This week’s Top Comics to Buy for February 28 is a bit of an oddity, in that there are no new #1 issues in the picks section. Keeping up with weekly comics releases frequently means trying new starts, but this week, there’s just not a whole lot getting underway. Fortunately, the mid-run stuff is all fantastic. You can find my recommendations below…
Oh, and one more recommendation…If you like my weekly comics picks, I’ve got a new project coming soon to Kickstarter soon. It’s going to be great fun, and you can go here and hit NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH to learn more, thanks!
Top Comics to Buy for February 28, 2024
Avengers Twilight #3
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Daniel Acuna
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Off the shores of New York City sits THE RAFT, a government facility full of secrets and danger! Can CAPTAIN AMERICA infiltrate it before the new IRON MAN gives him the same bulk fate as TONY STARK?
Why It’s Cool: I’m a sucker for these sort of future dystopia superhero stories when they’re done well and given weight, and this one is certainly that. It’s a future-looking story, inherently, but it also feels very much of our time, extrapolating the modern ideas around superheroes into something that raises questions. It’s a very good-looking comic.
Price: $4.99
Hack/Slash – Back to School #3
Writer/Artist: Zoe Thorogood
Color Assists: Sarah Mitrache
Publisher: Image Comics
Cassie and the Agency discover a dangerous slasher, responsible for making kids murder their own families after spending too long online! Cassie assumes it’s brainwashing, which she must be immune to, right? Only stupid people get brainwashed…
Why It’s Cool: This book remains one of the most stylish in all of monthly comics, and this issue is no exception, blending stunning monster of the week horror with…well, strip clubs. It’s great fun, and an electric, chaotic (complimentary) read from start to finish.
Price: $3.99
Ice Cream Man #38
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Good Old Neon
Publisher: Image Comics
There seems to be something wrong with Gary No. 38…
Why It’s Cool: One of the many things that continues to impress about Ice Cream Man is the versatility of the series, the way it can careen between horror and poignancy and issues that riff on Dr. Seuss to superhero parodies. This week’s issue is a stunner, feeling like a bit of a riff on the short story writer, George Saunders, particularly with its scripting and concept. But the book becomes something very much its own, very recognizably Ice Cream Man. And it’s great.
Price: $3.99
Rare Flavors #4
Writer: Ram V
Artist: Filipe Andrade
Color Assists: Ines Amaro
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
As Rubin and Mo continue their travels and the work on their documentary, a Dhabha cook on a highway to Mumbai provides a delicious look into the depth in simplicity, and how the most mundane thing can become complex through effort.
Why It’s Cool: This book has just been an absolute treat. Fittingly, a total joy to devour. This issue really realizes the vision of the book, blending horror and the culinary arts and mythos into a fantastic and visually stunning narrative.
Price: $3.99
Ribbon Queen #8
Writer: Garth Ennis
Penciler: Jacen Burrows
Inker: Guillermo Ortego
Colorist: Dan Brown
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: AWA Studios
It’s all been leading to this! In this concluding issue, Detective Amy Sun has a final showdown against the mysterious Geary, who has wreaked his own brand of grisly havoc since coming on the scene and now intends to eliminate The Ribbon Queen by any means necessary. Who will survive to bury the dead?
Why It’s Cool: This horror-laden police procedural that spans time has been excellent from the start, and this week it absolutely sticks the landing. Don’t miss out on this great book, an easy addition to the top comics to buy for February 28.
Price: $3.99
Others Receiving Votes
Canary #3- Conan The Barbarian #8
- Duke #3
- The Flash #6
- Green Arrow #9
- Jill and the Killers #2
- The Nasty #7
- Phantom Road #9
- Punisher #4
- Slow Burn #5
New #1s and One-Shots
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Soleky’s Journey #1- Fire & Ice – Teegra #1 (one-shot)
- Giant-Size Fantastic Four #1 (one-shot)
- Grim – Pen & Ink #1
- Savage Sword of Conan #1
- Spider-Punk Arms Race #1
- What If – Venom #1
- Women of Marvel #1 (one-shot)
Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
Absolute Dark Knight HC (2024 Edition)- Blood Oath TP
- Cold Ever After GN
- Crusader TP
- Curse TP
- Deadly Class Compendium TP
- Earthdivers Vol. 2 Ice Age TP
- EC – Vault of Horror Vol. 4 TP
- Hound OGN TP
- Lonesome Hunters – Wolf Child TP
- Moon Knight – City of the Dead TP
- Murder Inc. Vol. 3 – Jagger Rose TP
- Time Before Time Vol. 5 TP
- Ultimate Comics – Spider-Man – Death of Spider-Man HC
- Ultimate X-Men Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
- Zero Hour – Crisis in Time Omnibus HC (2024 Edition)
FOC Watch
Dick Tracy #1
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Release Date: April 24, 2024
Going to the shop this week? Here’s a quick pre-order recommendation … I had a chance to check out Dick Tracy #1, and I’m happy to report it’s everything I want from a new Dick Tracy comic. It’s a hard-boiled start to a new noir mystery, featuring the character, his signature qualities, and — most importantly to me — his adversaries. This issue is written by the team of Alex Segura and Michael Moreci, who bring a perfect no-nonsense staccato feeling to the script. And it’s illustrated by Geraldo Borges with colors by Mark Englert and letters by Jim Campbell. The comic looks great, really capturing the feel of a bygone era and ominous police mystery. I enjoyed the hell out of this comic, and highly recommend anyone with interest give this first issue a shot.
If you’re a publisher with books available for pre-order ahead of FOC before next week’s column, shoot them to [email protected] for consideration!
Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
