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!
Kent’s Picks
Dastardly and Muttley #3 ($3.99) – That second issue of Garth Ennis and Mauricet’s “Dastardly and Muttley” absolutely killed with it’s combination of Saturday morning ultra-violence and real world bewilderment.
Shadow/Batman #2 ($3.99) – The “Batman/Shadow” series that just ended was one of the best Batman crossovers of all time. Not content for the follow-up to languish in that one’s, errr… shadow… Steve Orlando and Giovanni Timpano delivered last month’s “Shadow/Batman” debut with a decidedly different tack. The being said it exploded with the same spirit of vibrancy and vitality. I guess this is the golden age of Batman/Shadow crossovers.
The Gravediggers Union #1 ($3.99) – Steroid zombies, swamp vampires, monster gods and space monkeys… Wes Craig and Toby Cypress’s cup overfloweth. But really, they had me at steroid zombies.
Deathstroke #25 ($3.99) – The number of oversized “Anniversary” issues that DC has released this year that actually deserve that inflated page count are few and far between. Christopher Priest’s work is a clear exception.
Extremity #8 ($3.99) – Daniel Warren Johnson has finely crafted one of this year’s best books. It’s a grizzled, weathered sci-fi epic. It’s a treatise on the lasting effect of violence. It’s fantastic.
Total: $19.95 – Under budget, neat and tidy…. Wait… “Eleanor and the Egret” #5 ($3.99) is closing out that series… Oh god, I’ve made a huge mistake…
Matt Lune’s Picks:
The Gravediggers Union #1 ($3.99) – Artist Toby Cypress is doing weird and wonderful things over on “Retcon” right now, and Wes Craig has been a favorite creator of mine since I discovered him on “Deadly Class,” so all in all I have high hopes for this series.
No 1 With a Bullet #1 ($3.99) – This looks to be a pretty terrifying concept: a sci-fi infused techno horror involving contact lenses that record your every move, and the deadly invasion of privacy that follows. I didn’t read “Goners” – the previous book from Jacob Semahn and Jorge Corona – but this series looks chilling.
Extremity #8 ($3.99) – This is one of the best books of the year, and Daniel Warren Johnson is crafting a real emotional connection with his core cast, as well as producing a pretty unique world. If you’re not checking it out I highly recommend it.
Captain America #695 ($3.99) – It feels weird to say that I’m cautious about a Mark Waid/ Chris Samnee book, but that’s exactly what I am. Samnee has been solid, and when these two creators work together it’s been amazing, on both “Black Widow” on “Daredevil,” but Waid’s “Avengers” stuff hasn’t really hit for me. Throw in the fact that I’m not sure I’m ready to paper over the mess that was “Secret Empire,” and I’m definitely picking the book up, but it may just be this one issue.
Jetsons #1 ($3.99) – Who would have thought that “The Flintstones” would have been one of the best books of last year? Yet the series was deeply satirical, funny and even emotional in places. With all that said, “The Jetsons” – much like the original cartoon, following in the footsteps of The Flintstones – has got a lot to live up to.
Total: $19.95
Kevin’s Picks:
Justice League #32 ($2.99) – The first issue of “Bats Out of Hell” last week in “The Flash” blew me away and I can’t wait to see where we go from here. Plus I’d buy anything Liam Sharp drew.
Batman: The Devastator ($3.99) – Out of all the Dark Knights one-shots the premise of this one and The Batman Who Laughs have me the most interested and with “Metal” slowly becoming as much a Superman/DCU story rather than a holistically Batman one this seems to be the one-shot to read.
Continued belowCaptain America #695 ($3.99) – Can Mark Waid and Chris Samnee make Cap great again?
Deathstroke #25 ($3.99) – Rebirth’s best and brightest turns 25 this week and this book can keep on chugging into eternity.
Archie #25 ($3.99) – Speaking of Waid this book is still great even if the hype has died down. I started buying this book to share with my mom since she grew up with Archie, but 25 issues in it’s still really good.
Total: $18.95
Mark’s Picks:
“Lazarus X+66” #4 ($3.99) — All my picks this week are books I read in the trades, so I haven’t read any of the “X+66” arc yet. It’s certainly a curiosity though. It’s a side story with each issue drawn by a different artist (#4 by Alitha Martinez). What I find particularly curious is Eric Trautmann’s role as co-writer. On the regular ongoing “Lazarus” books he’s credited with the ‘publication design and additional content.’ The backmatter in “Lazarus” adds considerable detail to its world, so I’ll be interested to see what he brings to the comics page.
“Giant Days” #32 ($3.99) — I love binging this series, hence waiting for the trades, but I end up double-dipping anyway because I like the deluxe hardcovers. I don’t know what I can say that I haven’t said a dozen times already. This is one of the best comics out there. John Allison, Max Sarin, Liz Fleming, and Whitney Cogar always impress.
“Paper Girls” #17 ($2.99) — Let’s face it, I’m actually gonna be picking up the deluxe hardcover coming out tomorrow, but for the purposes of this article let’s just pretend I’m picking up the latest issue instead. This is another series I like to binge, and in the wake of another season of Stranger Things ending, it’s just the sort of book I’m craving. This issue promises the Paper Girls will finally learn what the hell is going on, so I’ll be looking forward to reading that in the fourth trade.
Total: $10.97. Under $20, makin’ Brian proud.
Proud Dad Brian’s Picks:
Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #1 ($3.99) – I’ve always been a big Black Lightning mark, and with his new show debuting soon, it makes sense to have him in a book right now. While I still think an Outsiders book is coming, that will have him more prominently featured in the main DCU, a solo tale (which seems, thankfully, to not be a straight origin re-telling) makes a lot of sense. Plus, co-creator Tony Isabella is on the book, which is a nice tip of the hat from DC. Even though I’m not expecting this book to be Earth-shattering, I’m excited to pick it up.
The Gravediggers Union #1 ($3.99) – I imagine tens of Soul Asylum fans wandering into their local comic shops, temporarily enthused by the idea that Image adapted their 1992 commercial breakthrough Grave Dancers Union into a comic series, only to be thoroughly disappointed when they see that it isn’t that at all. But they should be excited, because a Wes Craig/Toby Cypress comic is reason to be ecstatic.
Superman #34 ($2.99) – This storyline is tying up a ton of loose ends, and is a nice change of pace from what the book has been doing as of late.
Total: $10.97
