Top 10 Comics to Check Out in May 2023 

Look, comics aren’t cheap. With the average price of a comic hovering above $4, chances are you can’t get every comic. Here at Extremely Uncanny, we aim to provide you with a list of the 10 comics you should read for May 2023. Plus, some honorable mentions if you have a little extra money in your pocket. NOTE: All prices are listed in US Dollar amounts 

May brings us a lot of number 1s from the Big Two as DC continues with their Dawn of DC initiative and Marvel relaunches the Avengers into a new era.  

Avengers #1  

Jed McKay has been a rising talent in the comic industry. His Black Cat has received high praise along with his Moon Knight run. I personally enjoyed his stint on the Magic the Gathering books from Boom! I rarely pull Avengers comics, but I am curious about this.   

Edge of the Spider-verse #1 

This anthology title has Zander Canon on it. If you have not read Cannon’s Kaijumax, you should do yourself a favor and check that out. Anyway, between him and Karla Pacheco (Spider-Woman) you have yourself a pretty solid issue of an anthology series. I may not have kept up with any of the recent Spider-verse stuff, but this seems like a fun story to pick up cold.  

Fantastic Four #7 

Ryan North’s Fantastic Four has been one of the best books Marvel has been putting out for the better part of the year. If you haven’t checked out the series, do so. This issue is the 700^th issue of Marvel’s first family and it doesn’t cost 10 bucks! That alone is impressive. This promises to be a good jumping on point and I highly recommend it.  

Titans #1 

While I am indifferent to Tom Taylor, the Titans are a team that always has my attention. DC has struggled over the past couple decades to figure out what to exactly do with the Titans. The decision to take the Justice League’s role as the flagship team is a bold one, I appreciate that.  The question will always be “How long will this last?” but another year without the Justice League would be fine by me.  

Cyborg #1 

This isn’t Cyborg’s first stint into a solo series but this one definitely feels fresh. Vic gets a new look regarding not just his cybernetics, but his actual clothes! As a child of the 90’s I always appreciate giving a superhero a nice jacket. The story is promising and a break from the usual Cyborg story of “Man or Machine?” 

Superman #4 

Josh Williamson’s new Superman run has been a blast so far and this issue is the start of a new arc. If you missed out on the first few issues, jump on this one ASAP. As for the issue, its kryptonite story and those are often fun. Williamson’s push for more Superman villains is a welcomed sight. Plus, Campbell’s art is positively dynamic.  

Peacemaker Tries Hard #1 

Nice to see DC cash in on the success of the Peacemaker show by exploring similar tones in the comic. Kyle Starks has a knack for action and emotional beats. The previews make me excited to check this one out. Added bonus being a DC Black Label format book. I am a sucker for that wide format.

Local Man #4 

I am not reading much Image these days, but Local Man has really resonated with me. Tim Seely and Tony Fleecs use the 90’s image to tell an interesting story of a failed superhero trying to just go back home and do good. It is a clever comic and one I look forward to reading each month. The stories use of two comics in one like the old Image flip books (ala Youngbloods #1) is inspired and makes this comic a nostalgia trip that harnesses the gimmicks of the time to tell an overall story.  

TMNT VS Street Fighter #1 

Paul Allor’s TMNT work is some of my favorite comics and he returns to deliver a story that promises to be fun. IT’S A TOURNAMENT ARC!! Ninja Turtles versus Street Fighter characters is going to be action packed, and Allor and Menel are sure to deliver.

Barbaric: Queen of Swords #1 

The first Barbaric spin-off and one that looks to be just as delightfully violent and witty. This promises to be a good jumping on point for Barbaric and I must agree. The Barbaric comic series are some of my favorites and I am excited to see the world broaden even more.  

Honorable mentions: 

Hey, let’s say you have a bit more time and money, you should check these comics, as well.

Shazam! #1 

Mark Waid continues his DC streak with Dan Mora with the Mightiest Mortal, The Captain! OK annoying naming conventions aside, Waid and Mora have delivered some of the best comics from DC this past year. I am eager to check out this new run on the character.  

Batman #135/#900 

Chip Zdarsky’s Batman run has been interesting. It has a lot of the energy of Morrison’s run with the prominent use of Batman of Zur-en-Arrh! But also playing on the value of Batman. The main Batman titles are strong as of late, but most may find the action of Batman preferable to the supernatural intrigue of Detective (cowards, I say). Plus, this is Batman’s big anniversary issue with #900. That’s no small feat.  

The Vigil #1 

Ram V is one of my favorite writers that only a few are talking about. His work on Aquaman Andromeda and Detective Comics has been some of my favorite unsettling comics of the past year.  The Vigil team has been in Lazarus Planet and Ram V’s Detective, but they get their own miniseries. An anti-military angle team is a nice breath of fresh air in the increasingly jingoistic superhuman world.  

X-men Red #11 

Immortal X-men #11  

Sins of Sinister has wrapped and the island nation of Krakoa is setting up for the Fall of X. I set out Sins, but Red and Immortal are some of the best comics coming from the X-line. Immortal will be dealing with the fall out of the Quiet Council’s action during Sins and Red will be setting up for the return of the one, the only :A: the mutant formerly known as Apocalypse. This is going to be hype.  

Fury #1 

Al Ewing doing a Nick Fury anniversary one-shot with some of the best artists in the business. I would buy it for Tom Reilly and Adam Kubert stories alone. Those two are some of my personal favorites.  The history of Fury in the Marvel Universe is a fun one and this promises to run the full gamut of the history of the two Nicks.

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