By Zack Quaintance — The Top Comics to Buy for November 3, 2021 are a robust and varied list, featuring one of our favorite books of 2021 (The Blue Flame #5), alongside a record four (four!) new series launches. That’s a lot of newness, and all of it good. On top of that, we’ve got some other great new books in our sections further down. So yes, the year is ending but a number of great new books are just now making it to stands

And you can check out our favorites below…

Top Comics to Buy for November 3, 2021

The Blue Flame #5
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Adam Gorham
Colorist: Kurt Michael Russell
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Vault Comics
The Blue Flame presents his opening argument to the Tribunal Consensus, finally beginning to make his case for the salvation of humanity by leading a hyper-visual tour of its beautiful accomplishments. But at home in Milwaukee, Sam Brausam is still dealing with extensive PTSD and becomes volatile in the house. With a baby well on the way, his sister Dee demands he go to a tragedy support group and seek help or move out. As the defense makes its counter opening argument, Sam faces prying and morbid curiosity from his new group therapy peers, leading him to seek solace with Reed Gordon again-but she may be unwilling to offer any, given her own dark and tragic past.
Why It’s Cool: Like I said above, this is one of my favorites from 2021. If, however, you want to learn more about where the book is at now that it’s hitting it’s halfway point, I also recently interviewed Cantwell and Gorham.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: The Blue Flame #5

Hellboy - The Bones of Giants #1
Writer: Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
Artist: Matt Smith
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Clem Robbins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
When a startling discovery is made in Sweden, the B.P.R.D. sends Hellboy and Abe Sapien to investigate. What ensues is a wild adventure full of Norse legends, mythical creatures, and a threat that could bring not just Earth but the Nine Realms of Norse mythology to their knees.
Based on the illustrated novel by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, this four-part comics adaptation of Hellboy: The Bones of Giants brings readers into Hellboy's fight against the Frost Giants with stunning art by Matt Smith (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: Long Night at Goloski Station, Barbarian Lord, Folklords) and colors by Chris O'Halloran (Folklords, Black Panther, Ice Cream Man).
Why It’s Cool: Image Hellboy investigating Norse mythology, and that’s what you get in this excellent one-shot adapted from a Hellboy prose novel. This comic is real good, and I also had a chance to interview artist Matt Smith about it.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Hellboy - The Bones of Giants #1

Human Target #1
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Greg Smallwood
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
Christopher Chance has made a living out of being a human target-a man hired to disguise himself as his client to invite would-be assassins to attempt his murder. He's had a remarkable career until his latest case protecting Lex Luthor when things go sideways. An assassination attempt Chance didn't see coming leaves him vulnerable and left trying to solve his own murder...as he has 12 days to discover just who in the DCU hated Luthor enough to want him dead. Human Target is a hard-boiled, gritty story in the vein of classic detective noirs told by bestselling and critically acclaimed creators Tom King and Greg Smallwood!
Why It’s Cool: If it wasn’t for Catwoman - Lonely City #1, I’d instantly proclaim this the best-looking DC Comic of the year…and it still might be. This book is just absolutely beautiful from start to finish, a real pleasure to look at. Plus, the stylish detective noir concept is interesting enough, making this one a must-read book.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: Human Target #1

Newburn #1
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Jacob Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
EASTON NEWBURN is a private detective without loyalties, investigating conflicts
between rival crime factions while collecting enemies along the way. In this DEBUT ISSUE, a man is murdered after stealing from his own mafia family, but they aren't the ones who ordered the hit...
This new ONGOING SERIES from CHIP ZDARSKY (Daredevil) and JACOB PHILLIPS (THAT TEXAS BLOOD) features a riveting backup story, "BROOKLYN ZIRCONIA," by rising stars NADIA
SHAMMAS and ZIYED YUSUF AYOUB!
Why It’s Cool: Do you like hard-boiled, mostly-realistic crime comics? Well friend, this book is most certainly for you. It’s also just a great first issue from start to finish, one that builds a fantastic foundation for a new series — introducing a pair of intriguing and excellent characters — but it also stands alone well on its own merits as a straightforward and rewarding mystery comic. Great stuff all around.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Newburn #1

Rush #1
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Nathan Gooden
Colorist: Addison Duke
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Vault Comics
This Hungry Earth Reddens Under Snowclad Hills.
1899, Yukon Territory. A frozen frontier, bloodied and bruised by the last great Gold Rush. But in the lawless wastes to the North, something whispers in the hindbrains of men, drawing them to a blighted valley, where giant spidertracks mark the snow and impossible guns roar in the night.
To Brokehoof, where gold and blood are mined alike. Now, stumbling towards its haunted forests comes a woman gripped not by greed -- but the snarling rage of a mother in search of her child...
From Si Spurrier (Way of X, Hellblazer) and Nathan Gooden (Barbaric, Dark One) comes THE RUSH, a dark, lyrical delve into the horror and madness of the wild Yukon.
Why It’s Cool: Between The Dark One graphic novel and the recently-completed first book of Barbaric, Nathan Gooden has established himself as a true must-buy indie comics artists, and now he’s collaborating with writer Si Spurrier, whose work is never dull, making this first issue a must-read.
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Rush #1

Others Receiving Votes

• Arkham City - The Order of the World #2

• Batman #116

• Dirt Bag Rapture #2

• Fire Power #17

• Frontiersman #2

• The Good Asian #6

• Icon and Rocket Season One #4

• Orphan and the Five Beasts #3

• Primordial #2

• Silver Coin #6

• The Swamp Thing #9

New #1s and One-Shots

• A Thing Called Truth #1

• After Dark #1 (One-Shot)

• Batman/Superman and the Authority Special #1 (One-Shot)

• Dark Knights of Steel #1

• Death of Doctor Strange - Avengers #1 (One-Shot)

• Heathens #1

• Knighted #1

• The Magic Order 2 #1

• My Bad #1

• Sheena, Queen of the Jungle #1

• Strange Academy Presents - Death of Doctor Strange #1 (One-Shot)

• Stranger Things - Winter Special #1 (One-Shot)

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Best Of April ONeil

Trade Collections and Graphic Novels of Note

• American Vampire 1976 HC

• Better Angels A Kate Warne Adventure Original Graphic Novel TP (more info)

• Deconstructing The Jodoverse TP Box Set

• Die Vol. 4 Bleed TP (read our die finale round table)

• Friday Book 1 First Day Of Christmas TP (read our full review!)

• Hakims Odyssey Book 1 From Syria To Turkey HC

• Hawkeye By Matt Fraction & David Aja Saga Of Barton And Bishop TP Direct Market

• Joker Vol 1 HC

• Lore Olympus Vol 1 HC

• Lure HC

• People Inside HC New Edition

• Proctor Valley Road TP

• Rockstars Complete TP

• Second Coming Vol 2 Only Begotten Son TP

• True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys California Deluxe Edition HC

• Upgrade Soul Collectors Edition HC

• Why Is Everybody Yelling Growing Up In My Immigrant Family HC

• Yes Roya GN Color Edition

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.