Best comiXology Sales: Weekend of March 12, 2021
By Zack Quaintance — For whatever reason, there tends to be two types of best comiXology sales lists. The first type tends to involve lists of classic, must-read trade paperback collections or graphic novels, the type you invest in at a low price and read at some undetermined point in the distant future. The second is when relatively new work goes on sale for the first time, giving readers a chance to catch up on some big releases and hidden gems they’ve missed. This week’s list is the latter, and it’s absolutely fantastic.
Enjoy!
Best comiXology Sales: Weekend of March 12, 2021
Amazing Spider-Man: Full Circle
Writers: Jason Aaron, Gerry Duggan, Al Ewing, Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky
Artists: Mike Allred, Chris Bachalo, Mark Bagley, Valerio Schiti, Greg Smallwood, Chris Spouse, and Rachel Stott.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
A summons from S.H.I.E.L.D. leads Peter Parker into a globe-spanning adventure that will test him as never before — and the future of all mankind lies in his gloved, webbed hands! Who is the mysterious prisoner in the steel box who keeps propelling the wall-crawler onward? Nick Spencer and an all-star team of Marvel’s biggest writers and artists take up the challenge to create the wildest, maddest, most unconventional AMAZING SPIDER-MAN story of all! Guest-starring Nick Fury, Wolverine and Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham! Experience the amazing adventure in an action-packed collection with a sensational array of surprises and extra features!
Why It’s Cool: This gigantic superhero comic was an absolute blast. It’s a single narrative, creator jam style story, in which one writer (Jonathan Hickman) starts the proceedings with a ludicrous premise…and then the next writer has to pick up the baton and make it work, surely leaving another challenging plot thread for the creator that comes next. Fun always sounds like a reductive way to describe a comic, but that’s the best I can do with this one. FUN.
Price: $2.99
Buy It Digitally: Amazing Spider-Man - Full Circle #1 via comiXology
Ash & Thorn
Writer: Mariah McCourt
Artist: Soo Lee
Publisher: AHOY Comics
The apocalypse is nigh! The world needs a Champion, and the only heir to a sacred mystical lineage is...a little old lady? Meet Lottie Thorn, reluctant savior of the world, and her also-elderly trainer Lady Peruvia Ashlington-Voss. They might not look it, but these women are prepared to take on any Big Bad that comes along. But first, perhaps a nice cup of tea?
Why It’s Cool: Like all of the books that publisher AHOY Comics puts out, Ash & Thorn is an unmitigated delight. It’s a story that features a protagonist that is relatively uncommon in American fiction, especially monthly comics, with that being a pair of elderly women. This combined with a fantastic magical adventure premise makes this a fantastic read, start to finish.
Price: $7.99
Buy It Digitally: Ash & Thorn Vol. 1: Recipe for Disaster
The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott
Writer/Artist: Zoe Thorogood
Publisher: Avery Hill Publishing
Billie Scott is an artist.
Her debut gallery exhibition opens in a few months.
Within a fortnight she'll be completely blind.
As Billie struggles to deal with her impending blindness, she sets off on a journey from Middlesbrough to London; into a world of post-austerity Britain and the problems facing those left behind. Her quest is to find ten people to paint for her exhibition, as well as the inspiration to continue with her art, and the strength to move on with her life.
Why It’s Cool: The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott is a massive artistic statement from a rising cartoonist in the industry, Zoe Thorogood. Entertaining, personal, and relentlessly well-told, this book is a true joy, a fully-formed debut work that not only makes Thorogood an artist to watch, but stands on its own as one of the best and most immersive graphic novel reads of 2020…and now you can get it for just $5, the price of an over-sized superhero comic, making it an absolute steal.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Digitally: The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott via comiXology
Ruby Falls
Writer: Ann Nocenti
Artist: Flavia Biondi
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics - Berger Books
Some Things Are Best Remembered. In this gripping neo-noir mystery, Lana is about to wake up in the middle of her hometown's biggest secret: the ''disappearance'' of infamously progressive Betty Gallagher during the mobster-ruled heyday of the old mining town. When her grandmother Clara starts to share dementia-blurred, violent memories of this cold-case murder, Lana becomes obsessed with cracking the case, even if it means splintering the peaceful town—and putting everyone she knows in grave danger. Collects the four-issue miniseries.
Why It’s Cool: Berger Books has consistently published some of the smartest comics in the monthly direct market, and yet, on the whole the imprint has flown massively under the radar. Look, it’s tough to make a splash in what is a pretty over-saturated market for original comic ideas. But skipping books like Ruby Falls is a big big mistake. This is a story driven by family legacies, past trauma, and strong women. It’s a great and thoughtful read that I highly recommend.
Price: $5.99
Buy It Digitally: Ruby Falls via comiXology
Shadow of the Batgirl
Writer: Sarah Kuhn
Artist: Nicole Goux
Publisher: DC Comics
Cassandra Cain, teenage assassin, isn't exactly Batgirl material...not yet, at least. But with Batgirl missing from Gotham City, can Cassandra defy her destiny and take on a heroic mantle of her very own? She'll have to go through an identity crisis of epic proportions to find out.
After a soul-shattering moment that sends Cass reeling, she'll attempt to answer this question the only way she knows how: learning everything she possibly can about her favorite hero-Batgirl. But Batgirl hasn't been seen in Gotham for years, and when Cass's father threatens the world she has grown to love, she'll have to step out of the shadows and overcome her greatest obstacle-that voice inside her head telling her she can never be a hero.
Sarah Kuhn, author of Heroine Complex and I Love You So Mochi, takes on one of her favorite heroes for a new audience of readers. Featuring the edgy art style of Nicole Goux, Shadow of the Batgirl tells the harrowing story of a girl who overcomes the odds to find her unique identity.
Why It’s Cool: Shadow of the Batgirl is first and foremost a really beautiful comic, featuring a versatile art style that in places feels at home in both the YA comics world as well as for adult readers. It’s also a really rewarding story driven by great characters and a new take on a familiar character, making it pretty close to the DC Comics YA line ideal.
Price: $6.99
Buy It Digitally: Shadow of the Batgirl via comiXology
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.