This week’s Top Comics to Buy for August 12 was a competitive field, at least as it applies to making my five recs this week. It was a week that saw new issues from some of my favorite indie titles vying with the direct market juggernaut, Absolute Batman, and more. But I did the work, and I’ve got my five favorites picked out for you below, along with the usual release lists.
Before we get there, however … if you like my weekly comics recs, I’m making a new comic of my own! If you want more info, you can go here: Death of Comics Bookcase, Vol. 2, and if you like what you see, just click NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH to get an email when our pre-order goes live … cheers!
Top Comics to Buy for August 12, 2026
Absolute Batman #23
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
In a climactic showdown, Batman is forced to battle an unyielding enemy in not just the Robins but in himself. More than one dead character signals a call for help… and a symbol of hopelessness as more friends become enemies.
Why It’s Cool: I don’t think I need to elaborate at this point. If you’re reading this, you’ve surely heard all you need to about Absolute Batman. I’ll just say I continue to enjoy this as the biggest superhero spectacle in recent memory.
Price: $4.99
Exquisite Corpses – Rascal Randy #2
Writer: Tyler Boss
Artist: Dylan Burnett
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: Image Comics – Tiny Onion
In 1920s New York, a plucky young animator named Elias Friedman dreams of becoming a world-famous cartoonist… and soon, his creation Rascal Randy makes that dream a reality. But as the fluffy rabbit takes the country by storm, a sinister underbelly reveals itself — and its impact will reverberate throughout history, all the way to present-day Aurora Springs.
Why It’s Cool: This was a great first issue, spinning out of Exquisite Corpses, and now it’s working in a storyline about old school newspaper cartooning, an element I can’t get enough of in my comics.
Price: $3.99
The Foundry #1
Writers: Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson
Artist: Christopher Mitten
Colorist: Michelle Madsen
Letterer: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Long before Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. defended the world against supernatural threats of all types, the men and women of the Foundry protected Queen Victoria’s Empire. But the operatives of the Foundry were adventurers and explorers with no time for the paranormal or the occult, only interested in the scientific applications of the artifacts that their expeditions uncovered or what engineering marvels could be devised from ancient discoveries. In The Foundry: In Peril on the Seas, Major Karam Singh and his fellow members of the Foundry go in search of an unknown menace that appears to threaten enemies and allies alike, unsure whether they are in pursuit of some sort of monster or something far worse.
Why It’s Cool: I absolutely loved the original runs of BPRD comics, and while they’ve splintered off into other Hellboy world stories since then, none has come as close to capturing that vibe as this week’s new release, The Foundry. And as usual, the Christopher Mitten art is fantastic.
Price: $4.99
Of the Earth #4
Writers: Chris Condon and Andrew Ehrich
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Colorist: Pip Martin
Letterer:Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
Delusional and brandishing a kitchen knife, Gramma has disappeared.
Why It’s Cool: There’s a lot to like about this unique horror-thriller, but I want to highlight here the fantastic color work being delivered by Pip Martin, who takes some big swings and connects.
Price: $3.99
Supergirl #16
Writer: Sophie Campbell
Artists: Joe Quinones and Paolo Villanelli
Colorists: Joe Quinones and Arif Prianto
Letterers: Josh Reed and Becca Carey
Publisher: DC Comics
The Kryptonite Kingdom of El Caldero has been taken over by General Zod! Supergirl gathers her own super-force to infiltrate the Kingdom! Superboy-Prime, Conner Kent, Tomorrow Man, Lois Lane, Steel, Lana Lang, Natasha Irons, Princess Shark, and more of Supergirl’s wild cast! But before they can remove Zod from power, he unleashes a dangerous new force… What is the K-Zone?!
Why It’s Cool: This issue is a great start to a crossover that weaves through the Superman comics, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It feels like it’s earned, with months of interesting buildup to what’s happening here, and both artists in this launch issue do such great work with the script. I also enjoyed Action Comics #1101 quite a bit, too.
Price: $3.99
10 Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week
Action Comics #1101- Beast of Boriken #2
- Bleeding Hearts #7
- Clayface – Celebrity Dirt #2
- DIE Loaded #8
- Fury of Firestorm #5
- Innards #3
- Shaolin Cowboy: Staying A.I. Live #2
- Twilight Zone #10
- Yumi 00-EX #1
New #1s and One-Shots
Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #1- Biker Mice From Mars – Scorch #1
- Cult-De-Sac #1
- The Foundry #1
- Gargoyles #1
- Gastronomique #1
- Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents – Roar of the Worlds #1
- Hello Kitty and Friends – Hello World #1
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1
- Queen in Black – Thor #1 (one-shot)
- Regicide #1
- Star Wars – The Fall of Kylo Ren #1
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells Omnibus Vol 2 HC- Amelia Shadows Vol 2 Amelia Shadows and the Monster in the Box HC/TP
- Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher – The Last Wish HC
- Batgirl Vol. 3 – The War of Shadows TP
- Batman by Tom King Book 3 TP
- Batman – Detective Comics Vol. 3 The Courage That Kills HC/TP
- Crownsville TP
- Cult of the Lamb Vol 2 Last Sacrament TP
- Death Fight Forever TP
- Elseworlds Justice League Omnibus Vol 1 HC
- Essential Judge Dredd Tour of Duty Book 3 TP
- Everglide TP
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection Vol 26 Heroes Reborn TP
- The Forged Vol 4 Galaxy’s Most Wanted TP
- Freaks Squeele Vol 3 HC
- Free Planet Vol 2 TP
Frostbite Beware the Dead of Winter TP- Hank Howard Pizza Detective A Slice of Life TP
- In The End We All Die HC
- John Carpenter Presents George A Romero’s The Amusement Park GN
- JSA Vol 3 Year One HC/TP
- Judge Dredd Complete Case Files Vol 24 TP
- Kick-Ass Compendium TP
- Last Human In A Crowded Galaxy TP
- Marvel Two-In-One Epic Collection Vol 4 Project Pegasus TP
- Mary Sue TP
- Monster High House Haunters TP
- Murder Podcast Vol 1 TP
- New Avengers Vol 2 The Other Woman TP
Quacky TP- Superman Vol 6 DC K.O. TP
- Superman Unlimited Vol 2 This Looks Like A Job HC/TP
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Nexus TP
- Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus Vol 1 HC
- Transformers The Movie Deluxe Edition HC
- Ultimates by Deniz Camp Vol 4 Uprising TP
- Undertaker Vol 2 The Gore of Camp Sutter & The Shadow of Hippocrates HC
- Warm Fusion HC
- You Can Never Die – A Graphic Memoir HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
