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:
“Asterix Omnibus – Volume 1” ($14.99) – I’m lying again this week. I’m not actually picking this one up as I’ve long had a complete collection of “Asterix” albums. But I have to shine a light on it, because no one should miss this. “Asterix” (along with “The Adventures of Tintin”) was one of my bread and butter comics growing up, both of which didn’t really have a presence in the US at the time. Oh man, you were missing out! René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo are utterly brilliant
Thankfully, Papercutz is finally bringing the complete series Stateside. They’re printed smaller than the European volumes unfortunately, but for the price this is a hell of a deal. This omnibus collects the first three stories, “Asterix the Gaul,” “Asterix and the Golden Sickle,” and “Asterix and the Goths” (one of my favorites), originally serialized from 1959 to 1962.
This is a new translation, specifically aimed at American audiences. From what little I’ve seen, that mostly seems to be scaling back the British-isms of the Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge translations, scaling back on the Latin, and retranslating most of the characters’ names into brand new puns. The second volume is also out on Wednesday, so pick that one up too. (It includes “Asterix the Gladiator,” which is god-tier good.)
“Gideon Falls” #23 ($3.99) – This is always on my list. This latest arc, ‘Wicked Worlds’ is probably the most chaotic so far, with everything thrown into disarray following the epic finale of ‘The Pentoculus.’ I’m guessing it’ll be like that for the rest of this arc, which sounds like fun, don’t get me wrong, but part of me misses the slow-burn of the earlier issues, and I’d welcome an arc where the characters have time to talk about more than just the plot before they find themselves in a mad scramble again.
Total: $18.99.
Johnny’s Picks:
Space Riders Vortex of Darkness #2 ($3.99) – There’s only one book out this week playing death metal, and that’s Carlos Giffoni and Alexis Ziritt’s wild space opera. Ziritt’s bold colors and insane visuals that seem ripped right off of old blacklight posters bring this bonkers sci-fi world to vibrant life. Come ride some cosmic waves in the Skullship [i]Santa Muerte[/i] and leave the monster trucks at home!
Savage Dragon #250 ($9.99) – Of all of the original Image books to drop in 1992, “Savage Dragon” was the one I stuck with the longest. It was around issue #100 I finally bid adieu- it’s brand of violent and weird superheroics simply no longer my thing at the time. I would check back in, occasionally, mostly to marvel at just how creator Erik Larsen kept morphing the title, and the character(s), to suit his whims. Always a provocateur, Larsen has never shied from making his book shockingly violent, but he’s also found time to make it a superhero sex-romp, as well as a family sitcom, of sorts. It’s that kind of adaptability, not to satisfy the desires of consumers, but really, to satisfy an audience of one, that I’ve always truly admired about Larsen. So I’ll check in here, again, and find out what Larsen has been up to with Dragon and his cast- and maybe, hopefully, decide to stay a while longer.
Total: $13.98 – okay, I think I have enough left over for Death Metal, I guess I’ll grab that too!
Vince’s Picks:
Empyre #1 ($5.99) – This is Marvel’s big tent-pole event starting up, but I have a feeling it might still get a little overshadowed by the excellent selection of X-Men titles, and their upcoming “X of Swords” event. That’s fine, but I think under Al Ewing’s tasteful pen, this event could end up as fondly remembered as the eternally underrated “Annihilation” cosmic epic. Or perhaps by saying that, I have doomed it to future obscurity. Whatever the case, Ewing has been knocking it out of the park at Marvel, at least from a critical standpoint. I have to think he’s got a story worth telling, for Marvel to put it into a major crossover event category.
Continued belowDark Nights: Death Metal #2 ($4.99) – DC Comics, Scott Snyder, and Greg Capullo don’t need me to tell you to pick up “Death Metal” #2, if you’re not already, but I do urge you to check out the event and allow yourself to have fun with it. Against all odds, a comic with a Jokerfied-Batman and an army of hundreds of Batman analogues throughout, many of which have murderous intent, ends up being the cure for grim and gritty comics, somehow. It’s a little goofy, a little gross, and a little spooky, but one thing it is not is ashamed to be a superhero comic book.
Total: $10.98
Christopher’s Picks:
“A Thief Among the Trees: An Ember in the Ashes” ($19.99) – I haven’t read Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes trilogy yet, but I’m always eager to enter a new fantasy world, especially one that isn’t trying to evoke the same Northern European folklore that Tolkien and so many others have already done. This graphic novel prequel, created in collaboration with writer Nicole Andelfinger and artist Sonia Liao, should be a beautiful gateway entry point.
“FCBD 2020: Power Rangers – The Road to Ranger Slayer” #1 – BOOM! Studios demonstrated that I could genuinely love the Power Rangers unironically, and so I’ll happily choose this interlude from this list’s week of Free Comic Book Summer offerings. I loved Kyle Higgins and co.’s run, and it’s great to see that his concepts continue to have a life in the wider saga.
Total: $19.99
Kate’s Picks:
Dark Nights Death Metal #2 ($4.99) – Wonder Woman and Swamp Thing in a monster truck is a summer road trip I would certainly like to take.
Fence: Rivals ($14.99) – The Kings Row fencing team is back! And while their sport epitomizes social distancing, I don’t think their personal lives will social distance for too much longer either.
Total: $19.98
Jason’s Picks:
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #12 ($3.99) – Although I loved it from the first few issues, “Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen” started losing steam in the last few issues for me. Nonetheless, I have all of the other issues, and I’ll love to see how it all wraps up.
Total: $3.99. To be frank, there were a few other comics I would have included, but lately, I’ve been trying harder to cut down ones I’m really not enjoying. It’s quite hard!
