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!
Leo’s Picks:
Manifest Destiny #13 ($2.99) – “Manifest Destiny” is still super underrated, in my mind. It’s one of my favorite books from Image and I’m really hoping this third arc keeps up the quality and general craziness that I’ve come to expect.
Bitch Planet #3 ($3.50) – Admittedly, I’ve never been much of a Kelly Sue fan, but “Bitch Planet” has changed that. The first two issues have been great and I’m hyped that she’s brought on Robert Wilson IV for an issue. He killed it on “Knuckleheads” and it’ll be great to see his Image debut.
Burning Fields #2 ($3.99) – Moreci, Daniel, and Lorimer proved they still had that great chemistry from “Curse” with the first issue of “Burning Fields”. Needless to say, I’m stoked to see how the rest of this war horror story plays out.
Ei8ht #1 ($3.50) – Time travel stories seem to be the way to go right now, if the launch of “Ei8ht” and “Chrononauts” is any indication. Rafael Albuquerque seems to crafting something special with this book and I’m all in for it.
Goners #5 ($2.99) – “Goners” continues to be another Image book that doesn’t get the love it deserves. The creative team continues to make a story that sticks out from the crowd and is slowly building to something big.
Total: $16.97
Keith’s Picks:
The Multiversity: Mastermen #1 ($4.99) – Grant Morrison has not failed to inspire awe with each successive chapter of “The Multiversity”. Working this time with artist Jim Lee, Morrison tells a tale of the Nazi-controlled world of Earth-10 and the heroes of Earth-X. The expectation of action on an epic level works to Lee’s strengths, with “The Multiversity: Mastermen” promising to definitely stand apart from the previous issues. Like characters from the other parts of this multiversal saga, I bet readers will be clamoring for a Freedom Fighters ongoing series.
Batgirl #39 ($2.99) – The identity of the foe that has been hounding Barbara for the past couple issues is going to, “shock her to her very core!” Will it be an antagonist from her past or a new character? No matter who it may be, I trust this issue to be just as Bat-tastic as the previous four. The team of Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr have done no wrong since their run began and continue to get better with each consecutive issue.
Batman and Robin #39 ($2.99) – Pete Tomasi and Patrick Gleason proved themselves with issue #38 that transforming Damian into “Super-Robin” was not a bad idea. Judging by that issue alone, it was a great idea. Let’s see if this new status quo will inspire equally compelling and emotional stories as the pre-“Super-Robin” ones.
Justice League #39 ($3.99) – The solicit for the final part of “The Amazo Virus” is pretty vague, promising “haunting consequences.” Although I’ve loved this storyline, I admit it has seemed a little drawn out. I’m predicting the lineup of the Justice League might change a little and some Justice League-worthy bombshells will be unveiled leading up to issue #40’s prologue to this summer’s “The Darkseid War” epic storyline.
Teen Titans #7 ($2.99) – Since issue one, writer Will Pfeiffer and artist Kenneth Rocafort (and, briefly, fill-in artists) have had a fun time with this team. It’s improved greatly over the previous volume of the series and it’s been nice to see one of my favorite artists getting to draw Tim Drake and company.
Total: $17.95
Vince’s Picks:
Plunder #1 ($3.99) – Boom! Studios strikes again, with an absolutely bonkers-looking book from a couple of creators that I’m pretty sure are using witness protection program names. Anyway, the art looks as insane as the concept seems to be.
Continued belowLumberjanes #11 ($3.99) – It is Valentine’s Day as I write this, and I want to send “Lumberjanes” a big ol’ heartfelt Valentine – even though it doesn’t need validation from a man for it to be awesome.
The Multiversity: Mastermen #1 ($4.99) – The issue of “Multiversity” that I, and probably most others, feel the most questionable about. I desperately want this to be some bonkers secret deconstruction of ’90s era comics, but we’ll see what we get.
The Kitchen #4 ($2.99) – Ming Doyle is a treasure.
Silk #1 ($3.99) – I’ve enjoyed Silk’s inclusion in Dan Slott’s “Amazing Spider-Man”, as she really has given a different tone to Spider-Man/Peter Parker’s everyday heroic exploits. I think her own book here has a really strong art team and a chance to be special. Here’s hoping.
Total: $19.95
Brian’s Picks:
B.P.R.D. #128 ($3.50) – If you can resist the charms of this issue, you are a better person than I – Varvara, Howards, and the most heartbreaking word of the month: Jill. Trust me, read this comic.
The Multiversity: The Mastermen #1 ($4.99) – I know we all have some fun with Jim Lee – the piping, the high collars, the snail’s pace at which he works – but that dude can draw some comics. Looking forward to seeing what he does here.
King: Mandrake The Magician #1 ($3.99) – The King books have been consistently fun and rewarding – I have no doubt that “Mandrake” will continue that trend.
Rumble #3 ($3.50) – Double the Arcudi and Harren this week (along with “B.P.R.D.”) means double the amazing comics. Dig it.
Total: $15.98
Matt Dodge’s Picks:
She-Hulk #12 ($2.99) – This series is ending way before its time. Charles Soule has done a lot to flesh-out the world of Jennifer Walters, and created something unique and different then typically found in the adventures of Bruce Banner. Soule appears to have a long career at Marvel ahead of him, and hopefully he can find his way back to “She-Hulk” in the future.
Thrilling Adventure Hour Presents Sparks Nevada Marshal On Mars #1 ($3.99) – The Thrilling Adventure Hour podcast has been incredibly entertaining for years, and now they’re making the leap into comics. The show has always been both a strange mishmash of genres and very very funny. Hopefully the comic series will be able to maintain the same spirit of fun.
Batman and Robin #39 ($2.99) – Damian Wayne with superpowers? Damian Wayne with superpowers.
The Multiversity: Mastermen #1 ($4.99) – Grant. Morrison. Jim. Lee.
Total: $14.96
David’s Picks:
Lazarus #15 ($3.50) – This book is criminally underrated, and the third arc has somehow been even better than the one that preceded it. Rucka and Lark continue to masterfully build a world that’s more interesting than just about any other one in comics.
Silk #1 ($3.99) – Stacey Lee is the reason I’m interested in this book. I actually don’t read any Spider books, but I will read this one for some sweet, sweet Stacey Lee art.
She-Hulk #12 ($2.99) – Oh, my precious. I am sad to see this book go, as it has been a gem since day one, but it is the end of one of Marvel’s absolute best and brightest. So long, my sweet.
Autumnlands #4 ($2.99) – One of the best new books from Image is this gem from Busiek, Dewey, Bellaire and the Comicraft team, and it continues to build a wicked tapestry with each passing issue.
Deadly Class #11 ($3.50) – This book is nasty. Nasty and great. Each issue surprises me, and I’m looking forward to what surprise is next.
Total: $16.97 – some of my favorite titles mixed in with an interesting newbie
Matt Garcia’s Picks:
Ei8ht #1 ($3.50) – Rafael Albuquerque brushes up and revises an old webcomic to create this really cool looking sci-fi time travel adventure. It sounded intriguing enough, but it also includes dinosaurs and, well, there’s the tipping point into awesomeness.
Lumberjanes #11 ($3.99) – Nothing else to add here that I haven’t any other week “Lumberjanes” comes up. It’s just a really great series.
Total: $7.49
