Top Comics to Buy for August 18, 2021
By Zack Quaintance — New Grant Morrison comics, new Chris Samnee comics, a long-running series sticks the landing, and a surprising new mini sticks the landing (for now) as well — folks, the Top Comics to Buy for August 18, 2021 list is good. And you can find it in full below.
Enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for August 18, 2021
PICK OF THE WEEK
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #5
Writers: Chris Samnee and Laura Samnee
Artist: Chris Samnee
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Crank!
Publisher: Oni Press
NEW ARC OF THE ALL-AGES HIT BEGINS HERE!
Jonna and Rainbow are searching for their father in the desolate, monster-infested wasteland that was once their world. After their last safe haven is destroyed by an errant monster, they find themselves in a hidden underground city.
Rainbow is intent on finding out the secrets of the bustling makeshift metropolis, but Jonna is a little busy—as she finds herself a sudden celebrity in the city's sporting arena, thanks to her incredible strength and indomitable spirit!
Why It’s Cool: There’s just something so kinetic about this series, which has been a delight from its first issue. This week marks the start of the second arc, and with all the pieces now expertly arranged, the story is poised to deliver even more heavy-pounding action that seems to burst right off the page. Don’t miss this book.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #5
Read our review of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, Vol. 1!
Ascender #18
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Dustin Nguyen
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: Image Comics
“STAR SEED,” Part Four
Concluding the sci-fi/fantasy epic that began in the pages of DESCENDER, JEFF LEMIRE and DUSTIN NGUYEN present the final account of one young robot’s struggle to keep his friends alive as the forces of magic and science meet in a climactic fashion.
Why It’s Cool: You know, I think we all sort of took the Descender/Ascender combo for granted, or at least those of us who have faithfully stuck with it as the story successfully transitioned from hard sci-fi to high fantasy. This week, though, it all comes to an end, and I was struck by how much I’m going to miss it, in no small part because this finale issue is very very good.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Ascender #18
Home #5
Writer: Julio Anta
Artist: Anna Wieszczyk
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
Juan’s rage comes to a head, and the world will never be the same again.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve really loved Home from the start, but now that the first arc is over, I can confidently recommend this book as one of the best intermingling of stories about super powers and real world events culled from 2020 / 2021’s most troubling news. There are no shortage of comic books that try to meld current events with super power stories, but few are as successful as Home. This book takes a really smart, patient approach to what it’s doing, and the result is that it feels more human and rewarding at the end of its first arc. I can’t wait to see what this creative team does for the next phase of this story.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Home #5
Lazarus Risen #6
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Michael Lark
Colorist: Santi Arcas
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Image Comics
"FRACTURE II," Part Two
To end the war, Johanna Carlyle sends the Family's Lazarus, Forever, into the lands of Hock to sue for peace…but what Jakob Hock wants in exchange is something that will destroy the Carlyle Family once and for all. Some weapons are more powerful than any Lazarus. One of them is the truth.
Why It’s Cool: Lazarus has long been one of my favorite comics, owing to its blend of prescient near-future dystopian concepts and relentlessly-excellent execution. It’s also just a really well-done story, seeding family drama plot points that it patiently waters until they bloom many many issues later. I don’t want to spoil anything, but we get a fair amount of that in this issue and it’s fantastic.
Price: $7.99
Buy It Here: Lazarus Risen #6
Superman and the Authority #2
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Mikel Janin, Fico Ossio, Evan Cagle, and Travel Foreman
Colorists: Jordie Bellaire, Sebastian Cheng, Dave Stewart, and Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: DC Comics
Clark Kent and Manchester Black continue to put Superman’s new team together, even though keeping Black in check seems like just as difficult a job as convincing the new recruits to come along. The pair hits different parts of the world looking for different types of heroes. While Midnighter, Apollo, and Natasha Irons only need to tie up some loose ends before getting on board, the Enchantress is going to be a little harder. Superman is going to have to set her free from a deadly illusion hell-bent on destroying her before she can help him save the universe.
Why It’s Cool: This book is just fantastic, at least it is if you enjoy superhero comics and/or the work of writer Grant Morrison, paired as they are here with an army of great artists fitted to sequences that play to their strengths. This is a putting together a team comic, and it’s one of the best of those I’ve read in some while, peppered with quipy dialogue and fun concepts. Highly recommend.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: Superman and the Authority #2
Others Receiving Votes
Black Cat #9
Black Hammer Visions #7
Blubber #6
Catwoman #34
Flash #773
Guardians of the Galaxy #17
Hollow Heart #6
Home Sick Pilots #8
Iron Man #11
Marauders #23
Moon Knight #2
Nightwing #83
Nocterra #6
Superman Red and Blue #6
Time Before Time #4
New #1s and One-Shots
Batman Secret Files - Clownhunter #1
Eat the Rich #1
God of Tremors #1
Kang the Conqueror #1
Killer Queens #1
Miles Morales Spider-Man Annual #1
Passive/Aggressive #1
Second Chances #1
Warhammer 40,000 Sisters of Battle #1
X-Men: Trial of Magneto #1
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels
Crimson Flower TP
Radiant Black Vol. 1 (Not So) Secret Origin TP
Sweet Tooth the Return TP
Two Moons Vol. 1 The Iron Noose TP
See our past top comics to buy here, and check out our reviews archive here.
Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.
