Relay #1 featured Columns 

Comics Should Be Cheap! (7/11/2018)

By | July 10th, 2018
Posted in Columns | % Comments

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!

Nick’s Picks:

“Archie” #32 ($3.99)— Goodbye, Archie. One of my favorite ongoings ends here, quietly marking the end of the entire New Riverdale line. Mark Waid’s title was always the highlight for me, and he was always paired with fantastic underrated artists, like the wonderful current Audrey Mok. Sad to see this era end.

“Mech Cadet Yu” #10 ($3.99)— This book’s always a joy to read, and the story is already barreling towards its natural conclusion. Giant robots have never been this heartwarming.

“Farmhand” #1 ($3.99)— A new number one from the artist behind Chew, and one that seems at least as wild as that book.

“Ms Marvel” #32 ($3.99)— Science buds! New jumping on point! Same great creative team!

“Exiles” #5 ($3.99)— Saladin Ahmed’s scripts have been solid, but the highlight of Exiles has been the art of Javier Rodriguez, a unique mix of expressive, dense, and clear. He’s off after this issue (though there’s hope he will return for a future arc), so let’s enjoy this while we can!

Total: $19.96

Kevin’s Picks:

“The Flash” #50 ($3.99)— It’s so crazy that we are already 2 years into the Rebirth continuity and hitting these 50-issue milestones. Seems like only yesterday we had the Rebirth one-shots. This issue wraps up the ‘Flash War’ arc which has felt like a huge event in and of itself and tied really closely to what Scott Snyder is doing over in “Justice League.” I am expecting HUGE implications for the whole DCU from this considering how the rest of the arc has gone and I fully expect Josh Williamson and Howard Porter to deliver.

“Detective Comics” #984 ($2.99)— Bryan Hill and Miguel Mendonca’s debut issue for their 5-issue Outsiders arc in this book was one of my favorite issues the week it was out. Hill clearly has a grasp on who and what Batman is and the weight and responsibility that brings. Pairing that with Black Lightning who also grapples with those ideas, albeit in a more idealistic way perhaps, has been cool so far and Mendonca is doing maybe his best DC work yet. Another arc I am expecting big ramifications from.

“Superman” #1 ($3.99)— Spinning out of “Man of Steel,” Brian Michael Bendis and Ivan Reis begin their run on “Superman” this week. I am so glad Reis is paired with Joe Prado and Alex Sinclair for inks and colors as I think his work is way more hopeful and bombastic when he’s with them as opposed to his earlier work on “Justice League of America.” Bendis has demonstrated he understands Superman and Clark really well and he has set up enough mysteries to last a good long while. I’m excited to see where this leads.

“X-23” #1 ($4.99)— “All-New Wolverine” was consistently one of the best books in Marvel’s wheelhouse over the last two years. Not only did it bring Laura beyond her identity as X-23, but it gave us Gabby who is one of the best supporting characters around, and currently starring as Honey Badger as “X-Men: Red.” I’m not thrilled with Marvel taking her back to her X-23 codename, but I trust Mariko Tamaki to have a good reason for doing so. I’ll be picking up this debut.

“Eternity Girl” #5 ($2.99)— I gave the first issue of this book to one of my friends recently who had never read a comic in her life, and they absolutely loved it and set out to read the other 4 that had been released. This is one of the smartest, weirdest, philosophically interesting, most gorgeous books on the stand.

Continued below

Total: $18.95

Matt Lune’s Picks:

“Relay” #1 ($3.99)— This looks like a solid, dystopian sci-fi about a mysterious galactic relay that, while meaning to unite the colonies, seems to have something far more sinister behind it.

“Ruinworld” #1 ($3.99)— This adorable adventure fantasy series was apparently a digital comic first, but I totally missed it, so I’m looking forward to picking it up.

“She Could Fly” #1 ($3.99)— The premise sounds absolutely fascinating: a woman is able to fly, the only person in the world to do so. Her death starts a series of conspiracy theories, and one young girl fights to discover the truth of this mysterious woman.

“Farmhand” #1 ($3.99)— Rob Guillory’s follow up to “Chew,” and it looks just as gross, combining food (in this case, a farmer growing crops) and body horror (his “crop” is human organs).

“Superman” #1 ($3.99)— I mean, I gotta check it out, right? Besides, I’ve actually been enjoying Bendis on Supes.

Total: $19.95

Kate’s Picks:

“Plastic Man” #2 ($3.99) – I hope that the follow up is just as fun as the debut, it not more. I have confidence that Gail Simone can do just that.

“It Came Out on a Wednesday” #1 ($1.99)— This horror/sci-fi/fantasy anthology looks to be a lot of fun, and you can’t beat that price point, especially when it claims to be a “double sized” anthology. Alterna Comics also prints all their comics on newsprint, which adds to an old-school nostalgic reading experience. While I read most of my comics digitally these days, Alterna is one publisher where I still make the time to get print.

“Doctor Who: Road to the Thirteenth Doctor” #1 ($3.99) – It’s time to get ready to see Jodie Whitaker in the comics, and I am thrilled that the day is getting closer. But nothing like a trip down memory lane first.

“Haunted Horror” #34 ($4.99)— Sure, it’s not Halloween yet, but pre-Code (and some post-Code) horror comics are good any time of the year.

Total: $14.96 – Bit of a light week after the holiday, and that’s a good thing.

Matt Grazel’s Picks:

“The Amazing Spider-Man” #1 ($5.99)— Marvel continues its fresh start relaunch with a new #1 for arguably the company’s most popular character. A new villain, a new roommate and new love interests are promised in Nick Spencer’s first issue of “The Amazing Spider-Man.” For long time fans of Spidey and for new comic book readers, this issue is a good jumping-on-point.

“Superman” #1 ($3.99)— Brian Michael Bendis follows up his miniseries, “The Man Of Steel,” with a new #1 this week. The first issue of “Superman” will pick up from the last issue of “The Man Of Steel” miniseries. Superman has been dealing with a new villain in Rogol Zaar and the mysterious circumstances involving Lois Lane and Jonathan Kent. Bendis’ run on the main Superman titles begins this week after much anticipation for months.

Total: $9.98 – New #1’s for two of the most popular superheroes in comics make for an exciting week for comic book fans.

Mark’s Picks:

“Isola” #4 ($3.99)— I loved this series from page 1, but I know some people found it a bit too slow for their tastes. If that’s the case, maybe take another look at it. There’s lots going on in #4.

“B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know” #8 ($3.99)— Sebastián Fiumara’s last issue on the series as he tees things up for Laurence Campbell’s return. This is a quieter issue, setting the stage for something big…

“Monstress” #18 ($3.99)— This issue concludes the third arc (don’t worry, it’ll be back in winter), so now’s the perfect time to binge the series. I’m gonna do a full reread from #1.

Total: $11.97

Vince’s Picks:

Eternity Girl #5 ($3.99) – Across their entire publishing landscape, this book is my personal favorite book DC is putting out. It does “comics” exactly the way I like them: introspective, funny, referential, and metatextual, with fluid, shifting art style. Mags Visaggio and Sonny Liew have an all-time great book going here.

Continued below

Superman #1 ($3.99) – I’m absolutely beside myself saying this, but after an entire event miniseries in “Man of Steel” and a couple of appearances in random Superman one-shots: Brian Michael Bendis Superman writing is damn good.

Farmhand #1 ($3.99) – I’ll take my Rob Guillory cartooning any way I can get it.

Total: $11.97


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