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!
Vince’s Picks:
Commanders in Crisis ($3.99) – I’m a Steve Orlando mark, and this is possibly my favorite “pitch” for a book that he’s ever done. A group of heroes cast off from other worlds during respective crisis events in each of their realities band together to take on universal threats and protect their new home world. It screams DC Comics “capital C” Crisis, or maybe post-crisis, which is a status quo in superhero comics that is oftentimes more exciting than the preceding event itself. Orlando looks to bring his typical brand of heart mixed with encyclopedic superhero knowledge to his own crafted world with Davide Tinto, who you may have seen on some of the recent IDW “Marvel” & “Star Wars Adventures” stuff, among other things here and there. His work on those books was definitely solid, if unassuming, but I can tell you that he looks ready to break out with this series.
Dark Nights: Death Metal #4 ($4.99) – Speaking of Crises, “Death Metal” really starts to feel like one with issue #4. I think it’s the actual inclusion of the previous crisis events into the plot, and the characters that come with that. Superboy Prime getting involved has really bumped up my interest. Greg Capullo is as good as ever, as every couple pages you get a bombastic or iconic image to pour over. I don’t know if people are generally worn out on “Metal” stuff or not yet, but I’m still invested in it.
Total: $8.98
Kate’s Picks:
Swamp Thing: Twin Branches ($16.99) – With the Swamp Thing TV series airing on the CW this fall, you couldn’t have asked for better timing. There’s also a YA bent with this work, and that’s something DC has done right of late.
Commanders in Crisis #1 ($3.99) – Some look to comics for pure escapism, while others like their funny books to lean into the current moment and provide new perspective on socio-political issues. Steve Orlando and Davide Tinto’s new series looks like it’s going to do both. Added bonus: that cheesecake-with-a-twist variant cover by David Talaski makes me chuckle.
Total: $20.98.
Jason’s Picks:
Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #1 ($4.99) – I’ve always tried to make my way into the “Warhammer” world, but with such vast lore it always felt like a hassle. Luckily “Marneus Calgar” is toted as a great entry point for newcomers!
Commanders in Crisis #1 ($3.99) – After reading “Martain Manhunter” I’ve become quite a fan of Steve Orlando. Once I saw that he was coming out with an indie title such as “Commanders in Crisis” I knew I had to check it out!
Total: $8.98.
Mark’s Picks:
The Magic Fish ($16.99) – This story sounds really interesting to me. A kid is exploring who he is through the stories he reads, while trying to find a way to connect to parents that don’t speak the same language―in this case literally, since the parents are most fluent in Vietnamese whereas the main character is more fluent in English. The idea of exploring the relationship between identity and the stories that can help us unlock it and explore it, is something I find immensely appealing. I’m not familiar with Trung Le Nguyen’s work, but what I’ve seen of this book looks gorgeous.
Avatar: The Last Airbender—Katara and the Pirate’s Silver ($12.99) – Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman, and Adele Matera team up again for a new “Avatar: The Last Airbender” comic, this time a standalone graphic novel. This particular story actually takes place within the show’s timeline, mid season two, and it really nails the tone. This really does feel like a missing episode of the show.
Continued belowTotal: $29.98. Yeah, I know, I know…
Johnny’s Picks:
The Comics Journal #306 ($14.99) – In my very modest moonlighting as a comics reviewer, it has always remained stultifyingly evident that when it comes to comics criticism, I’m often in over my head when it comes to what I know about comics vs. what I don’t. I’m learning. I’m growing. What has helped me immensely over the course of my relationship with comics has always been “The Comics Journal.” Often antagonistic to comics I love, but ALWAYS steering me towards more comics and creators I didn’t even know about and have grown to love, TCJ has been a textbook of sorts for me- an instrument of learning. What I mean to say is that if you’re looking for a consistently strong voice on a wide variety of comics, if you’re excited to read interviews with creators both independent and mainstream, and if you’re looking to fully engage with the medium you love, this is the magazine for you. This issue has an interview with long-time New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, an essay about political cartoons from Carta Monir, some sketchbook material from the always fantastic artist Chris Visions, and an assuredly buzzworthy meditation on “Dilbert” creator, the controversial Scott Adams.
X of Swords Handbook #1 (4.99) Anyone else remember “Stryfe’s Strike File”? No? Just this old fogey? Well, I only mention it to say that, like “Stryfe’s Strike File,” this XoS supplementary guide is a completely unnecessary helping of information that (at this point) you could probably just find on the internet somewhere. But, if you’re like me, you love books like “The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe” or “Who’s Who in the DC Universe,” that collect short biographies of characters (in this case, the principal X-characters starring in the hit crossover), usually with some interesting artists adding supplemental artwork, this might be the book for you. And especially if you’re looking for a quick way to catch up to the events leading up to THE EVENT, I think this is the place to go.
Total: $19.98
Christopher’s Pick:
Life is Strange: Partners in Time #1 ($3.99) – Max, Chloe and Rachel are back, yay! Emma Vieceli and Claudia Leonardi’s follow up to one of my favourite video games has been pretty solid, and I’m curious if we’ll start to see it sync with what we learned in the sequel at all, or if it’ll continue to forge its own timeline. Either way, I’ll be there to check it out.
Total: $3.99
