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!
Vince’s Picks:
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #1 ($3.50) – Mike Mignola and Alex Maleev telling another story from the early days of Hellboy’s career? I mean, next to Mignola drawing the ongoing adventures of “Hellboy in Hell”, that sounds just about as special as it gets.
Secret Six #1 ($2.99) – Speaking of going home again, Gail Simone returns to the characters that arguably made her a mainstay in the hearts of a very devoted group of fans. With good reason, too. “Secret Six” was perhaps the most fun and well-balanced storytelling that Simone has done in cape comics. Maybe she can recapture some of that again?
Shaft #1 ($3.99) – It’s difficult not to resort to a *shut your mouth* joke when it comes to writing about “Shaft”, but that’s not because I want to lay back and let the gimmicks do the writing for me. It’s because it’s so much damn fun to say. I’ve been anxiously waiting for this one to arrive since its solicitation.
The Woods #8 ($3.99) – It was difficult to tell what kind of writer James Tynion would turn out to be, based on his early work at DC. Not that it’s not perfectly fine – it’s just that he’s a chameleon when he works over there. I think “The Woods” and “Memetic” give us a good indicator of his strengths as a writer. Diverse casts of young people who’s real life problems are as prominent as the supernatural struggles they encounter.
Grayson #5 ($2.99) – All I need is 20 pages of shirtless Dick Grayson swinging his tight buns around the town on some nonsense Spyral mission. I’m saying this as a straight male – keep giving me all your cheesecake, “Grayson.”
Total: $17.46
Keith’s Picks:
Just the Tips ($12.99) – The “Sex Criminals” creative team were nice enough to collect sex tips from the title’s letters column and add in some additional helpful nuggets. This book is sure to make an excellent stocking stuffer, induce plenty of laughter, and might enlighten quite a few people. Thank you Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky!
Detective Comics #37 ($3.99) – Anarky was one of the new Batman villains that was introduced by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle to the Dark Knight Detective’s world when I was a young lad. Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have promised a revamp of one of my favorite villains and I can’t wait to see how different he is in their hands.
Secret Six #1 ($2.99) – Gail Simone returns to a team that she had a hand in creating in the Pre-New 52 world. I’ve only read the “Villains United” miniseries, but I’m very interested to see what the makeup of this team is going to look like. A team of villains sounds like a great concept. Plus I love me some Catman.
Total: $19.97
David’s Picks:
Secret Six #1 ($2.99) – I don’t think I really need to explain why this series – which once again finds Catman, Black Alice and a new selection of anti-heroes doing anti-hero team things – is a must buy. This is Gail Simone at her best, and I’m hoping Ken Lashley is a good fit for the book as well.
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #1 ($3.50) – I wish I was more excited for this book, as it’s Mignola, Arcudi, Maleev and Stewart going old school with Hellboy and the Bureau. But I’m kinda so so on it. Here’s hoping it knocks my socks off.
Continued belowChew #45 ($3.50) – One of the most genuinely surprising endings to any issue any year. True story. Chew fans, prepare the kleenex.
Tooth & Claw #2 ($2.99) – One of the best debuts of the year, Tooth & Claw #1 showed us what Busiek, Dewey and Bellaire are capable of. Now, we’re ready for more, and I believe they’ll deliver just that.
Birthright #3 ($2.99) – I am genuinely surprised by how much I dig this book, but man, the fantasy + family angle Williamson has given this book and the stunning art from Andrei Bressan make it a book that is hard not to love.
Total: $16.97 – enough to make a game time decision on one other book at the shop, as there are some other choice selections that could be made
Leo’s Picks:
Ghost Fleet #2 ($3.99) – I like Don Cates and Daniel Warren Johnson separately, so this pairing of the two had me hyped as soon as it was announced. I have not been let down yet.
Wolf Moon #1 ($3.99) – I’m kinda digging the apparent small resurgence in werewolf comics lately. Bunn and Haun seem like they can pull this off.
Men of Wrath #3 ($3.50) – What can I say? I really like when Jason Aaron writes about violent people from the South.
Chew #45 ($3.50) – Chew is getting ever nearer to its conclusion and Layman and Guillory are making each and every arc more depressing than the last. I love it.
Escape From New York #1 ($3.99) – Admittedly, the movie is ten years older than I am, but I remember watching it as a kid and loving it. Snake Plissken absolutely needs to be in comics.
Total: $18.97
Alice’s Picks:
The Woods #8 ($3.99) – Holy, shit, I cannot sing the praises of this book enough. I picked this one up on a whim because I wanted to see how James Tynion VI fared as a writer outside of the realm of Batman and I had no idea what was waiting for me. This is exactly the kind of comic I want to read. It has a truly diverse cast in terms of race, gender, sexuality and personality that feels genuine in its setting and the writing ad its backed up by a fantastical adventure story that continues to ramp up each issue and fantastic artwork from Michael Dialynas. Oh my god, please, everyone, read this book.
Just The Tips ($12.99) – C’mon, you know you want to. I love me some “Sex Criminals”, I think Fraction and Zdarsky are creating a book that’s not only funny but also hits me right where it feels, y’know? But screw that, this is a celebration of the best part of the book: the hilarious “Sex Tips” from each issue’s backmatter. Just wait until you get home to read it because you don’t need people to see you belly laughing at this thing in public, trust me,
Total: $16.98 OR get the “Shaolin Cowboy” trade paperback for $19.99
Drew’s Picks:
Simpsons Illustrated #14 ($3.99) – If you like the television show, or if you just like good humor comics, this is a must-buy. Bongo books are always a solid purchase.
Tooth & Claw #2 ($2.99) – I always expect good stories from Busiek, and he didn’t disappoint with the first issue of this series. My favorite fantasy books always include some kind of politics and social intrigue, and this one delivered it by the bucket load with religion thrown in for free. Despite have a cast made up of anthropomorphic animals, Ben Dewey’s art manages to make them all expressive and distinct. The backgrounds are just as nice to look at as the foregrounds, and it’s easy to tell a lot of love has been poured into “Tooth & Claw.” Don’t tradewait this – it deserves to be a monthly buy.
Rai #5 ($3.99) – When Valiant first came back onto the scene, I was interested but nervous to try them out. Sure, they only had a few books and they promised to keep their line compact, but comics publishers aren’t well known for keeping their word. (Remember when there were no plans to re-mask Peter Parker?) Even when it became clear the Valiant line wasn’t going to explode in size, I still hesitated. Then they sweetened the deal for me by giving me a book mostly divorced from any kind of continuity with the others. Then they let Matt Kindt write it. If you missed the first arc, pick up this issue. Craine’s art is stunning and matches the futuristic setting. Kindt’s world building is attention grabbing.
Continued belowBrainstorm #4 ($3.99) – Do you like your sci-fi stories hard on the sci? Check out this book. It sounds a little out there – the US military develops a system to control weather events – but the book actually has a meteorologist listed in the credits as a science adviser.
Total: $14.97
Matthew Meylikhov’s Picks:
Secret Six #1 ($2.99) – I normally boast my absolute apathy in everything DC Comics, but “Secret Six” with Gail Simone is enough for me to come back and see what’s up. I loved Simone’s pre-New 52 run on the book as a modern day successor to Ostrander’s great “Suicide Squad” run (they even crossed over at one point, which was wonderful). If I am to allow faith and hope into my heart from DC once more, it’s going to be from this book.
Tooth and Claw #2 ($2.99) – The first issue of Ben Dewey and Kurt Busiek’s new Image ongoing series was so magnificent that of course I am back for more. A high fantasy book full of anthropomorphic characters locked in a society that’s just faced its most difficult situation ever, I can’t wait to see what Dewey and Busiek do after tearing down the world they built in just one issue.
Birthright #3/Nailbiter #8 ($2.99 each) – Josh Williamson has made a life-long fan out of me this year with his output. “Nailbiter” has been stellar, and “Birthright” came out of the gate taking no prisoners as well. Williamson is a very talented writer whose library is just starting to be built, and between these two titles and “Ghosted” I’m very excited to see what his 2015 looks like, let alone what he has planned in comics for the last month of the year.
Angela: Asgard’s Assassin ($3.99) – I was a big fan — perhaps the biggest — of Kieron Gillen’s “Thor”/”Journey into Mystery” run. That he is returning to Asgard is exciting enough, but that he’s doing so with Phil Jimenez and Stephanie Hans is tremendous. With Marguerite Bennett co-writing, I’m really crossing my fingers that the team manages to finally truly justify Angela’s role in the Marvel Universe after a rocky couple years fighting for some sense of vindication.
Men of Wrath #3 ($.50) – Jason Aaron and Ron Garney are teamed up once again for one of the most brutal and unapologetic new series of the year. The first two issues have been rather great; I’m all in to see where else this bloody ride goes.
Final Verdict: $19.45 – Almost made it this week without a $3.99 book on the pull, but alas!
Matthew Garcia’s Picks:
Five Ghosts #14 ($3.50) – One of the best ideas Team FG have established has been a loose structure that basically allows them to tell any story in any genre they want. And “Five Ghosts” is the ultimate genre story. For this arc, Barbiere and Mooneyhave have gone in a more frightening and eerie direction. They’ve also settled into their world far more comfortably, and that confidence helps put this book higher and higher on my pull each month.
Adventure Time #34 ($3.99) – The penultimate issue of North/Paroline/Lamb’s run on this title. Finn is on a mission to get his memory back and it’ll probably be as bright and vivid and kinetic as the rest of this series has been.
Grayson #5 ($2.99) – Okay, look: “Grayson” is total fan service, constantly putting Dick in compromising and revealing situations that amp up the swoon-factor. It benefits too from an intriguing mystery and some fun espionage stakes and great character wo — oh, man, more Grayson gymnastics? Count me in.
Gotham Academy #3 ($2.99) – Am I entirely sure where this book is going? Not really. But Kesel’s art’s fantastic and the mood Cloonan and Fletcher have struck up a really fun and interesting mood and atmosphere. It’s one of those books where I would be just as happy watching the characters talk and interact with each other as I am when they are exploring the mysteries of Gotham.
Total: $13.47 – This week Fantagraphics is also putting out a new collection called “Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make It”, which is like $35 but looks like it could be fun? I might devote the leftover funds toward that.
Continued below
Brian’s Picks:
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #1 ($3.50) – This has all the makings of a shot in the arm for the Mignolaverse: Arcudi scripts, Maleev art, a beloved time period, Hellboy back in the spotlight. I’m in – I’m so in.
Secret Six #1 ($2.99) – For some reason, I am really cautious about picking up this book, despite it coming from creators I trust and from a franchise with a (near) spotless history. What’s my deal?
Wolf Moon #1 ($3.99) – Cullen Bunn and Jeremy Haun are both cut from similar cloths, and both are perennially underrated. I hope this book elevates both of their statuses.
God Hates Astronauts #4 ($3.50) – The most consistently funny book on shelves each month.
Nailbiter #8 ($2.99) – “Nailbiter” might be one of the most consistently satisfying comics to come out each month, and that is saying a lot, because it is such an uncomfortable read. To finish it and want more is a bit of masochism, but that is how good it has been.
Tooth and Claw #2 ($2.99) – One of the more gorgeous books of the year – grab #1 with some extra cash in case you missed it, and just marvel in the beauty. (but don’t count #1 in your total, lest you mess up my math)
Total: $19.96
