This week’s top comics to buy for May 24 features four original comics concepts, which in other words means it’s a very good week. Not to play favorites, but I do enjoy it when the highlights are majority new ideas, rather than long-running IP, and this week, phew, there are some great books. You can find my five favorites below, along with the usual set of new release lists…enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for May 24, 2023
All Eight Eyes #2
Writer: Steve Foxe
Art: Piotr Kowalski
Colors: Brad Simpson
Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
The drifter known as Reynolds has waged a secretive decade-long hunt against the monsters lurking in NYC’s shadows. But he and his new “mentee” Vin got sloppy . . . and now a city employee is determined to figure out how a dead spider the size of a dog ended up on her desk.
Why It’s Cool: This is my favorite kind of horror comic, one that takes a real-world question or issue (in this case, it’s about the privilleged tendency to see the lowest among us as invisible) and extrapolates it into wild horror pulp (in this case, it’s giant spiders). This book looks absolutely great, too, with Kowalski’s linework working in perfect tandem with Simpson’s colors. Just great stuff.
Price: $3.99
Blue Book #4
Writer: James Tynion IV, with back-up by Steve Foxe
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming, with back-up by John McCrea
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Madness and paranoia continue to take a toll on the sanity of Betty and Barney Hill as they search for help in determining whether their nightmares may have been missing memories of their alien encounter.
Why It’s Cool: This continues you to be a spooky and excellent creator-owned book, one that takes a slowburn look at alien abduction stories. This book really puts you in the mind frame of its protagonists, making you feel just how unnerving what they’ve experienced is. And the blue-toned color palette just works to heighten it all.
Price: $4.99
The Forged #3
Story: Greg Rucka and Eric Trautman
Art: Mike Henderson
Colors: Nolan Woodard
Letters: Ariana Maher
Publisher: Image Comics
For 10,000 years, the Eternal Empire spread across the galaxy, and in all that time there has never been actual first contact with another alien race. This issue, the Forged meet their neighbors. Spoiler: their neighbors are f*&#ing PISSED.
Why It’s Cool: More than any other issue of this book so far, this one delivers on the premise’s promise — mech-on-weird alien action. It’s a tense single issue that sees our heroes fighting their way off a forsaken planet amid a horde of bad guys (think the Brood from Starcraft). It’s also the first arc finale, and it’s ending is a game-changer for the book moving forward, making this an easy pick for the top comics to buy for May 24.
Price: $5.99
Harrower #4
Writer: Justin Jordan
Artist: Brahm Revel
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Every secret comes to light as Jessa is confronted with the horrible truth of the figures behind everything!
As she faces the Harrower in a final showdown, her fate seems inevitable.
Can she escape becoming what she fears most?
Why It’s Cool: The market for horror comics is very very good, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. That said, I found Harrower to stand out from the excellent pack, delivering a tried-and-true teen slasher that basically does everything right. This finale is no exception, sticking the landing with a satisfying conclusion. It’s also the type of high concept that could lend itself to future stories in the same world.
Price: $4.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo – WhereWhen #3
Story, Art, Lettering: Stan Sakai
Colors: Hi-Fi Design
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Ambush! The TMNT, Usagi, and Lord Noriyuki’s forces have been set upon by the deadly Mogura Ninja clan! With Dr. WhereWhen’s location still unknown and a conflict with Lord Hikiji on the horizon, the Turtles and their new allies will need to work together to reach their next battles. No matter what it may cost them!
Why It’s Cool: If you’re not reading this book at this point, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s just plain great comics, taking two of the most beloved anthropomorphic martial arts franchises and smashing them against each other, via Stan Sakai’s amazing cartooning. This series is, quite simply, a must read.
Price: $4.99
Others Receiving Votes
Action Comics #1055- Black Tape #4
- Dungeons and Dragons – Saturday Morning Adventures #3
- Exorcists Never Die #2
- Green Arrow #2
- Hellcat #3
- Indigo Children #3
- Kaya #8
- Neighbors #3
- Nightwing #104
- Sandman Universe – Dead Boy Detectives #6
- Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3
- X-Cellent #3
- X-O Manowar Unconquered #3
New #1s and One-Shots
- City Boy #1
- Daredevil and Echo #1
- Fury #1 (one-shot)
- Storm #1
- Supermassive 2023 #1 (one-shot)
- Vampirella vs. The Superpowers #1
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels
- 20th Century Men TP
- Ava’s Demon – Book 1 Reborn TP
- Batman Urban Legends Vol. 5 TP
- Black Mass Rising GN
- Blood Syndicate Season 1 HC
- Briar Vol. 1 TP
- DC Pride – The New Generation HC
- Deadly Neighborhood Spider-Man TP
- Hitomi TP
- Invincible Compendium Vol. 2 HC
- Poison Ivy Vol. 1 – The Virtuous Cycle HC
- Red Tag TP
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
