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!
Leo’s Picks:
Chew #51 ($3.50) – I don’t know if you all know it, but we’re about to get into the last ten issues of “Chew”. Just let that sink in. In another year or so, one of the best comic series of the last decade will be complete. I’m sure these last ten issues will only continue to up the stakes and bring the laughs as Layman and Guillory have been doing for fifty issues already.
Manifest Destiny #18 ($3.50) – “Manifest Destiny” continues to be one of the most underrated comics out there and continues to be pretty dang creepy at times. There’s two trades out already, with the third out soon, so get on that, everyone.
Spread #11 ($3.50) – Jordan and Strahm continue to make one of the more interesting post-apocalyptic stories in recent comics. As No is put further and further to the test, this issue should be pretty good.
Total: $10.50
Keith’s Picks:
Black Magick #1 ($3.99) – A horror book just in time for Halloween by the great Greg Rucka and the marvelous (and much-missed) Nicola Scott! I’m only familiar with Scott’s superhero work, so it’ll be a treat to see her work with Rucka on a creator-owned book.
Art Ops #1 ($3.99) – With subjects of famous paintings escaping their canvases and entering our world, this series sounds like it could be unique and a lot of fun. Written by Shaun Simon (whose work I’ve unfortunately never read before), the art by Mike Allred in “Art Ops” #1 is guaranteed to look gorgeous.
Justice League: Gods and Men: Batman #1 ($3.99) – This is the first of six one-shots focusing on the Leaguers who are now Gods. The current “Justice League” arc is one of its best and it’ll be interesting to see different creative teams taking on a transformed team member by member. This one-shot is written by veteran Bat-writer Peter J. Tomasi with art by Fernando Pasarin.
Robin: Son of Batman #5 ($3.99) – Talia al Ghul is back! That, and the fact that Patrick Gleason has been stellar on this series so far, is all I need to know in order to snatch this book up.
We Are Robin #5 ($3.99) – I was leery about this series before it came out, but it has definitely proven to be one of the best current Bat-related books. Writer Lee Bermejo has populated this series with sympathetic characters who all deserve to be called Robin.
Total: $19.95
Mark’s Picks:
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1953 #1 — The Phantom Hand & The Kelpie ($3.50) — I couldn’t possibly miss this book. Professor Bruttenholm is in the field with Hellboy. This is something I’ve wanted to read for well over a decade and now it finally exists. And Ben Stenbeck is drawing it and clearly having a blast.
Have I mentioned that I love the hell out of “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.”? If only it were a monthly title…
The Tomorrows #4 ($3.99) — This book has completely escaped my notice until just recently. Andrew MacLean is drawing this issue, and after “Head Lopper” #1 and “ApocalyptiGirl”, that’s a pretty big draw for me. I definitely have to check it out.
Rumble #8 ($3.50) — A Halloween special! C’mon, this is gonna be great.
Total: $10.99. It’s a light week… sort of. Truth is, all the other stuff I really wanted to get completely blew the $20 budget.
Matt Garcia’s Picks:
Island #4 ($7.99) – Farel Dalrymple turns in a huge story, which alone would have been more than enough to justify picking up this magazine. Gael Bertrand also contributes, making this all the more enticing.
Continued belowBlack Magick #1 ($3.99) – Greg Rucka is a great plotter (though he does read a lot better when he has everything collected together) and I want to see what Nicola Scott turns in away from the mainstream superhero narrative. I’m also super-interested in seeing the oversized edition of this book, to hopefully channel that horror noir feel.
Vertigo Quarterly SFX #3 ($7.99) – Generally, these Vertigo anthologies are a lot of fun, and they court a bunch of top-notch talent for their contents. This one’s centered around KRAK!, so expect a lot of things breaking, like faces and fists.
Total: $19.97
Greg’s Picks:
Wild’s End: Enemy Within #2 ($3.99) – The first “Wild’s End” mini, with its War-of-the-World’s-meets-Wind-in-the-Willows vibe, was a surprising engaging read. Although I shouldn’t say it was TOO surprising with writer Dan Abnett and artist INJ Culbard at the helm. Those lads do good work indeed. But this sequel gets to reap the benefits of all the great character work from the first mini, while still being new-reader friendly. Jump on with this ish, the previous one, or all the way back to the first trade.
Black Magick #1 ($3.99) – Very light week this week on account of saving pennies for that P Craig Russell Gallery Edition, but I can’t pass up a new Greg Rucka book. Especially when it has Nicola Scott, cops, a female lead, and magic. Or is that Magick in this case? I am saving enough money to spring for the magazine variant with the Rick Burchett cover, tho.
Total: $7.98
