Picking out five books to highlight from the Top Comics to Buy for September 28 was a stressful exercise. Just going in, I knew some (if not most) of my favorite series had new issues out, including Ant-Man, Eight Billion Genies, and Lazarus Risen. On top of that, some new favorites were continuing too. This led to some truly difficult choices. Books like Human Target, Sandman Universe Nightmare Country, Department of Truth, and others would have been shoe-ins for a highlight spot any other week, but alas, this isn’t any other week. The upshot, though, is I read a lot of great comics last week, and you can find the usual lists below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for September 28, 2022

Comics to Buy for September 28Ant-Man #3
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
In the present, the current Ant-Man, Scott Lang, has been tasked by the Avengers with a very important mission: Guard the prison holding Ultron! But the evil Black Ant/Eric O’Grady has other ideas that may spell doom for humanity… Don’t miss this epic journey through Ant-Man’s history!
Why It’s Cool:
Every issue of this series so far has been so good, and Ant-Man #3 is no exception. This book is such a fun stomp through Ant-Man’s history as a character and an under-appreciated pillar of the Marvel superhero universe. It’s also powered by Tom Reilly’s fantastic art, colored to perfection in this series by Jordie Bellaire, and Al Ewing’s big, unpredictable ideas. As such, Ant-Man remains my favorite book at Marvel right now.
Price:
$3.99

Briar #1
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Germán García
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
What if Sleeping Beauty never got her happily ever after… and instead had to save herself?
Set in a brutal fantasy world that time forgot, this isn’t the fairy tale you know!
Why It’s Cool:
This is a great concept — what if Sleeping Beauty didn’t wake up when she did in the story, and instead woke up at a much later point when she was sort of on her own — with a great creative team. The execution is also fantastic, with plenty of twists and striking art that is sure to make the book stand out. This one had me from its excellent first line — “I regret to inform you that the narrator of my fairy tale has died.” Great stuff.
Price:
$3.99

Eight Billion Genies #5
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ryan Browne
Letterers: Chris Crank and Ryan Browne
Publisher: Image Comics
Witness…the FIRST EIGHT MONTHS!
In the eight months after G-Day, when everyone on Earth acquired a genie and one wish, the world has become a very strange place, full of danger and whimsy and…more danger. We need a hero for these times. We need…THE IDEA MAN!
Why It’s Cool:
I continue to absolutely love this series, which is pushing ahead with rapid but controlled pacing that is just taking this book’s eight billion genies idea to increasingly interesting places. I’d say each issue of this book reinvents its established status quo, but I don’t think it’s really had a status quo, much to its credit. The end result is a comic that feels like it has so much more left to do and explore.
Price:
$3.99

Lazarus Risen #7
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Michael Lark
Colorist: Santi Arcas
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Image Comics
“FRACTURE II,” Conclusion
Forever Carlyle was the Lazarus of her Family…until now.
Why It’s Cool: 
Lazarus has been one of my favorite things in comics for some time now, and it hasn’t lost a step since its earliest issues, delays aside. This week’s extra-sized book marks the end of the current arc, as well as the current publishing approach. It’s a great issue that brings a lot of long simmering plot threads to a head, and also sets the stage for what will be the last 12 to 14 issues, according to the back matter. So yeah, more great Lazarus this week, but the downside is that after many delays, the book is now going on hiatus until they have 3/4 or so of the last arc complete. Argh. I often think of how popular this book would be if they could just get it on schedule, although the quality is so high, it’s easy to understand.
Price:
$7.99

Comics to Buy for September 28Superman – Space Age #2
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Michael Allred
Colorist: Laura Allred
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics
Superman has arrived and he’s out of sight! Right? The world may love him, but the citizens of Metropolis are growing skeptical as the cities around them suffer without the help of the Man of Steel. The world doesn’t need saving as much as it needs changing, and Superman and his super friends in the Justice League seem unqualified to save the day the way they once did. Could this be the beginning of the end that Pariah prophesied? Or is it just a sign of the times?
Why It’s Cool:
I wrote a full (glowing!) review of this book for the DC Round-Up column this week, but I don’t mind bringing back out my praise for this Top Comics to Buy for September 28 list either. This book is a true epic, one that sees two fantastic, idiosyncratic creators operating at the top of their crafts. There’s one issue remaining, but if this one sticks the landing, it could be the DC book of the year.
Price:
$9.99

Others Receiving Votes

  • Action Comics #1047
  • Amazing Spider-Man #10
  • Batman Fortress #5
  • Captain America – Symbol of Truth #5
  • Defenders Beyond #3
  • Department of Truth #21
  • Detective Comics #1064
  • End After End #2
  • Heart Eyes #2
  • Human Target #7
  • I Hate This Place #5
  • Justice League vs. The Legion of Super-Heroes #6
  • Miles Morales Spider-Man #42
  • The Nice House on the Lake #10
  • Sandman Universe Nightmare Country #6

New #1s and One-Shots

  • A.X.E. Avengers #1 (one-shot)
  • Batman – The Audio Adventures #1
  • Bridge Remastered Edition #1
  • DC Horror Presents – Sgt. Rock vs. The Army of Dead #1
  • Flawed #1
  • Hell Is a Squared Circle #1 (one-shot)
  • Marvel Voices – Community #1 (one-shot)
  • Old Dog #1
  • Onyx #1 (one-shot)
  • Roadie #1
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1
  • Tim Drake: Robin #1

Trade Collections and Graphic Novels of Note

  • DC vs. Vampires Vol. 1 HC
  • Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Death TP
  • The Flamingo
  • GI Joe: A Real American Hero Rise of Serpentor HC
  • Human Remains Complete Series TP
  • Human Target Book One HC
  • Mighty TP
  • Strange Vol. 1 I Belong to Death TP

Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!

1 COMMENT

  1. Lazarus is out — nice! I decided to shift to trade paperbacks after one or two of the larger-format issues, and then lost track of it over the pandemic. But this is a good reminder to pull it out of the longbox and look for the collections I’ve missed.

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