By Zack Quaintance — This weekend, a television adaptation of Y: The Last Man is set to make its debut, and as such, that classic Vertigo Comics series by writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Pia Guerra, and team is the lead for our best comiXology sales, Y: The Last Man edition. On top of that, however, we also have a set of books that we think would make for fantastic TV adaptations moving forward. Although, some of them my be in the works already? Who can tell; it’s so hard to track these things.

Anyway, the list is below…enjoy!

Best comiXology Sales: Y - The Last Man

Y: The Last Man
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Pia Guerra
Publisher: DC Comics - Vertigo Comics
Written by Brian K. Vaughan (Lost, EX MACHINA), this is the saga of Yorick Brown--the only human survivor of a planet-wide plague that instantly kills every mammal with a Y chromosome. Accompanied by his pet monkey, Yorick searches for his lost love...and the answer to why he's the last man on earth.
Why It’s Cool: Aside from getting a new TV show that’s generating buzz this weekend, this is one of the classic comics of the post-2000 era. For fans of writer Brian K. Vaughan, it also feels a bit like proto-Saga, with Vaughan finding his earnest, confessional voice and starting to hone it within the context of a sci-fi story. There are learning moments evident here, but these comics hold up remarkably well, and this sale presents an excellent time to re-read them or to fill in a long-held blind spot.
Price: $5.99 for each, or $29.95 for the full series
Buy Them Here: Y - The Last Man Book One; Y - The Last Man Book Two; Y - The Last Man Book Three; Y - The Last Man Book Four; and Y - The Last Man Book Five

Black Magick - The First Book of Shadows
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Nicola Scott
Publisher: Image Comics
The complete first chapter of the critically acclaimed series from New York Times bestselling creators GREG RUCKA and NICOLA SCOTT, assembled together for the first time! Rowan Black is awakening to the almost unimaginable power that is her inheritance—a power she neither wants nor is able to refuse. But all power comes at a price, and those who seek to destroy her may not be as dangerous as those who wish to control her. Yet when one’s will can alter reality, the ultimate enemy may be the human heart. Collects BLACK MAGICK #1-11, plus additional content, artifacts, and backmatter designed by ERIC TRAUTMANN
Why It’s Cool: Of all the series hanging out there awaiting a TV adaptation, I think Black Magick is one I’m most confident will eventually happen. Writer Greg Rucka has a track record of getting original series to the small screen, namely Stumptown, and this series seems like an even better fit. It’s grounded, which makes it ideal for the smaller budgets of TV, yet it does deploy elements of the fantastical. It’s also a story of police investigators (albeit ones who are witches), and TV loves that stuff. Most importantly though, armed with Nicola Scott’s art, these are just fantastic comics.
Price: $13.99
Buy It Here: Black Magick - The First Book of Shadows

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The Department of Truth
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Martin Simmonds
Publisher: Image Comics
COLE TURNER has studied conspiracy theories all his life, but he isn’t prepared for what happens when he discovers that all of them are true, from the JFK Assassination to Flat Earth Theory and Reptilian Shapeshifters. One organization has been covering them up for generations. What is the deep, dark secret behind the Department of Truth? Collects THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1-5
Why It’s Cool: This one is probably a bit trickier for adapting, given how fluid the very nature of reality is in these stories, but it’s so popular and well-done we can still see it happening. It’s also timely as all get out, and one of the best new comics in many many years. It’s a must-read, and getting the whole first volume at a price of $3.99 right now is just absurd.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: The Department of Truth - The End of the World

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Friend of the Devil - A Reckless Book
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
Bestselling crime noir masters ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS are back with another new original graphic novel featuring troublemaker-for-hire Ethan Reckless.
It's 1985, and things in Ethan's life are going pretty well...until a missing woman shows up in the background of an old B-movie, and Ethan is drawn into Hollywood's secret occult underbelly as he hunts for her among the wreckage of the wild days of the '70s.
Another hit from the award-winning creators of PULP, MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES, CRIMINAL, and KILL OR BE KILLED—a must-have for all BRUBAKER and PHILLIPS fans!
And look for the next standalone book in the RECKLESS series in October!
Why It’s Cool: Last year, the veteran crime comics team of Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips released the first of a new graphic novel series, Reckless. It was one of the most fully-formed new comics concepts I’ve seen in years, complete with rich characters and an interesting concept that can easily be played to raise questions around a number of metaphors. And the books just keep getting better, as evidenced by this entry, Friend of the Devil - A Reckless Book. I’d be absolutely shocked if Reckless in some form doesn’t eventually make it to TV or movies.
Price: $9.99
Buy It Here: Friend of the Devil - A Reckless Book
Read our full review of Friend of the Devil - A Reckless Book here!

Postal Vol. 1
Writer: Matt Hawkins and Bryan Edward Hill
Artist: Isaac Goodhart
Publisher: Image Comics - Top Cow
SPECIAL LOW INTRODUCTORY PRICE OF $9.99! The first volume of Top Cow's bold new ongoing series POSTAL brings readers into the fictional town of Eden, Wyoming, a place founded by criminals for criminals. A place where, despite its inhabitants, no crime is allowed. Local postman Mark Shiffron has Asperger's, and through his peculiar eyes we see a town struggling to keep its fragile peace, a town on the constant brink of chaos. When a murdered woman's body is found on Eden's main street, Mark's need to solve her crime leads him into darkness and truth about the town he's known his entire life and the hidden realms of his own psychology. Co-writers BRYAN HILL & MATT HAWKINS work with newcomer ISAAC GOODHART to take an unflinching look at the cost of justice and the price of redemption through a tale set in the murky soul of America's heartland.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve long found this book to be an underrated gem, a subtle and slow-burning story with a lot of interesting concepts at play. I’m almost certain I’ve heard this one is getting an adaptation, but that certainly doesn’t mean anything is imminent. Still, I think these comics are great, and artist Isaac Goodhart in particular just does outstanding work in these pages.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Postal Vol. 1

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