By Zack Quaintance — This is somewhat of a lighter week for my individual tastes, although if I look to the New #1s and One Shots section of our Top Comics to Buy for October 16, 2019, I do find some capital B Big books dropping. In fact, while this column generally doesn’t put #1s in our Top 5, there were so many strong debuts this week that we had to make some exceptions.

Was also nice about the high-quality debuts this week is that we get some serious variety from them, ranging from the launch of the ongoing section of Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men revamp with X-Men #1 to the personal and poignant Superman Smashes the Klan #1. So, while quantity for me this week is a bit lacking, there is plenty of quality to go around.

Let’s take a look at this week’s best titles….

Top Comics to Buy for October 16, 2019

*PICK OF THE WEEK*
X-Men #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Leinel Francis Yu
Inker: Gerry Alanguilan
Colorist: Sunny Gho
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
DAWN OF X!
The X-Men find themselves in a whole new world of possibility... and things have never been better! Jonathan Hickman (HOUSE OF X, POWERS OF X, SECRET WARS) and superstar artist Leinil Yu (NEW AVENGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA) reveal the saga of Cyclops and his hand-picked squad of mutant powerhouses!
Why It’s Cool: After the absolute tour de force that was Jonathan Hickman’s alternating House of X and Powers of X series (illustrated by Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva, respectively, with colors by Marte Gracia), we are beyond excited to see what he has planned for transitioning this new and exciting era of X-Men into the monthly ongoing realm of comics. And you know what? It all starts here. We fully expect big things in this first issue, much how the most shocking changes and concepts were somewhat front-loaded (or at least deeply foreshadowed) in House of X. This is a can’t miss comic.

Cult Classic: Creature Feature #1
Writer: Eliot Rahal
Artist: John Bivens
Colorist: Jerrie & Monahan
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
Eons ago, visitors from outer space buried an item of unimaginable power in the primordial swamps that would one day become King Lake-a quaint little basin on the edge of Whisper, USA. Millions of years later, a comet's radioactive waves awaken the monster slumbering beneath the lake. As the beast feeds on America's sweet, delicious youth, brain-slugs infect the quiet town, causing victims to vomit up their kill-hungry, zombified skeletons. But for seventeen-year-old Jarrod Parker, none of that stuff matters much. For him, this isn't about the Apocalypse. It's about payback. Nothing-not his friends, not the undead, not even the end of the world-will keep him from vengeance.
Why It’s Cool: Writer Eliot Rahal is returning to the Cult Classic Universe, a place where B-movies and ‘80s nostalgia is strong...yet always with a slightly darker sensibility than the shine that some other recent properties tend to give it. This first issue feels polished and accessible, a great entry point not only for the town of Whipser (first and last seen in Cult Classic: Return to Whisper), but into the sensibilities and goals of this entire comics project. It’s also really well-illustrated and suspenseful. If you’re looking for something wholly new, this is a great comic to scratch that itch with.

Once and Future #3
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
Gran and Duncan are in a race against time to get back to the Otherworld. The sword in the stone awaits, and he who pulls the sword from the stone becomes King.
Why It’s Cool: Our committee (of one) is nothing if not easily intrigued by stories steeped in Aruthurian mythos, and what do we have here? A story that is basically 100 percent predicated on its heavy use of Aruthurian mythos. That’s the foundation, anyway. This is also a comic that thrives on the excellent characterization of its too leads...a hapless just-about-middle aged man and his monster-hunting, no-nonsense grandmother. Dan Mora is also an absolute powerhouse of an artist, doing unsurprisingly gorgeous work here with a not-insignificant assist from Tamra Bonvillain’s colors.

Something is Killing the Children #2.jpg

Something is Killing the Children #2
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Werther Dell’edera
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
Children are dying in the town of Archer's Peak and the ones who survive bring back terrible stories. A strange woman named Erica Slaughter has appeared and says she fights these monsters behind the murders, but that can't possibly be true. Monsters aren't real... are they?
Why It’s Cool: Something is Killing the Children #1 did a great job building a central mystery for this comic to build from. Something is Killing the Children #2 brings a pair of new characters (who seem quite likely to actually be our leads) into better focus...that being the once-again-no-nonsense monster hunter (who hilariously likes to set up bases at restaurants that are not-quite Applebees, because they are empty and have big tables), and the grieving brother whose sister might still be out there.

Superman Smashes the Klan #1
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Gurihiru
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $7.99
The year is 1946, and the Lee family has moved from Metropolis' Chinatown to the center of the bustling city. While Dr. Lee is greeted warmly in his new position at the Metropolis Health Department, his two kids, Roberta and Tommy, are more excited about being closer to their famous hero, Superman!
While Tommy adjusts to the fast pace of the city, Roberta feels out of place, as she tries and fails to fit in with the neighborhood kids. As the Lees try to adjust to their new lives, an evil is stirring in Metropolis: the Ku Klux Klan. When the Lee family awakens one night to find a burning cross on their lawn, they consider leaving town. But the Daily Planet offers a reward for information on the KKK, and their top two reporters, Lois Lane and Clark Kent, dig into the story.
When Tommy is kidnapped by the KKK, Superman leaps into action-with help from Roberta! But Superman is still new to his powers-he hasn't even worked out how to fly yet, so he has to run across town. Will Superman and Roberta reach Tommy in time?
Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio serial "Clan of the Fiery Cross," Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints, The Terrifics, New Super-Man) presents his personal retelling of the adventures of the Lee family as they team up with Superman to smash the Klan.
Why It’s Cool: Simply put, this comic is important and powerful, reminding us that some of the dark forces currently at work in our country have been here for many years...but also that the decency of the vast majority of people here (be it in the kindness many show to neighbors, or the personification of our ideals that is The Superman), rises up to fight them. This is a more personal story than much of Gene Luen Yang’s previous DC work, one that mixes experiences from his childhood (which he heart-rendingly details in the comics’ back matter) with Superman’s long history combating hate and hate groups. It all adds up to an immersive and deeply emotional comic that even with its over-sized length is nearly impossible to put down once you get started.

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New #1s and One-Shots

Absolute Carnage: Avengers #1
Cult Classic: Creature Feature #1
Killswitch #1
Marked #1
Marvel Tales: Ghost Rider #1
Mask: I Pledge Allegiance to the Mask #1
Metal Men #1
Revenger: Halloween Special One-Shot
Robotech Remix #1
Superman Smashes the Klan #1
Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Batman Knightfall #1
Wonder Woman Giant #1
X-Men #1

Others Receiving Votes

Absolute Carnage #4
Aquaman #53
Archie #708
Batman #81
Captain America #15
Gideon Falls #17
Guardians of the Galaxy #10
History of the Marvel Universe #4
Inferior Five #2
Midnight Vista #2
Steeple #2
Strayed #3
Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #4
Trees Three Fates #2
Vampirella #4 (Look, I’m a HUGE fan of Christopher Priest’s writing)

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 BatmansBookcase.