This week of comics brings a ton of REALLY expensive options, which makes our job as readers on a budget (or at least theoretical readers on a budget) even more difficult. With that said, sometimes a book has to be bought even if it is absurdly expensive (I’m looking at you Fables). Find out what we picked after the jump, and let us know what you would buy with your $20 bill.
Fables #100 ($9.99) – Holy crap this is an expensive comic. Without a doubt the single most expensive single issue of a comic I have ever purchased. Even with that in mind, this is my top choice of all for the week. The 100th issue of Fables brings 100 pages (62 of which is the main story), a ton of talent (standard team of Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham plus people like JH Williams III, Dave Johnson AND Adam Hughes), and a freaking board game! I’m not going to lie, if this issue was $19.99, I’d probably still buy it because Fables is fantastic and this has the markings of a series classic. We’re working on our year end lists now, and I’m wondering if this one will be a game changer for my lists.
BPRD: Hell on Earth: New World #5 ($3.50) – This has been one of the best minis of BPRD in recent memory, and with the team of Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis still bringing the awesome month in and month out, I can’t imagine it isn’t going to wrap up in grand fashion. Here’s hoping I’m right when this book releases tomorrow.
27 #1 ($3.50) – There are two things I’m going to admit here: I don’t know anything about the creators and I don’t know if this book is really any good. But the hype is deafening of this new Image mini, and with the last few books having been released by Image with similar hype being absolutely phenomenal, this falls into my must buy list even with limited knowledge on what is going on in the actual pages.
Justice League: Generation Lost #15 ($2.99) – With DC’s output recently being rather up and down, it’s good to have some consistency in the form of Judd Winick’s Justice League: Generation Lost. With this issue following up on the excellent last two issues, here’s hoping Winick can keep building on that momentum.
Total: $19.98
Josh’s Picks
27 #1 ($3.50) – The pre-release hype on this one is astounding, but before that even started to build I was sold on this one right from the words “comic book about the 27 club.” Kurt Cobain is one of, if not the single greatest influence on my wayward adolescence and on top of that there really hasn’t been a comic featuring themes from music and music culture heavily that I haven’t enjoyed in several years, so this one seems like a slam dunk.
Halcyon #2 ($2.99) – I loved the first issue of Mark Guggenhiem and Tara Butters’ newest epic immensely. This fresh yet somehow familiar take on the super hero formula built, in very short order, an rich backstory for itself and compelled itself forward with a great mystery to be explored and solved…even if the world ultimately suffers as a result. Plus, the career defining work from Ryan Bodenhiem doesn’t hurt either.
Thunder Agents #2 ($3.99) – Nick Spencer is the latest hot shot writer for a reason, and this book could prove to be his next hit following the smash success of Morning Glories. The concept of a hero’s powers ultimately killing them is immensely interesting, and Spencer’s use of high political subtexts as well as contexts for this book manage to give it its own unique identity, even amongst other super powered espionage books. Plus Cafu came out of nowhere to create some of the nicest looking sequential art in the business, so theres also that.
Continued belowStan Lee Presents: Starborn #1 ($3.99) – Boom! Studios have been firing on all cylinders with these Stan Lee books. And its a really sound concept too, if anyone has read any of Stan’s more recent writing. The medium has evolved a lot since he revolutionized it, and using his original ideas and mixing them with some of the most talented writers in the business in order to, for lack of a better term, modernize them resulted in some of the most original character creations seen in a while. Starborn, however, proves to be a cut above the other two and with Chris Roberson attached to this book, I suspect we may have a hit on our hands.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger #7 ($2.99) – One of the most overlooked books of the last few years, T:TMA has proven to be a delightful, beautifully drawn all ages story that portrays the Thunder God in the most honest, bare, relatable and heartwarming way seen in a very long time. The fact that this is the penultimate issue of this series is a sincerely large loss for the industry on the whole.
Total: $17.46
Matt’s Picks
Fables #100 ($9.99) – 10 DOLLARS FOR A COMIC BOOK?! You better believe it! This isn’t JUST a comic book! It’s a whole box set worth of prized goodies for every Fables fan. With the next issue of the book, it’ll officially be the longest running Vertigo title, and as the current arc comes to a close and the story is set up for a new beginning, Willingham is set to give the fans that have stayed with this book a treat. Is it expensive? Yes. Will it be worth it? When you’re sitting around with your friends and pets playing your brand new Fables boardgame, you tell me.
27 #1 ($3.50) – I know nothing about the writers. I know nothing about the artists. I don’t even really know anything about the story beyond the base plot. However, this comic has had SO MUCH INSANE BUZZ, that I can’t help but call ahead to my local comic lady and ask her to hold a copy. Truth be told, I’m nervous it won’t live up to personal hype because I don’t think music comics will ever be the same to me without Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen involved, but I’m willing to give this a try if only because this issue is already selling for 10 times it’s value on eBay – and it’s not even out yet.
Flash #7 ($2.99) – Normally, this spot would have gone to Knight & Squire. I can’t put this here and not admit that. However, I do not give the Flash enough love, and he’s legitimately one of my favorite DC characters, and it’s not “just because Grant Morrison wrote (him).” The Flash is a top tier hero, and it’s the delays that are really hurting this book in my eyes. But now we get an issue with art done by Scott Kolins, Johns’ previous Flash POC, and it focuses all on Captain Boomerang. Count me in for this.
Northlanders #35 ($2.99) – Brian Wood + Becky Cloonan = comic book gold. It’s a proven formula with a Channel Zero sequel and two volumes of Demo. There’s no reason NOT to get this comic, especially because each arc is not connected to the previous.
If you do have a few extra dollars, do be a dear and grab Knight & Squire #3 as well, though. It’s a fantastic comic.
Total: $19.47
