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!
Johnny’s Picks:
Little Monsters #1 ($3.99) – I really dig the muted/absent color palette that artist Dustin Nguyen is working with in this new story about child vampires, collaborating once again with writer Jeff Lemire. I generally buy anything the pair does, and “Little Monsters” is no exception.
Monkey Meat #3 ($3.99) – One of Multiversity’s own Breakout Artists of 2021, Juni Ba’s distinctive voice became one to watch for many in 2022. “Monkey Meat” has been a wonderful assortment of short stories, and the world-building involved bringing his vibrant art to some really biting satire. One of my favorite reads so far this year!
Hawkeye: Kate Bishop #5 ($3.99) – This little miniseries actually won me over, with artist Enid Balam’s really creative artistic style, fun character designs and superb page layouts being the star of the show. This isn’t Fraction/Aja, but the pair of writer Marieke Nijkamp and Balam have made their mark on Kate Bishop (and Pizza Dog!). I sincerely hope we get more of this team writing Kate in the future.
The Good Asian #9 ($3.99) – I’ve talked this book up plenty, recommending most (if not all) of the other issues in this very column. If you like American noir, this book is for you. Plus, any book with back matter is aces.
Total: $15.96
Mark’s Picks:
Squire ($14.99) – A new graphic novel that nearly flew completely under my radar from Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh. I really need to pay better attention to the comics HarperCollins publishes—their output over the last two years has been consistently good and seemingly getting better all the time. “Squire” is the story of a teenage girl that wants to become a knight in a society where she is a second class citizen. I don’t know much about this book, but the preview pages I read certainly convinced me this is a book I need to track down. I’m not familiar with Shammas’s work, but Alfageeh did last year’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Free Comic Book Day story, ‘Matcha Makers,’ which was really wonderfully done.
Little Monsters #1 ($3.99) – Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s new creator-owned project coming off the end of “Descender”/”Ascender.” This is such a ridiculously obvious pick for me. Of course I’m going to get this one.
Total: $18.98. A short list, but even still, I got pretty close to blowing the budget.
Kate’s Picks:
Hellboy Universe Essentials: Lobster Johnson ($14.99): For someone still a novice in the Hellboy world, these Essentials collections are – – pardon the pun – – essential reading.
Life is Strange: Settling Dust #4 ($3.99): After four years, the story of Max and Chloe finally comes to an end. As I’ve started a replay of the new remastered version of Life Is Strange, this finale takes on an extra poignancy for me.
Total: $18.98.
Christopher’s Picks:
Squire ($14.99) – Suffice to say, the notion of a fantasy world conceived by members of the Arab diaspora is really important given the ways it can shape people’s perceptions of us, and I really hope Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh’s epic lives up to our hopes and expectations for it.
Life is Strange: Settling Dust #4 ($3.99) – Safe travels Max and Chloe.
Total: $18.98
