The Nib 8 Featured Columns 

Comics Should Be Cheap (1/27/21)

By | January 26th, 2021
Posted in Columns | % Comments

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!

Kate’s Pick:

The Nib #8 ($14.99) – With 2020 in the rear view mirror, creators are starting to turn to reflections on a year that gave us a pandemic, a reckoning with racism, a contentious election in the United States, and economic collapse. But the theme of this issue is that life goes on: births, marriages, life, death. It’s time to make sense of the chaos of this first year of this new decade that was far from what anyone expected, and will certainly set the tone for the rest of it.

Total: $14.99. Honorable mention goes to a new trade edition of “Godzilla: History’s Greatest Monster” because in this house we love our big beautiful stompy kaiju. (Also, hopefully my better half doesn’t read this…because that’s one of his birthday presents.)

Mark’s Picks:

Bad Machinery: The Case of the Severed Alliance ($12.99) – The final volume of John Allison’s “Bad Machinery.” While it’s unfortunate that the latter half of it only came out in the pocket edition format, it’s still nice to have the series in print. Basically, I’ll take what I can get. Yes, the “Bad Machinery” series looks incredibly weird and mismatched on my shelf, but it’s mine. Seriously, if you haven’t already, check this series out. It’s full of strange mysteries and John Allison humour.

Colonel Weird: Cosmagog #4 ($3.99) – I don’t often cry when I read a comic. When I do, it’s for something exceptional. So, pick up Jeff Lemire and Tyler Crook’s exceptional comic.

40 Seconds #4 ($2.99) – The problem with ComiXology series is that they’re announced, but you can’t subscribe straight away. By the time you can subscribe, there’s no second announcement to remind you that the series exists, so I usually don’t end up finding them until the series is nearly over, which is the case for “40 Seconds.” I’m always looking for good sci-fi, and I like Christopher Mitten’s art, so hopefully I’ll click with this. As always, I’m a little cautious, since it’s doing the monthly comics format, which I feel rarely works with the kind of sci-fi I like to read.

Total: $19.97. Also, I’m picking up “Monstress” #31.

Johnny’s Picks:

Batman Black and White #2 ($5.99) – Sophie Campbell. David Aja. Dustin Weaver. Gabriel Hardman & Corrine Bechko. Tom King & Mitch Gerads. Jock. BATMAN. Like, what more do you folks need?

Future State Legion of Super-Heroes #1 ($3.99)– There are a few huge blind-spots in my DC Universe lore that I am (perhaps blissfully) unaware of, and the Legion of Super-Heroes likely sits at the top of that metaphorical ziggurat. Present-day DC lore is enough to keep me pre-occupied, I don’t need to add future lore to the mix to addle me even further. All this to say, I’m willing to make a sacrifice here and there when the situation arises. This particular situation is that I generally follow artist Riley Rossmo wherever he goes. His quirky, dynamic pencils are a fun counterpoint to normal superhero funnybooks, and I’m betting this little two issue stint is enough to whet my whistle for more Legion stories, or at the very least provide a fun little diversion to my normal reading habits.

The Nib #8 ($14.95) – If you like political cartoons, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better than what the folks at The Nib are putting out. However, the cartoons contained in this volume dig much deeper than the political- stories of struggle, love, birth, death, and loss in a year that can only be described as chaotic. Highest possible recommendation.

Continued below

New Mutants #15 ($3.99)– Vita Ayala and Rod Reis are the writer/artist team this book was meant to have.

Total: $28.92. Alright, I missed the $20 mark by a little, but blame it on all the great comics!

Vince’s Picks:

Future State: Suicide Squad #1 ($5.99) – This is the one, this week. This is the “Future State” book that knocked my socks off. It introduces a few intriguing new teams to the post-“Death Metal” DCU, including a new look suicide squad that looks to continue under the ‘Infinite Frontier’ publishing banner. But the “Black Adam” backup story is really the star of the thing, acting as a de facto “DC One Million” sequel that delivers on every level. I loved it.

Other History of the DC Universe #2 ($5.99) – The first issue of this took me by surprise with how carefully crafted it was. Giuseppe Camuncoli’s art was as detailed and chameleonic as it needed to be to navigate what amounts to decades of DCU history. Even though this is set in the “History of the DC Universe” format of prose combined with very posed, still life imagery, there is still a ton of eye candy to look at. John Ridley’s script for the first one was amazingly layered and nuanced. He’s a quality writer, so the only reason I’m really surprised is because it took some chances I didn’t expect DC to want to take. Give that one a shot, and then pick up this one.

Post Americana #2 ($3.99) – I’m still not sure I’m entirely sold on this future dystopia plot actually being coherent or not, but I will give the book this: it is freakin’ wacky. Steve Skroce serves up a brutally violent and chuckle-worthy tale that, if nothing else, will send a few surprises and guffaws your way.

Total: $15.97

Brian’s Picks:

Black [AF] Devils Dye ($16.99) – I’ve been wanting to read more of the “Black” world created in part by Kwanza Osajyefo. I’ve enjoyed the bits I’ve read, but have, admittedly, fallen on. However, a miniseries written by Vita Ayala and illustrated by Liana Kangas is the perfect excuse to dig back in, and with the trade coming out this week, it seems like as good a time as any to give it another shot.

Future State: Batman/Superman #1 ($3.99) – Gene Luen Yang and Ben Oliver sounds like a team I would dream book on a title.

Total: $20.98 – Dig through the couch cushions for the extra buck if you must.


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