By Zack Quaintance — I’m really excited about this week’s list of best comiXology sales weekend of April 16, 2021, which features some comics that I personally am going to buy to fill in gaps in my reading history. I’m specifically talking here about Darkhawk — which as I’ll get into more below is a thing I know nothing about — and the classic run of The Question by Denny O’Neil and Denys Cowan. But of course, as always, there’s much more to pick from on this week’s list…

Check it out, and enjoy!

Best comiXology Sales: Weekend of April 16, 2021

Darkhawk Classic, Vol. 1
Writer: Danny Fingeroth
Artist: Mike Manley
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Collects Darkhawk (1991) #1-9.
Begin the saga of the Darkhawk! Long before War of Kings, teenager Chris Powell began his journey as a dark force for justice. Thrill to the earliest adventures of one of Marvel's hottest heroes for the '90s as the newborn Darkhawk unravels the mystery of his armored avenging alter ego, while encountering some of the Marvel Universe's finest heroes and villains along the way. From alliances with Spider-Man, Captain America and Daredevil to all-out brawls with Venom and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Darkhawk soars to unparalleled heights!
Why It’s Cool: Quite frankly, I don’t know…yet. I’ve never read these comics, but with a revival for the Darkhawk character on the way, I’ve been swept up by some of the excitement on Twitter (which at times, I can’t tell whether it’s a bit). Either way, I’m going to check these books out, especially at this week’s sale price of $5.99 for the first volume.
Price: $5.99
Buy It Here: Darkhawk Classic Vol. 1

Lazarus: The Collections One - Three
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Michael Lark
Publisher: Image Comics
This prestige edition collects the first two arcs of the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling series; "Family," which introduces Forever Carlyle and her Family as they are brought to the brink of war in a future of economic collapse; and "Lift," where Forever uncovers a terrorist plot against her Family while another family altogether, the Barrets, take desperate measures to escape their life of poverty. PLUS! Never-before-seen work by MICHAEL LARK and graphic designer ERIC TRAUTMANN, and exclusive world-building content.
Why It’s Cool: Regular readers of this site are probably well-aware that Lazarus is one of my favorite modern ongoing comics series. It’s just such a rich and prescient vision of a near-future, and it’s all grounded so well in really compelling characters. I love the level of realism that Rucka and Lark bring to these comics, which feels like an odd thing to say about a story that involves immortal sword-fighting assassins. This week’s Rucka Sale includes the three giant-sized Lazarus collections, a great deal.
Price: $45.97 for all three collections
Buy Them Here: Lazarus Collection One; Lazarus Collection Two; and Lazarus Collection Three

The Question #1 - #15, by Denny O’Neil and Denys Cowan
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Artist: Denys Cowan
Publisher: DC Comics
Vic Sage, a.k.a. The Question, is savagely beaten and shot for investigating the corrupt mayor of Hub City!
Why It’s Cool: This is another series I haven’t read, even though I fully understand it to be a must-read comic with DC Comics history, penned by Denny O’Neil and illustrated by the great Denys Cowan. There’s no digital collection of these comics, so you have to buy the 15 issues that comprise it on their own at a price of $.99 each. These comics are well-crafted and poignant, a snapshot of societal concern when they were made that projects through right to the challenges of today, or so I’ve been told by smart people who’s opinions I know I can trust. I can’t wait.
Price: $.99 each, or $14.85 for the full run
Buy Them Here: The Question #1 - #15

Second Coming, Vol. 1
Writer: Mark Russell
Artists: Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk
Publisher: AHOY! Comics
The book everyone's talking about, by award-winning writer Mark Russell (Wonder Twins, The Flintstones) and artist Richard Pace (Pitt, New Warriors) ...now in one volume! God commands Earth's mightiest superhero, Sunstar, to accept Jesus as his roommate and teach him how to use power more forcefully. Jesus, shocked at the way humans have twisted his message over two millennia, vows to straighten them out. With an Introduction by Patton Oswalt. Collects Second Coming #1-6.
Why It’s Cool: Ah, now we’re back into more comfortable territory with great comics that I have read. Second Coming — the excellent comic by Mark Russell and Richard Pace — sort of made headlines before and around its time of publication for being a religious satire, but more than that, it’s actually a satire of current conventions, looking at many but most specifically at the idea that superheroes are great because they’re strong and can punch all of our problems away. It’s really smart and well-done, and should absolutely be in your digital stack of comics to-read.
Price: $9.99
Buy It Here: Second Coming, Vol. 1

Shazam! The World's Mightiest Mortal Vol. 1.jpg

Shazam!: The World’s Mightiest Mortal, Vol. 1
Writers: E. Nelson Bridwell, Eliot S. Magin, Dennis O’Neil, and Jerry Ordway
Artists: C.C. Beck, Pat Broderick, Dave Cockrum, Dick Giordano, Bob Oskner, and more
Publisher: DC Comics
The 1970s adventures of Shazam—now the star of his very own movie—are collected in color for the first time! These new adventures combined the cartoony art of C.C. Beck, the original artist from the best-selling comics of the 1940s, with the modern, tongue-in-cheek sensibility of writers including Dennis O’Neil as the entire Marvel family reunite for all-new adventures. Collects SHAZAM! #1-18.
Why It’s Cool: I’m going to be honest here, folks, these days the Shazam! comics have gotten a little dark and severe for my tastes. Which is fine, generally, but this is a character that sort of embodies the opposite of that, and this set of comics really captures what I’m getting at there. Simply put, buy this collection, sit back, and get ready to have a good time.
Price: $12.99
Buy It Here: Shazam! - The World’s Mightiest Mortal, Vol. 1

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.