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!
Mark’s Picks:
Wicked Things #6 ($3.99) – This is where the series ends, and for the first time in a while, there’s no John Allison book on the horizon. I can’t help but feel sad about this. Hopefully it won’t be too long till something new is announced, but for now I’ll have to make do with the serialized “Steeple” strips online. Even still, I need more Max Sarin stories too, and I don’t know if there’s anything on the horizon from them either. Dark times indeed.
Crossover #1 ($3.99) – This is a book I want to pick up purely for the concept―fictional universes spilling over into the real world. With the right execution, it could be really fun.
Norse Mythology #2 ($3.99) – I’m reading this in parallel with Neil Gaiman’s original book. It’s interesting to see how P. Craig Russell approaches the adaptation.
Sweet Tooth: The Return #1 ($3.99) – The original run of “Sweet Tooth” was so perfectly contained, I can’t imagine what another series could bring to the table―and apparently neither could Jeff Lemire at first, but then an idea grabbed a hold of his brain and wouldn’t let it go. So I am cautiously anticipating this.
Total: $15.99
Christopher’s Picks:
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 ($3.99) – I said two weeks ago Stranger Things is basically DH’s new Aliens/Predator, and I am totally cool adding yet another ST title to my pull list, especially one that’s a D&D version co-written with Jim Zub. Roll on (no pun intended).
Horizon Zero Dawn #4 ($3.99) – And suddenly, Talanah and Kyran’s adventure comes to end. I wonder if this was always meant to be the end before Forbidden West’s release, or if it was the result of COVID-19, and I do wish this series had been a lot stronger or felt less tangential, but at least we’re getting a fight with a big turtle in this issue.
Total: $7.98
Kate’s Picks:
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 ($3.99) – This mashup is every 80s nerd child’s dream.
Voting is Your Superpower: Comic Books of the Past Rally Us to the Polls Today ($12.99) – The timing of release is off on this one (the day after the U.S. Election Day??) – had this been out the week before, this would have made a greater impact. Nevertheless, it’s a nice look to see how comics worked to get out the vote in the 50s and 60s.
Total: $16.98
Johnny’s Picks:
Sweet Tooth: The Return #1 ($3.99) – Wow. Just a few short years after the end of the original Vertigo series, Jeff Lemire, along with original series colorist Jose Villarubia, are back to “re-imagine” the post-apocalypse in this Black Label mini. Despite me being a Lemire mark, I believe this book (and certainly the original series) would be well worth your hard earned spacebucks. I am, however, curious as to what more Lemire has left to say about his creation – is this retelling a way to make the series more palatable or compatible with it’s upcoming live-action adaptation? That would be my guess. Still, I hold the adventures of the be-antlered boy Gus and his protector Jepperd very near and dear (very near as in I am looking the multi-volume hardcovers on the shelf right next to me as I type this), and while the original run ended perfectly, I am intrigued that Lemire wants to step back into the world, so I’m strapping on my travelling pack and stepping inside as well this Wednesday.
Continued belowStranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 (3.99) I’m not the biggest “Stranger Things” guy in the world, but I do love a good Dungeons & Dragons yarn, particularly when the game can be a metatextual way of delivering information about the “real world” counterparts. With Jody Houser and Jim Zub at the helm, both D&D nerds themselves with established fantasy genre bonafides, I actually think this book will be an enjoyable surprise to many readers.
Total: $7.98
Vince’s Picks:
Star Wars Adventures: Shadow of Vader’s Castle ($7.99) – Now this sounds like a fun concept for a Star Wars title taking place in an unexpected and underutilized era of the canon. This one-shot takes place shortly after the defeat of the Empire in Return of the Jedi, in and around the remains of Darth Vader’s castle. A gaggle of artists, including Derek Charm, Nicoletta Baldari, Nick Brokenshire, and Francesco Francavilla, tackle this one and attempt to inject a little of Vader’s penchant for gothic horror design into the “Star Wars Adventures” line. This is just the sort of expanded universe material I want to see more of: explorations of a time period I haven’t thought a lot about before.
Total: $7.99
