By Zack Quaintance — This week’s Top Comics to Buy for September 29, 2021 is heavy on the superhero books, but what can I say? Writer Jonathan Hickman starts to wrap-up his time on X-Men, while writer Gene Luen Yang does the same on DC Comics’ Batman / Superman title. Meanwhile, there’s a new Vault Comics book (always an event) and the end of Die, a beloved Image Comics title.

You can check out all these picks, as well as why we like them, below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for September 29, 2021

PICK OF THE WEEK
Inferno #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Valerio Schitti
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
THE CULMINATION OF JONATHAN HICKMAN’S X-MEN BEGINS HERE! “There will be an island—not the first, but the last…” Promises were made and broken. The rulers of Krakoa have been playing a dangerous game with a dangerous woman, and they are about to see how badly that can burn them. Mastermind of the X-Men JONATHAN HICKMAN brings his plans to a head, joined by an incredible lineup of artists beginning with VALERIO SCHITI… as one woman follows through on her promise to burn the nation of Krakoa to the ground.
Why It’s Cool: Did you like House of X/Powers of X? Of course you did. Well, now writer Jonathan Hickman is back with a four-part series that promises in part to address some of the plot building blocks from that series. While the Krakoa Era will continue past this, it’s a must-read series for those of us who have appreciated Hickman’s contributions most of all to these comics.
Price: $5.99
More Info: Krakoa #1

Batman/Superman #22
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Paul Pelletier
Inker: Keith Champagne
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Publisher: DC Comics
SERIES FINALE! Mr. Mxyzptlk resurrecting Calendar Man from his death during A-Day is causing some reality-rattling consequences. If Superman and Batman are going to prevent a fifth-dimensional god-being from compartmentalizing all of existence, they’re going to need to turn to some unlikely allies.
Why It’s Cool: I have absolutely loved writer Gene Lune Yang’s run on Batman / Superman, the bulk of which has been illustrated by Ivan Reis. This issue is the finale, and it’s more like a coda. But it’s one of the best issues of the run. In his recent DC Comics work — including this book and The Terrifics (RIP) — Yang has had some interesting metafictional touches on the fringes. This issue, however, goes all in, and it’s an absolute blast. In fact, I recommend this comic even if you haven’t been keeping up with the rest of the run. It stands entirely on its own.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Batman / Superman #22

Deathstroke Inc. #1
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Howard Porter
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: DC Comics
After suffering too many losses, Slade Wilson decides it’s time for a change. When he’s enlisted to work with an ages-old secret organization called T.R.U.S.T. who want to take down the heavy-hitter villains, he’s all in. They’ll supply him with an all-new team and resources for his new mission into the depths of the weirdest parts of the DCU, including a new partner…Black Canary! Wait what?! Enjoy explosions, kick-ass action, and new outrageous adventures as DC’s meanest S.O.B. gets tangled up in a major mystery building in the shadows of the DCU.
Why It’s Cool: This is a pulpy madcap take on Deathstroke, and I’m all for it. It’s a high adventure comic that integrates pieces of Slade WIlson’s past rather than dwelling in them or making them the focus of the narrative…and it’s kind of refreshing? Black Canary being involved (I’m a huge Green Arrow mark) earns it extra points, too.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Deathstroke Inc. #1

Die #20
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Stephanie Hans
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Image Comics
"Bleed," Part Five
You can never go home, said Sol, way back in issue two. Let’s see if he was right.
Why It’s Cool: This issue marks the end of what is perhaps the single best comic (or story in any medium, really) about TTRPGs, which are by any metric having themselves a moment. What makes this comic truly memorable is that it’s not just about a TTRPG. I mean, it is, but it goes much much deeper than that, incorporating the history of these games, the reason players play them, and the deep psychological engagements that make the times we spend in these worlds so consequential for our larger existance. These 20 issues have also just been one hell of an engaging story.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Die #20

Human Remains #1
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Sally Cantirino
Colorist: Dearbhla Kelly
Letterer: AndWorld
Publisher: Vault Comics
Dax and Bisa love each other. But in this new and terrifying world, love is dangerous. Feeling anything is dangerous. Earth has a new and terrible invader—monsters that deprive us of the very feelings that make us human.
A shocking tale of pent-up emotions, perilously loud sex, and forced compsure in the face of unspeakable horror…from one of the most celebrated writers in comics, Peter Milligan (X-Force, Enigma, Shade, the Changing Man, Hellblazer) and breakout horror artist Sally Cantirino (I Walk With Monsters, The Final Girls).
Why It’s Cool: I was intrigued about this comic from the start because it’s Vault, one of my favorite publishers, but past that, the creative team was also a draw. Peter Milligan’s work is always interesting, and Sally Cantirino just got done with an absolutely breakout turn on another Vault title, I Walk With Monsters. As such, I was very eager to see what they would do together, and friends? This first issue would not disappoint.
Price: $3.99
More Info: Human Remains #1

Others Receiving Votes

• Action Comics #1035

• Adventureman #5

• Checkmate #4

• Department of Truth #13

• Detective Comics #1034

• Good Asian #5

• Groo Meets Tarzan #3

• Icon and Rocket Season One #3

• Justice League #68

• Miles Morales Spider-Man #30

• Out of Body #4

• Robin #6

• Superman ‘78 #2

• S.W.O.R.D. #8

• Usagi Yojimbo Dragon Bellow Conspiracy #4

New #1s and One-Shots

• 10 Years to Death One-Shot

• Batman Vs. Bigby: A Wolf in Gotham #1

• Children of the Plague #1

• Demons to Earth and Back #1

• Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Death #1

• Extreme Carnage Omega #1

• Firefly River Run #1

• Stranger Things - Tomb of Ybwen #1

• Transformers Halloween Special One-Shot #1

Trade Collections and New Graphic Novels

• After The Fall HC

• Autumnal TP

• Cable By Gerry Duggan Vol 2 TP

• Devils Red Bride TP

• Good Asian Vol. 1 TP

• HAHA - Sad Clown Stories TP

• Party & Prey Original Graphic Novel TP

• Reign Of X Vol 4 TP

• Shadow Service Vol 2 TP

• Verse Vol 1 Broken Half TP

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.