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!
Mark’s picks:
“Harrow County” #29 ($3.99)— So begins the final arc, ‘Done Come Back.’ I’m really going to miss this series when it’s over. During its three-year run, there hasn’t been a title I’ve looked forward to more. Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook have crafted a southern gothic horror tale with real heart to it.
“Dept H” #24 ($3.99)— I stopped reading this series quite a while back. Being a mystery story, I found I’d finish an issue and immediately want to read the next. Ultimately, the monthly wait proved to be too great a frustration. However, this is the final issue, so I’m free to read the whole thing in one sitting…
“Southern Cross” #14 ($3.99)— After a bit of a delay following #13, “Southern Cross” is back. Apparently this issue will crack your brain open, so I guess you’ve been warned.
“Rumble” #4 ($3.99)— I find the more somber issues of “Rumble” tend to be the ones I enjoy the most. This one certainly feel into that category. That’s not to say it was without humor, the fallout from the previous issue does force done introspection into the narrative. Dave Stewart reprises some colors from the mother sequences in the James Harren run, which I found particularly satisfying. It gives a little extra weight to the proceedings.
“Monstress” #15 ($3.99)— I really hope Image Comics is planning an oversized hardcover for this series because Sana Takeda’s art deserves a larger page. “Monstress” is truly one of the most beautiful comics out there.
Total: $19.95. There are a lot of good books out this week, so it was difficult to whittle my list down to just these five.
Justin Beeson’s Picks:
Batman #43 ($2.99) – These mini arcs that Tom King has been doing since ‘The War of Jokes and Riddles’ are the best run in the series so far. I’ll cherish this last chapter before they ramp up for the big wedding, which I’m not really looking forward to.
Deathbed #2 ($3.99) – I’m not completely sold on the series yet, but Riley Rossmo’s art is so good that I’ll give it a few issues before I decide if I want to drop it.
Kill or Be Killed #17 ($3.99) – Not much to say other than this series is very good, and may be my favorite Brubaker/Phillips so far.
The Mighty Thor #705 ($3.99) – I can’t believe this phase of Jason Aaron’s run on Thor is coming to an end. I’ll miss the Jane Foster Thor, and I’ll especially miss Russell Dauterman and Matt Wilson’s insane art every month.
Tales of Suspense #103 ($3.99) – As someone who skipped ‘Secret Empire’ entirely, this book is still great, even though it’s directly dealing with some of the fallout. Matthew Rosenberg and Travel Foreman are crafting a really fun character study with Bucky and Hawkeye.
Total: $18.95.
Matt Lune’s Picks:
Lucy Dreaming #1 ($3.99) – Any new All-Ages book on the stands with what looks like a great fantasy adventure hook and a fully realised female lead is always going to get a thumbs up from me. A young girl who escapes into dreams sounds like such a simple elevator pitch with endless possibilities, that this could be a great book.
Cave Carson Has an Interstellar Eye #1 ($3.99) – The “Milk Wars” crossover has reinvigorated my love of the Young Animal books, and the event left all of the titles in an interesting place moving forward, including Cave Carson, so I’m looking forward to this.
Deathbed #2 ($3.99) – The first issue of this mini-series was my kind of crazy, and with the twist in the first issue, this is going to be a very different series moving forward. The premise is so open too that they could literally take it anywhere, which is exciting.
Continued belowMighty Thor #705 ($3.99) – This is it, everything Aaron and Dauterman have been working towards with Jane Foster comes down to this issue. The title of the storyline feels like we know where this is going, but as with most things, it’s all been about the journey.
Southern Cross #14 ($3.99) – This is the one book, above all others, that I feel that far too many people are sleeping on. Becky Cloonan is weaving a twisted, dark sci-fi tale, and Andy Belanger’s mind-bending art adds a deep, psychedelic aesthetic. “Southern Cross” feels like watching a bizarre movie on some obscure cable channel that sends a chill down your spine at 3am, or like Cloonan et al have made a comic around that one poster in your local video store that used to freak you out when you were a kid. It’s brilliant.
Total: $19.98
Kate’s Picks:
We Spoke Out: Comic Books and the Holocaust ($49.99) – This anthology of comic stories about the Holocaust educated a generation before Schindler’s List was released in theaters and the topic was taught regularly in schools. To have this collection in one place is invaluable to both comics scholars and fans, especially in our current geopolitical climate.
Total: $49.99. Am I over budget? Absolutely. Is this book worth it? Absolutely.
