This week’s Top Comics to Buy for August 19 was a fun list to put together, containing as it does two of my favorite new original idea comics in a while — Killer Influences and Dispatched. If that weren’t enough, it’s got a great recent superhero run, a story arc finale for one of my favorite indies ever, and more. In other words, good week.
But before we get to my recs, I have a comic of my own I want to tell you about! It’s called Death of Comics Bookcase – Reign of the Comics Bookcases, and it’s a 48-page comic written by me with art by Nick Cagnetti (Spirit of the Shadows), John P. Golden (Adventure Time), Ryan Lee (Rick and Morty), and more. It’s hitting Kickstarter in September but you can (and should!) sign up for a prelaunch notification here … thanks!
Top Comics to Buy for August 19, 2026
Dispatched #2
Writer: B. Clay Moore
Artist: Daniel Gete
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: Ignition Press
The Sons of Liberty have taken over the Financial Commerce Building and someone has been picking them off one by one. Surely it can’t be any of the office workers… They were counting on minimal resistance from the office drones. What they didn’t expect was Morgan Powers. He’s not going down without a fight or getting his deliveries made on time.
Why It’s Cool: This book is intense, like a pumped-up, hyper-modern take on Die Hard, powered by a gritty star turn from artist Daniel Gete, who is colored here by Lee Loughridge. The last page cliffhanger is also gnarly. Don’t sleep on this one, it’s the exact type of thriller comic with modern commentary that I love.
Price: $4.99
Killer Influences #2
Writer:Joey Esposito
Artist:Valeria Burzo
Colorist:Inaki Azpiazu
Letterer: Alex Ray
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Kylie and Melvin made a deal. Kylie would use her expertise in the world of serial killers and murder to give Melvin an identity, a mythology, a serial killer persona that would make him “famous.” She turned him into the Caddyshack Killer. The story took the country by storm, and she led that storm on her podcast, which brought her a great deal of fame and success. However, it didn’t bring Melvin what he wanted. He still feels empty. He feels unfulfilled. He feels violent. And he’s going to challenge Kylie for getting what she wanted while he got nothing.
Why It’s Cool:Not only does this book have a great true crime-riffing concept, it is also not afraid to get darker than you expect it to be. And there’s something thrilling to that. This is definitely an exciting and smart crime comic with touches of horror.
Price:$4.99
The Lucky Devils #9
Writer:Charles Soule
Artist: Ryan Browne
Letterer:Christopher Crank
Publisher:Image Comics
THE LUCKY DEVILS completes its descent into the deepest depths of hell — the Ninth Circle, the home of the most treacherous souls. Hell is in revolt, and earth ain’t far behind. A battle between Good and Evil like you’ve never seen as this hellish adventure comes to an end.
Why It’s Cool:Ignore the solicit text above (hey, things change!) because this is actually the penultimate issue of Lucky Devils, and it’s awesome, ramping up the stakes, slamming all our characters together again, and setting everything into motion for the end to what has been a great, character-driven book with smart touches of philosophy.
Price:$3.99
Nightwing #141
Writer:Dan Watters
Penciller:Denys Cowan
Inker:Norm Rapmund
Colorist:Francesco Segala
Letterer:Wes Abbott
Publisher: DC Comics
The deadline has arrived. The curious citizens of Blüdhaven gather to see whether their hero will surrender to the authorities for the deadly crash that took nine lives. Nightwing doesn’t know what he’s going to do either. But one thing is certain — things can’t go on like this…
Why It’s Cool:For my money, this has been the single best superhero comic since Denys Cowan came aboard, and this issue is yet another high point for the current storyline. It’s been a long time since a city and its ground-level machinations have felt as vital to the plot as they do in this run.
Price:$4.99
Powers 25 #12
Writer:Brian Michael Bendis
Artist:Michael Avon Oeming
Colorist: Nick Filardi
Letterer:Josh Reed
Publisher:Dark Horse Comics – Jinxworld
Discover the fallout of the big murder investigation and how it will affect all of powers going forward. Does it ruin the twist ending if we tell you there’s a twist ending?
Why It’s Cool: This was such a fun arc of Powers, one that had a fantastic mystery, great new characters, and a sense that this series still has a long way yet to go. As a reader from the earliest days of this comic, I absolutely loved it, and this week’s finale was no exception.
Price: $4.99
10 Other Comics I Enjoyed This Week
2000AD Sci-Fi Special 2026 #1 (one-shot)- Absolute Green Arrow #4
- American Caper #10
- Arcadia #7
- Deathstroke, The Terminator #6
- End of Life #7
- If Destruction Be Our Lot #4
- Joe Palmer’s Destination Kill #4
- Superman Unlimited #16
- Thor #800
New #1s and One-Shots
2000AD Sci-Fi Special 2026 #1 (one-shot)- Bug Wars – The Coming of the Wardoom #1
- Disney Talespin #1
- The Last Driver #1
- Lazarus Order #1
- Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood #1 (one-shot)
- Shellshock #1 (one-shot)
- Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1
- What If…? Runaways Hadn’t Run Away #1 (one-shot)
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol 3 Spider-Man No More TP- Assorted Crisis Events Vol 2 TP
- Avatar The Gap Year – Tipping Point TP
- Avengers Time Runs Out TP (Marvel Premier Collection)
- Batman & Son TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
- Batman/Superman World’s Finest Vol 9 The Merger HC/TP
- Biker Mice From Mars Vol 2 Intergalactic Odyssey TP
- Children of Light GN
- Critical Role – The Mighty Nein Origins Omnibus Vol 1 TP
- DC Finest Events: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2 TP
- Exquisite Corpses Vol 3 TP
- Feral Vol 5 Catching Strays TP
- The Girl, The Priest, and The Devil TP
- Goon – Bunch of Old Crap – An Omnibus Vol 6 TP
- Green Lantern Corps Vol 2 New World Order TP
- Harley and Ivy Life of Crimes TP
- Home Time Twelve Days TP
- Jane TP
- John Carpenter’s Tale of Science Fiction Pause TP
Judge Dredd And To The Sea Return TP- Judge Dredd Complete Case Files Vol 25 TP
- Jupiter’s Legacy Omnibus Vol 1 TP
- Justice League Unlimited Vol 3 DC K.O. TP
- King In Black Omnibus HC
- Knight City HC
- Last Day of HP Lovecraft TP
- Luna The Vampire On The Go TP
- Miss Truesdale And The Rise of Man HC
- Nikola Tesla TP
- Outline HC
- Resident Alien Vol 9 The Book of Changes TP
Secret Wars TP (Marvel Premier Collection)- Speed Racer Deluxe Edition Vol 1 HC
- Spider-Girl Modern Era Epic Collection Vol 7 Comes The Carnage TP
- Star Trek Voyager Homecoming TP
- Star Wars Dark Droids Omnibus HC
- The Thing on the Doorstep TP
- Voyeur TP
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
