Top Comics to Buy for February 19, 2025: Licensed comics are really having a moment

Licensed comics are having a moment — this was one thing that became evident to me as I was putting together this top comics to buy for February 19 list. This is not a particularly novel thought — everyone seems to love Skybound’s Energon Universe, and when Dynamite gets the right property they sure sell a lot of variant covers — but two of the books this week struck me as especially interesting uses of licensed properties. The first was Aliens Vs. Avengers, which jams its licensed franchise into the Marvel Universe in such interesting ways that it probably ranks among my favorite Marvel books right now. And the second was Godzilla Heist.

I’ll be honest, I’m absolutely loving what IDW and its editors are doing with the Godzilla license right now. They’re using his character across time and space and genres to let a wide range of great comics creators tell interesting stories. And there’s more on the way with the Godzilla Chicago book also hitting later this month. So yeah, I think it’s a great and interesting time for licensed comics, maybe being driven by how tough the market is right now. These titles are built on a fanbase that might pull in readers from outside comics — and then they let loose with all different sorts of interesting work. It’s great. Anyway! Find more about those two comics along with my other recommendations and usual release lists below … enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for February 19

Aliens Vs. Avengers #3
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Esad Ribic
Colorist: Ive Svorcina
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
THE ENGINEERS GO TO WAR! But in a world of cosmic heroes and genetic mutants, the Engineers are not the only gods of creation. As the Engineers set out to destroy what they made, humanity’s remaining heroes discover an even more pressing threat: the X-Men.
Why It’s Cool: This is one of the most no-holds-barred apocalyptic crossovers I’ve ever read. It doesn’t just have the Xenomorphs from Alien show up, do a little bit, and get punched out by Captain America or whatever. No, it actually extrapolates the threat poised by these creatures to overrun the entire Marvel Universe. It’s great, and in this issue it continues to bring more Marvel characters into the fray, exactly as you want from this sort of well-done major crossover affair.
Price: $7.99

Godzilla Heist #1
Writer: Van Jensen
Artist: Kelsey Ramsay
Colorist: Heather Breckel
Lettering and Design: Sandy Tanaka
Publisher: IDW Publishing
What if you could predict when and where Godzilla would appear? What if you knew of the perfect opportunity to pull off the heist of the century? Jai is a young man who knows two things: A heist needs a good distraction, and there’s no distraction like Godzilla. So, when Jai discovers Godzilla responds to specific energy signals he can send into the atmosphere, he creates the perfect opportunity to stage high-profile heists in the middle of Godzilla attacks. But these heists put Jai on the radar of some very dangerous men, men who want Jai to work with them to pull off the most dangerous job the world has ever seen!
Why It’s Cool: As I noted in my intro, Godzilla Heist is yet another comic that does a wonderful job using Godzilla to give us a comic that’s just plain fun to read. This time, it’s a heist story (obviously). One thing I find great about the current line of Godzilla comics is how well the creators have tailored the familiar to character to just about every genre. Sure, these are kaiju stories…but they almost background the kaiju of it all in favor of something more character-driven. It’s great. 
Price: $4.99

In Bloom #3
Writer: Michael W. Conrad
Artist: John J. Pearson
Art Assists: Lola Bonato
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Captured by the Lotus cultists, Spears’s exposure to the spores opens up her mind in unexpected ways, unlocking memories that should have stayed buried…As the torture and interrogations intensify, what secrets will she discover in the depths of her confinement, and more importantly… just what will she become?
Why It’s Cool: This book has widespread societal floral mutation, cultists, hardboiled detectives with complicated pasts, and chilling body horror artwork. What else do you want from your comics? I’m loving this series, and I thought this issue was especially well done, with its chilling interrogation scenes. 
Price: $4.99

The New Gods #3
Writer: Ram V.
Artist, Chronicler Sequence: Riccardo Federici
Artist, Present-Day Sequence: Evan Cagle
Colorist: Francesco Segala
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Deep in the cosmos, an intergalactic inquisition descends upon Apokolips and New Genesis, carrying with it a sinister message: convert or be destroyed. Meanwhile on Earth, Mister Miracle and Big Barda, with their baby in tow, seek out the mysterious child spoken of in Metron’s prophecy, desperate to find him before Orion does. Could this child–this new god–be the universe’s savior? Or could he be the reincarnation of the universe’s greatest evil?
Why It’s Cool: I mean, have you seen any of this book’s interior pages? Evan Cagle is a revelation, and the editors have done an amazing job bringing in some of the most interesting artists in comics to add pages as well. I just think on a core level, this book has deeply committed to making New Gods a surprising and boundary-pushing take on the DCU. It (correctly) wants to stand apart from other superhero comics, to elevate its characters as is befitting of something called the New Gods.
Price: $4.99

Zatanna #1
Writer/Artist/Letterer: Jamal Campbell
Publisher: DC Comics
Zatanna Zatara, the Mistress of Magic, is back on tour! She’s got her stage crew back together and is looking forward to a new, less chaotic chapter of life. However, her plans are disrupted before they even begin when her stage crew is abducted by a ghostly new adversary, The Lady White. Now, Zatanna is plunged into machinations of tricks, swords, and curses that threaten to tear her apart from the inside out!
Why It’s Cool: Jamal Campbell has been one of the best artists working in the DC Universe for a while, co-creating memorable new characters in books like Naomi and Far Sector, before teaming with Joshua Williamson and co. to re-launch the flagship Superman title. Now, he’s doing it all as the sole creator behind a new Zatanna limited series, and the first issue is absolutely not to be missed. Check tomorrow’s DC Round-Up column for my full review!
Price: $3.99

Other Books I Enjoyed

• Batman and Robin: Year One #5
• Challengers of the Unknown #3
• G.I. Joe #4
• The Holy Roller #9
• Howl #2
• Nightwing #123
• The Question: All Along the Watchtower #4
• Spectrum #3
• Ultimate Wolverine #2
• Wonder Woman #18

New #1s and One-Shots

• Doom Academy #1
• Godzilla 70th Anniversary Foil Classics: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #1 (one-shot)
• Let This One Be A Devil #1
• Rick and Morty – Ricklemania #1
• Star Wars: The High Republic – Fear of the Jedi #1
• Stranger Things / Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire #1
• Thunderbolts Doomstrike #1
• Weapon X-Men #1

Graphic Novels and Trade Collections

• Beast of Burden Omnibus TP
• Blade Runner – Tokyo Nexus TP
• BlockD GN
• Buzz Color Edition HC
• Cassi and the House of Memories Graphic Novel TP
• Complete Kabuki 30th Anniversary Edition HC
• DC Finest: Harley Quinn Birth of Mirth TP
• Essentials Vol. 1 Premiere Edition HC (read our review!)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Epic Collection Vol. 2 – Quest for The Shield TP
• Halfway to Somewhere TP
• Jonesy Complete Collection TP
• Justice Society of America Vol. 2: Long Live The JSA HC
• Kafka’s Manuscript TP
• Life Is Strange: Forget-Me-Not TP
• Mammoth TP
• Miles Morales Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar Vol. 5 Blood Hunt TP
• Mugshots TP
• Order of the Circle GN
• Prez by Mark Russell and Ben Caldwell: The Deluxe Edition HC
• Rebellion Presents The Jose Munoz Collection TP
• Red Hood: The Hill TP
• Remote Space TP
• Rogue Sun Vol. 4 TP
• Secret Wars Battleworld Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
• Scarlet Witch by Steve Orlando Vol. 4 – Queen of Chaos TP
• Scorched Vol. 5 TP
• SHAZAM! Vol. 2 – Moving Day TP
• Spawn Origins Collection Vol. 30 TP
• Spawn Sinns War TP
• Strange Girl 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition HC
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Saturday Morning Adventures Vol. 4 TP
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – The Mirage Years 1993 – 1995 HC
• Treasury of British Comics Annual 2025 HC
• Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 6 HC
• Wrong Earth Vol. 3 Dead Ringers TP
• X-Force Epic Collection Vol. 4 Toy Soldiers TP
• X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse TP

Read past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!

And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!