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.
Follow the cut to see everyone’s picks for the week.
Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 ($3.99) – Brian Wood writing Wolverine and Kid Omega. That’s more than enough for me.
Action Comics #5 ($3.99) – Before writing this, I actually wrote a lot about All Star Superman in a post on Reddit. You better believe I’m going to be getting the Kubert-drawn new origin for Superman by Morrison here in Action Comics #5. Oh yes.
Mudman #2 ($3.50) – Paul Grist is a creator who has proven himself quite a talent to watch, between Kane and Jack Staff. With Mudman’s first issue, Grist introduced a very intriguing new character to the Image universe, and I for one am looking forward to what he has planned with this new series.
Fatale #1 ($3.50) – Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips collaborating should always, always earn a spot in your pull. One of the greatest duos currently collaborating in comics today, if not the greatest.
Hulk #47 ($2.99) – A new arc of Hulk by Jeff Parker! Elena Casagrande on art, who I’ve never seen before but am highly looking forward to! Rulk vs Red She-Hulk! Get it, before it gets you.
Walt’s Picks
Fatale #1 ($3.50) – At this point, I will buy pretty much anything Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips make together. Fatale looks like a mashup of a handful of different kinds of old school pulp fiction. If there’s anyone that can pull this off, it’s the Criminal crew. I mean, honestly, did you read Last of the Innocent? No? Jesus, do that first, and then I won’t need to tell you to pick this up.
Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 ($3.99) – Hot on the heels of finishing up DMZ, Brian Wood returns to company-owned comics with a miniseries focusing on two of my favorite X-Men characters. Quentin Quire has been fun in Jason Aaron’s Schism and Wolverine and the X-Men, but this mini should give us a bit of a deeper look into his head – a head that I think Wood will have a great handle on.
Sweet Tooth #29 ($2.99) – I just finished catching up with Sweet Tooth about a week back. Good lord. What an outstanding comic. Go back through all of my former Comics Should Be Cheap columns, and replace any $2.99 choice with the Sweet Tooth of that month and odds are you’ll be making the right choice. After the most recent arc, it looks like we are entering the point where things come together and we hit the home stretch. Bring it on, Jeff Lemire. My body is ready.
Animal Man #5 ($2.99) – Speaking of Lemire, his Animal Man is probably my favorite of the New 52. It’s fascinating, it’s creepy, and it’s just an extremely well put together book. I had some beef with Travel Foreman’s art early on, but I’ve reached the point where I really can’t imagine the book being illustrated by anyone else. Hopefully I have the sense to not read this one right before bed again. Honestly, these guys are sick.
Swamp Thing #5 ($2.99) – Likewise, Swamp Thing is – again, in my opinion – the second best series from the New 52. How fortunate that they will be crossing over. Now that Scott Snyder has gotten all of his exposition out of the way, the book is really stepping up the horror to bone-chilling levels, and the last issue in particular just made me feel… gross. I mean that in the best possible way. If you were dissuaded by the admittedly slightly heavy-handed exposition in the first few issues, now is the time to come back.
Continued belowAction Comics #5 ($3.99) – So maybe we’ve read Superman’s origin story a billion times. But, come on, it’s Grant Morrison! I will admit, as a hardcore Morrison fan, that this series has been a tiny bit of a letdown for me – especially concerning the price – but I can’t complain about Andy Kubert stepping onboard for a couple of issues. I just want to see the price of this drop down to $2.99, and lose the lackluster “bonus features.”
Total: $20.45 (You can spare a couple of quarters)
Brandon’s Picks
Avengers Academy #24 ($2.99) — While last issue seemed a little After School Special for me, the issue was still solid per the usual from this title. I love the characters and I love what Christos Gage does with this book month in and month out. One of the books I can’t wait to read.
Penguin: Pain and Prejudice #4 ($2.99) — This has been sneaky under the radar. If you love the Penguin or just a good Batman title this is a book you should be reading. I love how they’ve developed Penguin’s motivations as well as the cutthroat nature in which he enforces his power base. Oh, and last issue they brought in the umbrellas with awesome reasoning. I absolutely love this mini.
Sweet Tooth #29 ($2.99) — Jeff Lemire returns to doing art and writing on the title! I am very excited to get back to the main story and see how the arc that just concluded will play into the immediate future of the title. This really is a great all around book that does not get enough attention in my opinion.
Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 ($3.99) — I like Brian Wood and I like the idea of Kid Omega vs Wolvie in Wolvie’s mind. This is going to be a title that should be a lot of fun. Interested to see if the hype in my mind will match the actual contents and merits of the book itself.
X-Men #23 ($3.99) — This book has a solid team of X-Men and Sentinels! I love me some Sentinels and I rather enjoy this book! BUY!
Justice League International ($2.99) — This has not been a great or amazing book but I’ve enjoyed it. Booster Gold and Guy Gardner teamed together is an instant sell for me, fanpeeps. While I can’t say this is a book everyone should rush out and buy, I CAN say I enjoy it.
Total: $19.94
Brian’s Picks
Action Comics #5 ($3.99) – With the backups now in place, this book is worth every penny. Even though we’ve all read enough Superman origin stories for a few lifetimes, I’m intrigued to see how Grant Morrison handles it.
Huntress #4 ($2.99) – I still have no idea why Huntress isn’t an ongoing at DC; this mini has been nothing but excellent, and Marcus To is killing it on pencils.
Fatale #1 ($3.50) – If you aren’t buying this book, you’re probably battling a serious drug addiction, so you don’t have money to waste on comics anyway. Get help, man! Crack is whack!
Batwing #5 ($2.99) – My local comic shop does a great job of keeping me abreast of what is going on in the shop; what is selling, what isn’t, etc. A few weeks ago, the manager told me that of all the books he sells, Batwing might get the most positive marks from customers. I can see why – it is one of the best looking, easiest to pick up books currently in production at any company.
Animal Man #5 / Swamp Thing #5 ($2.99 each) – I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know – these books are great. If funds are short, I’d spend my cash on Animal Man, as it is wrapping up its first arc, and has been more essential month to month reading than Swampy has, although Swamp Thing may turn out to be a better overall story in the long run. Who knows? All i know is, buy these now.
Continued belowTotal: $19.45
David’s Picks
Fatale #1 ($3.50) – There are a lot of reasons why this is the most exciting book of the week, but I’ll start with the obvious one: Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are nothing but gold. A good second reason is that I’ve already read this and I can attest to the fact that this comic is awesome. Get on it.
Mudman #2 ($3.50) – It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had an issue of this comic (probably because I read the first issue on an advance copy), but either way, Paul Grist’s new Image series is a delightful throwback and is one to watch for in 2012. If the series continues the quality of the first issue, we could be looking at one of the best books of the year.
Goon #37 ($3.50) – Eric Powell? Check. The Goon? Check. Taco carts and girdle factories? Check. Me buying this book? Check.
Uncanny X-Force #19.1 ($2.99) – My favorite current ongoing series has a second point one issue, with this one focusing on the Age of Apocalypse and the fate of that world. I’m going to throw out a guess: it survives. Still, with Remender, Opena and Ribic onboard, so am I.
Sweet Tooth #29 ($2.99) – As much as I enjoyed The Taxidermist and Matt Kindt’s art on this book, I’m excited to get back going with the main story and some sweet, sweet Lemire art. Looking forward to seeing where we go next, and we are shockingly close to this series being over. The home stretch likely begins here.
Graveyard of Empires #3 ($2.99) – It feels like it has been forever since an issue of this has come out, and with good reason: it’s been a while. That said, Mark Sable and Paul Azaceta’s superb mini-series continues its march to either a collaborative American/Taliban victory or zombies winning again (they always do). Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
Total: $19.47
Josh’s Picks
X-Club #2 ($2.99): Fighting evil with science never came across as so witty and hyper-realistic. Spurrier has another hit on his hands with this one.
Animal Man #5/ Swamp Thing #5 ($2.99 each): The two highest points of the DCnU also happen to be some of the strongest work Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder are producing at the moment and the fact that they happen to be edging and edging closer to a full on crossover only helps both books.
Li’l Depressed Boy #8 ($2.99): Musically infused charm in its maximum form. Buy it!
Defenders #2 ($3.99): The first issue of this book was surprisingly deep for a super hero team book and threw way more curve balls than I expected. Matt Fraction is starting a new chapter of his career with this one and its an intriguing chapter so far.
Wolverine & The X-Men: Alpha & Omega #1 ($3.99): Brian Wood writing the X-Men. If you aren’t immediately excited by this there is something deeply and profoundly wrong with you.
Total: $19.94
Gil’s Picks
Animal Man #5 ($2.99) — Damn, this book is good. The art even looks a bit better! Man, I don’t know what to think.
Action Comics #5 ($3.99) — The Last Son of Krypton’s origin! Going all over the universe like that, I hope he brought his towel! No, I will not stop making Hitchhiker’s Guide jokes.
Avengers Academy #24 ($2.99) — I’m really looking forward to this book after such a stellar issue last month. Christos Gage won best writer in my list, and this book is why. Check it out!
Huntress #4 ($2.99) — Hands down, this book is absolutely gorgeous. It’s a good story from Paul Levitz, but Marcus To’s gorgeous pencils make the book worth the price of admission alone.
Continued belowSwamp Thing #5 ($2.99) — Why would you even pick up Animal Man if you weren’t picking up Swamp Thing too? These books go together like peanut butter and nutella.
X-Men #23 ($3.99) — I love this book a lot more than I should, but that’s not a bad thing. I think it’s just as good as the “bigger” X-Men books, with a lot more fun interactions with the Marvel U at large. Good stuff.
Total: $19.94
