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!
Kevin’s Picks:
“Justice League” #1 ($3.99) – “Metal” was insane. “No Justice” was bonkers. Now Scott Snyder takes on the flagship DC title with “Justice League” to craft what I imagine will be the DC-epic of the decade. Plus, Jim Cheung is on art for this first issue, and those preview pages look amazing. Getting the former Marvel big event artist to kick off your next biggest DC book is quite a steal. Between the Hall of Justice, the Legion of Doom, focus on Martian Manhunter as Snyder has said in interviews, and the fate of the multiverse hanging in the balance, there is too much here to love. This is a must-have.
“The Unexpected” #1 ($2.99) – Speaking of Crisis level stories, unexpectedly (get it), DC is putting out the last of the New Age of Heroes books this week with the Crisis prevention team, “The Unexpected.” I really enjoyed Steve Orlando’s different more political, mythical and communal “Justice League of America” run and this seems like a sort of wonkier, out of this world version of that. Plus with Ryan Sook and Cary Nord can you go wrong? But let’s be honest, I’m a sucker for anything mentioning a Crisis from DC so I’m all here for this.
“Doctor Strange” #1 ($3.99) – Of all the new Marvel Fresh Start titles launching this week (this, “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” and “Immortal Hulk”) this is the one I’m the most excited for. I saw some preview pages of this at C2E2 and Jesus Saíz is doing the artistic work of his life. I loved Donny Cates and Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s recent run on the book, so I’m sad to see it go, but Strange in SPAACCEE has got me invested too.
“Vagrant Queen” #1 ($3.99) – I will be honest, I don’t read as many non-Big Two books as I want. But summer is starting and I’m about to have a ton of time on my hands, and what better way to start branching out than with Mags Visaggio and Jason Smith’s next collaboration? Mags is over at DC crafting one of their best books with “Eternity Girl,” so I can’t wait to see what her and Smith bring to space adventure politics. Plus that trailer.
“Archie” #31 ($3.99) – Huh Mark Waid’s on here twice this week. Still one of my favorite fun titles every month (or every other month depending on when it comes out). Can’t tell if this is ending next month with #32, but it seems to be building to huge things and I have been loving the Riverdale gang for years now.
Total: $18.95
Mark’s Picks:
“Koshchei the Deathless” #6 ($3.99)— I tend to measure a lot of a story’s success based on the strength of its ending. With “Koshchei the Deathless,” as much as I’ve been enjoying the series, I was a little nervous about the ending because I couldn’t conceive of one that I’d find satisfying. But Mignola and Stenbeck totally pulled it off. I find myself in the position of liking the series more after the ending, and I already loved it.
“Giant Days” #39 ($3.99)— The second part of Julia Madrigal’s guest stint on the title. The regular artist, Max Sarin, will be back next month. Madrigal did a good job, stepping into some big shoes. Not just anyone can step into “Giant Days.” I’ve said it before, but it’s a series that relies a lot on body language, and for an artist to step in and succeed, they have to pay attention to that language. Esther de Groot isn’t Esther just because of her dialogue, but because of the way she gesticulates too. With the end of the year coming up, we’ll likely have another “Giant Days” special coming up too. I’d certainly enjoy seeing Madrigal be a part of it…
Continued below“Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows” #4 ($3.99)— There’s really only one way this can end, and it’s not going to be happy. Brace yourself.
“Paper Girls” #21 ($3.99)— The fifth arc begins. I have a kind of theory about good ongoing comics: It’s around the end of the fourth arc / beginning of the fifth that things really start getting interesting, or settle into patterns that kill the series. I’m betting on the former for “Paper Girls,” since the series has never been more exciting than it is now. It’s kind of a shame the comics news cycle is obsessed with new beginnings, because it’s missing some of the best stuff.
“Isola” #3 ($3.99)— That said, beginnings can still be pretty great, as shown in “Isola.” This book is fantastic! Plus, this issue has six extra story pages. In my review for issue #1 I was concerned about how the story might be artificially compressed to fit the standard twenty-two-page format. It’s nice to have that concern put to rest.
Total: $19.95. A totally predictable list, I know, but c’mon, each one of these books is awesome.
Leo’s Pick:
Kaijumax Season 3 TPB ($19.99) – This takes up the whole budget, but it’s well worth it. I legitimately think “Kaijumax” is one of the best books of the last five years and not nearly enough people have read it. The way it blends genres and both embraces and subverts tropes is fantastic. Plus, any story where Ultraman is a prison warden and Mothman is a heavily tattooed convict is one well worth reading.
Total: $19.99
