This week’s Top Comics to Buy for November 19 features new comics from some of my favorite idiosyncratic creators in writer Grant Morrison and writer/artist Tom Scioli. Morrison has penned the DC half of the Batman/Deadpool crossover, while Scioli delivers a Twilight Zone story all his own. Very different comics, but definitely highlights of a strong week.
You can find all five of my single issue recommendations below, along with the usual set of release lists … enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for November 19
Batman/Deadpool #1
Writers: Grant Morrison; James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, &Scott Snyder; Tom Taylor; Mariko Tamaki; and G. Willow WilsonArtists: Dan Mora; Hayden Sherman; Bruno Redondo; Amanda Conner; and Denys Cowan & Klaus JansonColorists: Alejandro Sánchez; Mike Spicer; Adriano Lucas; Tamra Bonvillain; and Francesco SegalaLetterers: Todd Klein; Frank Cvetkovic; Wes Abbott; Dave Sharpe; and Steve Wands
Publisher: DC Comics / Marvel Comics
What happens when the World’s Greatest Detective meets the Merc with a Mouth? Reality folds in on itself. Archetypes collide. Darkseid is. And, somewhere between Apokolips and Earth-TRN666, a sentient street named Danny hums show tunes about a crusading cape!
Why It’s Cool: It’s a Grant Morrison comic, but more than that it’s a Grant Morrison comic that sees them A. collaborating once again with Dan Mora (read Klaus if you haven’t already), and B. writing Deadpool, a character that deals in self-aware metafiction, something that has factored prominently into Morrison’s body of work. The results are as interesting as you think. Plus, the back-up stories are also great.
Price: $7.99
High Strangeness #2 – 1975
Writer: Zac Thompson and Daniel Noah, with back matter by Timothy Renner
Artist: Noah Bailey
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: Oni Press
A prison-transfer bus has just crashed on an isolated forest road in Washington state in the deep winter, sending the lone survivor, inmate Elwood Krieger, running into the woods. When he encounters and fights off a mysterious creature, he finds he’s accidentally killed a juvenile Sasquatch. Barely escaping the wrath of its grieving mother, Krieger starts a new, secret life in a nearby community, hoping to stay under the radar of the law. But when the mother, with whom he shares a mysterious telepathic connection, discovers him and the woman loves, Krieger is faced with much harder decisions than fight or flight . . .
Why It’s Cool: This series is essentially a high-production, prestige style narrative of the ineffable and unexplainable oddities that color real life, at least for the true believers in such things. It’s an anthology series as well, which means each issue brings in new creators, and so far, the series hasn’t missed. The second book sees writer Zac Thompson team up with artist Noah Bailey for a sasquatch story, and it was an easy choice for my Top Comics to Buy for November 19 list.
Price: $7.99
Lazarus Fallen #6
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Michael Lark
Colorist: Santiago Arcas
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Publisher: Image Comics
Marisol is forced into a deal with the devil when Malcolm pulls her back into service. In the desert of North Africa, Sonja Bittner and Forever Carlyle once again meet in battle…for the final time.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve made no secret in this space that Lazarus is one of my favorite ongoing comics (if not my absolute favorite), and one of the things I think it’s done perfectly throughout its long run is building to big moments, particularly fights between the titular Lazaruses (Lazauri?). This arc has certainly been doing that, and now in its finale, we are headed for another one.
Price: $3.99
News From the Fallout #6
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Jeffrey Alan Love
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Designer: Michael Tivey
Publisher: Image Comics
In this final chapter, it’s an epic, one-on-one collision with the evil of General McCoy as Otis and Old Joe’s survivors attempt an escape through the pitch-black tunnel networks beneath the abandoned silver mining town of Dead Water, Nevada.
Why It’s Cool: This unconventional story has been a thrilling experiment in using comics to foster ambiance that is vital to a narrative. And it’s not an exaggeration to say the visual storytelling really has been unlike anything else I’ve read in recent memory. The story and facts can feel fuzzy at times, but that’s part of the point. This finale is a fitting end to the journey, too. One last thing to note, designer Michael Tivey’s work has been absolutely vital to the experience of reading this series.
Price: $3.99
Twilight Zone #2
Writer/Artist: Tom Scioli
Publisher: IDW Publishing
At the farthest reaches of the galaxy, beyond the horizon of humanity and the hopes for salvation, a spaceship of slumbering astronauts journeys in search of intelligent alien life. They’ve left behind their families, their planet, their pasts, and all the trauma and comforts those things contained. But our crew of adventurers will find their pasts are never that far behind them and intelligent alien life has its own plans for their future… in the Twilight Zone!
Why It’s Cool: All Tom Scioli comics are a must-read for me, and doubly so when it’s something odd (see the recent Godzilla Monsterpiece Theatre for an example). Scioli doing a self-contained Twilight Zone one-shot very much falls under that umbrella. I was really excited for this book, and friends? It does not disappoint.
Price: $4.99
Others Receiving Votes
Everything Dead and Dying #3- Exquisite Corpses #7
- G.I. Joe #14
- Mary Sue #2
- New Gods #12
- Nightwing #132
- Powers 25 #3
- Red Book I #2
- Space Ghost #5
- Superman Unlimited #7
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Casey Jones #2
- The Ultimates #18
New #1s and One-Shots
Capes #1- Ferocious #1
- Final Boss #1
- John Le Carre’s The Circus – Losing Control #1
- Lion King #1
- Nova Centurion #1
- Spawn The Dark Ages #1
- Spider-Man Holiday Spectacular #1 (one-shot)
- X-Men of Apocalypse #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
- Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol 1 Martian Vision HC/TP
- Abuzz TP
- Adventures of Super Diaper Baby Color Edition Vol 1 HC
- Aliens Epic Collection Original Years Vol 3 TP
- Animal Pound TP
Anzuelo TP- Assassin’s Creed Mirage – A Soar of Eagles HC
- Astounding Wolf Man Compendium Vol 1 TP
- Atlas Comics Journal Vol 7 Girl Comics HC
- Black Hammer Vol. 9 Spiral City HC
- Book of Genesis Illustrated by R Crumb HC
- Cloven Book 3 HC
- Creatures and Cooridors Premiere Edition HC
- DC Finest Green Lantern – Earths Other Lantern TP
- Dracula Book 2 The Brides TP
- Dune House Corrino Vol 3 HC
- EC Artists Library Gift Box Set Vol 7 Slipcase HC
- ElfQuest – The Original Quest Book 4 – The First War HC
- Endless Night TP
- F.A.R.M. System Book 2 Rage TP
- Flash Gordon Deluxe Edition Vol 1 Escape From Planet Death HC
- Geiger Vol 4 TP
- Ghost Compendium Vol. 1 TP
- Godzilla Library Collection Vol 5 TP
- Harpy GN
- House of X / Powers of X Book Market HC
- In Bloom TP
- Karmen Vol 1 TP
- Lost Fantasy Vol 1 TP
- Marvel Hulk Teach HC
- Marvel Masterworks Ghost Rider Vol 7 HC
- Monstress Vol 10 Hollow Gods TP
- Nemesis The Warlock Definitive Edition Vol 3 TP
- Our Brilliant Ruin – Horror At Crane Mansion TP
- Plants vs. Zombies HC Box Set Vol 9
- Rat God HC New Edition
- Return of the Blues Brothers The Escape of Joliet Jake HC
- Sailing Alone Around the World HC
- Socrates TP
- Spider-Girl Modern Era Epic Collection Vol 6 Family Ties TP
- Spy Seal HC/TP
- Star Wars Hyperspace Stories The Bad Batch Ghost Agents TP
- Star Wars The Sequel Trilogy TP
- Sunder Vol 1 Small Beginnings TP
- Superman Action Comics Superstars Vol 2 TP
- Tech Jacket Compendium Vol 1
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Saturday Morning Adventures Vol 6 TP
- Ultimate Spider-Man Omnibus Vol 5 HC
- WE3 TP (Compact Comics Edition)
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
