By Zack Quaintance — I’m not sure what’s going on with distribution this week, but by my count, there’s an number of books slated to come out that may or may not make it to physical release, at least based on the projected inventories of some of the biggest comic shops in the country. Nevertheless! We still have a list of the Top Comics to Buy for October 20, 2021. And you can find our picks below…

Enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for October 20, 2021

PICK OF THE WEEK
Catwoman - Lonely City #1
Writer/Artist/Lettere: Cliff Chiang
Publisher: DC Comics - Black Label
Ten years ago, the massacre known as Fools' Night claimed the lives of Batman, The Joker, Nightwing, and Commissioner Gordon...and sent Selina Kyle, the Catwoman, to prison. A decade later, Gotham has grown up-it's put away costumed heroism and villainy as childish things. The new Gotham is cleaner, safer...and a lot less free, under the watchful eye of Mayor Harvey Dent and his Batcops. It's into this new city that Selina Kyle returns, a changed woman...with her mind on that one last big score: the secrets hidden inside the Batcave! She doesn't need the money-she just needs to know...who is "Orpheus"? Visionary creator Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman, Paper Girls) writes, draws, colors, and letters the story of a world without Batman, where one woman's wounds threaten to tear apart an entire city! It's an unmissable artistic statement that will change the way you see Gotham's heroes and villains forever!
Why It’s Cool: Catwoman - Lonely City #1 is the best Gotham City comic that I’ve read all year, which is really saying something. Batman comics in 2021 are in a really great place, especially the in-continuity mainline books that feature an ambitious shared storyline played out among like a dozen comics. But this book is something else entirely, the product of Cliff Chiang’s singular vision. It’s a modern take — if I may be so bold — on The Dark Knight Returns, wherein Batman is gone and Catwoman is the focal point as she explores a Gotham City many years later. It’s so so good, and I can’t recommend it more.
Price: $6.99
Buy It Here: Catwoman Lonely City #1

Ice Cream Man #26
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Good Old Neon
Publisher: Image Comics
"UNFORTUNATE ANCESTRY"
Some families are completely sideways.
Why It’s Cool: Our two-time best comic of the year — Ice Cream Man — is back this week, bringing with it as it always does a formulistic experiment laced with all kinds of timely existential dread. Don’t miss this book, which is the sideways issue. Everything that we have long loved about Ice Cream Man is once again on display in this book, which is as interesting from a craft perspective as it is from a monthly horror comics reader perspective. Oh and hey, it’s also spooky season, the best time of the year to enjoy Ice Cream Man.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Ice Cream Man #26

Nubia and the Amazons #1
Story: Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala
Script: Stephanie Williams
Pencils: Alitha Martinez
Inks: Mark Morales
Colors: Emilio Lopez
Letters: Becca Carey
Publisher: DC Comics
After the thrilling events of Infinite Frontier, Nubia becomes queen of Themyscira, but the new title also brings challenges. With the unexpected arrival of new Amazons, our hero is forced to reckon with her past and forge a new path forward for her sisters. Little does she know, a great evil grows beneath the island and it's up to this former guardian of Doom's Doorway to unite her tribe before paradise is lost forever! This unforgettable miniseries from writers Vita Ayala and Stephanie Williams, along with all-star artist Alitha Martinez (Future State) brings the fan-favorite character back to the DCU for good. After Nubia, the world of the Amazons will never be the same!
Why It’s Cool: It’s a banner year for Wonder Woman comics, with a wide-range of titles, from the main book following Diana Prince’s return from the afterlife to exciting new entries in the Wonder Woman world, like Wonder Girl, featuring Yara Flor. This book is a mythological look at Themyscara and Amazonian society, centering on Nubia. It’s a must-read both for fans of Wonder Woman and for fans of sword and sorcery comics.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Nubia and the Amazons #1

United States of Captain America #5
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Dale Eaglesham
Colorist: Matt Milla
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: DC Comics
After the shield thieves free a deadly villain, Bucky Barnes teams up with an air force intelligence officer who might know how to recapture the villain, while John, Sam and Steve give pursuit. When his allies run into trouble, Bucky is forced to face his complicated feelings about taking up the Captain America mantle again. The Captains Network bands together in one last epic battle to keep the shield from being used for nefarious purposes. Don't miss the pulse-pounding finale of this groundbreaking miniseries!
Why It’s Cool: This series has been among our favorites at Marvel Comics since it launched, and we could not be more excited for the finale, which stands to bring together all the great ideas that have been seeded throughout this fantastic miniseries.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: United States of Captain America #5

Usagi Yojimbo - Dragon Bellows Conspiracy #5
Writer/Artist/Letterer: Stan Sakai
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
Editor: Bobby Curnow
Publisher: IDW Publishing
One of Usagi's most classic and epic adventures reaches its penultimate chapter! As a castle is sieged to prevent a revolt against the shogun, Usagi and friends must make a desperate gambit to prevent the land from descending into war. Not everyone will survive the mighty struggle that ensues!
Why It’s Cool: Usagi Yojimbo is one of those things in comics that we take for granted, just because it’s been so good for so long, and it comes out every month. The main book is, of course, a treasure, but this recent six-part miniseries has also been a gem, and it’s heading this month toward it’s conclusion, with just one more issue left to go.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Usagi Yojimbo - Dragon Bellows Conspiracy #5

Others Receiving Votes

• Batman #114

• Batman #115

• Death of Doctor Strange #2

• The Flash #775

• Killer Queens #3

• Maw #2

• Not All Robots #3

• Sleeping Beauties #7

• Suicide Squad #8

New #1s and One-Shots

• Aggretsuko Super Fun Special #1 (One Shot)

• Ant #1

• Batman Secret Files - Peacekeeper 01 #1

• Critical Role Tales of Exandria - The Bright Queen #1

• Dungeons and Dragons - Mindbreaker #1

• Gunslinger Spawn #1

• Hellcop #1

• My Little Pony Generations #1

• Nita Hawes Nightmare Blog #1

• Orville Artifacts #1

• Phoenix Song Echo #1

• Purgatori #1

• Refrigerator Full of Heads #1

Trade Collections and Graphic Novels of Note

• Complete American Gods HC

• Delver TP

• Destroy All Monsters A Reckless Book HC

• Far Sector TP

• Hollow Heart Complete TP

• Iron Man (2020) Vol 2 Books Of Korvac II Overclock TP

• Just Beyond Monstrosity Original Graphic Novel TP

• Origins TP

• Time Before Time Vol. 1 TP

• Visitor TP

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.