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!
The Unwritten #42 ($2.99) – My favorite comic meets one of my favorite myths. As if I wasn’t going to buy it already. And, still, maybe now will start getting some answers about the complications #35 introduced… but I wouldn’t count on it.
Adventure Time #9 ($3.99) – Algebraic! Schmow-zow! Mathematical! I’m just tossing exclamations from Adventure Time at you because we have already explained multiple times why “Adventure Time” is one of the the best all-ages comics out there these days, whether or not you actually have seen the show! Rhombus!
Mind MGMT #6 ($3.99) – “I really wanted to love this series” is typically the softening blow before “but I didn’t.” In this case, though, it took until issue #5 of this series for everything to fall into place and make me realize how invested I truly am in this series. A slow start, sure, but with how excited I am for this week’s issue, I think it is safe to say it certainly paid off.
Batman Incorporated $4 ($2.99) – Grant is back, baby. I remember obsessing over each issue of “Batman & Robin” before the next one came out, and that level of excitement is back for the new volume of “Batman Incorporated.” That is, of course, assuming the rest of Morrison’s run has Bruce solely as Matches Malone, which it will, right? …right?
FF #23 ($2.99) – Damn, this is already at twenty-three issues? It seems like it launched just yesterday. Jonathan Hickman’s stay with the Fantastic Four ends with this issue. If you’ve been following our site for a while, you will probably know that nearly all of us are big fans of his work with the first family. I may have left previous issues of his post-primary story run off of my list, but there’s no way this wasn’t getting a spot.
Total: $16.95
I know it’s a little early, but I can’t contain my excitement for next week!
The Shaolin Cowboy Adventure Magazine TP ($15.99) – Shaolin Cowboy is back! Everyone else can just go home now. I think there are some other decent books coming out this week, but right now I don’t care about them. I’m too excited for more Shaolin Cowboy! If you’re not familiar with the character created by master artist Geof Darrow, just check out my recent “Off the Cape” to find out what you’re missing. This TP is mostly two prose novellas, but it’s fully illustrated by Darrow and Gary Gianni (“Prince Valiant”). The writers involved are long-time Darrow friend and collaborator Andrew Vacchs, doing a Shaolin Cowboy story, and retired police officer/crime author Michael A. Black. I’ve already seen the advance review copy, and I assure you this book is worth every penny!
Multiple Warheads #1 ($3.99) – OK, so there are actually a few things I’m excited for this week (more “Ghost,” “Mind MGMT,” “Debris”, “DHP,” etc.), but the one thing good enough to stand beside the Cowboy on my CSBC list is Brandon Graham’s new book, “Multiple Warheads.” The man is good enough to make a rebooted Rob Liefield comic (“Prophet,” also out this week!) one of my favorite monthlies, so anything he does on his own must be even better.
Total: $19.98, and a lot more if you count all of those name-drops above.
Invincible #96 ($2.99) – I have been loving this arc, as we finally know what caused the divide between Robot and Monster Girl and how much further it actually will push them. Plus, Invincible himself is laid up and things are getting desperate. Shit’s getting real as we approach #100.
Continued belowMultiple Warheads: Alphabet to Infinity #1 ($3.99) – Brandon Graham is about as sure of a shot to make good comics as anyone around. With him both writing and drawing, this one is pretty much locked in to be awesome. I really cannot wait.
The Unwritten #42 ($2.99) – For some reason it blows my mind that we are 42 issues in. But whatever, this comic is still rock solid. In fact, this past arc has been ridiculously enjoyable. I can’t wait to see where Carey and Gross take us. The only thing I know is I will enjoy it.
FF #23 ($2.99) – The last issue of Hickman’s FF/Fantastic Four work. How can you not pick this up? Plus, Nick Dragotta art and young Franklin being taught by old Franklin how to be a god. I ask again…how can you not pick this up?
Total: $12.96 (super light week – save some money for another day)
Invincible #96 ($2.99) – The story behind Robot and Monster Girl has been one of my favorites for a while now. I actually prefer it to whatever is going on with Mark at this point. It will be interesting to get the end of their story and that happens here. It’s crazy that this book is almost to #100! That went by pretty damn quick.
Li’l Depressed Boy #14 – ($2.99) – The movie theater era has been awesome. Having once worked in a movie theater in high school it’s been a nice nostalgic ride. Add to that all the drama that appears to be on the horizon between LDB, his new flame and Jazz and you’re set for a much better time than LDB. Too bad for him great but great for us the readers!
A-Babies vs X-Babies One-Shot ($3.99) – This should be a lot of fun. Period. On top of my excitement for this book my son is also pretty damn excited for it. Breaking it to him that it wasn’t actually coming out last week was rough. Hopefully it’ll be in my shop this week. I am sad that it isn’t Skottie Young interiors but I am sure it will be just fine.
AvX Consequences #3 ($3.99) – This has been a surprise for me. I bought the first issue not expecting much but so far I have enjoyed each of the issues a lot. I think the $3.99 price point is a dollar too much without a doubt but as far as the content it has been solid.
Wolverine Max #1 ($3.99) – Wolverine doing what he does best in a Max book sells itself as far as I’m concerned. Hopefully it is as good as Fury Max. My guess is that it will be better.
Total: $17.95
Journey Into Mystery #645 ($2.99) – Kieron Gillen’s final issue, the end of the best Thor-related story of the past decade. I’m not sure that I’m ready.
Multiple Warheads: Alphabet to Infinity #1 ($3.99) – I never read the original Multiple Warheads, but who cares? It’s Brandon Graham!
Prophet #30 ($3.99) – The write-up for the previous entry pretty much applies 100% to this one as well.
Revival #4 ($2.99) – Revival is one of my favorite new series of the year, and is definitely one that needs to get much more love than it gets. Pick this up if you like yourself, don’t pick this up if you hate puppies and kittens.
Bravest Warriors #1 ($3.99) – A new series from Pendleton Ward, creator of Adventure Time. I’m not sure what else would ever need to be said to brew interest in this series, so I’m not even going to try!
Or, if you’re untrusting, just pick up Adventure Time #9 instead I suppose.
Total: $17.95 (P.S. Last week I told you to get A-Babies v X-Babies and it didn’t come out. If you’ve got the $2.99 left over from last week, use it this week.)
Mind MGMT #6 (3.99)
– If the last page of issue five are any indication, this should be an explosive finale to the first arc of the best comic book on the stands. This is an emotional story crammed with content and couldn’t work in any other format. If you haven’t tried this book yet, there’s something wrong with you.Continued belowPunisher War Zone #1 (2.99) – Rucka’s previous “Punisher” work was a slow, stomach-knotting look at the Punisher and his new apprentice. “War Zone” looks to be the exact opposite, filled with action and bright costumes. I expect it to still be high quality.
Total: $6.98 – It’s a small week, but these are two solid buys.
Dancer TP ($16.99) — Yes, I’m shelling out (Michelling out?) seventeen dollars for this trade, even though three of my favourite series have issues coming out this week and there are a couple of interesting-looking first issues hitting the shelves as well. That’s not even to mention that seventeen dollars is a little steep for a collected miniseries, even one as excellent as “Dancer”. And yet? I will be on this like white on rice (or shall I say, White on rice? okay, I’ll stop, but I’m pretty sure Señor Chang made punning with your own name cool). The reason why? “Dancer” is just that great. Elegantly merging espionage-thriller conventions with a retro-cool art style and a neat sci-fi concept, “Dancer” is everything an indie miniseries should be — gorgeous, original, and compactly written. If you missed this when it was in single issues, now’s the time to immerse yourself in one heck of a stylish comic — and if you read it digitally like me, it’s an opportunity to get one gorgeous piece of work onto your bookshelf.
Revival #4 ($2.99) — The three issues I alluded to above were “Debris” #4, “Revival” #4 and “Li’l Depressed Boy” #14, and while those series are all equally excellent and every single one of those issues deserves your attention, all but “Revival” are priced above three dollars. That makes “Revival” my choice by default, but if you want some gravy on top of that, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the series in currently unravelling one weighty central mystery — missing out on a set of clues and red herrings at this point may well be fatal. Then, of course, there’s the sheer quality of the issues so far. Tim Seeley’s writing on this series has been fantastic, slowly developing the characters and keeping the mood oppressive and creepy, while Mike Norton’s art has struck just the right wintry and desolate tone — likeFargo but with zombies in. If #4 is anywhere as shivery and compelling as the first three instalments, your three dollars will be well spent.
Total: $19.98
Punisher: War Zone #1 ($2.99) – I recently called Greg Rucka’s recently ended Punisher run one of the very best Punisher stories in his history. “War Zone” feels like it’s going to be different on the surface, but Rucka’s vision has been so sure that I can’t imagine that it won’t fit in just fine. Marco Chacchetto has blossomed into one hell of an artist, as well, and can now be counted among my very favorites.
Captain America #19 ($3.99) – I think it’s lost a little steam in the last couple years, but Brubaker’s Captain America run is also of the definitive sort. It’s worth being there to see it all end, and to say goodbye to a writer and a run that deserves a lot of fanfare.
Revival #4 ($2.99) – Top comic talents Tim Seeley and Mike Norton’s terrifying “rural noir” is, next to Saga, the most “must read” thing on the shelves month in and month out.
The Unwritten #42 ($2.99) – It’s never not great.
Batman Incorporated #4 ($2.99) – Grant Morrison is taking an “unofficial” sort of break from superhero comics. The overall quality of his run on Action Comics can be debated at great length. We’ve seen him move away from these stories with stuff like Joe the Barbarian and Happy! Even though his focus is turning elsewhere, let’s not overlook the work he’s still doing with Batman. A run that started several years ago and is every bit as good now as it was then. Celebrate it, while we’ve got it.
Total: $15.95
