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
Eleanor & the Egret #5 ($3.99) – Turns out this art-heist extravagaza comes from the here-for-a-good-time-not-a-long-time school. John Layman and Sam Kieth turn the lights out on this one. But it’s been a gift to behold.
Giant Days 2017 Special ($7.99) – Speaking of gifts, John Allison gets the jump on everyone with the first holiday special of the pre-holiday season. It’s a hefty price tag compared to usual. But Allison’s series is the definition of consistency, so there’s no worry that it won’t be worth every extra dollar.
Swordquest #5 (#3.99) – Another highlight-of-the-year mini-series closes out this week. Chad Bowers, Chris Sims and Ghostwriter X have threaded wistful nostalgia, intergallactic sorcery, sad sack heist planning, and unrealized childhood dreams into a fantastic tale. “Swordquest” is the real ending we never thought we needed to an unfinished Atari saga we all forgot even existed.
Doomsday Clock #1 ($4.99) – So… this is happening.
Total: $18.99
Nick’s Picks:
Clue #6 ($3.99) – Allor and Daniel have been killing it on this series with a mixture of quirky fourth-wall-breaking humor, colorful characters, and a genuinely engaging mystery. Excited to see how it all ends.
Motor Girl #10 ($3.99) – Terry Moore manages to make me feel deeply with every issue, and I’m sure this conclusion will break my heart and then sew it back together.
Snotgirl #8 ($2.99) – Bimonthly shipping has made each issue of Snotgirl feel like an event, which is apt given its social media star characters. Can’t wait to see whether this month’s drama turns out petty or legitimately serious. Hoping for both.
Doom Patrol #9 ($3.99) – Speaking of books on irregular schedules, what’s up, Doom Patrol!
Rugrats #2 ($3.99) – The first issue surprised me. The book has a charm and a certain subversive intelligence that got me to come back for round two.
Total: $18.95
Matt Lune’s Picks:
Maxwell’s Demons #1 ($3.99) – I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with writer Deniz Camp a few times, and managed to read an advance copy of this book and it’s fantastic – a young boy genius escaping a miserable home life to a magical fantasy world.
Void Trip #1 ($3.99) – Sci-Fi stoner road trip, like Hunter S. Thompson mixed with Phillip K. Dick, and filled with imaginative design and memorable characters. (I also read an early copy of this, and the creative team is super rad.)
Betty and Veronica: Vixens #1 ($3.99) – I can’t get enough of the Riverdale gang at the moment, be it in comics or on my tv, so any excuse to see a brand new take on the gang is ok in my book. Betty and Veronica as a biker gang seems pretty awesome.
Thanos #13 ($3.99) – This is the first issue with Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw – of best book of the year God Country fame – so to say I’m very excited to see what they do with the Mad Titan is an understatement.
Doomsday Clock #1 ($4.99) – I mean…I gotta give it a go, right? I’ve been super into DC’s general output lately, and this isarguably their biggest book of the year, so I can’t not see what all the fuss is about.
Total: $20.95 – Slightly over, blame “Doomsday Clock”
Kate’s Picks:
Doomsday Clock #1 ($4.99) – Yes, I am going to buy into the hype. 🙂 I don’t read much DC (there’s only two DC books in my pull – “Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica” and “DC Bombshells United”) and I know I need to fix that. I’m looking for a good jump on point for the larger DC universe, and this may fit the bill.
Continued belowGlitterbomb: The Fame Game #3 ($3.99) – This Lovecraftian take on the question of “what price fame?” seems rather apropos for our current state of Hollywood. The art in this book is also amazing, particularly the colors – they are the starring player in practically every scene. I just read the trade of the original Gl”itterbomb” arc earlier this year and I was glad to see a follow-up – the original series left me with a lot more questions that needed answers.
Riverdale #8 ($3.99) – I haven’t had the time to watch Riverdale the TV series yet, but these one-shots provide a nice introduction for the universe for whenever I am ready to binge. The fact that they are all self-contained stories also does not make feel guilty about missing an issue or two.
Giant Days 2017 Holiday Special ($6.79) – After all the drama of the past couple of issues with the girls figuring out housing plans next year and friendships being tested in the process, it’s nice to see everyone take a break for some fun (and some gentle ribbing at the holiday movie some of us love to hate, Love Actually).
Total: $19.76
Justin Beeson’s Picks:
The Demon: Hell Is Earth #1 ($2.99) – Etrigan has been one of my favorite supporting characters since seeing him in Batman: The Animated Series, and he hasn’t really been around since “Demon Knights” in the New 52. I don’t know much about newcomer Andrew Constant who’s writing, but I’m excited to see Etrigan featured in any capacity.
Doomsday Clock #1 ($4.99) – Early buzz for this has not been great, but I have to at least give it a try.
James Bond: Solstice #1 ($4.99) – None of the Bond series since Warren Ellis’ initial run have grabbed me like his did, but the one-shots have been really good.
Redneck #7 ($3.99) – One of 2017’s best new series is back for it’s second arc. “Southern Bastards” plus vampires works extremely well.
Gotham City Garage #12 ($0.99), Injustice 2 #33 ($0.99), and Batman and Harley Quinn #6 ($0.99) – Having a couple $4.99 books this week is throwing off my total, so I have some room to catch up on a few of DC’s excellent Digital First series.
Total: $19.93.
Mark’s Picks:
“Giant Days 2017 Special” ($7.99) — A “Giant Days” tribute to the films of Richard Curtis? Sounds good to me.
“Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil” #2 ($3.99) — I know this Sherlock Frankenstein miniseries was pitched as a side story, and I’m sure you can enjoy it just as its own thing, but you’ll get so much more out of it if you’re reading “Black Hammer” too. I mean, “Black Hammer” #12 is pretty much the prologue for “Sherlock Frankenstein,” and considering the stuff going on with Lucy Weber in the main series, it’s great to get to know her better here. Plus David Rubín is doing fantastic work on this series, especially with his layouts. (I loved the double-page spiral layout in the previous issue which draws the reader in to the center.) There’s a playfulness there that I’m eager to see more of.
“Invader Zim” #25 ($3.99) — The last part in the VIROOZ arc. Having a longer story like this has really whet my appetite for the upcoming TV movie…
Total: $15.97.
