On this Thanksgiving eve, I bet no Multiversity staffer will be thankful for universally affordable comics, since those are about as real as Santa Claus (but not the Chanukah Zombie…he’s totally real.) Check out what our merry bunch would pick if given only a crisp twenty dollar bill to spend this week!
Thor: The Mighty Avenger #6 ($2.99) – I got into this book shortly before Marvel put it on the chopping block and ended its short life. Yeah, maybe it did never stand a chance in this market, but it really makes you think when smartly written, heartwarming, empowering, all ages comics with beautiful art fail within a culture that claims to prefer things like that. Ah well, I bet the last three issues are gonna be just as good as the first five.
Action Comics #895 ($3.99) – This book has been so consistently amazing since Paul Cornell took over and it shows no sign at all of slowing down. After his brush with death last issue, this issue Lex Luthor throws his gauntlet right in Vandal Savages face…and nothing says “creatively malicious” like sending a guy’s assassin daughter and her similarly stabby-breaky friends after him.
Fantastic Four #585 ($2.99)– To say I love Jonathan Hickman’s writing would be the understatement of the year and this arc is certainly shaping up to be his magnum opus on the FF. Except for the fact that, while for most writers killing off a member of Marvel’s supreme super hero team would be saved for the end of an arc, Hickman appears to have much more in store for us following this much hyped mystery death. Count me SO in.
Uncanny X-Force #2 ($3.99) – Won’t lie I was fully planning on dropping this book once Kyle and Yost left, but Remender’s new status quo for the team plus the membership involved was enough for me to stay around for the first issue, and once I did I became hooked. This is going to be one bloody, funny, riveting, sexy roller coaster folks, and for the few of you not already on board…what is wrong with you?
Uncanny X-Men #530 ($3.99) – I’ve been reading this title for well over 100 issues so far and the X-Men are far and away the reason I still read comics, so I see no reason to stop now, especially with one of my very favorite writers in comics today (Kieron Gillen) coming on board as a co-writer. Nothing else really need be said.
Total: $17.95
David’s Picks
Detective Comics #871 ($3.99) – Out of all of the books that are part of the new Batman direction, this is the one I am most excited for. Writer Scott Snyder has earned every bit of praise he has received for American Vampire and his collaborator Jock is an industry giant for a very good reason – I mean, come on, did you see that image DC released from his upcoming work? I cannot wait to read this book.
Scalped #43 ($2.99) – Every time this book comes out, I say the same exact thing: this is the absolute best book in comics today. Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera have earned all of the praise they get and deserve a whole lot more.
The Walking Dead #79 ($2.99) – If it weren’t for Scalped, this would be the best book in comics. Each and every month that Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard release this book, it is superb. It is never less than great, and that kind of reliability is extremely rare in comics.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #150 ($5.99) – Brian Michael Bendis has been churning out the best Spider-Man stories for a long, long time now, and this is a hugely momentous issue that features a renumbering and a slew of great artists, namely Skottie Young, David LaFuente, Sara Pichelli, Jamie McKelvie, and Joëlle Jones. I for one cannot wait to see the awesome Bendis and his fantastic list of collaborators have in store for us.
Continued belowUncanny X-Force #2 ($3.99) – The first issue of the new X-Force book from Rick Remender and Jerome Opena was ridiculously great. With Apocalypse back in little child form, I can’t wait to see where we go next. This book has the potential to be maybe the best X-book.
Total: $19.95
Brandon’s Picks
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #150 ($5.99) – Ultimate Spider-Man marked the beginning of two things in my life. It marked the first time I picked up a Spider-Man book, believe it or not after reading comics for 11 years it was my first Spidey EVER, as well as the first time I would purchase a Bendis comic. Turns out it would be far from the last on both accounts. Huge congrats goes to Bendis and Marvel for the incredibly important milestone. This is a book that many didn’t want when it was announced but in the end turned into a book I feel truly helped to pull Marvel out of the financial and creative lows they were in when it launched.
Uncanny X-Force #2 ($3.99) – This was my book of the month for last month. I mean it kind of has to end up on here doesn’t it? I thought so.
Batwoman #0 ($2.99) – This is the book that everyone has been clamoring for. Unfortunately, it’s missing one large piece…Greg Rucka. Luckily, the other half of the equation is still here. The masterful art of J.H. Williams III is back and this time he’s also brining the words to the party. This is highly anticipated and I think it will be a book that meets or exceeds fans and critics expectations.
Detective Comics #871 ($3.99) – This is the Batman book I am most looking forward to now that we have entered the Batman Inc. era. The covers by Jock as well as the art look fantastic. I’m also excited because I think Snyder is a fantastic writer and I am extremely excited to see what he does with Batman. Even if it is Dick and not Bruce.
New Mutants #19 ($2.99) – It appears someone will leave and someone will die. How this all goes down and why has me intrigued. With Zeb Wells leaving the title soon I am sure we are in for some serious awesome. So check it out while you can.
Total: $18.95
Matt’s Picks
Secret Warriors #22/Fantastic Four #585 ($2.99/$2.99) – There are a few writers who universally get my praise and love and adoration for their work in the comic book field, and any regular to this comic know that Jonathan Hickman is one of them. He is the best new gun Marvel put into their arsenal, and Fantastic Four and Secret Warriors proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. I am not missing a single issue of either book, ever.
Action Comics #895/Batman and Robin #17 ($3.99/$2.99) – Creeping into the “do no wrong” category is Paul Cornell, one of DC’s newer acquisitions who is repeatedly turning out rather remarkable work. His Marvel stuff was quite uniformly great, but his short run on Action Comics has been fantastic (and the Nick Spencer/RB Silva back-ups sweeten the deal). He’s also writing a short 3-issue arc on Batman and Robin in between Morrison’s finale and Gleason/Tomasi’s start, and I’m intrigued to see what he’ll do under such short notice with the dynamic duo.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #150 ($5.99) – Last, but certainly not least, we have the author who got me back into comics with the book that got me back into comics. I can still remember the day when a younger Joshua Mocle came over to my house with a stack of 59 comic books and told me to read them all, which I did. 91 issues (or so) later and I’m still reading. I wouldn’t miss this anniversary issue for anything.
Continued belowTotal: $18.95
Gil’s Picks
Justice League Generation Lost #14 ($2.99) — I can’t say this enough, read this book. The first half is over, where is it going from here? What will be the fallout from the death of Magog “at the hands” of Captain Atom. And with those quotations, I mean Max Lord is a bastard.
Batman And Robin #17 ($2.99) — Here’s the beginning of a new era for the Dynamic Duo! Now that the best Batman book has moved onto a new creative team, I can’t wait to see where it goes with Paul Cornell’s run.
Detective Comics #871 ($3.99) — What is this? TWO Batman books on my must read? Well, I can’t believe it either, but Scott Snyder’s take on Dick under the cowl has me more excited than Martian Manhunter in the cookie aisle.
Fantastic Four #585 ($2.99) — 3 continues! I love Hickman’s take on Marvel’s first family, with self contained yet interconnecting books that make for a simple yet layered read. Pick this up.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #150 ($5.99) — 150 issues?! Wow! I’m a new fan to the series, but I love this series possibly more than the 616 series (possibly proven by the fact that is not on my CSBC list.) And I would imagine this is a perfect jumping on point! If you’re not reading, fix that now!
Total: $18.95 (so you can get bags and boards too)
Walt’s Picks
Batwoman #0 ($2.99) – I will normally buy anything J.H. Williams III illustrates, unless the writer is particularly terrible. What about when J.H. Williams III is the writer, though? Hmm. I guess that’s what a #0/#1 is for. Williams’ co-writer, W. Haden Blackman, wrote the fantastic one-shot Purge: The Hidden Blade, so I don’t think I have anything to worry about. At the very least, it will be extremely aesthetically pleasing.
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man ($5.99) – Ten years if the Ultimate Universe. Damn. This issue marks a hell of a milestone, and it’s one that I’m glad to have reached with Brian Michael Bendis still on the flagship Ultimate book. I love the Ultimate Universe, and I particularly love Ultimate Spider-Man, so — as unfortunate as it is to repurchase the Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special — there’s no way I’m passing on this.
Fantastic Four #585 ($2.99) – I’m so excited to see how “3” ends. Last issue was beyond excellent, and there’s no reason to believe this issue won’t be on equal footing. I really have no clue what Hickman is going to do next, and that’s a great feeling. Plus, Steve Epting. Steve EPTING. God, this is easily Marvel’s best (non-Icon) book.
Detective Comics #871 ($3.99) – While I had heard good things about Scott Snyder, Detective Comics was one of the books passed over when determining my pre-orders for this month. Then I read American Vampire. Then I saw Jock’s art. Then I saw the preview on DC’s website. I guess I have a little bit more money to spare each month…
Action Comics #895 ($3.99) – I love Paul Cornell. I love Lex Luthor. I love Vandal Savage. I love this arc. This run has been DC’s runaway hit of 2010, proving (once again) that Action Comics doesn’t need Superman in it to be great. Nick Spenser’s Jimmy Olsen co-feature has been tons of fun too, and both features have had some very pleasant art. I’m certainly not going to drop this now.
Total: $19.95
