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!
Kevin’s Picks:
“Amazing Spider-Man: Full Circle” #1 ($9.99) – I love stories like this. I’m all about creativity in how stories get crafted, and doing a round robin, 80-page book where one creative team has to pick up right where the other left off is just super fun. Throw in some of the best writers and artists that Marvel has working for them right now and this is a gimme for me. I know the price tag may stop some people, but this is the kind of book I imagine getting multiple reads out of. And comics are supposed to be fun.
“Marauders” #1 ($4.99) – Alright here we go, this is the first true test for the Dawn of X era. We’ve gotten 13 weeks of Hickman-written books and gorgeous art by Larraz, Silva, and Gracia, and now we have the first week of non-Hick-men. Gerry Duggan and Matteo Lolli bring us the second Dawn of X launch title, and one with one of the most interesting concepts. Pirates baby! How will they do?
“Immortal Hulk” #25 ($5.99) – I’ve slept long enough on this book and need to catch up. This cover is Alex Ross cosmic-looking gold, and everyone as said repeatedly this is Al Ewing and Joe Bennett at their best. Time to find out with this oversized celebratory issue.
Total: $20.97. A little over. But honestly, if you had told me a year ago I’d be wanting to spend this much of my own money on Marvel comics, I might’ve not believed you. Sure I host our Marvel podcast here and we have some review copies, but these are books I want to buy and own. There’s just so much good stuff coming out right now.
Kate’s Picks:
“Count Crowley Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter” #1 ($3.99) – Cheesy horror movie hosts are my jam – – remember who live-tweeted the “DC Meets Svengoolie” panel at NYCC this year? And while I haven’t been a total fan of the various Elvira series of late, this one looks to blend a real horror story with the camp pretty effectively.
“Sham” #6 ($4.00) – If you enjoyed Dark Horse’s “MST3K” series earlier this year, which riffed on public domain comics, you’ll enjoy this series. Though these run more adult than Tom Servo and Friends, so don’t leave this one open at the office or where young eyes might see.
“GI Joe” #2 ($3.99) – I’m continually intrigued to see where this series can go next and how it can create a story that resonates with the socio-political climate of 2019 while retaining all the nostalgia that still makes GI Joe popular.
“Martian Manhunter” #9 ($3.99) – Everything about this series just keeps getting better and better, and there’s some fascinating elements of this J’onn J’onzz story that could play well on Supergirl (and perhaps be more compelling than what we are presently getting).
Total: $15.97
Jason’s Picks:
”Marauders” #1 ($4.99)‒ Yes, for my first one I’m starting on the expansive side! But, what’s not to love about X-Men and pirates?
”The Amazing Mary Jane” #1 ($3.99)‒ Let’s call this one more of a curious buy, than going all out and buying each issue. Mary Jane is an interesting character when written well. So who knows. Let’s face it tiger and try the jackpot?
”Black Adam: Year of The Villain” #1 ($4.99)‒ I haven’t been keeping up with much of “Year of The Villain.” But, I am a fan of Black Ada. Here’s to hoping it’s good and includes an awesome fight with Evil Shazam!
Continued below”Doctor Mirage” #3 ($3.99)‒ I’ve absolutely loved every issue of Valiant’s newest Doctor Mirage so far. With this third issue I feel that statement will continue to be true.
Wow, four comics later and I only have two dollars left. Comic’s really should be cheap!
Total:$17.96
Mark’s Picks:
“Harrow County” – Volume Four library edition ($39.99)— This final arc of “Harrow County” is the one I’m most excited to see in this oversized format. Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook did this thing in the final issue where they have Emmy say farewell to Harrow County by moving through various locations, shown as a series of double-page spreads, and while this sequence was already powerful in the original floppy and the trade collection, I feel like the library edition will take it to another level. It’s a sequence about space and a library edition simply has more space to work with. As always, the library edition will collect all the bonus material from both the floppies and trades, although in this case I suspect there will be some new material as well since the final two trades had very little sketchbook material compared to their predecessors. Plus we’ll finally see the short story “Tales of Harrow County: Lovelorn” in print (it was accidentally left out of “Harrow County” #31) and Chris Schweizer is doing another introduction in comics form (I love these so much. They’re the most charming introductions I’ve ever read).
For a long time leading up to this book’s release, I was expecting to be a little sad when it finally came out since it’s the ending of a comic I love so much—the end of an era!—but now that “Tales from Harrow County: Death’s Choir” has been announced, it’s got me stoked for more instead. “Harrow County” ended when the story had to end, and I wouldn’t have wanted to see it artificially dragged out, but while it was running it was my favorite comic on the stands and the prospect of returning to this world has me grinning so much my face is starting to hurt.
Total: $39.99. It’s worth going over for library editions of this quality.
Erik’s Picks:
“Amazing Mary Jane” #1 ($3.99) – I have high hopes for this book. If writer Leah Williams and artist Carlos Gomez can deliver a slice of life comic set in the 616 while carving out a distinct voice for MJ, I’ll be sticking around for the long haul.
“Swamp Thing Giant” #1 ($4.99) – I love a solid one-off story and these DC Giants have been delivering with some great creative talent. This week, Mark Russell takes on Swamp Thing with artist Marco Santucci!
Total: $8.98
Brian’s Picks:
Money Shot #1 ($3.99) – I am genuinely excited to see what Sarah Beattie, one of the funniest people on the internet, will bring to this comic. Tim Seeley and Rebekah Isaacs would have been more than enough to get me to check this out, but the incorporation of new folks into comics is always a positive.
Justice League Dark #16 ($3.99) – This book has been a bit of a sleeper since debuting, but has really coalesced into something special. The combination of the team on the page and the team off the page – especially artist Alvaro Martinez Bueno, who continues to impress at every turn – really is making for a book that feels important to the overall DC Universe, but not essential reading, from a plot perspective. But from a talent perspective, essential is the first word I’d use.
Marauders #1 ($4.99) – Bring on the ‘Dawn of X.’ Bring on the pirates. Bring on Kitty Kate Pryde. Booya.
Second Coming #4 ($3.99) – The book that DC abandoned and AHOY! picked up continues to look like a really dumb move for the former and a brilliant one for the latter.
Total: $16.96
Vince’s Picks:
King Thor #2 ($3.99) – Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic together again to close out the Thor epic that they started all those years ago. A “can’t miss” prospect, even for someone like me who has mostly fallen away from reading Marvel.
Marauders #1 ($4.99) – The ‘Dawn of X’ books are finally flowing, baby
Total: $8.98
