Top Comics to Buy for October 26, 2022

This week’s set of Top Comics to Buy for October 26 has a relatively high number of endings, headlined by Catwoman: Lonely City #4, the finale to one of my favorite series in recent memories. But we also get concluding issues for arcs from Pearl, Barbaric, and more. As always, you can check out the full set of picks below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for October 26, 2022

Action Comics #1048
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Mike Perkins
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics
“KAL-EL RETURNS” PART 3-THE EPIC CROSSOVER BETWEEN ACTION COMICS AND SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL CONTINUES!
Superman, Supergirl, Steel, and the rest of the Super-Family have brought the Phaelosian refugees to the Fortress of Solitude, but before they can show the newcomers the ropes of heroics on planet Earth, a sneak attack from above turns the Arctic tundra into a war zone! Plus, the march toward Action Comics #1050 continues when Lex Luthor presents a disturbing deal to Metallo…
Why It’s Cool: I am on record praising this run, which is penned by Phillip Kennedy Johnson with a plethora of artwork by fantastic collaborators. This issue sees Mike Perkins come aboard, and what a welcome addition. Perkins and Johnson (with colorist Lee Loughridge and letterer Dave Sharpe) team for a great New Gods-starring story that kicks off a three-part crossover.
Price: $4.99

Barbaric: Axe to Grind #3
Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Nathan Gooden
Colorist: Addison Duke
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
That ugly orc Gladius and his evil witch Doxon picked a fight with the wrong cursed barbarian! Revenge is a dish best served righteously, and Axe has spoken his judgment. Owen is in a murderous rage, Steele has his edge back, and Soren’s magic runs deeper than anyone suspects.
But none of that means they’re going to make it out alive… in the finale of the second arc of the most bloodthirsty comic of all time, BARBARIC!
Why It’s Cool: Another series I’m on the record as absolutely loving is Barbaric, Vault Comics gritty and self-aware fantasy book that stars an axe that gets drunk on the blood of unrighteous foes. This week’s arc finale is a doozy, creating what just might be a new and interesting status quo for all the Year of Barbaric that is to come.
Price: $4.99

Catwoman: Lonely City #4
Writer/Artist: Cliff Chiang
Publisher: DC Comics – Black Label
ONE OF THE MOST ACCLAIMED BLACK LABEL SERIES EVER REACHES ITS CONCLUSION! All of the sacrifice-all of the broken bodies and shattered relationships-was leading up to this: Selina Kyle standing in front of the Batcave, desperate to know the secrets inside it, secrets once thought to have died with Batman. But you should never open doors you can’t close-if opening them means swinging wide the gates of Hell!
Why It’s Cool: My pal Cori McCreery already wrote a full review of this title for the week’s DC Round-Up column, but in brief, this is easily one of the best and most complete titles to come out of DC Comics’ Black Label imprint, and Cliff Chiang’s finale does all the excellence that came before it justice with this week’s finale.
Price: $6.99

Pearl III #6
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Gaydos
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
The shocking and emotional conclusion to arc three of Pearl Tanaka’s journey from tattoo artist badass to yakuza badass is here!! A shocking confrontation with her ever-mysterious father and the other members of the old school yakuza has Pearl at a crossroads unlike anything she’s ever faced before. Another beautiful issue by Jessica Jones cocreator Michael Gaydos.
Why It’s Cool: Pearl has been one of the most interesting and gorgeous comics in the market since it made its debut a few years back. Now, the creative team of Bendis and Gaydos wraps things up for these characters at the end of the third arc, and the visuals and storytelling in this book are as stunning as ever. Ultimately, this title is an absolute masterclass in comics craft.
Price: $3.99

The Variants #4
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Phil Noto
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Every time a VARIANT arrives, Jessica loses a little piece of herself. But SOMEONE is trying to take EVERYTHING SHE HAS. How can Jessica fight back against an enemy who claims to actually BE her?
Why It’s Cool: Wrapping up our list of Top Comics to Buy for October 26 is The Variants #4, the penultimate issue of a miniseries that has been quite the good time. Some characters just lend themselves well to multiversal hijinx, and that’s certainly Jessica Jones. On top of that, the creative team of Gial Simone and Phil Noto is one that just works so well together. I loved this issue, and I’m a huge fan of this series overall.
Price: $3.99

Others Receiving Votes

• 20th Century Men #3
• A.X.E. Judgement Day #6
• Absolution #4
• Amazing Spider-Man #12
• Batman: Fortress #6
• Creepshow #2
• DC Vs. Vampires #10
• Deathstroke Inc. #14
• Detective Comics #1065
• Fire Power #24
• Human Target #8
• Image Anniversary Anthology #7
• Rogue’s Gallery #4
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #2
• Venom #12

New #1s and One-Shots

• American Jesus: Revelation #1
• Batman Gotham Knights: Gilded City #1
• Criminal Macabre/Count Crowley Halloween Crossover: From The Pit They Came #1
• Damn Them All #1
• Dead Mall #1
• Godzilla: Best of Mothra #1 (one-shot)
• Lovesick #1
• Moon Knight Annual #1
• Nightfall Double Feature #1
• Punchline: The Gotham Game #1
• Return of Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #1
• Riddler: Year One #1
• Star Trek (IDW) Vol. 2 #1
• Strange Academy Finals #1

Trade Collections and Graphic Novels

• American Vampire 1976 TP
• Genevieve Castree Complete Works 1981 – 2016 HC
• Ghost Rider Vol. 1 Unchained TP
• Hellions by Zeb Wells HC
• Home to Stay Complete Ray Bradbury EC Stories HC
• Joker Vol. 1 TP
• Justice League Incarnate HC
• Killadelphia Vol. 4 The End of All TP
• Lore Olympus Vol. 3 HC
• Man Who Fell to Earth HC
• Miracleman Omnibus HC
• Remnant TP (Heavy Metal)
• Revenge of the Librarians HC
• World of Black Hammer Library Edition Vol. 4 HC

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Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!