By Zack Quaintance — Ah, the always-odd fifth Wednesday, which often feels like a little bonus at the end of whatever month it shows up in. This fifth Wednesday is no different, and out Top Comics to Buy for October 30, 2019 maybe reflect that a bit, featuring as they do four books from one of our favorite rising indie publishers, Vault Comics.

Vault books are always a treat, but this fifth Wednesday also happens to feature some of our committee of one’s favorite Vault titles. We’ll go into detail a bit more below (obviously), but let’s just say that one of the best things about this week was the variety. In addition, there are a ton of new #1 comics this Wednesday, many of which are very very good (see Basketful of Heads, Excalibur, Last Gods, Wolvenheart, and more).

Anyway, it’s a good week...and so let’s get to that aforementioned closer look.

Top Comics to Buy for October 30, 2019

*PICK OF THE WEEK*
Giant Days: As Time Goes By #1
Writer: John Allison
Artist: Max Sarin
Colorist: Whitney Cogar
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $7.99
* One year after their graduation from university, Esther De Groot and Daisy Wooten are back in Sheffield for a reunion with Susan and McGraw.
* The year apart has not been easy for all of them, and this reunion will only draw out the secrets they have all been keeping for too long!
* The series finale of one of the most acclaimed comics series of the decade reveals the future of everyone's favorite best friends!
Why It’s Cool: Giant Days has been an absolute delight for the length of its run, featuring as it does some of the cleverest writing, stories and subtle lessons in all of comics, or, really, in all of recent storytelling. And now, it’s ending with this special oversized issue that will give us a little extra time with all these wonderful characters, who we join as they reunite after some post-college time apart, catching up and airing secrets from that experience. Personally, I think we may end up getting more chances to revisit this world in the future, but for now, this big comic is a perfectly-executed bittersweet goodbye.

The Mall #3
Writer: Michael Moreci and Gary Dauberman
Artist: Zak Harton
Colorist: Addison Duke
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
Warfare spreads through the mall as insidious secrets are unearthed. Below, Ronin and Andre meet a new clan-who pits them against a fabled beast in a game of life and death!
Why It’s Cool: The Mall is an intense and gritty survivalist story, one that bends genres and happens after an apocalypse among a tribalist society that has developed in and beneath a single defunct mall. This concept is a lot, and, as such, there is also a lot going on in this comic. Each new issue brings more and more of the world (as well as what the comic is doing with its story) into focus. It’s fast-paced and violent read, one that really makes you feel deep horror for everyone involved. I love it.

The Plot #2
Writer: Tim Daniel and Michael Moreci
Artist: Joshua Hixson
Colorist: Jordan Boyd
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
A startling revelation leaves the nascent Blaine family unit shaken. Reese and Chase both experience ominous visions.
Why It’s Cool: We’ve had an absolute dearth of excellent new horror comics in 2019, but few that have felt as intense and polished as the debut issue of The Plot. I’m happy to report that the sophomore issue maintains the high level of quality set by the opener. This is a horror mystery story, one that moves seamlessly between threats to characters, puzzles of the past, and some of the eeriest imagery I’ve seen this year in any medium. I love this comic, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys horror storytelling or high level comics craft, which this book doles out in equal measure.

Queen of Bad Dreams #5
Writer: Danny Lore
Artist: Jordi Perez
Colorist: Dearbhla Kelly
Letterer: Andworld
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
FINAL ISSUE! Eleanor will stop at nothing to ensure her dreams endure. Ava is tired of seeing people caught in the crossfire. Daher's not going to let Ava suffer alone, and follows them into the dream world-where they discover the truth about Eleanor and her power. In their most desperate hour, a little unexpected help might save them from this nightmare.
Why It’s Cool: Queen of Bad Dreams #5 is a beautiful and kinetic finale, one that gives readers much to think about, but at the same time — like any fitful dream — this is a story that ultimately leaves those who experience it with more questions than answers. This was a brave comic, the type that took interesting risks with both its plot and its concept. Those risks paid off. I highly recommend this comic. If you’ve missed its run, pick it up in trade. I know I’ll be adding it to my shelf.

Relics of Youth #2
Writer: Matt Nicholas and Chad Rebmann
Artist: Skylar Partridge
Colorist: Vladimir Popov
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
After the destruction of their yacht, Nat and her misfit fellowship are stranded on the island of Oshtia. Worse, they're obviously not alone. A mercenary by the name of Serena leads a group of modern day pirates who wish to plunder the magical paradise. As the group struggles to evade capture, they awaken ancient spirits that have laid dormant for hundreds of years. Soon, their tattoos glow with great power, bestowing the six teenagers with strange abilities. All with an urgent message from the island itself: Protect the last drop of magic.
Why It’s Cool: Our committee (of one) enjoyed the first issue of this comic, but it’s the second issue that really unveils the full scope of what this book is all about. I won’t spoil it here, but I will say that it’s A. very well-executed, and B. a bit of a new frontier for our publisher of the week here, Vault. The creative team is doing a lot well in this comic, but most impressive about Relics of Youth is how distinct and interesting each of the group of teenagers are, always a challenge/problem spot in comics with young protagonists.

New #1s and One-Shots

Basketful of Heads #1
Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1
Chrononauts: Future Shock #1
Crazy One-Shot
DC Aquaman Giant #1
DC Ghosts Giant #1
Disney: The Little Mermaid #1
Doctor Strange Annual #1
Excalibur #1
Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. - Long Night at Goloski Station One-Shot
Joker: Killer Smile #1
Last God #1
Marvel Zombies: Resurrection #1
Red Goblin, Red Death #1
Roku #1
Sandman Universe Presents Hellblazer #1
Savage Avengers Annual #1
Tales From the Dark Multiverse Death of Superman #1
Wolvenheart #1

Others Receiving Votes

Archie 1955 #2
Batman Annual #4
DCeased #6
Deaths Head #4
Ether: Disappearance of Violet Bell #2
Harleen #2
Invisible Kingdom #6
Ironheart #11
Jugheads Time Police #5
Necromancer’s Map #3
SFSX (Safe Sex) #2
Silver Surfer Black #5
Test #5
Venom #19
Wonder Woman Annual #3

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 ComicsBookcase.