By Zack Quaintance — I love it when a great series lands on an absolutely perfect note, and that’s what we get this week from the headliner for the Top Comics to Buy for June 16, 2021 — Resonant #10. This book has just been fantastic, and we couldn’t ask for a better finale. But that’s not all! The rest of the list this week is quite strong as well.

Check out our full set of recommendations below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for June 16, 2021

PICK OF THE WEEK
Resonant #10
Writer: David Andry
Artist: Skylar Patridge
Colorist: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Publisher: Vault Comics
The climax of the second arc! Paxton attempts to escape the Spiral, desperate to get back to his children, but his friend and recent lover, Claire, stands in his way. Bec, in the clutches of Preacher, discovers that her fight to take back the cabin has become a struggle for her family’s survival!
Why It’s Cool: I liked Resonant a lot during its first arc, but with the addition of artist Skylar Patridge for the second arc, the book has just hit a whole new level of excellence. It’s not just the art though. The plot in the first volume set up a lot of really interesting circumstances, and now this new set of issues has done a fantastic job knocking it all down. If you haven’t been reading this book, I highly recommend getting both trades.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Resonant #10

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #3
Writer: Ram V.
Artist: Filipe Andrade
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
More years have passed when Laila Starr, the now-mortal reincarnation of the avatar of Death, once again crosses paths with the future creator of immortality.
This time at a party where the young man will have a life-altering experience that will shape him for years to come. Will Laila change his path in this one night, or the other way around?
Why It’s Cool: We were downright honored to have an exclusive preview of this book a couple weeks back, and with good reason — The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is one of the breakout monthly comics hits of the year, featuring as it does an interesting setting, an ethereal-yet-grounded concept, and a fearlessness that enables the creative team to change not only the tone but the book’s thematic interests from issue to issue. Simply put, this issue — like those in this series that have come before it — is a must read.
Price: $3.99
More Info: The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #3

Planet-Size X-Men #1
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Pepe Larraz
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
THEY CAME TO SLAY! The HELLFIRE GALA rages on, but bigger things are afoot a world away. Make no mistake – this is an X-Men book drawn by superstar artist Pepe Larraz. It is absolutely the most important issue of the month.
Why It’s Cool: There’s a lot of X-Men comics coming out every month (what’s new), and this month they’re all focused around a singular event — the Hellfire Gala. This extra-sized one-shot comic falls within that, and that’s all fine. But what makes this comic feel all the more special is that it’s being illustrated by Pepe Larraz, one of the artists who worked on House of X/Powers of X. The name is also a cool one, playing on the whole classic Giant-Size X-Men nomenclature.
Price: $4.99
More Info: Planet-Size X-Men #1

Represent! Issue One
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Colorists: Various
Letterers: Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
New voices present relevant, topical visions of social change and personal histories, some true-to-life while others are semi-fictionalized accounts of real experiences. All have one thing in common-innovative styles and compelling stories which examine how our culture builds understanding, tracing society's arc toward justice as we evolve in pursuit of a more just and compassionate world. Includes talent spotlights. Jules, a Black teenager, is given a pair of old binoculars as he heads out for a morning of birdwatching in Central Park. He soon learns the binoculars show him a lot more than birds, and maybe they keep him safe, too. Jesse Holland's Mississippi farm has been in his family since their first ancestor was freed from slavery-tended by his grandfather and his father before him. But as Jesse grows into a man, he's unsure if a patch of land in the Piney Woods and a life of tilling soil is his true destiny. But destiny can mean so much more than dirt and a tractor...Lanice's passion for cooking and desire for a career in the culinary arts are challenged by the source of her inspiration-her father-who is concerned about his only daughter working in a kitchen, like so many Black Americans before her. This and many more!
Why It’s Cool: I’ve been reading this series as it has come out in digital-first format, and friends? This is one of the best series in comics, featuring as it does very personal stories around social change, racial justice, and a number of other timely issues. These are really moving comics, and hopefully now that they’re getting an anthology print release, more folks will check them out.
Price: $9.99
More Info: Represent!

Ultramega #4
Writer: James Harren
Artist: James Harren
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics - Skybound
Finally, a new Ultramega is anointed! But with great power comes incredible horror and violence. It’s Ultramega vs Kaiju King for the future of humanity!
This issue of visionary creator JAMES HARREN’s ULTRAMEGA contains 44 pages of story.
Why It’s Cool: Every single over-sized issue in this series so far has been an absolute banger, and this one promises to be especially pivotal, making good as it does on a promise made in the first issue — finally, a new ultramega (a kaiju fighting champion) will be anointed. If the past issues here are any indication, this one will be filled with wild fearless plot twists and body horror.
Price: $7.99
More Info: Ultramega #4

Others Receiving Votes

Catwoman #32
Grendel: Devil’s Odyssey #7
Heroes Reborn #7
Home #3
The House of Lost Horizons: A Sarah Jewell Mystery #2
Moonshine #26
New Mutants #19
Nightwing #81
Project Patron #3
The Silver Coin #3
Stillwater #8
Superman Red and Blue #4
Time Before Time #2
Usagi Yojimbo #20

New #1s and One-Shots

Captain America Annual #1
Compass #1
Demon Days: Mariko #1
Heroes Reborn: Weapon X and Final Fight #1
Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem #1
Norse Mythology II #1
Save Yourself #1
Seven Swords #1
Static: Season One #1
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1

Trade Collections and Graphic Novels of Note

Absolute Swamp Thing by Alan Moore HC, Vol. 3
Batman HC, Vol. 3: Ghost Stories
Future State: The Next Batman
Jim Lives: The Mystery of the Lead Singer of the Doors and the 27 Club
Kaiju Score, Vol. 1
Long Lost Prestige Magazine Edition
Madman Library Edition HC, Vol. 1
Resistance GN
Thor by Jason Aaron, Vol. 3
World of Black Hammer Library Edition HC, Vol. 3

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.