By Zack Quaintance — There’s lots to love in the Top Comics to Buy for October 21, 2020 for students of comics craft, be it with individual issues like the Tonci Zonjic-illustrated Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy #5, or the hardcover graphic novella series November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier, which is now on its third book. You can find all that and more on this week’s list…enjoy!

Top Comics to Buy for October 21, 2020

PICK OF THE WEEK
Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy #5
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Tonci Zonjic
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
In custody of Detective Reyes after a vigilante outing gone wrong, Skeleton Boy is caught between his desire for revenge and the idea that he may be in over his head. Meanwhile, Skulldigger and Grimjim's feud threatens to take out innocent bystanders.
Why It’s Cool: The best superhero artwork of 2020 has appeared in this comic, drawn by Tonci Zonjic, one of the most underrated talents in the industry. Every page of this book is entertaining, be it because of the excellent story by Jeff Lemire or by the creative risks and consistently surprising page layouts and artwork laid down by Zonjic. As with all the titles in the growing Black Hammer Universe, this book is well-done and thoughtful, but the level of craft in this book is why it lands as our PICK OF THE WEEK for the Top Comics to Buy for October 21, 2020.
Buy It Digitally: Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy

Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Blood #1
Writers: Paul Cornell, Dean Motter, Brendan Mallory, Matthew Shapre, and Reed Beebe
Artists: Russ Braun, Dean Motter, Rob Steen, Molly Stanard, and Ed Catto
Colorists: Andy Troy and Julie Barclay
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Price: $4.99
The Snifter of Terror returns with an all-star snark-fest under a bloody new title! Paul Cornell (Doctor Who) and Russell Braun (The Boys) reimagine Poe's "Black Cat" - as a dog! In "Atlas Shrugged" (no relation), Mr. X creator Dean Motter settles the science vs. religion debate once and for all! Plus: prose, pix, and a jaunty cover by Scary Godmother's Jill Thompson!
Why It’s Cool: This anthology series is a send-up of classic Edgar Allan Poe stories. with a framing device that involves a drunken Edgar Allan Poe popping in and out between stories with entertaining bits. To do this, publisher AHOY Comics works with some of the most clever talent in the industry, making this book a perpetual must-read, especially this week during the spooky Halloween season.

Iron Man #2
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Cafu
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
TONY HAS COMPANY...AND HIS NAME IS KORVAC! Tony Stark continues to roughly dismantle the fancy, shiny and sophisticated ways of his past…but the world doesn’t seem quite convinced that he’s changed his rich guy tune. As Iron Man, he takes the fight to the streets, looking to sacrifice himself on the altar of super heroism again and again—first with Arcade and Absorbing Man then with medical vigilante Cardiac—all in hope of redemption in the eyes of the public. Only trouble is he might get himself killed in the process, and there are still plenty of people in line with an ax to grind. Old friends like HELLCAT try to help him find peace of mind and speak truth to his stubborn god complex, but lurking on the horizon is a threat Tony—and indeed the entire cosmos—hasn’t seen in years…KORVAC…yet another guy who believes he’s smarter than the rest of the universe.
Why It’s Cool: Iron Man #1 was one of the best first issues for a new Marvel Comics series that I can remember reading in some time, a mission statement on par with the likes of recent resurgent Marvel titles such as Immortal Hulk and House of X. This series is taking Tony Stark to a more stripped down place, wherein he feels evocative of the long-time comics character, rather than the Robert Downey Jr. interpretation on the big screen. Add in a series that is bent on using Patsy Walker Hellcat, and this book has quickly established itself as a must-read for long-time Marvel Comics fans.
Buy It Digitally: Iron Man #2

Stillwater #2
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Ramon K. Perez
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
Daniel West has returned to Stillwater, but his homecoming is anything but happy! What secret is the town hiding from the outside world? And can Daniel save his mother from meeting her fate within The Park? Find out in Skybound’s newest horror sensation!
Why It’s Cool: This was one of the most exciting new series from Skybound this year, combining a great concept (a secret town in which nobody can die or be injured) with a fantastic creative team. The debut issue navigated the exposition doling with finese, and now the second issue settles us better into the story, delivering an exciting and fun sophomore story that really ups the drama and stakes, delivering us to yet another great cliffhanger.
Buy It Digitally: Stillwater #2

X-Men #13
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Mahmud A. Asrar
Colorist: Sunny Gho
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
X OF SWORDS PART 10. Lessons. Longing. What has begun cannot be undone.
Why It’s Cool: The X of Swords event is in full-swing now, having published 1/3 of the 22-part story. It’s been a pretty strong event too, with a high level of clarity and most chapters feeling totally essential to the over-arching narrative. As with the rest of the Krakoa era, the main X-Men title stands to be the book that pushes forward the plot most aggressively, always promising major plot points and many surprises, expertly laid down by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Mahmud A. Asrar, with colors by Sunny Gho. If there’s a title within X of Swords that is can’t miss, it’s this one, as the big X-Men 2020 event hits its halfway point this week, with the other installment in the event being Excalibur #13.
Buy It Digitally: X-Men #13

Others Receiving Votes

Aquaman #64
Batman #101
Black Magick #15
Catwoman #26
Daredevil #23
Dead Day #4
Devil’s Highway #4
Dry Foot #2
Engineward #4
Excalibur #13
Gideon Falls #26
Justice League #55
Miles to Go #2
Shadow Service #3
Something is Killing the Children #11

New #1s and One-Shots

Assassins Creed Valhalla Song of Glory #1
Dark Nights - Death Metal Robin King One-Shot
Dune - House Atreides #1
Phantom Starkiller #1
Scumbag #1
Stranger Things: Halloween Special One-Shot
Werewolf by Night #1

New Graphic Novels and Trade Collections

November Vol. 3 HC
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Elsa Charretier
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Kurt Ankeny
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $16.99
Three strangers entangled by fate, coincidence, and cruelty find themselves at the end of the longest night of their lives, bound together against the dark forces of...well-fate, coincidence, and cruelty. Apart, none of them will see sunrise; together they might have a shot, in this thriller by MATT FRACTION & ELSA CHARRETIER, with colors by MATT HOLLINGSWORTH and stunning hand-crafted lettering by cartoonist KURT ANKENY.
Why It’s Cool: This is one of my favorite series Image is putting out right, mostly for the excellent comics craftmanship but also for the format. November has come out in beautiful hardcover graphic novella-length installments. It’s the type of series that reminds why you get up, go out, and buy physical books at your local comic shop rather than reading only online. We’ll have a full review of this individual volume on the site later this week.
Buy It Digitally: November Book Three

Barbarella TP
Bitter Root Vol. 2 Rage and Redemption TP
Chris Ware Monograph HC
DC Graphic Novels for Kids Box Set 1
DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults Box Set 1
The Magic Fish HC GN
Papaya Salad HC
The Sacrifice of Darkness HC
Silver Surfer Black TP
Starship Down 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.