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!
B.P.R.D. – Vampire #1 ($3.50) – Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon are two of the most talented artists working in the industry when they are working separately. Together, they are unstoppable. This is their most visually collaborative work yet, and spoilers: it looks drop-dead gorgeous. For those of you who aren’t up to date with B.P.R.D., this first issue does have some strong ties to the 1940s miniseries(es), so storywise, it may be a bit difficult to jump back in with this issue (which is written just as well as it is illustrated). But who cares? Come in and enjoy the excellent artwork, and soon enough it will just be cover-to-cover vampire killing to enjoy!
East of West #1 ($3.50) – I love Jonathan Hickman. I strongly like Nick Dragotta. Still, I wasn’t 100% sold on this first issue, but I’ll give it another one or two before deciding whether or not to keep it. Still, it’s definitely a comic worth checking out — I get the vibe a lot of people are really going to like it.
$13 Worth of The Massive #10, Batman Incorporated #9, Unwritten #37, Fatale #13, Savage Skullkickers #1, The Legend of Luther Strode #4, or FF #5 (Varying Prices) – That’s right, I’m cheating this week. Compared to some of the guys, I read a lot less books, and each week when we do this comic, I’m rarely actually cutting anything I plan on getting in store (sometimes I even pad a bit with things I don’t end up reading!). This week, though, is tough: if you asked me for my top ten favorite comics I’m currently reading, all seven of these would probably be in list. So instead of making the difficult choice of cutting two or three, I’m going to break the rules and say choose from any of these with your remaining amount. I’d give the same “I’ve been reading [title] since the very beginning and loving every second” justification no matter what I picked, anyway. My column, my rules to break!
Total: Less than or equal to $20.00
East of West #1 ($3.50) – Anything written by Jonathan Hickman is a no-brainer of a buy. Especially if it’s creator-owned work. Especially if that creator-owned work features art by Nick Dragotta. Especially if it involves Nick Dragotta drawing some sort of apocalyptic Sci-fi Western wasteland. Well, gee I guess there’s nothing about this book that doesn’t sound awesome.
Five Weapons #2 (of 5) ($3.50) – I gave the first issue of this a rave review last month, because from beginning to end it was nothing but a delightful and witty read. I can tell you that the 2nd issue is just as good, if not even better than the first. Jimmie Robinson is peppering his story with all kinds of fun surprises and the final page cliffhangers or twists are definite highlights. This is not one to miss. I’m buying all the issues and then I’ll collect it when it’s (hopefully) released as a nice hardcover. A story that’s impossible not to like.
Planetoid #5 ($2.99) – It’s been a while since Ken Garing’s “Planetoid” has seen the comic shelves. It was worth the wait though, so I hope nobody is thinking of dropping this just because of the delays. This is the final issue of the “mini” and Garing has said that he’d only be returning to “Planetoid” through one-shots or two-part minis from here on out. Maybe that’ll make it easier on a man who is writing and drawing these issues himself and creating some really damn good comics out of nowhere.
Continued belowBatman Inc #9 ($2.99) – One of the few DC titles I’ll likely be recommending for a while. It’s one of the few DC titles that I’m actually still pulling. Between the editorial mucking and the questionable creative choices that continue to put their company in the headlines, there’s just too much negativity going on at DC Comics for it not to affect their output. And affected their output is, as I’m finding nothing more than a small handful of their 50-odd titles worth reading from month to month anymore. But Grant Morrison’s “Batman Inc” is certainly still one of them. I thought Damien’s death issue was extremely brutal, just like Damien would have wanted. The first-person views of Damien flying around on his jetpack were an amazing choice that will stick with me whenever I think of Damien’s character.
Young Avengers #3 ($2.99) – The 2nd issue of Gillen & McKelvie’s “Young Avengers” used the medium itself in interesting ways to tell its story, as well as packed itself full of humor and references to internet memes that some might roll their eyes at, but I absolutely loved. This team is clearly interested in pushing their own work forward, as they’re being more experimental than they’re ever been together and slowly building a world with these characters, all of whom are extremely likable. They seem more like “Young Adult Avengers” to me. That’s refreshing, because Gillen and McKelvie clearly know what makes young adults tick in the modern world like few others in comics do.
FF #5 ($2.99) – Your monthly Mike Allred fix. That would be all you would need to know, if the book wasn’t also so much wacky fun thanks to Matt Fraction’s sense of humor. It’s the complete antithesis of something like “Age of Ultron”, and I love that about it.
Total: $18.96
The Legend Of Luther Strode #4 ($3.50) – This is just a fun as hell book. Also that cover, holy shit.
East Of West #1 ($3.50) – It’s Hickman and Dragotta at Image. How could anyone say no to this?
Batman Inc. #9 ($2.99) – Well that was certainly one hell of a last issue. Now I just want to see where Morrison takes Bats from there.
Guardians Of The Galaxy #1 ($3.99) – I actually really enjoyed the #0.1 issue (more so than the story in Point One) but this is really the make or break issue for me. I like Bendis, but I’ve never been too big on the team. Let’s see how this goes.
FF #5 ($2.99) – This must be what people feel when they talk about “Hawkeye” because I love this book so much.
Journey Into Mystery #650 ($2.99) – I like Immonen’s “JiM” more than Gillen’s. THERE I SAID IT.
Total: $19.96
B.P.R.D. Vampire #1 ($3.50) – Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba working in the Mignolaverse. It is an amazing issue. Do I really need to tell you that for you to get this?
East of West #1 ($3.50) – Again: it’s Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta making a comic. Do I really need to tell you to buy this?
Morning Glories #25 ($3.99) – Shit is gonna get real as Season One comes to a close. Do not miss it.
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 ($3.99) – Honestly, I really loved the 0.1 issue. I am super jacked for Bendis and McNiven taking us on space adventures. My only fear is McNiven won’t be around for long. Either way it should be one hell of an adventure.
FF #5 ($2.99) – There are a lot of great options for this final spot in one loaded week of comics. I give it to the book that is arguably the most fun in comics. Come for Bentley 42 and the Moloids, stick around for the Jeeeeennnnnnnn.
Total: $17.97 (get some more money and more comics, though)
East of West #1 ($3.50) – Jonathan Hickman does not lack for ideas – when he was on “The Hour Cosmic,” he said that he has “dozens” of ideas for series. This was once one of those: the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in a futuristic western. Add to that Nick Dragotta (late of “FF” with Hickman), and you’ve got a formula I wouldn’t bet against.
Continued belowJustice League Dark #18 ($2.99) – While the “Justice League” books have been a mixed bag, “Dark” has never really suffered, especially after Jeff Lemire came on after the first arc. Mikel Janin is knocking it out of the park, and co-writer Ray Fawkes’s arrival has added a bit of humor to the book that is really appreciated.
FF #5 ($2.99) – The most fun comic being produced today. Truth.
Young Avengers #3 ($2,99) – There are so many good Avengers books right now (something I never thought I would say), that it can be easy to forget just how special “Young Avengers” is. Don’t be that guy – embrace this book!
I, Vampire #18 ($2.99) – Depending on how extreme DC’s rewrites on his Lantern books will be, this might be the penultimate issue Josh Fialkov writes for DC for quite some time. And that is a damn shame.
Total: $15.46 – Take your four bucks and change down to the local supermarket and get some Cadbury Cream Eggs and Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans.
Planetoid #5 ($3.99) – This one’s way overdue, but the quality of the previous issues was top notch. I have no doubt this has been worth the wait.
Time Warp #1 ($7.99) – An anthology book from Vertigo? Yes please.
Rachel Rising #15 ($3.99) – It feels like it’s been a while since the last issue, but this is another series which is always top notch. I can’t wait to find out how much creepier this book will allow itself to get.
Futurama Comics #66 ($2.99) – Shut up and take my money!
Total: $18.96
Morning Glories #25 ($3.99) – Hands down the book of the week to get. If you’ve been reading this series, you do not want to miss this issue. Also, you may want to buy some extra Tylenol.
East of West #1 ($3.50) – One of the most anticipated debuts of the year. Hickman and Dragotta make magic together. And wait until you see Laura Martin’s colors on this one. Really amplifies Dragotta’s art to a different level.
BPRD: Vampire #1 ($3.50) – Under no circumstances ever should you be passing up on a book that has new artwork by a) Gabriel Ba, b) Fabio Moon and/or c) both.
Batman Incorporated #9 ($2.99) – After last month’s big “game changer” issue, it’ll be interesting to see what else Grant and Burnham have left up their sleeves for what will likely end up being the best Batman story of all time. (Take that, Miller.)
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 ($3.99) – Last but not least, Bendis has been having a resurgence in awesome lately. Lets hope he keeps it up with the relaunch of this franchise, because if Marvel really wants to sell us on a Guardians movie, boy, they’re going to need all the help they can get.
Total: $17.97
Dia de Los Muertos #2 ($4.99) – The first issue of this Riley Rossmo-illustrated anthology miniseries was beautiful and weird, and that’s not even to mention the scrumptious Golden Age format. Look out for a story by Kurtis Wiebe in this one.
The Answer! #3 ($3.99) – Such a smart, kooky series, and such a smooth read on the issue-by-issue level. There should be more librarians in comics, and probably more punctuation on superheroes’ faces in general.
Planetoid #5 ($2.99) – There has been a lot of sci-fi world-building packed into this little miniseries, not to mention a good deal of gorgeous and surreal art. Now it’s coming to the end of an arc, but apparently there’s more “Planetoid” ahead. So, if you haven’t been following this one, be sure to check out the trade!
Morning Glories #25 ($3.99) – It’s the season one finale, and it’s a double-sized issue, so… basically the biggest no-brainer ever. Unless you’re not already reading the series, in which case… you should be?
You know. For a better future.
Total: $15.96. You can get yourself a macchiato!
