Top Comics to Buy for September 20, 2023: Strong new #1s lead the way

The Top Comics to Buy for September 20 is one of those good weeks where I had to agonize over which books make my top recommendations. It was really difficult business, with some interesting curiosities, excellent series debuts, and high points for the ongoing stuff. But I have once again done my best, and you can find the full set of the usual lists below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for September 20, 2023

Kaya #11
Writer/Artist: Wes Craig
Colorist: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: Image Comics
Kaya has found Jin’s captors just as chaos breaks out between warring factions of Mutant royalty and a division of the Robot Empire’s army. But after his journey through the dark realm, what has Jin become? Beliefs are shattered and a new path is forged in the epic conclusion to “Kaya in the Poison Lands.”
Why It’s Cool: This issue marks the end of one of my absolute favorite fantasy comics, and man does it end in exciting, satisfying fashion. This book just really checks all the boxes for me, great idiosyncratic art, high kinetic action sequences, and characters that are so well-realized I have no trouble remembering them between issues. I just cannot recommend this book enough, with a second trade collection of it due in November.
Price: $3.99

The Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child #3
Script, Art, Lettering: Tyler Crook
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
From Russ Manning award-winning and Eisner-nominated Harrow County co-creator Tyler Crook comes this supernatural fantasy about loss, power, and destiny. As Howard’s past comes back to haunt and hunt him down; he and Lupe try their best to help the wolf beast in the woods from the vicious militia hot on her tracks.
Why It’s Cool: This book is a must-read for my money every month (and has been since the first issue of the first volume hit), but this chapter is especially touching and emotional, while also moving the larger plot forward. It’s just a fantastic comic, and an easy choice for the Top Comics to Buy for September 20.
Price: $3.99

Rare Flavours #1
Writer: Ram V.
Artist: Filipe Andrade
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Discover the tantalizing tale of Rubin Baksh, a demonic Rakshasa with a down-to-earth dream of becoming the next Anthony Bourdain.
To achieve his vision, Rubin enlists Mo, a filmmaker who has seen better days, to document the world-renowned cuisine of India and the people behind such glorious food.
But little does Mo know that there’s more to Rubin than meets the eye, and the mortals play a darker role in the show than they were prepared for…   
Why It’s Cool: I loved this comic so much. It reunites the creative team from the excellent The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, and it does so in a story that involves something near and dear to my heart — the culinary arts (and indulging with them). This is just an intriguing and gorgeous comic from start to finish. Don’t miss it.
Price: $4.99

Rumpus Room #1
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Colorist: Ive Svorcina
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: AWA Studios
Meet Bob Schrunk, technocrat billionaire, collector of bad art, and victim of a hideous skin condition that can only be treated with a highly illicit and definitely not FDA-approved face cream that must be…harvested. From human beings. Bob isn’t unfair, though. He’s happy to let his guests select who will be next to be sent from the Rumpus Room to their doom.
There’s just one thing Bob doesn’t know: One of his current guests is an undercover cop-and she’s carrying a concealed gun.
Why It’s Cool: Writer Mark Russell is teaming with artist Ramon Rosanas here to deliver one of his most searing takes on wealth inequality yet, which is really saying something given Russell’s excellent body of work around that matter. This issue is creepy and stylish and thought-provoking. It’s a must-buy for fans of horror-tinged satire or just plain great comics.
Price: $3.99

Wonder Woman #1
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Daniel Sampere
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
After a mysterious Amazonian is accused of mass murder, Congress passes the Amazon Safety Act, barring all Amazons from U.S. soil. To carry out their plans, the government starts a task force, the Amazon Extradition Entity (A.X.E.), to remove those who don’t comply, by any means necessary. Now, in her search for the truth behind the killing, Wonder Woman finds herself an outlaw in the world she once swore to protect! 
Why It’s Cool: After basically a full summer of teases (and behind-the-scenes buzz) a new Wonder Woman series arrives from the superstar team of Tom King, Daniel Sampere, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles — and it does not disappoint. This premise is absolutely fantastic, compelling both in micro and marco ways that allow for contemplation of Diana Prince as a character along with some of the challenges of our national political moment (as well as within the media). And it all looks great, with high-impact Sampere doing unsurprisingly excellent work yet again. 
Price: $4.99

Others Receiving Votes

• Batman/Superman – World’s Finest #19
• Bone Orchard Mythos – Tenement #4
• Catwoman #57
• Earthdivers #10
• Fishflies #2
• The Forged #4
• Harley Quinn – Black, White, Redder #3
• Loki #4
• Monarch #6
• Nocterra #16
• Panya – The Mummy’s Curse #3
• Saga #66
• Superman #6
• Traveling to Mars #8
• The Vigil #5

New #1s and One-Shots

• Batman – Gargoyle of Gotham #1
• Captain America #1
• Chilling Adventures Presents – Madam Satan Hell on Earth #1 (one-shot)
• Green Lantern War Journal #1
• Hexagon Bridge #1
• Jack Kirby’s Starr Warriors – Adventures of Adam Starr and The Solar Legion #1 (one-shot)
• Junior Baker – The Righteous Faker #1
• Predator Vs. Wolverine #1
• Star Wars – Dark Droids D-Squad #1
• Strange Academy – Moon Knight #1 (one-shot)
• Uncanny Spider-Man #1
• What If Dark Carnage #1 (one-shot)
• The Witcher – Wild Animals #1
• X-Men Annual 2023 #1

Graphic Novels and Trade Collections

• Batman and Robin Eternal Omnibus HC
• Batman One Dark Knight TP
• Batman/Superman – World’s Finest Vol. 2 – Strange Visitor HC
• Behold Behemoth TP
• Blood Force Trauma
• Bloodlines – Daughter of Blade TP
• Blue Book Vol. 1 TP
• Creepy Archives Vol. 2 TP
• Earthdivers Vol. 1 Kill Columbus TP
• EC Archives Two-Fisted Tales Vol. 1 TP
• Ghosted Compendium TP
• Ice Cream Man Vol. 9 – Heavy Narration TP
• Know Your Station TP
• Old Dog Vol. 1 – Redact One TP
• Sins of Sinister HC
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Armageddon Game – The Alliance TP

---

Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!