By Zack Quaintance — Welcome in to the top comics to buy for February 9, 2022…an interesting collection headlined by Monkey Meat #2, the second entry in cartoonist Juni Ba’s new anthology series. It’s early (obviously), but so far this might be my favorite single issue of the year. It’s engaging from the start, telling a story that speaks to the Monkey Meat concept and also references comics ability to draw inspiration from all mediums. I really enjoyed, so much so I may write more about it later this week.

But for now, check out our full list below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for February 9, 2022

PICK OF THE WEEK
Monkey Meat #2
Writer/Artist: Juni Ba
Letterer: Juni Ba
Publisher: Image Comics
The anthology series set on Monkey Meat Island continues with the unfortunate adventures of Haricot, a sweet young boy who falls victim to harsh bullying. When Haricot finally gets the power to assert himself, will he become a hero-or a monster?
Why It’s Cool: Look, I just read this comic one time and I need a little while to process it, but I have a suspicion this book — specifically this individual issue — just might be a master piece. It’s a fantastic read, one I don’t want to give much away about, but I will say that it’s unlike any other comic I’ve ever seen, while still rooted in the very purpose and nature of comics storytelling, with interesting nods to manga and famous characters, both in and out of comics. I was just blown away from this book, which I highly recommend, even if you skipped Monkey Meat #1. This is, after all, an anthology series.
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Monkey Meat #2 via comiXology

Hellboy and the BPRD 1957 - Forgotten Lives #1 (One-Shot)
Writer: Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson
Artist: Stephen Green
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Hellboy and Professor Trevor Bruttenholm team up for some quality father-son time at a New York potter's field where they try to unravel the mystery of a spectral being haunting the packed graveyard. Upon arrival, the two of them quickly realize there may be more things haunting the buried poor at the mass grave than meets the eye . . .
Why It’s Cool: Hellboy has really been cooking again for the past year or so, putting out interesting comics across the many eras that the character has existed. This one (which to be totally honest, I haven’t read yet) also looks great, pairing Hellboy with his father figure, Professor Bruttenholm. One thing I’ve enjoyed about recent Hellboy comics is that with the main narrative mostly ended, they’ve been able to step back and serve up some past adventures where Hellboy teams with his big supporting cast. This seems poised to be one of those stories, contained to a single issue. The cover artwork is also great, combining creepy imagery with a reference to another Hellboy character, Lobster Johnson.
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Hellboy and the BPRD 1957 - Forgotten Lives #1

The Joker #12
Writer: James Tynion IV with Sam Johns (back-up)
Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli with Belen Ortega (back-up)
Inker: Cam Smith
Colorists: Arif Prianto & Romulo Fajardo Jr. with Alex Guimaraes (back-up)
Letterer: Tom Napolitano with Becca Carey (back-up)
Publisher: DC Comics
There are dark, sinister secrets in the world, and then there are the secrets held by the infamous Sampson family on their compound down in Texas! Jim Gordon is about to enter a hell he never imagined to save…The Joker? Punchline Backup: The Trial of Punchline grows volatile as the Royal Flush Gang makes their biggest and most wicked move in Gotham Ever. Punchline’s endgame is here!
Why It’s Cool: This book is definitely winding down, getting ready to end the interesting story about Jim Gordon that it’s been telling from its start. This entire series has done such a great job connecting with the wider Batfamily of comics and events, while also reading as a satisfying standalone international mystery with the Gordons and The Joker at the center. I continue to highly recommend this comic.
Price: $5.99
Buy It Digitally: The Joker #12

The Secret X-Men #1
Writer: Tini Howard
Artist: Francesco Mobili
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
SSHHH - IT'S THE X-MEN! When the Shi'ar Empire faces an unexpected threat, they must call upon the X-Men. Team co-captains Sunspot and Cannonball must lead Marrow, Tempo, Forge, Banshee, Strong Guy, Armor, and Boom-Boom on a secret mission to save Empress Xandra. Wait, those aren't the X-Men. Aren't those the mutants who lost the election?
Why It’s Cool: This is two weeks in a row that the X-Men comics have rolled out interesting new #1 issues (with last week’s being Sabretooth #1). This book is pretty clever, taking the cast of X-Men that lost last year’s fan election and compiling them all into a space X-Team that’s doing stuff with the Shiar Empire. None of that works, of course, if the cast isn’t well-constructed, which it is here, featuring fun members such as Cannonball, Marrow, and Banshee (though everyone’s favorites vary). The end result is a charming one-shot story that will hopefully give this team more to do moving forward.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Digitally: The Secret X-Men #1

Suicide Squad: Blaze #1
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: DC Comics - Black Label
The attacks begin without warning. Brutal, sudden…cannibalistic. A metahuman with all the power of Superman but none of his humanity. An unstoppable being ruled only by hunger and instinct, striking at random across the world. To stop this threat, Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark have been assigned to corral, nursemaid, and if necessary execute five deadly new recruits: the expendable products of a secret government procedure called BLAZE. They’re ordinary prisoners, endowed with incredible power…and the certain knowledge that it’ll burn through them like wildfire. They have six months to live, maximum. If you’re staring down life in prison, maybe that’s a good deal-especially if you’re Michael Van Zandt, desperate to reunite with the mad lover who forsook you after your Bonnie-and-Clyde crime spree. But that power? It’s surprisingly transferable. As each member of the Squad dies…the others get stronger. What would a hardened criminal do with that knowledge? Worse yet: What would a desperate, lovesick idiot do with it? One thing’s certain: this time the Suicide Squad’s bitten off more than it can chew. Win or lose-they all burn. Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell, the creative team behind the critically acclaimed John Constantine: Hellblazer, have been turned loose on the one DC title even more horrific and blackhearted than that one! We suggest you brace yourselves…
Why It’s Cool: We’ll have a full review of this excellent comic up tomorrow morning, but for now, let me just say that it uses the Suicide Squad to tackle some recent superhero tropes that have cropped up while at the same time giving the reader a sort of everyman in its world to identify with. Just an incredibly well-done comic, in every way.
Price: $6.99
Buy It Digitally: Suicide Squad Blaze #1

Others Receiving Votes

Apache Delivery Service #2
Avengers #53
Batgirls #3
Batman Urban Legends #12
Black Manta #6
Byllines in Blood #2
Detective Comics #1052
Devil’s Reign #4
I Am Batman #6
Moon Knight #8
New Mutants #24

New #1s and One-Shots

Draculina #1
Faithless III #1
Justice League Annual 2021 #1
Land of the Living Gods #1
Maestro World War M #1
Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology III #1
Rick & Morty vs. Dungeons and Dragons - Meeseeks Adventure #1 (One-Shot)
Strange Love Adventures #1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Best of Jennika
Vampirella Valentine’s Day Special #1 (One-Shot)

Trade Collections and New Graphic Novels of Note

Across A Field Of Starlight TP
Children of the Woods TP
Crema TP
Hellions by Zeb Wells Vol. 3 TP
House of Lost Horizons: A Sarah Jewell Mystery TP
The Flintstones Deluxe Edition HC
Legion of Super-Heroes Before the Darkness Vol. 2 HC
Memories From Limon GN
Sea of Sorrows TP
Stillwater by Zdarsky and Perez Vol. 2 TP
Wynd Book 2 Secret Of The Wings 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.