By Zack Quaintance — Well folks, it’s time to face it, given the nature of this life-disrupting crisis, our favorite goofy hobby is going to be disrupted for the foreseeable future. Many comic shops (including my own here locally in Washington, D.C.) have closed doors. In addition, Diamond Comics Distribution has announced it is accepting no new orders to its warehouse for the foreseeable future...meaning there will be no new books flowing out into the world, at least not through the standard channels.

Rumors abound about major publishers (specifically Marvel), making moves to create its own distribution mechanisms during this crisis, but nothing concrete has really emerged just yet, nor has anything been made official...one way or the other. For digital readers (myself included...although I still add to the ol’ physical collection on a weekly basis), the question also remains whether new books will hit our tablets via comiXology this coming Wednesday. We just don’t know. This is all a means of explaining why I’m starting a new bi-weekly feature today: Best ComiXology Sales.

I love local comic shops, and I tend to encourage folks to get their stories there unless space at home to store them is totally capped (as is often the case in my office). That’s why I’ve been hesitant to run a feature like this in the past. With physical distribution paused and all of isolating at home, however, I’m relaxing that hesitation. People need stories to read (perhaps more than ever), and this is one of the few means of obtaining them that remains open (extra points if you have a tablet to read on with a nice screen...frankly, I can’t imagine how you’d do digital any other way, but I digress…).

So here we have it, 5 excellent comiXology selections on sale through this weekend...enjoy!

Best ComiXology Sales: Weekend of March 27

No One Left to Fight #1 - #5
Writer: Aubrey Sitterson
Artist: Fico Ossio
Publisher: Dark Horse ComicsThey've saved the world countless times, growing up together and growing apart in the process. But now, with adulthood tightening its grip, they're forced to reconcile their regrets and resentments, coming to terms with the lives they've chosen. Inspired by the legendary Dragon Ball, critically acclaimed creators Aubrey Sitterson (The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling, G.I. Joe) & Fico Ossio (Spider-Man, Revolution) invite you on an action-packed journey through their expansive new world.
Why It’s Cool: This is like Dragon Ball Z if there were way more fun relationship drama. It’s a beautiful comic where the creators do what it takes on every page to entertain. It’s light, but not too light, and for $4.95, we can think of few better values for comics fans looking to take their minds off this crisis.
Price: $4.95
Link: Click Here!

Ironheart Vol. 1
Writer: Eve L. Ewing
Main Series Artist: Luciana Vecchio
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Riri Williams steps boldly out of Tony Stark’s shadow to forge her own future! When one of Spider-Man’s old foes holds a group of world leaders hostage, Ironheart must step up her game. But she’s thrown for a loop when an old acquaintance from Chicago re-enters her life! Caught between her need for independence and her obligations at M.I.T., Ironheart needs to make some tough decisions! Luckily, Riri has a will of steel, a heart of iron and a new A.I. on her side! Unluckily, the search for a kidnapped friend will send her stumbling into an ancient power — and it’s deadly! Plus: When Miles Morales goes missing, who better to search for him than his fellow Champion, Riri — who he’s never actually gotten along with that well!
Why It’s Cool: Speaking of great values, Ironheart is a breezy superhero comic that’s liable to remember why you got into this goofy genre way back when in the first place. It’s also rendered exquisitely with a superhero protagonist (a young black woman from Chicago) who has a perspective we have rarely (if ever) seen this genre filtered through. There’s a reason this was one of the few pure superhero comics to make our Best Comics of 2019, and now you can check it out for less than $4. It’s also great for young readers, and the second volume is available for not all that much more.
Price: $3.90
Link: Click Here!

Black Hammer Library Edition Vol. 1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Main Series Artist: Dean Ormston
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Mysteriously banished from existence by a multiversal event, the old superheroes of Spiral City now lead simple lives on a bizarre farm from which there is no escape! But as they employ all of their super abilities to free themselves from this strange purgatory, a mysterious stranger works to bring them back into action for one last adventure! Collects the first and second volumes of Black Hammer and Black Hammer: Giant Sized Annual with a new cover, sketchbook extras, and more!Why It’s Cool: First of all, it’s a whole lot of comics for just over 12 bucks, coming out to less than a dollar a book. Second of all, this is both an ideal intro to the Black Hammer Universe for newcomers and a great read for people (like myself) who love this book and the adjacent stories, and would like to re-visit at a pretty low cost while in isolation. Speaking of which, Black Hammer is a perfect quarantine comic, given the nature of its plot, which is essentially superheroes quarantined on a creepy farm for...reasons (no spoilers here!).
Price: $12.49
Link: Click Here!

Black Monday Murders Vol. 1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Main Series Artist: Tomm Coker
Publisher: Image Comics
It's the first collection of the exciting new crypto-noir series, THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS. “All Hail God Mammon” pulls the covers back on the secret world of magic lying behind the largest and oldest financial institutions in the world. Collects THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS #1-4.
Why It’s Cool: All of Hickman’s creator-owned work at Image Comics is on sale right now, but we have to pick this one to recommend because it’s A. the best work he’s done...ever, and B. it ties into the craziness happening in the world right now. Black Monday Murders is a noir comic that suggests the world’s capitalists economies run on magic derived from blood for money (to put it reductively). Meanwhile, in the actual freaking world, there are people (some of them powerful!) suggesting we should all go back to work in the middle of a lethal pandemic because having 3 - 5 percent of the population die is preferable to tanking the economy. Anyway, when you’re done shaking your head (I’m personally still going), check out Black Monday Murders. It might be cathartic.
Price: $7.91
Link: Click Here!

All of Hellboy
Writer: Mike Mignola and others
Main Series Artist: Various
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Why It’s Cool: Um, it’s Hellboy, the largest and most wide-spanning (crossing years, characters, and genres) creator-owned comics work of all time. You probably know what it is, making any summary here unnecessary. What you may not know, is that basically every comic from the character’s first appearance to the recent conclusion of the main Hellboy narrative story arc is one sale right now at a 50 percent discount via ComiXology. We even have a guide for our preferred way of reading literally every one of these comics ever made, the publication order. So check out our How to Read Hellboy, read all the way through to the part where we recommend favorites, and buy as many of these collections as you see fit. It’s a fantastic story of the end of the world, which should provide a nice contrast to the more realistic story of the end of the world we’re all living in what feels like slow-motion right now.
Price: Varied
Link: Start Here!

Special note, Vault Comics and Fantagraphics both have excellent sales on as well, but they last through most of April. We’re limiting this week’s edition (this is a weekly thing now!) to sales that end within the next seven days. Check back next week for more suggestions!

And check out some great small press and Kickstarter comics selections too!

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