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 Pick:
Black Hammer: Reborn #1 ($3.99) – So “Black Hammer” is back and it’s fantastic. There’s a bit of “Skulldigger + Skeleton Boy” crossover here, with both Skulldigger and Amanda Reyes showing up. It’s not like you have to read that series, but it’ll give you some context, and it’ll probably become more relevant as ‘Reborn’ goes on.
Despite the series being away from Black Hammer farm, and almost all the original characters are absent, this still feels immediately like “Black Hammer”—sad and haunted. Newcomer Caitlin Yarsky’s art is such a fantastic fit too, especially the tone of her character work. She shares the melancholy that was pervasive in Dean Ormston’s art.
Lady Baltimore: The Witch Queens #4 ($3.99) – Whoa… there’s a lot to process here. Check out my review later this week—it’s hard to talk about without spoiling.
Imogen of the Wyrding Way ($3.99) – This is mostly a standalone tale, but it also seems to serve as a kind of epilogue to “Lady Baltimore: The Witch Queens.” At least I think so. It’s hard to say since ‘The Witch Queens’ doesn’t finish until next month.
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #4 ($3.99) – Chris and Laura Samnee’s series continues to be a joy to read, consistently a highlight every month.
The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #3 ($3.99) – Both stories in this issue are great, but Michael Avon Oeming’s art in the first one especially wowed me—it’s one of my favourite things he’s done.
Total: $19.95. Another big week. I’m also grabbing “Ascender” #16 and “Bitter Root” #14.
Christopher’s Picks:
Reptil #2 ($3.99) – I’m largely unfamiliar with the Avengers Academy generation, but the first issue of Terry and Enid Balam’s solo series was a fun slice of family drama, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the Marvel Universe’s most relatable hero more. (Yes, it’s because he’s dinosaur-themed.)
Captain Marvel #29 ($3.99) – Kelly Thompson’s Carol Danvers run has been consistently good, and it’s fascinating how she’s made Amora the Enchantress a foil for her as much as she is for Thor. Will she teach Carol magic? Let’s find out.
Fantastic Four: Life Story #2 ($4.99) – The first chapter of Mark Russell and Sean Izaakse’s real-time take on Marvel’s First Family had the spookiest and most haunting take on Reed Richards and Galactus that I’ve ever read: can’t wait to see how it continues.
Total: $12.97
Luke’s Picks:
S.W.O.R.D. #6 ($3.99) – I’ve been a bit lapsed in keeping up with the ‘Hellfire Gala,’ so I’ve only just got caught up to last week’s “Planet Size X-Men,” but I can’t wait to see how the events of that one-shot impact the S.W.O.R.D. setup… as if the appearance of the pyramid that the team brought back in #1 on the cover wasn’t enough!
Way of X #3 ($3.99) – Si Spurrier is sure to have fun with Nightcrawler scrutinizing Krakoa’s ‘Make More Mutants’ law and Bob Quinn will make it look great. Sold.
Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1 ($9.99) – This is a vitally important one-shot where an abundance of LGBTQ+ talent come together to put the LGBTQ+ Marvel characters in the spotlight. To further the mutant-focused nature of my picks this week, Steve Orlando and Claudia Aguirre’s new dream controlling mutant, Somnus, sounds really cool and debuts here. Luciano Vecchio’s designs for the character look pretty awesome as well.
Vinyl #1 ($3.99) – I’ll admit this has gone under my radar until now but its solicit is promising “psychopaths, sweet love… a serial killer named Walter… a death cult of all-female sunflower farmers…[and] an underground labyrinth filled with secrets and monsters!” It sounds absolutely bonkers and for that reason I’ve got to see how it turns out.
Continued belowTotal: $21.96. A tad over budget but I’m sure I’ve saved some from previous weeks to cover it.
Kate’s Picks:
Black Hammer Reborn #1 ($3.99): The “child superhero as bitter, jaded adult that is called to revisit her past to find herself once more” trope is one that’s been done before, but I trust Jeff Lemire to put a new spin on it.
Marvel’s Voices Pride #1 ($9.99): This totally had me at “return of Iceman” who was a character who deserved more.
Lady Baltimore The Witch Queens #4 ($3.99): This series continues to impress, and certainly has me hooked on the Outerverse.
Total: $17.97
Brian’s Picks:
Infinite Frontier #1 ($4.99) – While the line-wide ‘Infinite Frontier’ status quo has been an improvement over what came before, it has lacked some of the spunk that “Infinite Frontier” #0 laid out. But with the miniseries now in full gear, we get a look back at some of the characters we’ve been missing, like Roy Harper, Obsidian/Jade, and Justice Incarnate. This is what we’ve been missing, and it will reinvigorate the DC love in your heart.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #13 ($3.99) – While ‘War of the Bounty Hunters’ has been relatively boiler-plate thus far, an IG-88 and Darth Vader duel sounds like just what the doctor [Aphra] ordered to shake out the doldrums.
Spawn’s Universe #1 ($5.99) – Look, no matter who I am today, I was a ten year old boy in 1992, and therefore Spawn is part of my comics DNA. I am so curious about this book for a few reasons; as my friend Ben put it on Twitter, why is it Spawn‘s Universe, and now just Spawn Universe? The intrigue just grows from there.
Total: $14.97
Johnny’s Pick:
American Cult ($24.99) – Because it can’t all be cape books, amirite? From independent publisher Silver Sprocket, and edited by Robyn Chapman, “American Cult” is an anthology, gathering twenty or so artists together to tell stories that are perhaps integral to the history of our nation – our love affair with religious cults and the exploration of religious freedom in America. Not merely historical anecdotes, this anthology looks to explore more humane depths, as only comics can, plumbing the personal stories involved for a more empathetic and engrossing collection of narratives. With talents like Box Brown, Ben Passmore, Emi Gennis, Ryan Carey, Janet Harvey, and Jim Rugg involved, this solid lineup of talent is sure to produce a memorable collection.
Total: $24.99. Yeah, I know….I’ll go sit in the corner and reflect on my extravagant spending habits.
