By Zack Quaintance — August, obviously, can often feel like the dregs of summer. I think this is true in comics as well. The big summer events are usually ended or ending, delayed like all get out, or giving way to announcements about the new comics that will spin out of whatever craziness just happened. It is, in other words, not always fertile ground for interesting new books.

This year, however, August stands in direct defiance of that, and the big reason why is because of a new wave of absolutely killer creator-owned titles. In fact, our entire Top 5 New #1 Comics for August 2019 are all creator-owned, with nary a superhero or licensed property in site. We have a nice diversity of publishers too, including BOOM!, Dark Horse, Image, and — the publisher of the hour for a while now — Vault.  

With such a good month waiting, let’s quit this messing around and get to it!

Quick Hits

Absolute Carnage #1 was a pretty good start to a new event, but I’m still hungover from War of the Realms and actively drinking with House of X/Powers of X. I’m going to read the main book here—as well as associated titles I’m already into like Amazing Spider-Man and Venom—but I’m not up for any further stories here. 

Meanwhile at the other publisher, Batman Superman #1 is very pretty, marking as it does artist David Marquez’s DC debut. Batman Who Laughs fatigue is a real thing, but not real enough for me to skip a comic that looks this damn good. 

Speaking of good-looking art, happy to see the uber-talented Nick Robles at work on another death-heavy comic with Valiant’s Doctor Mirage #1. 

Another favorite of ours, Juan Ferreyra, launched a new mini-series with Marvel’s Punisher Kill Krew #1. Look, I’m not major fan of this premise—something something, Punisher needs even more revenge—but I will buy and read whatever Juan does because I like his work that much.   

I thought Juan Doe’s Bad Reception #1 was an interesting and experimental book, as I wrote in my review. 

I also wrote a review of the slap-sticky as all get out Pretty Violent #1, but I didn’t end up publishing it because I feel like I need more issues to see if there’s more to this book that an uncouth and clumsy main character being rude.

Elsewhere in our August reviews, Necromancer’s Map #1 did a good job of reeling in Jarred A. Luján while Alex Batts LOVED Tommy Gun Wizards #1.

Finally, I don’t know the Death-Defying Devil character at all, but I liked Gail Simone and Walter Geovani’s collaboration toward the end of Clean Room, so I’m giving this book a shot too. 

Best New #1 Comics August 2019

In a perhaps fitting bit of business, we’ve reviewed all five of this month’s top choices! You can find them below with a quick summary of our thoughts and a link to the reviews...

Berserker Unbound #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr.
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Berserker Unbound #1 is great fun. It packs unique, bombastic artwork and a plot that is certainly Lemire-esque. The book hooks you, keeps you, and sets up a great series—that’s a damn good first outing. CLICK HERE for the full review.

Coffin Bound #1
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Dani
Colorist: Brad Simpson
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Image Comics
Coffin Bound is a highly literary, nihilistic tryst through an incredibly stylish fantasy world. All of the creators involved are doing top-tier work, building an impressively singular story with this comic. CLICK HERE for the full review.

The Mall #1
Writers: Michael Moreci & Gary Dauberman
Artist: Zak Hartong
Colorist: Addison Duke
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
Powered by a mix of claustrophobia, tribalism, and commentary on consumerist culture, The Mall #1 is a genre-defying and entertainingly-tense take on the end of the world. Another hit from Vault Comics. CLICK HERE for the full review.

Once and Future #1
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Gillen and Mora have something very, very special on their hands and I am absolutely dying to already read issue two. Do yourself a favor and put this on your pull list IMMEDIATELY. CLICK HERE for the full review!

White Trees #1
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Kris Anka
Colorist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Image Comics
A gorgeous and thematically-understated comic that lives in the relationships between its characters, White Trees #1 is a welcome addition to the industry’s current slate of fantasy options. 

Read more great comics best of lists 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.