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!
Christopher’s Picks:
Stranger Things Winter Special ($6.99) – Before Dark Horse got the Stranger Things license, I knew I wanted tie-in comics for the series, but honestly struggled to think of what could be mined from the show. Eleven’s first Christmas, which is the story here, is one of those ideas that seem so obvious in retrospective, and I’m glad we’re gonna see it here.
The Rush #1 ($3.99) – Speaking of ideas I’m surprised no one had until now, I definitely want to check out the first issue of Si Spurrier and Nathan Gooden’s historical horror series (delayed from last week): the world could always do with more weird westerns, and there are few settings more desolate and bleak than the desperation of the Klondike Gold Rush.
The Heathens #1 ($4.99) – I always love a good crossover, and Cullen Bunn, Heath Amodio, and Sami Kivela bringing together Ching Shih, Billy the Kid, and more historical rogues? This I gotta see.
Total: $15.97
Brian’s Picks:
Newburn #1 ($3.99) – So we’re through spooky season, but not quite into the holiday season yet. What can fill the gap? May I humbly suggest, Noir-vember? Yes, pick up your favorite Raymond Chandler book, don a trench coat and fedora, and say “see” after every sentence for the next three weeks until Thanksgiving! And to go along with that, try out this new Chip Zdarsky/Jacob Phillips comic!
Batman/Superman Authority Special #1 ($5.99) – This one-shot is designed to help both bridge the gap between Grant Morrison’s “Superman and the Authority” and the upcoming ‘Warworld Saga’ in the pages of “Action Comics.” This Authority team is one that is a lot of fun and is full of surprises, and the issue, more than the mini that precedes it, shows that team starting to gel together as a unit.
2000 AD Prog 2256 ($3.99) – It’s an all-ages takeover issue, so this is the perfect way to get your kids into the politics of Mega-City One!
Total: $13.97
Kate’s Pick:
Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit #371 ($24.95):Some books are worth blowing the budget on, and this is one of them. Taking place at the height of the AIDS crisis in the mid-90s, this is writer and artist MK Czerwiec’s memoir of her very first nursing job in a Chicago hospital in the unit named in the title. It is a reminder that before COVID, there was another pandemic that wracked the world, one that was grossly misunderstood by society until it was too late for many. Growing up in the 1980s, just about every TV show had an AIDS storyline, and Ryan White was a perpetual presence on TV with his battle with AIDS and prejudice in his Indiana community right up until his death in 1990. Today, AIDS is easily treatable and those who are HIV positive live long lives – – but nearly a generation ago, it was a death sentence with ostracization for many from their communities in the time they needed it most. This memoir ensures that these patients, and the people that cared for them, live on in perpetuity.
Total: $24.95
Mark’s Picks:
Hellboy: The Bones of Giants #1 ($3.99) – Even though I’ve read this story several times already, I’m excited about reading it anew adapted to comics. Christopher Golden’s writing and Matt Smith’s art play off each other beautifully. Plus, we get a story with Abe and Hellboy together, and the chemistry of their team-up is perfect.
Two Moons #6 ($3.99) – In the first arc, Two Moon’s discovered his burgeoning shamanism and the demons that stalk the world around him. I’m eager to see where the second arc will take him. This is John Arcudi doing horror, which is automatically a major selling point for me. Paired with Valerio Giangiordano’s gorgeous art, how could you possibly miss this one?
Continued belowPrimordial #2 ($3.99) – After that jaw dropping debut issue from Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino, obviously I’ll be picking up this one.
The Me You Love in the Dark #4 ($3.99) – The first three issues of this have me so hooked. I love how focused and contained the story is, keeping it practically all in one location. It gives Jorge Corona’s art plenty of time to build atmosphere.
The Silver Coin #6 ($3.99) – Michael Walsh’s anthology miniseries is now an ongoing series. I’m picking this up because I’m curious to see if there’s a shift in the way these stories are told now that it’s got a longer road ahead of it.
Total: $19.95.
