This week on Comics Should Be Cheap, our writing staff has a major problem on their hands: expensive must-buy books! With Invincible #75 coming in at $5.99 and Strange Tales 2 #2 priced at $4.99, we have some hard choices to make this week with our $20. Thankfully, we have five writers all making their picks, so if you’re having a hard time with your decision making, check out what we’d choose.
You can find that after the jump.
Unknown Soldier #25 ($2.99) – Even though it earned the esteem of critics far and wide (roping in IGN’s Best Comic of 2009 award) and even drew the attention of vaunted news orgs like the BBC for its accurate portrayal of the events happening in Uganda, Joshua Dysart and Alberto Ponticelli’s Unknown Soldier just never made it with readers. Which is too bad because it’s a remarkably good book that took a formula developed by Garth Ennis (who previously reimagined the classic DC character in another Vertigo mini) and turned it into something even better. It’s a shame to see this go, but I’m excited to see the finale this week.
Invincible #75 ($5.99) – Matt and I did a countdown of the top moments of this book, and I think it made us realize (although I’d already pretty much done so) that this really is the best superhero book in the universe as the cover suggests. Sure, it’s $5.99 which makes it hard to fit into a $20 budget, but if I had only $20, this would DEFINITELY make my list.
DV8: Gods and Monsters #8 ($2.99) – Brian Wood is one of my favorite writers around, and this Wildstorm series has been a very, very exciting one to read, especially with the last issue really upping the ante and setting us up for a big finish. With that said, I’m more excited about the art, as interior artist Rebekah Isaacs and cover artist Fiona Staples have made this one of the flat out best looking books of 2010. If you haven’t been picking it up, you’ve been missing out.
Strange Tales 2 #2 ($4.99) – The first issue of this series was one of my favorites of last month, and you better believe this new issue is going to be getting my money once again – even on a tight budget with Invincible being so expensive this month. After the excitement and high quality of the first issue, I can’t wait to see what is next.
Superboy #1 ($2.99) – At this point, if it has Jeff Lemire’s name on it, I buy it. Not only does he add gravitas to every character he touches and seemingly understand the character greatly, it just feels good to support a creator who seems so genuinely cool and down-to-Earth.
Plus, what a cover from Rafael Albuquerque, one of my favorite artists in the industry.
Matt’s Picks
Invincible #75 ($5.99) – This is easily one of the books I’m excited for the most this week. I love me some Invincible, as it is clearly the greatest superhero comic in the universe. The Viltrumite War has been astounding, and Ottley’s visuals have been unforgettable all around (as you may have noticed from yesterday’s write-up on the Top 10 Invincible moments, with his fight with Conquest in a recent issue making it to the list). Put pure and simple, I can’t wait to see what happens in this issue, and I can’t wait for more Science Dog – although the price did make my jaw drop a bit.
Batman and Robin #16 ($3.99) – Batman and Robin. Batman. Doctor Hurt. Barbatos. Joker. Cameron Stewart. Frazer Irving. Grant Morrison. ‘NUFF SAID.
Generation Hope #1 ($3.99) – The last time Kieron Gillen wrote a new ongoing set in the X-Universe, it was one of the most underrated space/sci-fi books that was taken away from me too soon. You can bet your britches I will support the heck out of his new book, especially since it stars all new characters of young ages that allow us to grow with them over time. You better get this.
Continued belowSuperboy #1 ($2.99) – Superboy is my favorite member of the Super-family (even if Supergirl has the best book). Having Jeff Lemire come in to write him fills me with warm and fuzzy excited feelings. Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul set the bar high, but I’m sure whatever Lemire has planned for this will be good, and I’m eager to see how his Smallville writing will compare with Essex County.
DV8: Gods and Monsters #8 ($2.99) – My final choice on my list was my hardest to pick, but in the end I decided that there is usually a formula to getting your money’s worth in comics. One of those elements of the formula involves not just a good writer, but a GREAT one. Brian Wood is a GREAT writer. I was unfamiliar with DV8 before, but I’ve really grown to enjoy the journey the characters have been placed in… and this issue somewhat teases that the Authority will appear at the end, which I’m crossing my fingers for. A Brian Wood written Authority? Yes. Please. For now, DV8 will more than suffice.
I would have shared more books with you all this week, but Invincible is so dang expensive for it’s 75th issue! So if you’re all out there thinking, “Gee, why couldn’t Matt tell us about more books?” It’s because of Robert Kirkman.
Total: $19.95
Brandon’s Picks
Superboy #1 ($2.99) — I’ve been waiting for this book for 8 years! I am so excited for this book on so many levels. The writing and arting look to be fantastic which doesn’t hurt either.
One thing I really appreciate is how this book will essentially pick up where the last book left off. In the last volume of Superboy he had just left to live in Smallville (and subsequently join Teen Titans). Now here we are ten years later and we find Kon on the farm. Essentially picking up where we left off!
So better believe this is a must ladies and gents. Especially when it’s at the low DC price of $2.99.
Invincible #75 ($5.99) — This book is a must have at all times fanpeeps. It’s going to be a rare week where this book isn’t a guarantee to be coming home with me. It’s a lot like The Walking Dead where the quality level is consistently high. Plus, it’s a landmark issue!
Wolverine #3 ($3.99) — The last issue was an issue that I’ve said on a couple occasions was one of my favorite Wolverine comics of the last 10 years. As a huge Wolverine fan that guarantees the next book comes home with pappa.
X-Men: To Serve and Protect ($3.99) — This is on my list because of one story. It’s written by Chris Yost and stars Rockslide and Anole. Its title is X-Dudes! One half of the New X-Men writing team writing two of my favorite characters from their run is a buy. One half of the New X-Men writing team writing two of my favorite characters from their run called X-Dudes is so much more than a buy and that is what we have here.
Brightest Day #13 ($2.99) — I’ve really been enjoying Martian Manhunters story in this book. It’s been one of the first times in a long time where I feel the creative team is establishing Jonn as a badass character like he should be. It looks good and his power has been extraordinary. So easily people forget he is an equal to Superman. Also, as a secondary mention I’m totally digging the Firestorm story.
Total: $19.95
Josh’s Picks
Batman and Robin #16 ($3.99) – This is it. The finale to one of the best ongoing series seen in years. One that redefined the Batman mythos like only Grant Morrison could, featuring pencil work from some of the best artists the industry has to offer including Frank Quietly, Phillip Tan and Cameron Stewart. This issue not only brings Bruce Wayne back into the thick of things, but is also the very beginning of Bruce’s re-integration into the DC Universe. That alone makes this a must buy.
Superboy #1 ($2.99) – One of my absolute favorite writers (Jeff Lemire) writing two characters I’ve always had a bit of an affinity for (Connor Kent and The Phantom Stranger) and drawing heavy influence from one of my favorite graphic novels of all time (Essex County) makes this a slam dunk in my book.
Sweet Tooth #15 ($2.99) – One of the best ongoing series out there right now (and the second by Jeff Lemire on this list), I’ve been consistently riveted by this book since shortly after it began last year. Lemire’s handling of dramatic tension mixed with politics and the human condition make this a must read month in and month out…and thats WITHOUT taking into account his phenomenal pencil work that manages to create an ambiance for the book that is truly unique.
Generation Hope #1 ($3.99) – A brand new young mutant team written and co-created by Kieron Gillen? No, I couldn’t possibly be interested in such a thing. I mean, its not like New X-Men and Phonogram are both on my all time favorite series list…that is absolutely not the case. I am absolutely not pee-my-pants excited about this. N. O.
Scarlet #3 ($3.99) – I’m going to be honest, I flipped coin to decide between this and Chaos War #3 since both books are so immensely good. 9 times out of 10 I can say that when the words “Brian Michael Bendis” and “creator owned” are in the same sentence that absolute gold will come of it. When you add the words “Alex Maleev” and “violent anti-police brutality” you have my own comic wet dream all wrapped into one sassy, gorgeously-drawn introspective package.
Total: $17.91
Walt’s Picks
Chaos War #3 ($3.99) – KABUYDISCOMIK! We’re midway through Chaos War, which will bring Pak and Van Lente’s epic-beyond-belief Hercules saga to a close. Humor has been taking the sidecar for this grand finale (though it’s still present), with the main focus now being on the action. Not caught up enough to enjoy Chaos War? Well, I have just the thing for you with my most recent Crisis of Chronology! /shamelessselfplug
Batman & Robin #16 ($2.99) – It’s the finale of Grant Morrison’s excellent Batman & Robin run. You have to be joking if you think I would miss out on this. From the preview, it looks like we’ll finally be getting a more or less complete explanation about the history of Simon Hurt, so we’ll have to see how close the speculators of the internet are. Prepare yourself, this one is going to be a doozy.
Superboy #1 ($2.99) – I’ve a confession to make: I don’t think I have read anything by Jeff Lemire before. This is on my list of things in my life to fix, and it looks like I’ll be doing that with the first issue of the new Superboy series before I get to Essex County. The various previews I have seen have been quite exciting, so I can’t wait to see what sets this writer above the rest.
Iron Man/Thor #1 ($3.99) – Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have truly made their mark on Cosmic Marvel, but it now looks like they’re coming home with an Iron Man and Thor miniseries, as well as the highly-anticipated Heroes for Hire later down the line. DnA have proven themselves worthy enough by Marvel’s standards to be entrusted with two flagship characters in between their respective movies. Is it a coincidence that this mini will finish in just enough time for the trade to be released during the pre-Thor movie buzz? I think not.
Scarlet #3 ($3.95) – After reading their astounding work on Daredevil, I waited ever so patiently for these two to do creator-owned work together. Earlier this year my wish came true, and I haven’t been disappointed in the slightest. Bendis is telling the exact kind of story he is great at, and Jesus has Maleev been kicking ass in the art department. There’s nothing to indicate that the quality will be dropping any time soon, but it will be interesting to see how it goes when both Bendis and Maleev start working on Moon Knight.
Total: $17.91
