Top Comics to Buy for February 17, 2021
By Zack Quaintance — This is what we in the (very lucrative!) comics crit biz refer to as one of those Very Good weeks. Our Top Comics to Buy for February 17, 2021 has five titles from five different publishers. On top of that, in narrowing down the list, our committee (of one) had to make some really painful cuts. Books like Hollow Heart #1, Pictures of Everything Else #2, Barbalien #4, and more could have easily been on here. It is a bountiful week, indeed.
Top Comics to Buy for February 17, 2021
Future State: Superman - Worlds of War #2
Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with Brandon Easton, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, and Jeremy Adams
Artist: Mikel Janin, with Valentine de Landro, Michael Avon Oeming, and Siya Oum
Colorist: Jordie Bellarie, with Marissa Louise, and Hi-Fi
Letterer: Dave Sharpe, with Travis Lanham, and Gabriela Downi
Publisher: DC Comics
Meet the rising champion of the gladiatorial pits of Warworld: Superman! The Man of Steel is still down in the pits duking it out with Mongul’s hordes and working his way up to the big boss himself. But since it’s Superman, there has to be more to this than a simple determination to win the title belt, right? Yes, because he’s also got Midnighter out there on a mission to chase down a dangerous new power source...but the man standing in his way is all too familiar.
Plus, the Black Racer smashes her way to freedom, and Mister Miracle, now trapped on Warworld himself, has to find his way back to the bottle city of Metropolis-and his only mode of transportation is a busted Boom Tube!
Why It’s Cool: Even if I wasn’t a total Superman mark, I think this might still be one of my absolute favorite books from all of Future State. It’s just so grandiose, re-imagining the future of the character in an interesting way that also feels true to his roots. Oh, and the backup stories are total fire.
Price: $7.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Superman Worlds of War #2
Check out Future State Fridays!
Haha #2
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Zoe Thorogood
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Good Old Neon
Publisher: Image Comics
“RUDOLPH ON THE ROAD TO FUNVILLE”
Every boy and girl needs a momma, like a puppy needs a bowl.
The funny-sad clown series for a funny-sad clown world continues with a mother-daughter road trip illustrated by ZOE THOROGOOD (The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott).
Why It’s Cool: Much like it’s older sibling Ice Cream Man, Haha has quickly proven itself to be one of the least predictable, most exciting, and smartest monthly comics. This second issue is as gritty as the first as it examines relatable subject matter from parents to mental health in a fascinating way. Simply put, you absolutely must be reading this comic.
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Haha #2
Read our Haha #1 review!
Iron Man #6
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Cafu
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
BOOKS OF KORVAC: BOOK TWO BEGINS! After receiving a near-fatal injury from Korvac, Iron Man lands in emergency triage with his life on the line. Halcyon and Misty Knight work quickly to lock Tony in his armor and stanch his injuries…but now he can’t take it off or else he’ll die. With pieces of metal literally holding his body together, Tony regroups with his allies, all while trying not to give into his rage over being bested by Korvac. With Hellcat on the psychological ropes and his other hero compatriots recuperating from their own near-death experiences, can Tony muster what he needs in order to chase Korvac out into space and stop the mad demigod’s quest for ultimate power? Perhaps War Machine is just the friend Tony could use in this moment…but James Rhodes might only be there to bench a manic and battered Tony from action so that he doesn’t get killed. Still, as always, Tony has never been good at taking no for an answer…
Why It’s Cool: Friends? I think Iron Man has become my favorite book at Marvel Comics. It’s just such a great mix of things that have long made Marvel Comics great — the characters are real and flawed, the interconnectivity with other books past and present is integral, and this is a story that could only really be told in this medium. The writing is strong, the art looks great, and the book asks, what else could you possible want from a superhero comic?
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Iron Man #6
Order a Physical Trade: Iron Man Vol. 1
Penultiman #5
Writer: Tom Peyer
Artist: Alan Robinson
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Final issue! Penultiman's artificial understudy, Antepenultiman, has patiently tried to repair the superhero's self-loathing attitude - but now the android's patience is gone! Can a sidekick force a hero to heal? Also: bonus illustrated prose stories!
Why It’s Cool: This book has been fantastic start to finish. It’s a story about a Superman who is insecure in a way that mostly harms itself, and in this finale we get to watch him process the sci-fi shenanigans that have made him that way. Here’s hoping this series returns for a second season at some point! Like it’s older sibling Wrong Earth, this is a funny comic that sends up superheroes while still paying homage and expressing a deep love for the genre and traditions.
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Penultiman #5
Read our review of Penultiman #1!
Second Coming - Only Begotten Son #2
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Richard Pace
Finisher [Sunstar Pages]: Leonard Kirk
Colorist [Sunstar Pages]: Andy Troy
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Chaos, weirdness, and corndogs reign when Jesus innocently stumbles into Bible Safari, a profit-squeezing amusement park that trades in his image. Meanwhile, Sunstar gets some disturbing news about his earthly foster-grandmother. Later, Jesus stands to recruit a new disciple - if he can inspire said disciple to keep on living! Also featuring illustrated bonus stories in the AHOY tradition.
Why It’s Cool: Mark Russell just doesn’t write bad comics, whether he’s playing with long-standing corporate IP or penning a deeply satirical and poignant story about religion. This is one of the latter, and it’s possibly the issue of Second Coming that speaks most directly to the book’s concept — that Jesus original teachings are misinterpreted and misunderstood. It is a Very Good comic.
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Second Coming - Only Begotten Son #2
Read It Physically: Second Coming Vol. 1
Read our review of Second Coming - Only Begotten Son #1!
Others Receiving Votes
Abbott 1973 #2
American Ronin #5
Barbalien #4
Cable #8
Excellence #10
Family Tree #11
Future State - Catwoman #2
Future State - Nightwing #2
Guardians of the Galaxy #11
Marauders #18
Once and Future #16
Picture of Everything Else #2
Stillwater #6 (read our review!)
We Live #5
New #1 Comics
Aria Heavenly Creatures One-Shot
Black Cotton #1
Black Friday #1
Hollow Heart #1 (read our interview!)
Immortal Hulk Flatline One-Shot
Savage #1
Shadow Doctor #1
Steambound #1
Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land #1
Trade Collections and Graphic Novels of Note
Bleed Them Dry Vol. 1 TP (read our first issue review!)
Dawn of X Vol. 13
Devil’s Highway TP Vol. 1
Scene of the Crime TP Image Edition
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 4 HC
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.
