This week’s Top Comics to Buy for April 8 features two basically perfect new #1 issues with The Fury of Firestorm, and Godzilla Monsterpiece Theatre: Romeo & Juliet & Godzilla. Odd as it may sound, I probably expected the latter to make this list more than the former, but I was absolutely blown away by this take on Firestorm. More on that below.
And you can find my other picks for the Top 5 of the week, along with the other usual recommendation and release lists … enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for April 8
Bleeding Hearts #3
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Stipan Morian
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: DC Comics – Vertigo
Poke returns to his horde after meeting Mama and Rabbit—profoundly changed and a bit confused. He’s experiencing things he cannot explain…things like compassion and sadness. He’s tried his best to convince Mama that he means them no harm and that they should stay hidden, but for Mama, trust is something hard-earned. So how much of a risk is she willing to take? And can Poke keep the latest hunting party from descending upon their hiding spot?
Why It’s Cool: Like the other new Vertigo books this year, Bleeding Hearts just keeps getting better as it goes, now that its ambitious high concept is established. I think this one is especially notable, because A. I have no idea where it’s going, and B. the art is just perfect.
Price: $3.99
Estuary – A Ghost Story #1
Writers: DB Andry and Tim Daniel
Artist: Maan House
Colorist: Steve Cannon
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Oni Press
Atop a rocky cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean sits the Mission at Arbues Point, a 400-year-old Spanish mission made infamous as one of California’s oldest and most haunted historical sites. But beneath its crumbling, tourist-trap facade, a reclusive nun has spent decades within the Mission’s walls, honing her prayers and practice in pursuit of a secret long-buried beneath the majesty of the chapel, and under the dark waves of the tidal estuary below. When marine archaeologist Maris Cristobal accepts the nun’s offer to begun excavating a fabled shipwreck lying in wait beneath the Mission’s turbulent waters, she’ll soon discover that the sins of past and present are about to wash together into a harrowing surge of a vengeance that can no longer be contained…
Why It’s Cool: I wrote in depth about why I love this debut issue earlier this year, but to rehash it in brief, I just thought it has the perfect mix of a spooky unconventional setting, interesting character dynamics, and chilling art. Simply put, this is a can’t-miss first issue, and it gets my highest recommendation.
Price: $4.99
The Fury of Firestorm #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Publisher: DC Comics
The community of Bedford, Colorado, is a sleepy small town. The people say hello to their neighbors, attend town hall meetings, and root for the local high school football team on Friday nights. But this idyllic small town is thrown upside down when the Nuclear Man arrives and starts… experimenting. Firestorm has turned buildings to sand and people to glass with no remorse and no warning. But what exactly provoked Ronnie Raymond to commit this heinous act, and can anyone contain the fury that is Firestorm?
Why It’s Cool: This is one of those superhero comics wherein it feels like at least one of the creators was passively working on this story for years, like they had a kernel of an idea of what they would do if they ever got a chance to tell a story with Firestorm, kept building on it, and now the time has come. We’ll have more about this one in tomorrow’s DC Round-Up column, but I was absolutely blown away by this.
Price: $3.99
Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents Romeo & Juliet & Godzilla #1
Writer: Adam Tierney
Artist: Sean Peacock
Letterer: Brian Kolek
Publisher: IDW Publishing
The explosive literary mashup series returns! But this time, Godzilla is taking on the classics one story at a time. O Godzilla, Godzilla, wherefore art thou Godzilla? First, it’s invading the Bard’s most revered play, Romeo & Juliet. Families at war! Forbidden love blossoming! Godzilla on its path of destruction! Fair Verona won’t be so fair for long!
Why It’s Cool: I heaped so much praise on the first Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre book — based on The Great Gatsby — when it was coming out, and so I was absolutely delighted that the concept was coming back. This new book has such a great creative team — I’m an especially big fan of artist Sean Peacock — and a different enough approach to make it distinct from how Tom Scioli did Godzilla and Gatsby. It’s just a blast.
Price: $7.99
Murder Podcast #6
Writer: Jeremy Haun
Artist: Mike Tisserand
Colorist: Nick Filardi
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: Ignition Press
Mina and her friends have captured one of the cultists who worship Dead Sounds, the podcast that causes unsuspecting listeners to fly into a homicidal rage and kill everyone around them, and the ladies want answers! Meanwhile, Nika and the police are closing in on the cult, but they quickly discover that if you go to the source of the podcast, it’s best to plug your ears!
Why It’s Cool: This series from the jump has had the perfect pacing, and now things are really starting to get gnarly. The supernatural elements of this one have been backgrounded in favor of character dynamics and murder set pieces, but now the book is getting ready to pay them off.
Price: $4.99
10 Other Comics I Enjoyed
- Absolute Green Lantern #13
- Everyone Loves a Jewel Thief #1
- Hello Darkness #20
- Iron Man #4
- Muppets Noir #2
- Neighborhood Watch #1
- Pretty Hate Machine #1
- Sirens Love Hurts #3
- Supergirl #12
- Transformers #31
New #1s and One-Shots
- Dead by Daylight – The Hillbilly #1
- Estuary – A Ghost Story #1
- Everyone Loves a Jewel Thief #1
- G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Sssilent Missions Crimson Guard #1 (one-shot)
- Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents Romeo & Juliet & Godzilla #1
- Pretty Hate Machine #1
- Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 (one-shot)
- Web of Venom #1 (one-shot)
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
- Acid Box GN
- Atlas Artist Edition Vol 3 Bill Everett Vol 1
- Author Immortal Vol 1 Death of the Author TP
- Batman The Dark Knight Returns TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
- Corto Maltese Fable of Venice and Other Adventures TP (review coming soon!)
- Corus Wave TP
- Critical Role Vox Machina Origins Omnibus Series I and II TP
- Death of the Silver Surfer HC
- Everything Dead & Dying TP
- Godzilla vs. America: Chicago Boston Los Angeles Kansas City TP
- Grim Vol 5 Fear The Reaper TP
- Hack Slash Deluxe Edition Vol 6 HC
- Happy 10th Anniversary Edition TP
- Moon Knight Fist of Knonshu Vol 3 Were Outta Here TP
- Paper Girls Backpack Edition Vol 2 TP
- Post Malone’s Big Rig Vol 1 TP
- Punderworld Vol 2 TP
- PunkN Heads TP (read our review!)
- Rick and Morty vs The Universe HC
- Rom Epic Collection The Original Marvel Years Vol 4 TP
- Sonic The Hedgehog Sonic Prime Vol 3 TP
- Sunstone Vol 2 GN New Edition
- What If Into the Multiverse Omnibus Vol 3 HC
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
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