This week’s Top Comics to Buy for September 23 features a set of books that cover a lot of ground, which is my way of saying we have quite a bit of variety. We’ve got a new #1 issue for IDW’s excellent Star Trek comics, the return of one of my personal favorites with That Texas Blood, and the continuations of three super interesting books that launched this year.
Meanwhile, I will also take this chance to remind you that my own comic — Death of Comics Bookcase, Vol. 2 — is funding on Kickstarter for just a few more weeks. If you like my weekly comics recs, I think you’ll really this comic, which is 48 pages written by me and drawn by artists like John P. Golden, Ryan Lee, and Nick Cagnetti!
Now on to this week’s picks …
Top Comics to Buy for September 23
A Mischief of Magpies #2
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Matias Bergara
Colorist: K.J. Diaz
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: DSTLRY Media
The Wandering City beckons, and Mar has answered its call. Tasked with eliminating the baleful Moray King, who haunts the underside of the machine-metropolis, Mar takes every opportunity to dive deeper into the depths of this astonishing fantasy world… though it comes at a high cost to his life in the real world, and to those who try to love him.
Why It’s Cool: In short, this book features some of the most interesting creators in comics, all of whom have seemingly been empowered to go deep into their bags, as they say. It’s making for one of the most interesting and unpredictable comics formulist experiments in a good while.
Price: $8.99
Dispatched #3
Writer: B. Clay Moore
Artist: Daniel Gete
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: Ignition Press
Word has gotten around that Morgan Powers is fighting back during the hostage situation. With the news out, two figures from Morgan’s past decide it’s time to get in touch. Now Morgan must battle against white nationalist terrorists, the Sons of Liberty, and the ghosts of his past. The anxiety is rising among the white nationalist crew as they wonder how to fight back against the mysterious figure taking them out. And one of the symptoms of anxiety is an itchy trigger finger.
Why It’s Cool: I have made it no secret that I have absolutely loved the first year or so of Ignition Press releases, and at this point, everything the publisher puts out is a must read for me. That said, I have this book among my favorites of their line so far. It’s just such a well-done, modern riff on Die Hard, with a lot more beneath its surface and some of the best page-to-page suspenseful storytelling I’ve seen in ages.
Price: $4.99
Fort Psycho #2
Writer:Matt Kindt
Artist:Brian Hurtt
Colorist: Bill Crabtree
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: Oni Press
Our hero holds his breath because this gilded cage is still a cage, even if it’s an island paradise! With Jason tasked with tracking down the true identity of the Seven Seals’ secretive leader, known as the Blue Bishop, he’s finding it harder and harder to separate his former comrades and future foes. Anyone could be involved, and everyone has something to lose — the pressure is on to unearth the rat among this band of ex-commando espionage agents! After all, Jason has no choice… if he fails, the consequences will be far worse than his prison sentence.
Why It’s Cool: This book is the character-driven, G.I. Joe deconstruction that you simply did not know you needed. Also, the team of artist Brian Hurtt and colorist Bill Crabtree are just doing phenomenal work in this one. I’m all in after these first two issues.
Price: $5.99
Star Trek #1
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Dennis Menheere
Letterer: Jodie Troutman
Publisher:IDW Publishing
The first arc of Star Trek delivers a prestige, mystery-driven, high-stakes psychological thriller of an opening salvo — new worlds, new species, new existential threats — anchored by Seven, Jack, and Crash La Forge fighting to keep the mission together as the Galaxy’s oldest ghosts awaken.
Why It’s Cool: I’m not even deeply familiar with Star Trek, but I know enough to tell that the cast on this book is fantastic, taken from so many different, interesting corners of the franchise. And I also know that the creative team is as top-notch as it gets, Christopher Cantwell being the writer of my favorite Star Trek comic in recent memory (if not ever) Star Trek: Red Shirts, and just a great writer generally. Nice to get a high-profile jumping on point like this from a line that’s been firing on all cylinders for some time.
Price: $4.99
That Texas Blood: Hell Comes to Allison Ranch #1
Writer: Christopher Condon
Artist: Jacob Phillips
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
On March 19, 2003, Sheriff Joe Bob Coates and Deputy Wilson Hart are called to the Allison Ranch — the largest and richest ranch in the United States — where family grievances are blooming into full-blown war. This first issue will be loaded with bonus materials including behind the scenes peeks, newly conducted interviews, essays, cartoons, and MORE!
Why It’s Cool: That Texas Blood is one of my favorite indie comics in recent years, and I’m absolutely thrilled its back. There really hasn’t been a bad arc/issue of this book, and this first issue back is no exception. It’s also set in 2003, and it does a great job of using the era and some of the current events back then to tie-in to the themes of its latest arc.
Price: $4.99
10 Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week
Absolute Batman #24- Absolute Wonder Woman #24
- Black Tower – The Raven Conspiracy #2
- The Dogsitter #3
- Exquisite Corpses – Rascal Randy #3
- The Flash #37
- The Forged #13
- The Foundry #2
- Shaolin Cowboy: Staying A.I. Live #3
- Universal Monsters – Blood of the Wolf Man #4
New #1s and One-Shots
Conan – Tides of the Tyrant King #1- Crimes Against Nature #1
- Escape From New York – Escape From Chicago #1
- Gambit Gone #1
- Ghost of a Ghost #1
- Hellraiser Resurrections Hell’s Council #1 (one-shot)
- Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine #1 (one-shot)
- Marvel Mangaverse Ghostlocke #1 (one-shot)
- Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 (one-shot)
- Smile – Any Given Smile #1
- Star Trek #1
- That Texas Blood – Hell Comes to Allison Ranch #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
- A Beginner’s Guide to Leveling Up TP
- Adventure Time Compendium Vol 4 HC/TP
Atlas Comics Library Vol 10 Sports Action HC- Batman by Grant Morrison Book 3 TP
- Batman / Green Arrow / The Question Arcadia HC
- Breaklands Season 3 The City TP
- Cardoselli & Perillo Collection HC
- Charley’s War by Joe Colquhoun Apex Edition HC
- Curse of Sherlee Johnson Vol 1 TP (Spawn)
- Daredevil Omnibus Vol 4 HC
- Dark Judges – The Fall of Deadworld Omnibus HC
- Dark Souls – Mother of Mourning TP
- Darren Aronofsky’s Human Nature Book 2 HC
- DC Universe by Keith Giffen HC
- Excommunicated TP
- G.I. Joe – A Real American Hero – The Silent Missions Vol. 2 TP
- Green Lantern Earth One Vol 1 TP
- Havana Split Vol 1 Welcome to Cuba HC
- Hellboy Universe – The Secret Histories Vol 2 HC
Locke & Key IDW Classic Collections Crown of Shadows & Keys to the Kingdom TP- Magic The Gathering – Untold Stories Elspeth TP
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Compact Comics Edition Vol 1 TP
- Minor Arcana Deluxe Edition Book 1 HC
- Names and Faces: A Graphic Memoir HC
- Peanuts – Your Choice Snoopy TP
- Pride of Baghdad – The 20th Anniversary Edition HC
- Roots of Madness TP
- Sonic the Hedgehog – Amy’s Anniversary Special HC
- Strontium Dog – Search and Destroy Vol 5 HC
- Superman – The Silver Age Omnibus Vol 2 HC
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Classic Collections The Mirage Years 1984 – 1987
- Toxic Crusaders TP
- Ultimate Endgame TP
- Universal Monsters – Phantom of the Opera HC
- Wiccan Witches Road TP
- Witchblade Vol 4 TP
- Wolverine Epic Collection Vol 5 Valley of Death TP
- Wonder Woman Historia – The Amazons Absolute Edition HC
- X-Men Epic Collection Vol 21 X-Cutioners Song TP
- X-Men Legacy Omnibus HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
