DC Comics dominated the news for this month (as I suspect they will next month with all those #1 issues). But the Top Twenty bends to no hype! No springs, honest weight, as they say. So what follows are our picks for the best books of the month… regardless of any hubbub! And since there were five weeks in the month we expanded it to a Top 25. 

In case this is your first time, the Top Twenty is an ongoing monthly look at two ordered lists comprising A) The top twenty single issues of the month and B) the top twenty current series in comics. How did we come up with the lists? Well, the Cosmic Comix Top Twenty Committee took several things into consideration: Best Book nominees, poll winners and poll votes, sales numbers and general buzz levels surrounding each book. Yes, your input is not only appreciated but also counts toward the rankings. So let us hear it!

Top Twenty-Five Comics of August 2011
The Best Single Issues

1. DETECTIVE COMICS #881 – Scott Snyder’s run on Detective comes to a fantastic conclusion. Can’t wait to see what he does with Batman in the New DCU!
2. MIGHTY THOR #5 – The battles of Odin v. Galactus and Thor v. Silver Surfer continue to rock the cosmos. Awesome issue. Now Galactus must face… the people of Broxton, Oklahoma.
3. FLASHPOINT BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #3 (OF 3) – Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso’s dark tale of the Wayne family had a fantastic ending. Poor Martha Wayne!
4. CRIMINAL LAST OF INNOCENT #3 (OF 4) – Too many twists and turns to sum up neatly in a couple sentences. This book is SO well-written, though. Safe to say it’s headed for a nasty ending.
5. CHEW #20 – Totally weird, totally whacky. 100% Chew. Another great issue.
6. FLASHPOINT #4 & 5 (OF 5) – The end of the DCU! The Flash runs like a maniac and fixes everything. Some disagreement from readers about whether or not it worked, but it definitely put an exclamation point on a fine event.
7. SCALPED #51 – This issue marked a sea change for Scalped villain Red Crow. He may actually be something of a good guy now… though the people who work for him would beg to differ.
8. SECRET SIX #36 – If not for Detective, this one would have had a lock on best ending for series in the old DCU. The Secret Six go out with guns blazing. Loved it!
9. HELLBOY THE FURY #3 (OF 3) – This one was my (Andy) pick for Best Book and it tied for the poll victory. In case you didn’t already know, Hellboy’s heart gets ripped out in VERY dramatic fashion. It was awesome.
10. FLASHPOINT THE OUTSIDER #3 (OF 3) – A surprising victory in the poll propels this one into the top 10. Look out for Martian Manhunter! Whoops… never mind.
11. DC RETROACTIVE JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA THE 90S #1 – A surprising poll victory almost propels this one into the top 10! This issue was flat-out hilarious!
12. RACHEL RISING #1 – An excellent beginning for Terry Moore’s newest series. If you like strong female characters and haven’t read his Strangers in Paradise or his most recent Echo, do yourself a favor!
13. FEAR ITSELF #5 (OF 7) FEAR – A big fight we were promised and a big fight we got. You have to appreciate it when you open a comic and it says CHAPTER 5: BRAWL. Sadly, this particular brawl didn’t go exactly as the heroes planned.
14. UNCANNY X-MEN #542 – The X-Men are trying to figure out how to beat a hammered up Juggernaut. Destruction ensues!
15. WALKING DEAD #88 – Poor, poor Carl.
16. BATGIRL #24 – One of the best DC titles over the last two years goes out with a bang!
17. SEVERED #1 – Scott Snyder’s horror series from Image gets off to a solid start. Lots of buzz on this one, too. Looking forward to issue #2.
18. CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #621 – Retro history at it’s finest. Bucky Barnes is growing up fast!
19. ANGEL & FAITH #1 – Kicked off the new Dark Horse Buffy run in fine fashion!
20. GOON #35 – Hard to go wrong with a Goon issue. And this one didn’t disappoint. Freaks! Geeks! PUNCHES!
21. INVINCIBLE #82 – Like Rusty said, a fine time to get on board with Invincible. Just a totally well-written superhero comic.
22. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #626 POINT ONE – Speaking of jump-on points, here’s another Marvel Point One issue. A great character-building issue for the star of the show: Loki.
23. AMERICAN VAMPIRE #18 – A great end for the Ghost War. Good night, Skinner Sweet!
24. KICK-ASS 2 #3 – You can always count on Kick-Ass for a couple Holy Smokes! moments. And this issue did not disappoint.
25. X-MEN LEGACY #254 – Doesn’t always make it into the top list here but the series is so good and this issue was so good I couldn’t NOT include it. So much cool stuff happens!

Top Twenty Titles of August 2011
The Best Current Series

1. CHEW – After finishing this month’s issue, we were just forced to ask: "Is there a better series than Chew??" Answer: No. (TPBs)
2. DETECTIVE COMICS – Scott Snyder finished up what will likely be our favorite Batman story of the year! An excellent, excellent run.
3. SCALPED – When Scalped doesn’t miss a month, it takes titles like Chew and an uncommonly good Detective to keep it down. (TPBs)
4. FLASHPOINT – As Jim Morrison said, "This is the end…" And the end it was. An awesome event all around and a fine ending.
5. PUNISHERMAX – Still loving this series, can’t wait for the next story arc to kick off!
6. WALKING DEAD – What more can be said? It’s still awesome. Only two months until season two of the TV show! (TPBs)
7. UNCANNY X-FORCE – One not-so-great issue and one solid issue on the month. Still one of our favorites.
   
8. CRIMINAL – If the fourth issue is good, this will easily go down as Brubaker and Philips’ best crime work to date. (TPBs)
9. AMERICAN VAMPIRE – Skinner Sweet may have just died, but the next story arc promises more of him! Hope it’s good.
10. FABLES – Who will be the new North Wind! (TPBs)
    
11. FEAR ITSELF – The Marvel Universe is just a flat-out disaster area! And it’s making for some excellent reading
12. MIGHTY THOR – Galactus and Silver Surfer have been holding court for the past few issues and we couldn’t be happier..
13. X-MEN LEGACY – The Legion story was excellent, and here come the the Starjammers. This one is giving X-Force a run for its money.
14. COBRA – Didn’t get an issue this month, so it slipped in the rankings. But we’re set to get one on Wednesday! I predict a return to glory. (TPBs)
15. FF – Reed and Co. make a triumphant return while Black Bolt continues his gab fest.
16. INVINCIBLE – Continues to pick up steam ever since the Viltrumite War ended. Get in on the fun! (TPBs)
17. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN – Not much love for Spider-Island in the top half of our list, but it’s been attracting some new readers, so there must be something there!
18. GOON – Ever since it started back up it’s been hilarious. So glad to have Goon back!
19. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY – Shawn and Rusty are now firmly in favor of this one. It must be good or something!
20. SECRET AVENGERS – This is what I call a futures pick. Warren Ellis just took over for a six-issue run and, based on issue #16, I’m just betting it’s gonna be great.

Others receiving votes for the Best Current Series: