By Zack Quaintance — This Top Comics to Buy for January 20 list for me is more like to buy for January 23, since I live in Washington, D.C., and most things will be shuddered around here for the inauguration. That said, there’s still quite a bit this week I’m excited to go out and get. With downtown here feeling like a heavily militarized zone, perhaps its fitting that two of the books on our list are from DC Comics’ Future State, which features Gotham City as a heavily militarized zone (for very different reasons).

Anyway, let’s check out the top comics to buy for January 20!

Top Comics to Buy for January 20, 2021

PICK OF THE WEEK
I Breathed a Body #1
Writer: Zac Thompson
Artist: Andy MacDonald
Colorist: Triona Farrell
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: AfterShock Comics
A science fiction horror series about social media, big tech, and influencer culture.
It’s The Social Network meets Hellraiser. When the world’s biggest influencer posts something irredeemably horrific online, the world changes in an instant. Now it’s up to his social media manager, Anne Stewart, to fan the flames of outrage and create a sensationalist campaign that rewrites the rules of “banned content.” Thus begins a carnival of lust, revulsion, desire, and disgust – all for viral videos.
Why It’s Cool: This book is billed as “a science fiction horror series about social media, big tech, and influencer culture”…and my reaction that is, “Oh, so I see you’ve gone directly into my brain and told a story about some of my most pressing concerns.” This is really timely stuff, but a lot of books tread that territory. What makes this an absolutely incredible first issue is the thought and skill with which Zac Thompson, Andy MacDonald, Triona Farrell, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou tackle it. This book is a must-read comic, perhaps the best new #1 issue of the young year.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: I Breathed a Body #1

Abbott 1973 #1
Writer: Saldin Ahmed
Artist: Sami Kivela
Colorist: Mattia Iacono
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
In a new series for fans of Something is Killing the Children and Bitter Root, Saladin Ahmed, the visionary writer behind Miles Morales: Spider-Man, and Sami Kivelä, the acclaimed artist behind Machine Gun Wizards, reunite for this Must Read supernatural thriller. Detroit's hardest hitting journalist, Elena Abbott, is trying to make a fresh start at a new newspaper... but her deadly past isn't ready to let go. The city is days away from the historic election of a Black candidate as their new Mayor, but a vicious new group has emerged to destroy him, targeting anyone who supports his campaign or the change he represents. That means Abbott, who discovers the group's connection to a dangerous dark magic, has been targeted for certain death -- unless she embraces her true power as the Lightbringer to save her city.
Why It’s Cool: The original Abbott miniseries was one of the best comics of 2018, and this sequel series picks up right where it left off, featuring all of the excellent Detroit in the 1970s setting, the fantastically-illustrated touches of the supernatural, and the main character who is using talent and grit to bash her way into a prejudiced establishment working overtime to keep her out. Simply put, Abbott remains an excellent comic.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Digitally: Abbott 1973 #1 on comiXology

Barbalien: Red Planet #3
Script By: Tate Brombal
Story By: Jeff Lemire and Tate Brombal
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
Barbalien continues to flee the Martian bounty hunter Boa Boaz—and continues to develop a relationship with a young activist under an assumed identity. But past and present collide when Boa begins targeting people in Barbalien's life.
Why It’s Cool: This book remains a powerful superhero story about what is essentially a Martian Manhunter analog facing discrimination on earth for being gay. As this arc has developed, the creative team has used that concept to go to increasingly poignant and character-driven places, making this book a must-read monthly comic.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Digitally: Barbalien - Red Planet #3

Future State: Catwoman #1
Writer: Ram. V
Artist: Otto Schmidt
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Masked vigilantes have been deemed illegal, and the Magistrate has commandeered a bullet train to take those they’ve captured to a reformation facility-and filled the rest of the train with innocent children! Catwoman is hellbent on ensuring it never reaches its destination. Armed with a new magnetic suit, assisted by her trusty band of Strays, and featuring Catwoman’s new protégé, she must pull off the impossible: a train heist where she steals…the train itself! But Selina isn’t the only person aboard who has plans for this train and its most unexpected passenger!
Why It’s Cool: DC’s Future State books were really clicking for me this week (with a few exceptions), and chief among my favorites was Future State: Catwoman #1 a rip-roaring high-action train heist story that was well-written while making use of artist Otto Schmidt’s ample talents. What gives this book an extra boost onto our list as well is that any reader can pick it up and enjoy the well-done action free of basically any other stories. Just read and enjoy the fun and the speed!
Price: $3.99
Buy It Digitally: Future State - Catwoman #1

Future State: Superman - Worlds of War #1
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with Brandon Easton, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, and Jeremy Adams
Artist: Mike Janin, with Valentine de Landro, Gleb Melnikov, and Siya Oum
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire, with Marissa Louise, and Hi-Fi
Letterer: Dave Sharpe, with Travis Lanham and Gabriela Downie
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $7.99
This monumental Future State title features four big stories! First, Clark Kent is gone, leaving a Superman-shaped hole behind. People gather in Smallville to celebrate their hero, little realizing that he is across the galaxy helping others. Superman has gone to Warworld, where he fights as a gladiator in the deadly pits of Mongul. But this is Superman we’re talking about-and his idea of a victory does not line up with the expectations of Mongul’s hordes!
Meanwhile, on the other side of Warworld, other agents are at work, struggling for a better life. Shilo Norman, the man known as Mister Miracle, has ridden a Boom Tube across the cosmos from Metropolis to finds himself at odds with an entire planet!
At the same time, Midnighter, the greatest fighter from Earth, is punching his way through a whole mess of trouble. He’s on the hunt for a new energy source deadlier than Kryptonite. His goal: to shut it down before it gets unleashed on an unsuspecting universe.
Why It’s Cool: This was maybe the first issue of Future State that absolutely blew me away from start to finish. I don’t want to spoil anything (plus there’s an embargo!), but it really is that good, from the main story about what has happened to Clark Kent in the future, to the backups about Mister Miracle, Midnighter, and a new Black Racer. Strap in for this one, because it’s intense and it rules.
Buy It Digitally: Future State - Superman - Worlds of War #1

Others Receiving Votes

• American Ronin #4

• Black Cat #2

• Cable #7

• Future State: The Next Batman #2

• Killadelphia #12

• Legion of Super-Heroes #12

• Once and Future #15

• Stillwater #5

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #113

• Walking Dead Deluxe #7

• X-Force #16

• Yasmeen #6

New #1 Issues and One-Shots

• Crimson Flower #1

• Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1

• Future State: Nightwing #1

• Future State: SHAZAM! #1

• Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon #1

• Maestro: War and Pax #1

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Best of Leonardo

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.