This week’s list of Top Comics to Buy for November 13 has some absolutely huge books on it. Absolute Batman #2 continues what might be the single most talked about comic of the year, while G.I. Joe #1 further builds out the Energon Universe, one of the other buzziest projects in 2024 comics, giving it a second tentpole ongoing to go along with Transformers. Add to that a conclusion of a gorgeous and literary miniseries with Helen of Wyndhorn #6and, well, that’s a great week. You can find my favorites along with the usual release lists below…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for November 13

Absolute Batman #2
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
Batman was born out of violence – a horrible tragedy that shaped the trajectory of his future. But when a vigilant MI6 agent starts tracking the lonely life of Bruce Wayne, he discovers the interconnectivity between a hero’s shell life and the many layers of the Black Mask Gang. It’s Batman versus Alfred Pennyworth!
Why It’s Cool: With the creation of an entire new Batman origin out of the way, this second issue gets to the business of really settling into our story — and it’s great. I think it’s a perfect follow-up to a strong first issue, and the art continues to be incredible.
Price: $4.99

PI Skull #1
Writer/Artist/Colorist: Marco Finnegan
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Publisher: Oni Press
In 1925, Juan Calavera died a hero. After a career spent outside the law defending the Chicano neighborhoods where the police refused to operate, he earned a reputation for fearlessness. . . and a gunshot in the stomach. Now, five years later, on Dia de los Muertos, his restless spirit has been summoned from the grave to help a desperate former colleague unravel a kidnapping all too close to home. With only days to solve the case before he is called back to the underworld, Calavera reveals the identity of the masked human trafficker known as La Fantasma before tragedy strikes again. . . and solve the mystery of his own murder in the process?
Why It’s Cool: This book has so many great ingredients — hard-boiled noir, the macabre, Chicano history — and it brings them together into one excellent, action-packed comic story. This first issue had a lot of setup to do, and it does it well, leaving me very excited for the rest of this miniseries.
Price: $4.99

G.I. Joe #1
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics – Skybound
Conrad Hauser, Codename DUKE, has assembled a special force known as GI Joe to battle the rising power of the mysterious COBRA in the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons’ arrival on Earth. But the enigmatic Cobra Commander has unleashed the power of Energon like never before! Featuring many familiar faces and the first appearance of an all new character, this is the comic that will change everything you think you know about GI Joe…
Why It’s Cool: The other pillar of the Energon Universe arrives today with a new GI Joe #1 that’s been in the making since the duke miniseries started nearly an entire year ago. And it’s fantastic. It’s sort of a heist/anti-heist story with Joes on one side and Cobra on the other, and the tension in this issue is great. If you’ve been following the GI Joe character miniseries, they all come together here, but the book is also accessible to new readers, too.
Price: $4.99

Helen of Wyndhorn #6
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Bilquis Evely
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Helen relives her final adventures in the fantasy world riding sharks like horses into the sunset and battling dangerous sea men as everything comes to a final conclusion in this hit series from Supergirl’s Tom King and Bilquis Evely.
Why It’s Cool: This book is a gorgeous, portal fantasy masterpiece, with well-written and complex familiar themes to go with absolutely stunning artwork. This is the second time this creative team has hit an absolute home run (the first being Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). Here’s hoping they’re already working on what comes next.
Price: $4.99

Ultimate X-Men #9
Writer/Artist: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Lightning collides as Maystorm and Surge finally confront each other! But when Surge is left weak and drained of his power, Maystorm has even more questions… And must investigate the mysterious cult Surge is part of and its relationship to the mutants of the Ultimate Universe!
Why It’s Cool: I really appreciate the patient, character-driven approach this book has taken to establishing mutants within this new Ultimate Universe. It’s making for a great story, as well as an interesting contrast with how you might otherwise expect X-Men to function in a shared world like this. This particular issue also has some absolutely excellent artwork, as each issue of the book so far has.
Price: $4.99