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September 30, 2026 · Summer

SYMH Hate Mail — Top 10, Week of September 29

THE GARAGE FLOOR · Top 10 · Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2026
// THE GARAGE FLOOR //

TUESDAY TOP 10

Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2026
Absolute Batman ruled the shop floor this week. Snyder and Dragotta’s gritty Gotham saga kept moving with issues 21 through 24 hitting the spot, plus a reprint of #1 for those still finding their footing. It’s a heavyweight week for Gotham. Below the Dark Knight, Infernal Hulk #1 and Amazing Spider-Man #1000 turned heads immediately. The march to Hulk War starts here, and Spider-Man faces Ravage in a milestone issue packed with dream-team creators. It’s a lot of heavy hitters to choose from.

The Top 10

Absolute Batman dominated, with Hulk, Spider-Man, and Barbara Gordon close behind.
01
Absolute Batman #24 Cover A Nick Dragotta
Absolute Batman #24. Snyder and Dragotta bring the self-warring saga to a head. Batman faces Batman in a battle for Gotham’s soul, where every person Bruce loves confronts their own demons. The art is sharp, the stakes are personal, and the ending lands hard.
02
Absolute Batman #21 Cover A Nick Dragotta Two Face
Absolute Batman #21. Scarecrow’s terror campaign in Arkham reaches a fever pitch. Friends become enemies and final forms are revealed in a story that completely upends the status quo. Dragotta’s visuals make every scare feel visceral and immediate.
03
Infernal Hulk Vs. Wolverine #1
Infernal Hulk Vs. Wolverine #1. The March to Hulk War kicks off with Wolverine going full lethal to save the X-Men. Johnson and Scharf deliver a gritty, high-stakes opening that pits the Marvel Universe’s deadliest weapon against a cosmic horror.
04
Absolute Batman #22 Cover A Nick Dragotta
Absolute Batman #22. Harley Quinn’s origin is laid bare as Batman faces ultimate defeat. The issue ties into the Robins’ story and Arkham’s secrets, with Dell Edera’s art adding a fresh, chaotic layer to Snyder’s dark Gotham tale.
05
Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Pepe Larraz Main Cover
Amazing Spider-Man #1000. A milestone issue featuring Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz. Spider-Man faces his greatest fear, Ravage, in a story that also honors the title’s history with contributions from Noah Hawley, Frank Miller, and Stuart Immonen.
06
Absolute Batman #1 Tenth Printing Cover A Nick Dragotta
Absolute Batman #1 (10th Printing). Back in print and still worth reading. Snyder and Dragotta’s reimagining strips Batman down to his essence without the mansion or money. This is the definitive entry point into their modern, gritty Gotham saga.
07
Absolute Batman #23 Cover A Nick Dragotta
Absolute Batman #23. Batman battles an unyielding enemy in himself and the Robins. A climactic showdown where dead characters signal a call for help, and hopelessness creeps in as alliances crumble. The tension here is palpable.
08
Barbara Gordon Breakout #1 Cover A Karl Kerschl
Barbara Gordon Breakout #1. Mariko Tamaki and Amancay Nahuelpan team up for a twisty tale where Barbara is hunted and imprisoned. Framed and outlawed, she must navigate a supermax prison where nothing is what it seems. A fresh, dangerous start.
09
Punisher Vs. Spider-Man #3
Punisher Vs. Spider-Man #3. Dan Abnett looks back at the early days of Frank Castle and Peter Parker. A raw, violent clash of ideologies that sets the tone for their relationship. It’s gritty, parental-advised, and full of early-Marvel energy.
10
Dorc #8 Cover A Brett Bean
Dorc #8. Brett Bean’s self-published fantasy epic continues with D’orc facing Schweinehund. A vicious warrior seeking justice, this issue brings high stakes and sloppy troll meat. Bean’s art and writing create a world that feels lived-in and dangerous.

Next 10 · Runner-up

Hammerfist and Hellraiser offered dark, cult-fueled thrills on the edges.
11
Hammerfist #2 Cover A Steve Epting (Mr)
Hammerfist #2. Rick Remender and Steve Epting return with Mike fleeing a heist into a cult’s territory. Every corner is a trap, and Cindy is dragged into a ceremonial sacrifice. The tension of being hunted is relentless here.
12
Absolute Batman #19 Second Printing
Absolute Batman #19 (2nd Printing). Scarecrow emerges from the shadows of Arkham as Joker targets Batman. With new debuts and alliances forming, this reprint brings you into the thick of the psychological warfare without missing a beat.
13
Absolute Wonder Woman #24 Cover A Hayden Sherman
Absolute Wonder Woman #24. Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman push Diana forward as Gateway City descends into chaos. With new weapons from hell, Diana faces gods in a battle that tests her limits. The action is big, the stakes are mythic.
14
Fantastic Four #17 [Dnx]
Fantastic Four #17. A DNX tie-in that throws the team into a memory-wiped nightmare. A rock monster among them and blood-written warnings create a psychological thriller. Ryan North’s writing turns the FF into characters they don’t recognize.
15
Hellraiser: Resurrections - The Deep Gospel #1 A Main (Dressed, Puebla)
Hellraiser: Resurrections #1. Tini Howard and Jenna Cha kick off a new era for Pinhead’s world. The Female Cenobite is remade by the Engineer, setting the stage for a new ongoing series. It’s painful, erotic, and perfectly horrifying.
16
Infernal Hulk #9
Infernal Hulk #9. The Fallen Army spreads as Hulk targets the Baxter Building. Meanwhile, Banner and Doctor Doom undertake a suicide mission into the Soul Cages. Johnson and Gorham deliver a dark, cosmic escalation that feels apocalyptic.
17
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained #3 [Qib]
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained #3. Eddie Brock tries to reclaim his throne as symbiote god. With Knull and Hela rising, the stakes for Eddie are personal and cosmic. Soule and Ramirez keep the tension high in this symbiotic struggle.
18
Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5
Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5. Dan Slott brings Mr. Negative into the mix as Spider-Man tries to save the Punisher. A city-threatening crisis demands Spidey’s best moves. It’s a classic, high-wire act of web-slinging heroics.
19
Uncanny X-Men #36
Uncanny X-Men #36. Gail Simone’s Wild Ride concludes with a battle for eternal souls. The X-Men face the Harbinger of Demons in a stunning finale. Mutant vs. malice in a fight that tests their very identities.
The Snyder/Dragotta Batman run is a masterclass in atmosphere. If you’re jumping in, start with the reprints. For Marvel, the Hulk War setup is the one to watch next. Keep an eye on where the Infernal arc lands.
— SUMMER
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