This week’s Top Comics to Buy for May 6 is one of those fun ones that features a majority of mid-run issues, including a great new chapter in the (somehow underrated) Batman flagship title. On top of that, a pair of my favorite recent debuts — Royals and Estuary — deliver great second issues that build on what I enjoyed about the debuts. Good stuff all around.
You can find my five favorite books of the week below, along with our usual sets of release lists …. enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for May 6
Batman #9
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Ryan Sook
Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Clayton Cowles with Ryan Sook
Publisher: DC Comics
After making a sinister deal with Mayor Isley, Commissioner Vandal Savage initiates “Operation Peregrine”, sending his brutal TUCO squads across Gotham City on a singular mission: bring in the Batman! Batman and his team must destroy and abandon their hideouts, safeguard their data, and escape the long arm of the law… but not everyone will make it safely through the night!
Why It’s Cool: This Batman flagship title just remains such a wildly excellent and reliable superhero comic, one with great standalone chapters, an overarching bigger thematic plotline, and great cliffhanger endings. It’s good. Very good. May it run for 50+ issues.
Price: $4.99
Energon Universe 2026 Special #1
Writers: Dan Watters, Robert Kirkman, and Joshua Williamson
Artists: Pye Parr, Jason Howard, Conor Hughes, and Tom Reilly
Colorists: Sarah Stern, Patricio Delpeche, and Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics – Skybound
The biggest year in Energon Universe history is here, with all new stories from the worlds of TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, VOID RIVALS and beyond in this new printing of the FCBD 2026 special. Join the biggest names in comics for both a perfect jumping on point into the Energon Universe and a can’t miss experience for long-time fans.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve really come to look forward to these annual Energon Universe specials, which set the table for this great line of comics for the year to come. This week’s is certainly no exception.
Price: $3.99
Estuary: A Ghost Story #2
Writers: DB Andry & Tim Daniel
Artist: Maan House
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Oni Press
The tide is rising… and, with it, the spirits within a centuries-old California mission overlooking the Pacific are about to come rushing forth in this shadowy and stylish horror thriller from rising stars Tim Daniel & David “D. B.” Andry (Crush Depth, Morning Star) and razor-sharp artist Maan House (Mine is a Long Lonesome Grave)!
Why It’s Cool: I absolutely loved this moody, California coast horror-romance when it debuted last month, and this second issue brings a great continuation of the story, wherein revelations about our character abound. Plus, the art is just so spooky. Great stuff.
Price: $4.99
Innards #1
Writer: Rob Guillory
Artist: Sam Lofti
Colorist: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letterer: Andrew Thomas
Publisher: Ignition Press
It’s Roy Wilder’s first day on the most dangerous job in the world. After a catastrophic nuclear attack, humanity’s last energy source is Lucifium. The mineral, buried miles beneath Earth’s surface, is accessible only by teleportation and navigation through an inhospitable subterranean maze. The motley brotherhood of “divers” employed by the ONIS corporation gambles their bodies and minds in pursuit of a better future for themselves and their loved ones. The high-risk, high-reward mission attracts the daring and desperate alike, and all must be unflinching to survive under the leadership of grizzled rig boss Jax Ridley. But even the boldest will break when Roy’s initiation cracks the seal on a harrowing corporate secret… and the depths come alive to awaken the crew’s inner demons.
Why It’s Cool: The entire Ignition Press line has become must-read for me, telling some of the best creator-driven original stories in all of comics, and any new series from the publisher has started to feel like an event. Innards is definitely in the upper tier of my favorite Ignition titles so far, pairing a fantastic workplace end-of-the-world high concept with great kinetic art.
Price: $4.99
Royals #2
Writer: Derek Kirk Kim
Artist: Jacob Perez
Publisher: Image Comics
It’s big trouble for Paul and Castor Wahng when their telepathic poker hustle catches up to them. And as usual, Paul pays the price for Castor’s brash actions. Now Paul must fight for his life through the bustling streets of Seoul!
Why It’s Cool: This is a fun adventure comic with two brothers and their relationship at its center. Plus there are gangsters and superpowers and gambling. It’s fun, very fun even.
Price: $4.99
10 Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week
Absolute Green Lantern #14- Absolute Superman #19
- The Autumn Kingdom: The Wraithbound Queen #4
- Cyclops #4
- Dog Tag #1
- Fall of the House of Slaughter #1
- If Destruction Be Our Lot #1
- Just Brutal #3
- Muppets Noir #3
- Poison Ivy #44
New #1s and One-Shots
Astonishing Miles Morales Spider-Man: The Art of Thwip #1 (one-shot)- Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Kyoshi Warriors #1
- Ben 10 #1
- Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus To Lose Is to Win #1
- Civil War Unmasked #1
- Diablo Dawn of Hatred #1
- Dog Tag #1
- Energon Universe 2026 Special #1 (one-shot)
- Fall of the House of Slaughter #1
- If Destruction Be Our Lot #1
- Jubilee Deadly Reunion #1 (one-shot)
- Lady Mechanika – The Mechanical Menagerie #1
- Red Sonja – She-Devil With a Sword #1
- She-Spawn #1
- Sleepy Hollow – The Witches of the Western Wood #1
- Star Wars Rogue One Cassian Andor #1 (one-shot)
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Adventures of Lumen N Vol. 1 TP- The Bat-Man Second Knight HC
- Bloodletter TP
- Conan the Barbarian – Scourge of the Serpent Vol 1 TP
- Crawlspace TP
- Daken Dark Wolverine Omnibus HC
- Die Loaded Vol 1 Zero Sessions TP
- Funeral Portrait Presents Welcome to Suffocate City HC
- Galaxy – As The World Falls Down TP
- Galaxy of Madness Omnibus The Mortal Machine TP
- Ghoul TP
- Goon: Bunch of Old Crap – An Omnibus Vol. 2 TP
- Green Arrow Year One TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
- Hornsby & Halo Vol 2 TP
- Incredible Hulk Epic Collection Vol 11 Devolution TP
Invicible Vol 15 TP New Edition- Jeff the Land Shark Friends and Rivals GN
- JLA Book 3 TP
- Mighty Morphin Power Ranges Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III TP
- Nemesis Forever TP
- Nightwing – A Knight in Bludhaven Compendium 3 TP
- Physical Education TP
- Plants vs. Zombies: The Garden Warfare Trilogy Boxed Set
- Recoat Deluxe Edition Book 1 HC
- Skullkickers Compact Attack Edition Slipcase Set TP
Supergirl’s Family Vacation – A Supergirl Graphic Novel TP- Superpunk TP
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing Compendium Vol 1 TP
- Transformers Vol 5 Generation One TP
- Woods Book 1 TP
- X-Men Age of Revelation Book of Revelation TP
- X-Men Age of Revelation Overture TP
- X-Men Age of Revelation World of Revelation TP
- Zatanna By Paul Dini Omnibus HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
