By Zack Quaintance — This week it was comics writer Brian Michael Bendis’ birthday. This weekend is also DC Comics Fandome, the online promotional event the publisher is rolling out to replace the con appearances it can’t make this year due to COVID-19. Anyway, as a result, there’s a big DC sale going on, and we’ve picked two of our favorite Bendis books from his DC era to include on the list of Best comiXology Sales weekend of August 21 below.

Enjoy!

Best of comiXology Sales: Weekend of August 21, 2020

PICK OF THE WEEK
Pearl, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Gaydos
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Publisher: DC Comics - Jinxworld
Pearl is an exceptional tattoo artist...and accidental assassin for one of the modern-day San Francisco Yakuza. She was born into one life, but another is calling to her. This is Pearl Vol. 1, from the Peabody Award-winning creators of Jessica Jones. When Pearl accidentally meets one of her peers, her counterpart from another clan, she starts to dream of a better life. But Pearl has a very special ability that keeps pulling her back into the violent world she is desperate to escape.
Why It’s Cool: This series — which is to my knowledge writer Brian Michael Bendis’ first new original/non-superhero launch in years — is an intriguing crime comic that has been an absolute tour de force for artist Michael Gaydos. Bendis has said in interviews that Gaydos takes the lead with the book, bringing back artwork that challenges Bendis as a writer, forcing him to keep pace with the innovation and risk-taking in the work. These fully-painted pages in these two volumes are incredible, and it’s a must-read for students of college craft as well as for fans of neo-noir crime comics.
Price: $5.94 per volume or $11.88 for both
Buy It Here: Pearl Vol. 1, and Pearl Vol. 2

Bad Weekend
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Colorist: Jacob Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
JUST IN TIME FOR CONVENTION SEASON—the ultimate comic con crime tale! Comics won’t just break your heart. Comics will kill you. Hal Crane should know, he’s been around since practically the beginning. Stuck at an out-of-town convention, waiting to receive a lifetime achievement award, Hal’s weekend takes us on a dark ride through the secret history of a medium that’s always been haunted by crooks, swindlers, and desperate dreamers. BAD WEEKEND—the story some are already calling the comic of the year from its serialization in CRIMINAL #2 and 3—has been expanded, with several new scenes added and remastered into a hardcover graphic novel, in the same format as BRUBAKER and PHILLIPS’ (KILL OR BE KILLED, FATALE, CRIMINAL) bestselling MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES. This gorgeous package is a must-have, an evergreen graphic novel every true comics fan will want to own. Collects CRIMINAL #2-3 with new expanded content.
Why It’s Cool: Speaking of great crime comics, this one was one of my favorites in recent years. It’s actually two issues from Brubaker and Phillips’ ongoing crime comic Criminal, but it stands on its own entirely (with plenty of Easter Eggs for fans of that book). What this story feels like to me is a blending of Criminal with a meta examination of making comics and the legacy of classic creators. It’s also set at a con, and it’s a setting that will really resonate with anyone who’s ever attended San Diego.
Price: $6.29
Buy It Here: Bad Weekend

Black Hammer ‘45: From the World of Black Hammer
Writers: Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire
Artist: Matt Kindt
Colorist: Sharlene Kindt
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
From the world of the Eisner Award-winning Black Hammer series comes a gripping World War II action-adventure tale! During the Golden Age of superheroes, an elite Air Force crew called the Black Hammer Squadron bands together to combat the Nazis, a host of occult threats, and their ultimate aerial warrior the Ghost Hunter. This volume collects Black Hammer '45 #1–#4 from the all-star creative team of Ray Fawkes, Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Sharlene Kindt, as well as a sketchbook section.
Why It’s Cool: I’m a big fan of all things Black Hammer — the superhero/comics homage universe created by writer/artist Jeff Lemire — and the reason I like this book so much is that it was the first to expand the Black Hammer world of comics outside of purely superheroes. Yes, this book — which is a great read on its own — moved this story off of just superheroes and into new genre territories such as historical fiction and war comics. It’s also an inclusive comic that speaks to real history in certain ways. Highly recommended checking this out for fans of Black Hammer.
Price: $5.49
Buy It Here: Black Hammer ‘45: From the World of Black Hammer

Hercules: Still Going Strong
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Luke Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The world's first super hero is getting back in the game to remind everyone why he set the bar for valor in the first place. Make way — Hercules is back! The creatures of ancient myth lingering in the present day are on the brink of extinction, with no place in the modern world. But Hercules has moved with the times, and only he can protect them against the crushing weight of the future. Clean, sober and determined, the Lion of Olympus gathers his deadliest weapons to face the Uprising Storm that threatens to wipe out the old ways forever — but which old friends and unlikely allies will stand with him? An age-old warrior battles to be a modern-day hero — and it will be legendary!
Why It’s Cool: It can often be difficult to catch all the good comics that Marvel puts out, especially when it’s on a low-key character/title like Hercules. The publisher just puts out way, way too many titles, so many that the conversation among comics fans can’t keep up with all the ones worth reading. This Hercules mini-series, however, was very very good. In it, Hercules is an old god seeking to atone for past bad behaviors. He’s become a pariah due to drinking and womanizing, and now he’s seeking to do right, and it’s a really poignant and rewarding set of comics that results.
Price: $3.39
Buy It Here: Hercules - Still Going Strong

Naomi: Season One
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker
Artist: Jamal Campbell
Publisher: DC Comics - Wonder Comics
DC's biggest, newest mystery starts here! When a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into a small Northwestern town, Naomi begins to uncover the last time a super-powered person visited her home-and how that might tie into her own origins and adoption. Follow Naomi's journey on a quest that will take her to the heart of the DC Universe and unfold a universe of ideas and stories that have never been seen before. Join writers Brian Michael Bendis and David Walker and breakout artist Jamal Campbell in Wonder Comics' massively ambitious new series and star...Naomi. Collects NAOMI issues #1-6.
Why It’s Cool: More Bendis on the list this week. If one of his strengths is writing street level crime comics, the other is creating new superhero characters with the potential to last. His track record at Marvel in this realm includes Miles Morales, Jessica Jones, and RiRi Williams. His first (and hopefully not last) new character created for DC Comics that seems like a shoe-in to remain relevant for years to come is Naomi, and this volume features a miniseries that is essentially her origin. So, that’s fun. The other reason to love this comic is the superstar turn pulled by artist Jamal Campbell, who just lays down two-page spread after two-page spread of amazing illustrations.
Price: $5.94
Buy It Here: Naomi - Season One

You can find our picks for the best books on comiXology Unlimited!

Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.