By Zack Quaintance — It really feels to me like the entire comics industry (if not the world) is still shaking off this year’s holiday season...or maybe it’s just me. Whatever the case, the weeks of new releases have been a bit sparse to open this year after the absolute monster that was Wednesday, Dec. 18. As you’ll see below, however, things are starting to pick up a bit again, with an increase in great comics over the year’s first two weeks.

Anyway, these are our picks for Top Comics to Buy for January 15...enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for

*PICK OF THE WEEK*
Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy #2 (of 6)
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Tonci Zonjic
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
Skulldigger: well-meaning hero or violent murderer? As Skeleton Boy trains with an uncompromising Skulldigger, a hard-nosed detective seeks them out, determined to link the vigilante to the murders that orphaned the boy. But soon super-villain Grimjim's plans come to a head, threatening to throw Spiral City into chaos.
Why It’s Cool: Tonci Zonjic is one of the favorite current artists for our committee (of one), and it continues to be excellent to watch him work with one of our favorite writers, Jeff Lemire. Even better, the duo are operating within the Black Hammer universe, which has really become just the best set of interconnected original comic books this side of Hellboy (which has a great one-shot out this week, btw).

Archie #710
Writer: Mariko Tamaki & Kevin Panetta
Artist: Laura Braga
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Publisher: Archie Comics
Price: $3.99
There's a new girl in Riverdale and she's turning everyone's heads-and NOT everyone is happy about that! Who is Katy Keene and why is she so Insta-famous and beloved in Riverdale? And, moreover, why is she quickly becoming Archie's biggest competition? Find out in this brand new story arc from the creative team of writers Mariko Tamaki and Kevin Panetta and artist Laura Braga-just in time for the brand new CW series Katy Keene!
Why It’s Cool: For this new Archie story arc, the long-time publisher has tapped a pair of massive talents who wrote some of our favorite original graphic novels last year. First, we have Mariko Tamaki, who just finished team-writing the past arc with Nick Spencer, and next we have Kevin Panetta, who wrote Bloom. The duo is teaming on an arc about Katy Keene, which is just so very synergistic given that character is the next to spinoff into TV with Riverdale and Sabrina. Oh! And Laura Braga is a fantastic artist we’re happy to see move from periphery titles to the main Archie book.

The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Denys Cowan
Inker: Bill Sienkiewicz
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Willie Schubert
Publisher: DC Comics - Black Label
Price: $6.99
In modern-day Hub City, Vic Sage died. And then he woke up. In Hub City...in the 1800s! The legend of the Man with No Face rides across the Old West, discovering a shocking connection running through history all the way to the day he died...and pointing to more carnage yet to come!
Why It’s Cool: The first issue of this new Black Label comic was really good, if a bit heavy on the Ditko pathos that influenced the creation of this character. The second issue, however, really elevates this story and its re-incarnation concept in very intriguing ways, giving the unbelievable art team of Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz the chance to really shine. This continues to be another great title for the ongoing success that is Black Label.

Second Coming #6
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Richard Pace
Finisher (Sunstar Pages): Leonard Kirk
Colorist (Sunstar Pages): Andy Troy
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: Ahoy Comics
Price: $3.99
Extra-sized first season finale, featuring 30 pages of story! Sunstar and Shiela leave Jesus in charge as they go off on their honeymoon. Satan tempts Jesus one last time. Plus! Illustrated prose fiction, humor, and/or poems, and an exclusive preview of writer/creator Mark Russell's brand new Ahoy title, debuting soon!
Why It’s Cool: This is, simply put, the smartest comic book in the direct market, armed as it is with a stellar satricial concept and razor sharp wit (which actually made me laugh out loud at one point in this one, a rare feat). This is the finale of Second Coming (for now, the back matter assures us), and if you’ve been enjoying this one, you have every reason to be very excited.

Undiscovered Country #3
Writers: Scott Snyder & Charles Soule
Artists: Giuseppe Camuncoli & Daniele Orlandini
Colorist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Crank!
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
The expedition undertakes a desperate attempt to rescue a member of the team from the Destiny Man's strange caravan city. Success or certain doom hinges on Americana expert Ace Kenyatta, PhD-what he knows about the new lands...and what he doesn't.
Why It’s Cool: Undiscovered Country continues to deliver within its excellent concept — the US shut itself off from the rest of the world from 30 years — and, without spoiling anything, I can say this issue elevates the stakes by leaning even harder into the sci-fi elements we’ve seen in the first two chapters. This book is really just such a perfect team of talented creators at the top of their games, armed a concept that is as imaginative as it is timely. 

New #1s and One-Shots

• Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant #1

• Dragon Age: Blue Wraith #1

• Hellboy Winter Special 2019

• Iron Man 2020 #1

• Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #1

• Marvel Tales: Ravencroft #1

• Rising Sun #1

• ROM: Dire Wraiths #1

• Ruins of Ravencroft: Sabretooth One-Shot

• Teenage Condition Lizard Daddies One-Shot

• Venom: The End One-Shot

Others Receiving Votes

• Aquaman #56

• Avengers #29

• Batman’s Grave #4

• Five Years #7

• From Hell Master Edition #9

• Ghosted in LA #7

• James Bond #2

• Legion of Superheroes #3

• Low Low Woods #2

• Midnight Vista #5

• Rai #3

• Red Mother #2

• SFSX (Safe Sex) #5

• Steeple #5

• Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #7

Trades and OGNs of Interest

• Conan The Barbarian Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol 3 HC

• Descendent Vol 1 TP

• Fights: A Memoir GN

• Green Lantern Legacy TP

• Incredible Hulk By Peter David Omnibus Vol 1 HC

• Killer Groove Vol 1 TP

• Lazarus Vol 6 TP

• Mozart in Paris GN

• Orphan Age Vol 1 TP

• Over My Dead Body TP

• Theth Tomorrow Forever TP

• Trout Vol 2 Hollowest Knock HC

See our past top comics to buy here, and check out our reviews archive here.

Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.