and even the best-laid plans begin to erupt into a smoldering inferno of blood and betrayal . . .
Why It’s Cool: As I’ve said in my past glowing recommendations of this book, Out of Alcatraz features an A+ creative team telling a story that plays to both of their strengths. This third issue is specifically a great showcase for Cantwell writing gruff, crackling dialogue for the authorities chasing the Alcatraz escapees, as well as for Crook doing one of the things he does well — drawing beaten-down men under duress. I love this series, which was an easy choice for the top comics to buy for May 21. Simply put, this is one of the best comics of 2025 so far.
Price: $4.99
Sleep #1
Writer/Artist: Zander Cannon
Publisher: Image Comics
When Jonathan Reason falls asleep, he becomes…something else. Every night, it stalks his quiet town, killing (seemingly) indiscriminately. When he wakes, covered in blood, our story begins.
Why It’s Cool: As a big-time fan of cartoonist Zander Cannon’s series Kaiju Max, I’ve had high expectations for his new book, Sleep, since it was first announced — and I’m so pleased to say that it did not disappoint. It’s a darker concept — a sleepwalking serial killer takes the lead here — but the cartooning is just as sharp, rendered in a foreboding greyscale with bright red touches where appropriate. This book reads fast, hooks you even faster, and leaves you badly wanting more. We’ve had a great run of really gritty, horror comics played out through cartooning that feels a bit at odds with it, and this book feels like the latest in that chain. The ideas within Sleep are different than Dwellings or Beneath the Trees…but this still feels like the latest in a wave of great comics that look cartoony but go very dark.
Price: $3.99
Superman Unlimited #1
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics
When an asteroid the size of Metropolis hurtles toward collision with planet Earth, the Justice League dispatches Superman to avert the crisis–but a sinister threat lurks within that will change the world like never before, and this danger glows green. The Last Son of Krypton must risk everything to save his adopted home, the very home which now tries to kill him, from complete destruction!
Why It’s Cool: I’ll be writing about this book in tomorrow’s DC Round-Up column, but in short this is an ambitious big swing for a new Superman comic, one that packs in quite a bit and looks great doing it. Rafael Albuquerque draws a perfect beefy Superman, colored to perfection by Marcelo Maiolo. And Dan Slott has that thing going where you can tell as a writer he’s thought about Superman for a very long time and has quite a bit to say with/about the character. Superman is everywhere right now, so grab this book and enjoy.
Price: $4.99
The Ultimates #12
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Juan Frigeri
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dissent destroys the Ultimates as a disagreement long developing between two members of the team leads to a devastating departure!
Why It’s Cool: This is essentially a bottle issue in which The Ultimates team reassess its approach to the big ticking clock global problem they’ve been fighting since the book launched, but the stakes of this all — as well as the characters — are so good that it also feels suspenseful. Combine that with a killer reveal as well as art depicting a violent alternate timeline that factors into the discussion, and you’ve got another great issue of the best team superhero comic book in I don’t know how long.
Price: $4.99
Other Books I Enjoyed
Amazing Spider-Man #4- Batman and Robin: Year One #7
- Detective Comics #1097
- Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt #2
- Into the Unbeing Part 2 #4
- New Gods #6
- Nightwing #126
- Spectrum #6
- Welcome to Twilight #3
- Wonder Woman #21
New #1s and One-Shots
- Adventure Time Deluxe Edition #1
- The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #1
- Ghostbusters – Dead Man’s Chest #1
- Hulk & Doctor Strange #1 (one-shot)
- Killer Affairs of the State II #1
- Robowolf #1
- Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 (one-shot)
- The Thing #1
- The Vision and The Scarlet Witch #1
- Whatever Happened to Crimson Justice? #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Alice in Cryptoland HC- Arsene Schrauwen TP
- Captain America by J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 3 Boxton Rising TP
- Criminal Vol. 6 – Last of the Innocent TP
- DC Finest – Batman: The Killing Joke and Other Stories TP
- Deadpool by Cody Ziglar Vol. 2 – The Death of Wade Wilson TP
- Doctor Fate by JM DeMatteis TP
- George Herriman Library Vol. 5 Krazy & Ignatz 1928 – 1930 HC
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II – Sons of Giants TP- Green Lantern Vol. 3 – Power of Will TP
- Gunslinger Spawn Vol. 6 TP
- Hit Complete Collection TP
- House of Slaughter Vol. 6 Azure TP
- Lazarus Fourth Collection HC
- Legion of Super-Heroes: The Curse Deluxe Edition HC
- Nacelleverse Vol. 1 Biker Mice From Mars & Roboforce TP
Night Drive HC- Nightwing – A Knight in Bludhaven Compendium 2 TP
- On Mars: A New World GN
- Pinky & Pepper Forever GN Special Edition
- Raymond Chandler’s Trouble Is My Business HC
- Silver Surfer: Return to the Spaceways Omnibus HC
- Sin Bin TP
- Spirits of Vengeance TP
- Stan Lee – Backchannel Vol. 1 HC
Star Wars – The High Republic Adventures Phase III Vol. 3 TP- Suicide Squad by John Ostrander Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
- Suitor Armor Vol. 2 HC
- Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Compendium TP
- The Ultimates: Epic Collection Vol. 1 Super-Human TP
- Venom War Zombiotes Venomous TP
- Void Rivals Deluxe Edition Book 1
- Wonder Woman Vol. 3 Fury TP
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
