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:
Batgirl #35 ($2.99) – Whatever unlikely primordial soup DC Comics allowed this book to bloom from, I hope they recognize why a book like this has garnered so much hype. I hope the book sells gangbusters too. I think, even with as much hype as it’s gotten already, the book is still going to surprise people.
Teen Dog #2 ($3.99) – I laughed out loud more at issue #1 of “Teen Dog” than I have at any other comic this year.
Edge of Spider-Verse #5 ($3.99) – Spider-Man re-imagined in some sort of Neo-Tokyo manga homage? You couldn’t dream up a take on Spidey that I could desire to read more.
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #3 ($3.99) – Yo Joe! If you’re not reading this, you’re missing out on the best G.I. Joe book for as far back as I can remember.
Annihilator #2 ($3.99) – Okay, so before issue #1 hit, recommendations for this book began and ended with the names “Grant Morrison” and “Frazer Irving.” But did you read the first issue? It was truly great. I’m in and you should be too.
Total: $18.95
Keith’s Picks:
Batman #35 ($4.99) – Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are my favorite duo in comics right now and “Endgame” looks to be yet another exciting rollercoaster featuring my favorite character in my favorite book. The extra dollar for the extra pages will undoubtedly be worth the price of Bat-admission. With promised status quo-altering events and a cast packed to the gills, I’m expecting Batman’s 75th to be celebrated with extra flair in this six-part Bat-stravaganza.
Batgirl #35 ($2.99) – As you can tell, it’s another great week for all us Bat-people out there. It’s the beginning of a new era for Babs and the amazing team of Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr are just the people to usher her into it. Like last week’s Gotham Academy, “Batgirl” #35 is an artistic triumph of storytelling. Extra attention should be given to Tarr, who has never worked on an ongoing title and is deserving of all the praise she is already receiving before the book has even been released.
Earth 2: World’s End #1 ($2.99) – The monthly “Earth 2” book has been an enjoyable read through the runs of writers James Robinson and Tom Taylor. “Earth 2: World’s End” looks to be an exciting companion piece to the “The New 52: Futures End” weekly and “Earth 2”. Hopefully this book brings “main” Earth and this alternate Earth together in a satisfying way. With so many great characters on Earth 2, I’m looking forward to becoming more acquainted with them. Plus this issue is double-sized!
Wytches #1 ($2.99) – Having read the issue already, I can unequivocally say that this will definitely be on my list of top ten books of the year. Snyder and Jock team up again to scare the pants off us and it’s just in time for the Halloween season. If you aren’t frightened after reading this comic, then you’re probably a wytch. I feel like it’s Christmas (or, more appropriately, Halloween) because my two favorite writers (Snyder and Grant Morrison, of course) have gifted us with books this week.
Annihilator #2 ($3.99) – Speaking of Grant Morrison, the second issue of his miniseries with artist Frazer Irving is cause for celebration. I gave the first issue that elusive perfect ten in my review last month and I have faith that the second issue will be equally as brilliant and packed with mend-bending goodness that only Morrison can provide.
Continued belowTotal: $17.95 – What a week for comics. The New Gods must be smiling down on me!
David’s Picks:
Batgirl #35 ($2.99) – I’ve written about this a whole lot already, and it’s all been positive. That’s not going to stop week of. I think people are going to really like this book.
AXIS #1 ($4.99) – Because I can’t resist an event comic, especially one with Adam Kubert art. LET’S GET WEIRD! LET’S GET WEIRD! KLUH!
Punks: The Comic #1 ($3.99) – Kody Chamberlain’s one of my favorite creators to have a disappearing act over the past while, as his Image series SWEETS was actually quite good. Pair him with Josh Fialkov to continue their webcomic series and I think we might have a winner on our hands.
Copperhead #2 ($3.50) – I loved the first issue of this. Jay Faerber and Scott Godlewski have a super promising book on their hands, and Godlewksi’s art is fantastic. I am all up in the business of this book.
Total: $15.47 – just enough to make a game time decision between a number of other big books this week
Alice’s Picks:
Batgirl #35 ($2.99) – I liked “Gotham Academy” #1 a lot. It was fun, it was charming, it was intriguing and it felt completely different to anything the New 52 has offered us in the past three years. Here’s hoping “Batgirl” #35 with its aesthetic overhaul and presence of Brenden Fletcher proves to continue this push for originality in the New 52.
Batman #35 ($4.99) – One day, I will be able to resist this book. It’s continually increasing price tag has always put it on rocky ground for me, but even when my relationship with DC was at its darkest Snyder and Capullo were still putting their all into making this one of the best Batman books ever. With the promise of their biggest story yet, I can justify at least one more issue to myself.
Wytches #1 ($2.99) – Speaking of Scott Snyder, the first time I read one of his comics was ‘The Black Mirror’ storyline in “Detective Comics” with artists Jock and Francesco Francavilla. It was a book that really endeared me to him as a writer as it was the first time I enjoyed Dick Grayson as Batman. Now, Snyder and Jock are teaming up again to do what Snyder does best: horror. 2014 really is the year of the horror comic renaissance.
Hexed #3 ($3.99) – And speaking of horror comics, the return of “Hexed” has been really great so far. While I’m sad Emma Rios can only provide the covers for the book, Dan Mora’s art has been fantastic in capturing that blend of European and Japanese influences in Rios’ art for the first series and bringing action and frights to the page. If you haven’t checked this out, you really should.
Sex Criminals #8 ($3.50) – I don’t have a clever segue for this one. I just really love “Sex Criminals”. It’s crude, hilarious, heartfelt, touching (no, not like that, sicko) and speaks to an amazing collaboration between Fraction and Zdarsky. I love it.
Total: $18.46
Matthew Garcia’s Picks:
Wytches #1 ($2.99) – Snyder found a strong voice for himself with horror stories, and he found a strong artist to help catch those visions with Jock. “The Black Mirror” remains the best Batman-thing Snyder has ever done, and I’m sure we’re in for something moody and creepy and pretty neat. Though I think there work is cut out for them — I’m not sure if there can be any witch-thing as terrifying as Anjelica Houston pulling off her face.
Annihilator #2 ($3.99) – Impenetrable. Hallucinatory. Bizarre. I mean, these are the things you would come to expect from a Grant Morrison/Frazier Irving book, right? Not to mention something that you look forward to.
Howtoons: ReIgnition #3 ($2.99) – I think the best thing I can say about this book is that I gave it to another teacher friend of mine. He had to return to our LCS the next day because his whole class wanted a set. The fun projects don’t get in the way of the story, which, in turn, helps set up all these fun projects.
Continued belowSabrina #1 ($3.99) – I’m adding this one more for my boyfriend’s benefit: he’s been like, “I’ve been waiting for sixteen years for Sabrina to have her own series!” And now she’s finally getting one. Which is part of that Teen+ series of Archie comics that “Afterlife with Archie” hails from. It looks intriguing. Plus, more witches!
Total: $13.96
Brian’s Picks:
Birthright #1 ($2.99) – Josh Williamson and Andrei Bressan have crafted a really touching, heartbreaking, and beautiful first issue of a series that seems like it can, literally, go anywhere. I am so on board it isn’t even funny.
Earth 2: World’s End #1 ($2.99) – The weeklies have, more or less, been working for DC – couple that with the fact that “Earth 2” has maintained its fun since James Robinson left, and this looks to be another weekly added to my pull.
Manhattan Projects #24 ($3.50) – Truth bomb: I am not as invested in the book as I once was, but it is still a hell of a lot of fun.
Punks #1 ($3.99) – The book is back, and that alone is cause for celebration.
Sex Criminals #8 ($3.50) – What can I say? I’m a brimper.
Klarion #1 ($2.99) – I am a huge Trevor McCarthy mark – that is why I’m picking up this book. Ann Nocenti hasn’t done a single book in the New 52 worth reading, but I am really hoping this turns that streak around.
Total: $19.96
Matthew Meylikhov’s Picks:
Blacksad: Amarillo ($17.99) – Forget everything else. Nothing else matters. There’s a new Blacksad comic available in the States, and now it is our time to get it! That’s right, everyone’s favorite detective non-space cat is back and on a whole new adventure, this time putting him on a semi-vacation that turns into a side job driving a prize Cadillac across the country in the 1950s. But it’s Blacksad, and nothing can ever go right. Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido have done amazing things with this series so far, and I can’t wait to read the latest installment. I am chomping at the bit. Do you hear me chomping away? Nom nom nom.
Birthright #1 ($2.99) – Ok, when I said “everything else,” I didn’t really mean it. There are lots of other neat comics coming out this week, and plenty that are worth your support. But, for my money, if I had to pick one book this week? I’d go with “Birthright,” Josh Williamson’s new joint with with Andrei Bressan on art. A fun twist on a classic tale, this sees Williamson pushing out of the wheelhouse that he’d designed for himself with his recent work. It’s a very open and inviting world, one that I’m really excited to see more of, and after “Ghosted” and “Nailbiter” impressed me I’m happy to go along with whatever weird ride Williamson has planned next. And Bressan, oh my goodness, ladies and gentlemen — this cat can draw like its nobody’s business. The book is incredibly lush, gorgeous visuals that you could get lost in for days. I can’t wait to see more of his fantasy world.
Total: $20.98
James’ Picks:
Edge of Spider-Verse #5 ($3.99) – Gerard Way is writing Spider-Man/Evangelion fan fiction with art by Jake Wyatt. It’s like Marvel made an exaggeration of my interests and made it an actual comics.
Edge of Spider-Verse #5 ($3.99) – No you don’t understand, I’m buying as many copies as I can until Marvel turns this into a weekly series.
Edge of Spider-Verse #5 ($3.99) – If there’s a reprise of End of Evangelion‘s “I’m so fucked up” scene with spider webbing then this is the only comic I’m buying for the next month.
Total: $3.99 or Whatever is left in my savings account.
Leo’s Picks:
Black Science #9 ($3.50) – If you don’t like Black Science, then just get out of my face.
Black Market #4 ($3.99) – Superheroes and the organ trade seem like a weird fit, but Barbiere and Santos are definitely making it work. I am looking forward to how they wrap it all up.,
Continued belowCopperhead #2 ($3.50) – I wasn’t sure if the first issue lived up to the hype, but I’m willing to give issue 2 a shot.
Birthright #1 ($2.99) – Just look at the cover. If you that doesn’t sell you on the book, then you’re just crazy.
Total: $13.98
Zach’s Picks:
Batgirl #35 ($2.99) – Come on, do I really need to explain this one?
Earth 2 World’s End #1/Earth 2 #27 ($5.98) – You may have heard me and the other DC3 guys express our general enjoyment of “Earth 2” and our overall excitement with DC’s current weekly books and upcoming storylines. These books look to help kick that into overdrive, and I for one couldn’t be more excited.
Wytches #1 ($2.99) – Reuniting the “Black Mirror” team of Scott Snyder and Jock, this book is the perfect way to get you into the Halloween spirit. Did I mention October is the best month?
Total: $11.96 – Such great books, for super cheap!
