Another month in 2026 is in the books and that means it is time to select the Best Comic Books released in April! This was a month filled with a lot of quality releases. There was epic endings to major storylines and events to exciting several publishers working together on new crossovers. It was a month that was tough to keep your pull list from not piling up. With that in mind I’ve put together my list of ten comics that I consider the Best Comic Books released in April.
10) INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Colorist: Analisa Leoni
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #8 is a great example of how to build anticipation for a bigger story. This entire issue is about getting us closer to the big showdown between Battle Beast and Conquest. Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley do so by keeping things simple by leaning into the brutality of both combatants, particularly Battle Beast.
It really is the only way to do so with Battle Beast and Conquest. These aren’t the deepest of characters. They are two brutal and powerful characters that let their fists and weapons do the talking. Battle Beast thirst for finding the perfect powerful foe to give him a true challenge is just compelling to watch. Especially when you just see how he tears through others. That all builds greater excitement for the battle against Conquest that is around the corner.
9) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #17
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artists: Freddie E. Williams II and Fero Pe
Colorists: Andrew Dalhouse and Luis Antonio Delgado
Letterer: Shawn Lee
The way that Splinter was brought back to life has made all of the difference in making this a simple resurrection. Karai doing it the way she did has made things even more deeply personal between the Turtles and Foot Clan. The war between the two is no longer simply stopping the Foot Clan from the evil deeds they commit. The Turtles are fighting for the soul of their father.
This is best shown in the high-stakes, chaotic battle we see go down in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #17. There is no holding back from either side. But while the Turtles each have their own individual battles Gene Luen Yang, Freddie E. Williams II, and Fero Pe never lose sight of the team nature of this series. You always feel that Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo are fighting as a team. It creates even more investment in each of the fights and overall direction of this current storyline.
8) SORCERER SUPREME #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Bernard Chang
Colorist: Ruth Redmond
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Being the Sorcerer Supreme isn’t just about the massive power and resources it provides the title holder. It comes with a lot of responsibilities. Wanda Maximoff continues to deal with that fact in Sorcerer Supreme #5. This time around it is having to deal with Agatha’s connection with Vishanti while answering a call for help from Clea in a battle against Dread Dormammu.
Both these things highlight how larger than life things continue to be in the Sorcerer Supreme. The battle against Dread Dormammu is fantastic showcase of Scarlet Witch’s mastery over magic. Teaming up with Clea was a nice touch to show Wanda’s connection to the greater magical world. At the same time, we continue to build a bigger mystery around Agatha and Vishanti.
7) NIGHTWING #137
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Denys Cowan
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Francesco Segala
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Things have not been going the Batman Family’s way in the last year. That is especially true for Nightwing. After saving the city and everything turning around Dick Grayson’s life in Bludhaven has taken a dark turn. That is shown in Nightwing #137 as we really see how much the weight of a large part Bludhaven being destroyed is impacting Dick Grayson. He’s put it all on himself.
This is where having Batman have a guest appearance in Nightwing #137 be a massive highlight. Due to the pressures he is dealing with Nightwing isn’t in a state to put up with others, much less Batman after recent events. It put both Batman and Nightwing in a situation where the villain of this story could take advantage. While they ultimately find and defeat the sniper shooting people on Bludhaven’s bridge the cracks in both characters are shown. It leaves things in a spot where you are wondering how long Nightwing can hold himself together before breaking mentally and physically.
6) NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Sarah Gailey
Artist: Haining
Colorist: Rebecca Nalty
Letterer: Jodie Troutman
Neighborhood Watch #1 is a strong debut for BOOM! Studios newest series. Sarah Gailey and Haining do an excellent job at playing with your expectations from the moment this comic book starts. The chemistry between the cast early on has that typical sitcom vibe. But then things take a turn for the worst as the layers are pulled back in this tight nit community setting.
Once things take a turn you don’t feel that it is just to manufacture a twist. It is oddly in line with the characters that Gailey and Haining introduce us to. You believe that there was something off once something happens. This makes the lead character, Jill Hewett, a stronger linchpin to the story. You want to see what she uncovers along with the rest of the cast.
5) G.I. JOE #21
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
It has been almost two years since we last saw Scarlett, Storm Shadow, Jinx, and the Arashikage in the Energon Universe. G.I. JOE #21 brought these characters back, in their first appearance in this series, in spectacular fashion. Right away Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly do not skip a beat with where we were with Scarlett and the Arashikage. The way they structure this story immediately reminds you of the events of the Scarlett mini-series that preceded this G.I. JOE series.
What helps Scarlett and the Arashikage’s reintegration into the Energon Universe be so seamless is how Cobra factors into their narrative. We once again see why Cobra should be considered one of the most powerful forces in the Energon Universe. When they set their sights on something destruction is sure to follow. It is something the Arashikage learn here. In the process we have yet another strong sub-plot to strengthen the current direction of this G.I. JOE series.
4) ZATANNA #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer and Artist: Jamal Campbell
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Zatanna #1 wastes no time in addressing one of the biggest aspects about the character. That is, for all her amazing powers and adventures she’s been on, Zatanna’s status quo has not changed very much. She is the top magician in the DC Universe. While that is great, she’s not moved from that position.
Jamal Campbell aims to shake that up by exploring what’s the next stages of Zatanna’s development with her power set and magical status. In the process Campbell establishes multiple major threats within the magical realm of the DCU. By doing so Zatanna #1 shows incredible potential this series has to quickly become one of DC Comics best titles.
3) MARVEL/DC: SPIDER-MAN/SUPERMAN
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Geoff Johns, Joe Kelly, Jeph Loeb, Brad Meltzer, Stephanie Phillips, Louise Simonson, and Dan Slott
Artists: Jim Cheung, Russell Dauterman, Gary Frank, Pepe Larraz, Marcos Martin, Todd Nauck, Phil Noto, Sara Pichelli, and Humberto Ramos
Colorists: Matthew Wilson, Muntsa Vicente, Edgar Delgado, Brad Anderson, Rachelle Rosenberg, Federico Blee, and Jay David Ramos
Letterers: Clayton Cowles and Joe Caramagna
Marvel Comics stepped up the plate and made sure that it was back-to-back home runs with their Spider-Man/Superman crossover. They made sure of that by starting strong with a Spider-Man and Superman story by Brad Meltzer and Pepe Larraz. The story does an excellent job at why Spider-Man and Superman can relate to one another. It is not just about them being great heroes. They connect on a personal level thanks to their background. It made their story be one that continues to show why they would be friends in and out of the superhero life.
That set the tone for all the other stories in Spider-Man/Superman. Each story connection that strong connection these two one-shots have shown the Spider-Man and Superman characters have with one another. Switching things up by including more characters from not just the Spider-Man and Superman Family but the rest of the Marvel and DC Universe was well done. Every creative team maximizes their page count to tell fun and engaging stories.
2) ABSOLUTE BATMAN #19
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
From the moment you open Absolute Batman #19 there is this aura of unpredictability to it. There is this constant uncertainty of where the story is going. This works to the strengths of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta as they show how much every decision made matters. Its not just decisions made by Absolute Bruce Wayne, it’s the entire cast we’ve been reading about.
With there being so much unpredictability going on Absolute Batman #19 was the perfect issue to introduce multiple classic Batman characters. The first is Absolute Scarecrow, who comes off as a different type of psychological horror villain while maintaining classic elements. The things he does has a major impact for the future of many characters. Which makes the debut of the Absolute Robins stand out even more. The way they are positioned leaves you wonder if Absolute Batman can overcome everything being thrown his way.
1) ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #19
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey
Absolute Wonder Woman #19 highlights what makes Diana of the Wild Isle so special in the Absolute Universe. As revealed by Aphrodite, there is a reason why Diana of the Wild Isle was able to integrate herself into the Absolute Universe in the way she did. There is more at play that shows us why spending as much time on Diana’s training is so key to understanding her character and what goes on in this series.
Case in point the way she uses her Troika lasso to save Zatara. While Troika’s powers are incredible, they come at great risk. That risk opens the opportunity to not just explore Diana’s character but also Absolute Zatanna. In the process Absolute Veronica Cale is forced to put all her cards on the table in a last-ditch effort to destroy Diana of the Wild Isle. It all comes together to once again show why Absolute Wonder Woman is the best comic book DC Comics is publishing right now.
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