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!
Young Avengers #1 ($2.99) – “Phonogram” in the Marvel universe? Gillen and McKelvie, you shouldn’t have — but I’m glad you did. Gimme gimme gimme.
The Massive #8 ($3.50) – What’s this? “The Massive” is coming out on a different week than “Conan the Barbarian?” But what about Brian Wood week? I am agog, I am aghast. My comic buying habits might never be the same!
Or I’ll just keep on enjoying these great series by Brian Wood, only on different weeks. Yeah, that sounds better.
Mind MGMT #7 ($3.99) – Cool brag: I got one of the “variant” watercolor sketches by Matt Kindt at my local shop. Fo’ free. As someone who has grown to love this series, it was awesome. Very interested to see where it goes after last arc’s wild and excellent ending.
Bedlam #3 ($3.50) – It was only a matter of time before these immense rising stars worked together. Spencer knows how to write for his artist, and Rossmo knows how to draw for his writer. It’s a match made in heaven, isn’t it? This book is delightfully twisted, while never being so needlessly excessive that you roll your eyes. Things are getting a bit clearer, but a lot of variables are still up in the air. Let’s see if and how this issue clears anything up.
FF #3 ($2.99) – I enjoyed the first issue so much that I added the lackluster “Fantastic Four” to my pull. #2 was a bit of a better retread of the other issues, but now that “FF” and “Fantastic Four” have separated, I’m expecting it to pick back up. The worst that could happen is I only get to enjoy excellent Mike Allred art. How unfair!
Winter Soldier #14 ($2.99) – And so the last, and perhaps best, of the “old guard” of core Marvel runs reaches its finale. Godspeed You! Bucky Barnes.
Total: $19.96
Young Avengers #1 ($2.99) – The Marvel NOW! book that pretty much everyone and their mother flipped for when it was announced. It’s with good reason though. Come on, it’s Gillen & McKelvie! It’s also a title that carries with it the distinction of the well-reviewed “The Children’s Crusade” miniseries, but more importantly, the modern near-classic “Young Avengers” series of the mid-2000’s. Neither the creative team nor the fictional team are the same, but with the addition of Kid Loki they look to be just as exciting and a natural extension of Gillen’s “Journey Into Mystery.”
Answer #1 ($3.99) – Mike Norton is red hot right now. His artistic sensibilities add so much to the storytelling that it doesn’t matter whose writing it or what the premise is, I’m checking out anything he’s on.
Avengers #3 ($3.99) – Jonathan Hickman is going to make the “Avengers” feel like the most important book on the Marvel stands again. This and “New Avengers” are as big and iconic as mainstream superhero books get.
Wonder Woman #16 ($2.99) – Nothing new here. My favorite book in the New 52 and a legitimately great chapter in “Wonder Woman” history in which anything feels like it can happen.
Saucer Country #11 ($2.99) – A little love for a series that never got good footing for sales and was generally received in what can best be described as “lukewarm” fashion.
It Girl and the Atomics #6 ($2.99) – Boy, did I come around on It Girl. I reviewed the first series and thought it was just okay, but didn’t capitalize on the true uniqueness of Mike Allred’s “Madman” world nearly enough. More silly than irreverent. Now 6 issues in, I think Jamie S. Rich has done a better job of tapping into the irreverence and color of the world. “It Girl and the Atomics” now goes to the top of my pile whenever it comes out. One of the top 5 most fun series in comics today.
Continued belowTotal: $19.94
Young Avengers #1 ($2.99) – I’ve honestly never checked out “Young Avengers” before because I’ve never been that big of a fan of teen heroes, but having Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie on the book? That’ll do it. Also Noh-Varr being in more things.
Revival #6 ($2.99) – I really had no expectations for this book when I initially picked it up, but this little “rural noir” has surprised me a lot with how much I enjoy it. Keep it coming.
Bedlam #3 ($3.50) – Dude got crucified by a a dude wearing mechanical angel wings and fishnets and then was dragged through the streets by horse while tied up in barbed wire. Yeah, I want to see where this goes.
Avengers #3 ($3.99) – It’s Hickmen and Opena wrecking house on the Avengers. Who isn’t buying this?
FF #3 ($2.99) – Mike Allred’s Shulkie. I mean, it’s a really fun book with a great cast, great character writing and amazing art. But really, Mike Allred’s Skulkie.
Winter Soldier #14 ($2.99) – I may have missed Ed Brubaker’s big farewell to Cap, but I’m definitely getting his farewell to Bucky (even if I did only buy the last arc for the sake of completion).
Total: $19.45
Young Avengers #1 ($2.99) – This book is basically Multiversity bait, and I’m biting. Gillen + McKelvie = instabuy.
Harbinger #8 ($3.99) – Quietly, this has become one of the most consistent and fun books out there. The price tag is steep, but the quality is there to justify the cost.
FF #3 ($2.99)/Avengers #3 ($3.99) – Two of the best Marvel NOW! books thus far, but also two that could use a kick in the pants, pace wise, to get it into high gear. Hopefully, this week is when both books really take off.
Wonder Woman #16 ($2.99) – I’m actually a few months behind on this book, but it is one of the few DC books that, as of today, are still getting me exited to read them. Plus, Orion is still hanging around, and New Gods = instabuy.
Total: $16.95
Batwoman #16 ($2.99) — You guys know me. You guys know this series is awesome. But apparently this issue “guest-stars everybody”, and I’m looking forward to adding THAT to the list of things Blackman and Williams can pull off in a comic and still have it be awesome.
Bedlam #3 ($3.50) — Another no-brainer — but enough about Madder Red. Oh snap! Anyway, if you haven’t been following this title and you want to know what that pun was all about, get on this. Nick Spencer and Riley Rossmo have been knocking it out of the park so far with this thoroughly disturbing but quite intelligent story about a reformed serial killer.
Revival #6 ($2.99) — This comic is so solid you could use it as a mace. It didn’t get on our Best Ongoing list for nothin’.
Young Avengers #1 ($2.99) — A fresh YA title with a wonderful writer/artist team behind it? And it’s a relatively new franchise, so there isn’t a ridiculous amount of history to catch up on? Yeah, this typically non-Marvel-reading comic reader is gonna try this one out.
The Answer! #1 ($3.99) — Hurrah for a pulpy new superhero from Dark Horse! And it’s got Revival’s Mike Norton on art, so you know it’s going to look pretty as all get-out.
Total: $16.46
Matt’s Picks
Young Avengers #1 ($2.99) – Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie with “Phonogram” in the Marvel Universe. ‘Nuff said.
JSA Liberty Files: The Whistling Skull #2 ($2.99) – I loved the first issue, and would love to see this book continue on in DC’s current line-up for its intended duration (ten or so six-issue minis in sequence). Lets make that happen and promote some superheroic diversity along the line, yes?
Stumptown v2 #5 ($3.99) – The last issue of the second series of “Stumptown.” Absolutely no reason to be missing out on this great series from your pals Greg Rucka and Matt Southworth.
Total: $9.97 – Last week I went $10 over the limit because I wanted you to buy “One Trick Rip-Off” (you did buy it, right?), so this week is light while you recover and enjoy your Paul Pope
