By Zack Quaintance — I am always caught by surprise by holidays, which consistently leaving me feeling more worn out than they do rejuvenated for reasons I struggle to understand. Anyway, point is I’m here, a little worse for the Thanksgiving wear. I am, however, totally ready to let you know about the books that our committee (of one) has selected as the Top Comics to Buy for December 4, 2019.

I’ll be honest — last week I struggled a bit with my stack of DC Comics. This week, however, it was far from a struggle. In fact, this was one of those rare weeks where both of the Big 2 had multiple books that absolutely blew me away...and it wasn’t even an Immortal Hulk week! From Justice League #37 to Batman Universe #6, and from Daredevil #14 to X-Men #3...it’s a surprisingly great week to care about superheroes. 

Let’s check it out!

Top Comics to Buy for December 4, 2019

*PICK OF THE WEEK*
Deathstroke #50
Writer: Priest
Artists: Carlo Pagulayan & Fernando Pasarin
Inkers: Jason Paz, Oclair Albert, Norm Rapmund, and Danny Miki
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Letterer: Willie Schubert
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99
It all comes down to this. With the fate of his family hanging in the balance, the real Slade Wilson must take on his most dangerous foe yet-himself!
Why It’s Cool: Well well well — who had Deathstroke as the best title of DC Rebirth? With this finale, I think the run has firmly cemented itself in that position. Joshuan Williamson’s Flash will win for longevity and Tom King’s Batman for conversation, but of the Rebirth runs, Deathstroke has just been the most consistent of those that ran past the first two years. All while giving the character a defining solo run to point to, essentially cementing him as an entity aside from his run-ins with the universe’s heroes. Overall, our committee (of one) has just loved the complexity of this story, the way that writer Priest has put so much trust in readers to connect dots while giving artists like Carlo Paulayan some really killer scenes to illustrate. This book will be missed.

Everything #4
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: I.N.J. Culbard
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
The bizarre mysteries that Lori has stumbled upon get more twisted as she's led deeper into the confounding truth. But she might not be able to trust anyone, and more than one mysterious power wants her on their side. Meanwhile, the darkness of the Everything store is spreading to Rick, Eberhard and all of Holland, Michigan . . . and it's getting more sinister by the second.
Why It’s Cool: Writer Christopher Cantwell is absolutely on fire, with all of his titles this year (from Doctor Doom to The Mask) finding their way into the must-read pile for our committee (of one). Of his current books, however, Everything stands out as the most layered and complex, the most consistently surprising. Every issue has been a real treat to unravel and guess at, illustrated by the keen mind of I.N.J. Culbard to bizarre perfection. If you’re tired of usual comics or feel like the medium hasn’t really given you anything new to contemplate in a while, this is the book for you.

Ghosted in LA #6
Writer: Sina Grace
Artist: Siobhan Keenan w/Sina Grace
Colorist: Cathy Le
Letterer: DC Hopkins
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
It's never a good thing when your ex has a crush on your roommate. It's awkward enough that the part where Daphne's roommates are all ghosts isn't even the weirdest part of the situation. Daphne is about to learn that personal drama doesn't stop when your heart does.
Why It’s Cool: Ghosted in LA is a tough comic to describe to those who haven’t read it. It’s a story set at a college...but it’s also a story with a protagonist who is mostly spurning that college to hang out with a mansion filled with ghosts somewhere in LA. Meanwhile, it’s a story about LA...but it’s also a story about LA that avoids the low-hanging fruit of LA stories like examining Instagram culture, celebrity (although there is a bit of that) and valuing style over substance. That’s all a big part of what I like about it — Ghosted in LA is a comic that can’t be put in a box. Compulsively readable and always interesting, this is as a very clever book.

Lois Lane #6
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Mike Perkins
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Spinning out of the shocking last issues of Event Leviathan, Lois struggles to recover from a tragedy that shakes her to the core. Surrounded by her friends and family, the usually stoic reporter tries to rebound as she continues to chase a story that could alter the DC Universe forever.
Why It’s Cool: This has been one of the quieter new comics for DC this year, but writer Greg Rucka, artist Mike Perkins, and colorist Gabe Eltaeb are doing outstanding work on Lois Lane, a 12-issue maxi-series that is timely in the best way. What makes this series such a compelling read are two essential qualities. The first is something Rucka has long excelled at — giving his characters real world motivations and emotions. Rucka is the rare writer who works in superheroes in a way that doesn’t feel outsized or contrived. The other thing making this series so good is the richness of the metaphors within about the role of journalists in our current world. Rucka has clearly done his homework about what it’s like to be a member of the press, and this is reflected in the little details about the job found frequently in this comic. 

X-Men #3
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Inker: Gerry Alanguilan
Colorist: Sunny Gho
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
EARTH'S MOST POWERFUL! CYCLOPS STORMS THE SAVAGE LAND!
The most powerful heroes of the dominant species on the planet, the X-Men rise to protect the world against any threat. From a new foe in the Savage Land to an old nemesis' surprising return...
Why It’s Cool: House of X / Powers of X  basically delivered everything I’ve been looking for from an X-Men reinvigoration for many years, making new ongoing books like X-Men possible. What’s this title about? Well, I suppose it’s sort of the main X-Men comic, to the extent that this new status quo even has one, but through two issues so far it’s largely been about Cyclops, who is a character I’ve followed for a very long while. What’s really surprised me though is just how fun this title has been to read. Writer Jonathan Hickman and co. seem to have correctly realized that the X-Men had become a bit grim and self-serious (something I couldn’t really see from the inside or outside of the fandom), and they’re remedying it by giving us clever moments between these characters while pushing the whole concept forward in really entertaining ways. There’s not much else I can ask for here, really.

New #1s and One-Shots

• 20XX #1

• Annihilation Scourge Fantastic Four #1

• Annihilation Scourge Nova #1

• Butcher of Paris #1

• Conan Serpent War #1

• Ghost Rider 2099 One-Shot

• Infected Deathbringer #1

• James Bond Vol. 3 #1

• Kill Whitey Donovan #1

• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

• New Year’s Evil #1

• Over The Ropes #1

• Thor The Worthy One-Shot

• Vampironica New Blood #1

• Venom 2099 One-Shot

Others Receiving Votes

• Archie #709

• Batman Universe #6

• Batman #84

• Collapser #6

• Daredevil #14

• Die #10

• Doctor Doom #3

• Green Lantern Blackstars #2

• Justice League #37

• Marauders #3

• Midnight Vista #4

• Red Sonja #11

• Ruby Falls #3

• Spider-Man Venom Double Trouble #2

• Usagi Yojimbo #7

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.