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!
Alex + Ada #1 ($2.99) – That beautifully simple cover would get me to pull this off the shelf, knowing nothing else about it. The fact that it’s the next project from one of the Luna brothers means it’s an essential buy.
Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight #2 ($3.99) – I really enjoyed the first issue of this thing in a very over-the-top, guilty pleasure sort of way. That’s not an insult to the book, I think, if you consider that writer Alex de Campi would probably describe it like that too. This is sexy, gross fun all the way through.
East of West #7 ($3.50) – Fighting for that top spot on my favorite ongoing comics list, “East of West” has been unmissable from it’s very first issue.
Amazing X-Men #1 ($3.99) – Jason Aaron. X-Men. I’m there.
Marvel Knights Spider-Man #2 ($3.99) – I really dug the “Spidey drug trip gone wrong” that comprised the first issue of this. I hope the miniseries goes down the path of less stream-of-consciousness from here, but it all got off to one hell of a start. Marco Rudy is putting on one hell of a weird art clinic!
Total: $18.46
Trillium #4 ($2.99) – If you haven’t read this series so far, if you thought it was ok to tradewait, YOU HAVE MADE A HUGE ERROR IN JUDGEMENT! This miniseries is pushing the boundaries of what a comic can do – when was the last time you saw the panel gutters get used to push the story along? The techniques Lemire is using here will lose their impact in trade. Buy the single issues now, but do yourself a favor and take breaks between each issue.
Alex + Ada #1 ($2.99) – The last time a Luna brother made a book, I loved it. I will not be missing this one.
All Crime #2 ($3.95) – The first issue came out, what, a year ago? And it was pretty ok. Not great, but ok. However, it’s a light week and I’m a sucker for noir.
Morning Glories #34 ($2.99) – The mysteries in this series are intense enough I went from tradewaiting to buying it in single issues because I couldn’t stand waiting. That should tell you something.
Total: $13.92
Amazing X-Men #1 ($3.99) – Outside of the not so good X-Event we just got through, I love Jason Aaron working on the X-Books, and I love the idea of a quest to get Nightcrawler back even more. Throw in some resurgent Ed McGuinness out, and I’m all about it.
East of West #7 ($3.50) – This is one of my favorite Image titles, and one of my favorite new books this year. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta are doing an incredible job of building a world, and I’m looking forward to where we go from here.
Quantum & Woody #5 ($3.99) – This book is maybe already my favorite Valiant book, and now Ming Doyle is joining as the artist. Losing Tom Fowler is huge, but if you’re going to lose a great artist, at least we’re getting another one back.
Fatale #18 ($3.50) – This book is a metronome book: really, really well done each and every issue, but for some reason it gets ignored regularly. It’s too bad because Brubaker and Phillips are doing a great job, especially on this most recent arc.
Forever Evil #3 ($3.99) – What can I say, I’m a sucker for a fun DC event. I may not be buying any other DC book, but this one? This one is a lot of fun.
Continued belowTotal: $18.97
Drumhellar #1 ($3.50) – Riley is one of my favorite creators of Current Times, and anything new that he works on is something that I support and want to read. Drumhellar is no different, and having seen the first two issues already I have nothing but kind things to say about this book. If it gets picked up into an ongoing, all will be well.
Amazing X-Men ($3.99) – David and I talk about this in our new column MC2, but the gist is this: Aaron. McGuinness. Lets do this.
Quantum and Woody #5 ($3.99) – I am so into this book lately. It’s the only Valiant I buy, and with Ming Doyle joining the gang I’m even more excited about it than I previously was.
Cataclysm #1 ($3.99) – I’m hesitant on this, honestly, because I feel the circumstances of it are a bit suspect. If all my theorizing on the site is correct, this is The End of the Ultimate Marvel U — and considering that Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man got me back into buying single issue comics, I find it hard not to want to see how it all ends. But we’ll see.
Captain Marvel #17 ($3.99) – This is the big special “final” issue of Captain Marvel before the re-launch, right? Well I can’t miss that, now can I?
Total: 19.46 — OH GOD I FORGOT TO ADD MORNING GLORIES NICK IS GOING TO KILL ME
Action Comics #25 ($3.99) – Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder begin their “Action Comics” run with a “Zero Year” tie-in. That means a return to the t-shirt and jeans Springsteen Superman that launched the title. I’ll take that.
Green Arrow #25 ($3.99) – What’s that? Two “Zero Year” tie-ins on this list? Maybe it’s the fact that I just binge watched a dozen plus episodes of Arrow this weekend, but I’m pretty excited to see Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino tackle a young, bearded Ollie fresh off the island. Seriously though, the beard is back.
Forever Evil #3 (3.99) – After two solid issues, “Forever Evil” is shaping up to be a pretty successful event miniseries. Last issue’s cliffhanger was especially exciting, and you can expect this issue to expand on that. Plus, the preview pages of Lex and Bizarro look perfect.
Amazing X-Men #1 (3.99) – Jason Aaron is one of the best things to happen to the X-Men in years. Add in a quirky team, the return of the one true Nightcrawler, and Ed McGuiness on art, and you have a recipe for success.
Ten Grand #5 ($2.99) – Back after an unfortunately long hiatus, “Ten Grand” returns, sans Ben Templesmith. In his place is CP Smith, of “Wolverine Noir.” At first glance, his work looks quite similar to Frazer Irving, a fantastic style for this series. Here’s hoping the new creative team can keep up the fantastic “Hellblazer” spirit present in the first four issues.
Total: $18.95
Earth 2 #17 ($2.99) – C’mon Tom Taylor – don’t let me down.
Action Comics #25 ($3.99) – Welcome aboard, Greg Pak. Help us wash the taste of Lobdell out of our mouths.
Batman/Superman #5 ($3.99) – More Pak goodness. $8 is a lot to spend on one writer, but Pak writing Superman has been a revelation thus far.
Ghosted #5 ($2.99) – Two of my favorite new series this year have been this and “Five Ghosts,” two Image series that tackle the supernatural in fun and different ways. If you haven’t checked this out yet, I’d recommend doing so before this series totally blows up and becomes huge. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Amazing X-Men #1 ($3.99) – I’m really buying this just to see if my theory is right – that by using the word “Amazing” and the inclusion of Firestar on the team that this book is actually about the X-Men bringing not just Nightcrawler, but Peter Parker, back from the dead. Don’t say I didn’t call it.
Total: $17.95
David Henderson’s Picks:
Captain Marvel #17 ($2.99) – This shouldn’t be surprising, but this is always the series I’m most looking forward to.
Amazing X-Men #1 ($3.99) – I’ve been waiting for this moment since “Wolverine And The X-Men” #1, so let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint. I really don’t know where this series will go post-Nightcrawler resurrection, though.
Batman: Black & White #3 ($4.99) – If DC put out more books like this instead of focusing on really mediocre “gritty” titles then I’d probably be buying more than one DC title. Experimentation is the spice of life, guys.
Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #2 ($2.99) – Speaking of experimentation, I really dug the first issue of this.
Total: $14.96
