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Comics Should Be Cheap! (11/14/2018)

By | November 13th, 2018
Posted in Columns | % Comments

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:

Avengers #10 ($5.99) – I don’t know that I could afford the new “Uncanny X-Men” #1 that begins this week (at least not the $8 that would make this column less fun), but I will be getting this overpriced Marvel comic. 700 issues of “Avengers” folks! I’m a sucker fort anniversary issues, history, and celebrations, and maybe that’s just me. Such an auspicious occasion that will never happen again.

Wonder Woman #58 ($3.99) – G. Willow Wilson and Cary Nord on a “Wonder Woman” book! Do I need to say more???? “Ms. Marvel” is a happy masterpiece in narrating a life in episodes and I love it so much and can only imagine that Wilson will bring that same episodic charm to this book.

Electric Warriors #1 ($3.99) – Out of left field comes Steve Orlando’s next weird project set between Kirby’s Great Disaster from “Kamandi” and the dawn of the Legion of Super-Heroes. If you ever wanted dystopic, DC books that have “loose” continuity (which is most of you right) then look no further. Also, Travel Foreman is a gem. His work on “Ultimates 2” at Marvel was stunning and psychedelic which seems perfect for gladiatorial animals in aliens. Also they’re IN SPACE.

Friendo #2 ($3.99) – Last but not least, Alex Paknadel and Martin Simmonds latest creator owned work, moving into its second issue this week. I had the opportunity to talk to Alex awhile back before the first year and it was a wonderful experience. There is so much going on in this book in a world ravaged by consumption, and I am anxious to see where we’re headed.

Total: $17.96. But, there’s plenty more to choose from with “Uncanny X-Men” #1 (for a definite price), the end of “Mister Miracle,” and the next chapter in Bendis’ “Superman.”

Mark’s picks

“The Stone King” #1 ($2.99)— I wanted to have the first library edition of “Harrow County” in this list, but it would’ve totally blown my budget and stopped me from being able to rant about all these other books I want to shine a light on. Chief among these is another title from Tyler Crook coming out tomorrow, “The Stone King.” Written by Kel McDonald (“Sorcery 101”) and released exclusively through ComiXology, this four-issue miniseries seems to be diving into a Shadow of the Colossus kind of scenario (probably a gross over-simplification on my part, but I haven’t read it yet). Both McDonald and Crook are exciting creators in their own right, so I’m very eager to see what the two do together.

“Shadow Roads” #5 ($3.99)— This last issue is a bit of a teaser as to where the series could go. While its sister series, “The Sixth Gun,” had a clear a journey from point A to point B, “Shadow Roads” is a whole other animal and it could go anywhere. Given how much fun this first arc was, I’m definitely on board for more. Thankfully, there’s a new arc kicking off in February.

“The Quantum Age” #4 ($3.99)— After the reveal at the end of the last issue, this is an absolute must-get installment. While “Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil” and “Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows” worked great as stand alone stories, “Quantum Age” is really hooking into the latest revelations in “Black Hammer: Age of Doom” and running with it.

“Gideon Falls” #8 ($3.99)— In a recent episode of Robots from Tomorrow, Mike Romeo said that “Gideon Falls” is probably Jeff Lemire’s best series that he isn’t drawing himself, and I have have to agree. I’m constantly blown away by the storytelling choices of Andrea Sorrentino and Dave Stewart in the art too. They create such vivid mental spaces for the characters to inhabit, externalizing a character’s emotional state in inventive and extremely story appropriate ways.

Continued below

“Life Is Strange” #1 ($3.99)— I’m usually suspicious of licensed books in general, but Life Is Strange was a hella awesome game, and I’d love to revisit Max and Chloe again. Chalk me up as cautiously optimistic.

Total: $18.99. ComiXology, Oni, Dark Horse, Image, Titan… Probably the broadest selection I’ve had in a while. This was a really tough week to get under $20. There’re a lot of good books out tomorrow.

Matt Lune’s Picks:

Mister Miracle #12 ($3.99) – This concluding chapter of Tom King and Mitch Gerad’s journey into Jack Kirby’s Fourth World feels like a long time coming, but it’s finally here. I have so many questions, but mostly I just have a massive spot in my heart for this series.

Firefly #1 ($3.99) – While I’m not sure that any “Firefly” comic will ever truly scratch the itch left behind after the untimely cancellation of the show, an ongoing series about the crew of Serenity will always be worth a look.

William Gibson’s Alien 3 #1 ($3.99) – Who among us hasn’t wished that Alien3 wasn’t a little…better? If you’ve not watched it for a while I’m here to tell you that it’s nowhere near as bad as you remember, but it’s still a jarring drop in quality after the first two. Either way, Dark Horse is looking to set the record straight with the adaptation of William Gibson’s original screenplay.

Uncanny X-Men #1 ($7.99) – Why does this have to be so expensive?! Plus it’s a weekly which – despite issue #2 onwards costing less – is going to put a strain on the monthly budget. It’s good to see the Uncanny name back in a prominent position in the X-corner of the universe, however, but still. comics should be cheap, guys…

Total: $19.96

Vince’s Picks:

Electric Warriors #1 ($3.99) – This is the most “Steve Orlando” book I can imagine DC publishing. It’s got everything Orlando likes to write: deep forgotten DC lore, rough ‘n’ tumble protagonists who begin guarded and slowly reveal themselves to you (see “Namesake”, “The Unexpected”, “Midnighter”, etc…), and blurred lines of morality – in this case played out across a post-Kamandi Kirby landscape. It’s a gorgeously-written, perfectly structured first issue. Travel Foreman is here too, looking almost nothing like the Travel Foreman we saw a week ago on “Marvel Knights 20th Anniversary” comic. Foreman & Co imbue the pages with nods to DC’s “future” history as told by Kirby, without aping Kirby’s art style at all. It’s something to see.

Bitter Root #1 ($3.99) – Harlem Renaissance + monsters + Sanford Greene – looks fun, sounds fun!

Uncanny X-Men #1 ($7.99) – I’m a total sucker. I don’t really read Marvel that much anymore, but when you tell me “UNCANNY” is coming back and it begins in a weekly event form? Well, hook, line, and sinker. I’m a big idiot.

Total: $15.97

Kate’s Picks:

Life is Strange #1 ($3.99) – I’m not a big video game person, but this game was one of the few I played from start to finish. I’m curious to see how this world translates to a comic.

Rugrats C is for Chanukah Special ($7.99) – The Rugrats are back! I hope that this one-shot keeps what made the earlier series so great: a mix of modern touches without losing what made the original cartoon so great. And bonus points for featuring Hanukkah for the holiday in this one-shot; it continues on the TV series’s spotlight of Jewish traditions (episodes have centered around both Hanukkah and Passover).

Uncanny X-Men #1 ($7.99) – Time to go back to our roots with the X-Men that started it all.

Total: $19.97


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