Buying comics can be an expensive hobby. A lot of fans simply can’t afford everything they’re interested in, due to rising prices and the over-saturation of the market with superhero titles.
That’s why we’re here. Every week, the Multiversity staff is asked “What would you buy this week if you couldn’t go over $20?” and shares their reasons why, in order to help others who might have similar tastes make their own decisions in buying comics on a budget. Be sure to leave your own picks in the comments!
Conan the Barbarian #16 ($3.50) – Davide Gianfelice! Vision quests! This is the Conan book I never knew that I always wanted; in fact, I never knew I always wanted a Conan book. The last arc was, in my opinion, spectacular. Brian Wood has perhaps made the best Conan comic for readers unfamiliar with Conan, such as myself, bringing a touch of introspection to the barbarian and crafting some great stories. In fact, Wood’s work on this has gotten me to pick up some of Roy Thomas’s old goodies from back in the day.
FF #7 ($2.99) – Similar to when the New 52 happened, Marvel NOW! prompted me to pick up a bunch of new books; also like the New 52, that number steadily dropped. At this point, “FF” is one of the few NOW! books I’m still reading — not that the others were bad, but “FF” is just so good. Between this and “Hawkeye,” I doubt anyone is having as much fun over at Marvel as Matt Fraction is.
Fatale #14 ($3.50) – Say it with me: Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips working together means a blind buy. This is the last of the current wave of stand-alone one-shots, so now is the perfect time to jump on and see what you have been missing. Hellboy fans will particularly dig this issue; as they well know, Lovecraftian horrors and Nazis have long been proven to be a great combination. It has been very neat to see Brubaker and Phillips stray further and further from their comfort zones, and I can’t wait to see how far they go.
The Legend of Luther Strode #5 ($3.50) – It seems like just yesterday I opened up the first issue of “The Strange Talent of Luther Strode” and was blown away by how strong of a debut it was. Now Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore are putting the finishing touches of the second miniseries between writing and cover art gigs at DC and Marvel, respectively. Time sure does fly when you’re talented.
B.P.R.D. #107 ($3.50) – Because it’s B.P.R.D.
Total: $16.99
Regular Show #1 ($3.99) – You either get “Regular Show” or you don’t. I, however, love it and hope that it does as good translating to comic book form as “Adventure Time” did.
Wonder Woman #20 ($2.99) – You guys, this is on my list every month. Not much more to say about it. Why can’t more New 52 books be like this? We were told that the “New 52” was about taking chances. So why is “Wonder Woman” of maybe 5-10 DC Comics series that actually do that?
Fatale #14 ($3.50) – Never enough love for “Fatale.” Hard to believe how often this series is left out of the discussion when it comes to the best comics currently being published.
Revival #10 ($2.99) – Another monthly list-maker. Seeley and Norton capture the rural areas of Wisconsin perfectly and lightly toss those unassuming settings in with some truly creepy stuff.
FF #7 ($2.99) – So much fun it should be illegal. It’s astonishing how much Fraction packs in to every issue. A book like this makes you wonder how the market can support much worse books being sold for $3.99 and lament the fact that something like this doesn’t sell like hotcakes.
Total: $16.46
Avengers: The Enemy Within #1 ($2.99) – Buy $20 worth of these (or every copy in your local comic book shop, either or) and hand them out to everyone you know and people in the store. Make everyone read this.
Continued belowFF #7 ($2.99) – Buy this too if you have some change left, I guess.
Total: $20 worth of what should be a great start to a great event (please keep “Captain Marvel” going)
B.P.R.D. #107 ($3.50) – The world has gone to hell – this we know. What we don’t yet know is just how bad it really is, and this issue gives insight into that. Harrowing, beautiful work by Laurence Campbell puts this book in entirely new territory.
Supergirl #20 ($2.99) – I really, truly, deeply hope that new writer Michael Alan Nelson doesn’t fuck with the most solid Super book of the New 52. At least Mahmud Asrar is still on board.
Wonder Woman #30 ($2.99) – Consistently intriguing and fun. If you aren’t buying this yet, what is wrong with you?
FF #7 ($2.99) – The most fun you can have in 20 pages. Plus, Mike Allred, c’mon.
Total: $12.47 – A light week means extra money for pizza! Everyone likes pizza, right?
Strange Attractors HC ($19.95) – Last week, this OGN was my alternate pick. The joke’s on me, because it’s release was pushed back to this week, where it’s my only pick. I bought an early copy of this at C2E2 last month, and it’s outstanding. Every piece of this book comes together fluidly which isn’t something you usually see in a project with this many collaborators (one writer, two artists, and two colorists). Don’t miss this.
Total: $19.95 (Alternate suggestion for this week: Helheim #3, which I sure is on someone else’s list here)
Morning Glories #26 Reprint ($1.00) – Oops! There was one page in there that was misprinted. Get the full story now and sell your misprinted one on eBay for mad cash!
Avengers: The Enemy Within #1 ($2.99) – This issue kicks off Kelly Sue’s “Avengers Assemble”/”Captain Marvel” crossover event. As far as I’m concerned, this is a can’t miss book of the week. Kelly Sue’s story of Carol Danvers is one of the most engrossing reads in comics, and to not spend as much time with her is to miss out big time. Stop missing out.
Adventure Time OGN #1: Playing with Fire ($11.99) – I love Adventure Time. Flame Princess is great too. Seems like a win/win situation for me.
Dream Merchant #1 or Dream Thief #1 ($3.50/$3.99) – Flip a coin and grab one of these books to top off your pull this week, because I have no idea which story about dreams will be better: the one where they’re sold or the one where they’re stolen? LEAVE IT ALL TO CHANCE, I SAY!
Total: $19.48 or $19.97, depending what kind of dreamer you are.
Dream Merchant #1 ($3.50) – “Dancer” was one excellent book, so it’s exciting to see Nathan Edmondson take on another high-concept story – you know, in addition to all the other wonderful things he’s done. Plus Novosadov’s art looks wicked.
Helheim #3 ($3.99) – Cullen Bunn, Joelle Jones, undead Vikings – excellent combination all round. And while the second issue was a little flat, knowing this team, it’s likely a bridge to better things.
Doomsday.1 #1 ($3.99) – I… may have developed a soft spot for John Byrne SF, as 80s as his aesthetic can be. Plus the actual mechanics of his SF concepts tend to be very well thought out, and I’d like to see his take on the end of days.
Batwoman #20 ($2.99) – I would like it if this series went back to not sucking soon, please. It’s at its best when it’s as wackadoo and occultish as possible, so the cover is fairly promising.
The Fall of the House of Usher #1 ($3.99) – Richard Corben-adapted Poe? You know it’s going to be weird as all get-out.
Total: $18.46
