By Zack Quaintance — Jeez, this year has somehow really flown by, and here we are looking for our first set of top comics to buy for September 1, 2021. And it’s a good set, indeed, featuring a varied and excellent set of comics from several different publishers. The best current Batman and Superman run comes to a close, as does one of 2021’s best creator-owned comics. We also get a stunning graphic novel debut and more.

Check out all our picks below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for September 1, 2021

PICK OF THE WEEK
Eighty Days
Writer/Artist: A.C. Esguerra
Publisher: BOOM! Studios - Archaia
"Map A Course, Arrive Safe Home. That's The Measure Of Your Achievement." A pilot wants nothing more than to fly. Or so he thought, until he crosses paths with a mysterious thief whose tricks draw him into unchartered territory and new adventure. In a life where the truth changes as quickly as clouds in the sky, the pilot must decide for himself what freedom really means. Award-winning cartoonist A.C. Esguerra presents an unforgettable love letter to flight, the quest for freedom and the greatest adventure of all -- love.
Why It’s Cool: We have been anxiously awaiting the release of A.C. Esguerra’s debut graphic novel, Eighty Days, for some time, basically ever since BOOM! Studios was kind enough to give us an exclusive opportunity to unveil a set of the book’s preview pages back in July. Now that the book is here, it does not disappoint. It’s a long and substantial graphic novel, played out with Esguerra’s wonderful ethereal style of cartooning. It’s a book that is somewhat about war, but more so about the emotional core of pilots falling in love. It’s a great book, one you will easily find yourself lost within, and it gets our strong recommendation this week.
Price: $29.99
More Info: Eighty Days

Batman/Superman Annual 2021 #1
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artists: Francesco Fancavilla and Paul Pelletier
Inks: Mick Gay
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Publisher: DC Comics
The epic epilogue to the Archive of Worlds saga! In his pursuit of perfection, the godlike Auteur.io sought to create and destroy worlds with the wave of a hand and a flair for the dramatic. But against all odds...the World of the Knight and the World of Tomorrow live on! The Batman of the noir-tinged streets of Gotham City finds himself stranded in the sunny, retro-futurist World of Tomorrow-and Superman discovers himself in the opposite predicament. With their home worlds in decay and only one chance to save them, the key to preserving their very existence is but the flip of a coin. Or the flip of this book! This special flip book is two times the story, with one full comic on one side and one full comic on the other, meeting in the middle! Follow Superman’s journey on one side of this epic flip book annual, and turn the adventure over to crusade with the Batman and his trusty sidekick, Robin!
Why It’s Cool: I have absolutely loved Gene Luen Yang and Ivan Reis’ run on Batman / Superman, a story that blends elements of the Golden Age titular heroes with new touches from the wider DC Multiverse, and while that story has now (sadly!) come to an end, we get a nice epilogue here. The first half of the book, which is illustrated by Francesco Francavilla, is especially well done.
Price: $5.99
More Info: Batman/Superman Annual 2021 #1

Hellions #15
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Roge Antonio
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Publisher: Marvel Comics
SINISTER SECRETS! PSYLOCKE’s secret deal with MR. SINISTER will cause a schism within the HELLIONS! Also, TARN THE UNCARING wants his stuff back!
Why It’s Cool: Look, I’m not going to lie — the confirmation lately that Jonathan Hickman has in fact left the X-Men comics he helped overhaul and re-invigorate as recently as two years ago is a huge bummer. Marvel can spin it however they like (obviously!), but this feels like an instance of a visionary writer losing interest and getting lured away by more freedom/a bigger paycheck, leaving a major project that he started unfinished. That said, I remain ever committed to Hellions, one of the best comics about persevering in the face of dysfunctional circumstances and failures that we have. I love it, from the sense of humor to the oddball choice of characters, and even if I’m out now on most of the X-Line, I’ll be continuing with this one for as long as it exists.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Hellions #15

Many Deaths of Laila Starr #5
Writer: Ram V.
Artist: Felipe Andrade
Color Assists: Ines Amaro
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
What will Laila Starr do when she's finally given the chance to resume the mantle of Death?
Finding herself back in the world, Laila searches out Darius and discovers that for the first time she will be witnessing the death of someone close to her.
When they are both given a chance at immortality, their individual decisions lead to a surprising and touching series finale.
Why It’s Cool: This is easily one of the best new series of the year, an exploration of life and death and mythology in Mumbai, and it’s all been rendered absolutely beautifully by artist Felipe Andrade. This is also one of those wonderful monthly comics that has fully evolved and leveled up with each subsequent issue, growing into something wholly new and interesting as compared to where the story started, which was already a great place to begin with.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Many Deaths of Laila Starr #5

Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #4
Writer: Mark Russell
Layouts: Richard Pace
Finishes: Leonard Kirk
Colorist: Andy Troy
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
From Renegade Game Studio.It's Jesus to the rescue when a bureaucracy menaces Sunstar's grandmother; and millions of lives are threatened by a villain Sunstar bullied in high school. PLUS: new AHOY prose stories & pictures.
Why It’s Cool: This is without question one of those comics that I feel lucky exists, and not only that but we’re now well into the second arc of this book, a poignant and hilarious satire that lives at the intersection of superheroics and Christianity. This is truly a singular comic, and every issue has been absolutely fantastic, powered as they are by writer Mark Russell’s thoughtful ideas and fun dialogue. Love this series.
Price: $3.99

Others Receiving Votes

Black Hammer Reborn #3
Commanders in Crisis #12
Groo Meets Tarzan #2
Infinite Frontier #5
The Lot #3
Static Season One #3

New #1s and One-Shots

Almost American #1
Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
Batman Fear State Alpha #1
Beauty All Good Things #1
Dark Ages #1
Demon Days Cursed Web #1
Harley Quinn Annual 2021 #1
Last Annihhilation Wiccan and Hulking #1
Midnighter Annual 2021 #1
Monster Kill Squad #1
Pyrate Queen #1
Red Sonja #1
Taarna Elements #1
Telepaths #1

Trade Collections and Graphic Novels of Note

EC Archives Vault of Horror Vol. 1 TP
Eternals (2021) Vol 1 Only Death Is Eternal TP
Marauders By Gerry Duggan Vol 1 HC
Providence Compendium TP
Space Bastards Vol 1 Tooth & Mail TP
Thor & Loki Double Trouble GN

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.