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:
“Harrow County” – Volume Three library edition ($39.99)— I didn’t put Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook’s previous two “Harrow County” library editions on any of my past Comics Should Be Cheap lists because they blow the budget, but I’ll make an exception for this one just because I want to mention these hardcovers at least once here, and I’m picking this one in particular because Bernice is on the front cover and she’s my favorite character. I love this series. I love it so much I wrote The Harrow County Observer column for this site, so I feel like my praise is pretty well documented at this point. So instead of piling on more of the same, I want to talk about the book itself.
Yet again, Chris Schweizer is writing and illustrating the introduction—he brings not only a genuine appreciation for the comic, but fascinating insight too. It’s the perfect way to settle into one of these books. The special features are worthy of the term “special,” including everything from both the trades and floppies, which means the ‘Tales of Harrow County’ short stories get the deluxe treatment, nice and oversized! Keith Wood’s book’s design is exquisite. As anyone that’s read the series’ll know, there’s a tree that’s pretty central to the story, and though it may not have been obvious with just the first volume, by the time you have three volumes side by side, the tree design on the spine is pretty hard to miss. My god, these books look great together on the shelf. Oh, and Tyler Crook hasn’t just done a new cover for each of these hardcovers—he’s done two. Part of the joy of getting one of these volumes is discovering the hidden cover beneath the book’s jacket.
Anyway, I’ll be picking this one up tomorrow. If you follow me on Twitter, apologies in advance, I will posting more about it there. Hopefully I won’t be too insufferable.
Total: $39.99. I’ll skip next week to even things out if I have to. This is totally worth it.
Kate’s Picks:
“History of the Marvel Universe” #1 ($4.99) – I’m a sucker for comics history, having read Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel and DC earlier this year (and having Marvel Comics: The Untold Story on a very long to-read pile), I’m always eager for more.
“Archie” #706 ($3.99) – I just caught up on the series this weekend, and while this is not your mother or your grandmother’s Archie, it’s not Riverdale either, so it’s something in between that’s modern and fun.
“House of X” #1 ($5.99) – It’s a new X-Men era over at Marvel, and perhaps the perfect time to jump on board.
“Tank Girl” #5 ($3.99) – Gloriously feminist, forever a smart ass, I surprised myself with just how much I loved Tank Girl. I’ve waited way too long for this series to come back.
Total: $18.96
Vince’s Picks:
“House of X” #1 ($5.99) – Oh baby, I’ve been waiting a long time for this one. Jonathan Hickman is in the modern comics pantheon at this point, where everything he puts out feels like an event. It’s no small thing that they brought their entire (pretty new) line of X-Men titles to a close for a relaunch, all at his request. I love that we basically have no idea what the relaunch is “about” either. That air of mystery is going to have me combing over every panel.
“The History of the Marvel Universe” #1 ($4.99) – I don’t know if this is going to be any good or what, but I’m a sucker for comic book summations of superhero history and reference manuals and things of that nature. It sounds like there is a story here, but I’d be fine if it were just more or less an encyclopedic tome. Wow, I guess I’m in a Marvel mood this week – for the first time in a long time.
Continued belowTotal: – $10.98
Kevin’s Picks:
“House of X” #1 ($5.99) – Everybody’s doin it.
“Valkyrie” #1 ($3.99) – My second most anticipated book of the week. Marvel is setting up/paying off on years with of stories this week, and “Valkyrie” is no different. Starring Jane Foster after her run as Thor in Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s run, Al Ewing, Aaron, and CAFU are telling more stories with the character. Jane as Thor was my favorite part of that entire story, and what I’m the most emotionally invested in so I am stoked for this.
“History of the Marvel Universe” #1 ($4.99) – Javier Rodriguez is godtier and I will follow him anywhere.
“Invisible Kingdom” #5 ($3.99) – The end of the first arc of G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward’s beautiful epic about the horrors of religion that marries itself to capitalism. This book is very good.
Total: $18.96
Kyle’s Picks:
“Weatherman Vol 2” #2 – Mignola Variant Cover $3.99) – I will continue to pick this title because it is one of my favorites. Nathan Fox is one of my favorites. However, my super specific pick this week is “Weatherman” #2, the Mignola variant cover. It is fucking dope. It has monster monkey guts prominently displayed.
“House of X” #1 ($5.99) – I worship at the House of Hickman. I think he is probably the best long form story teller in comics currently and maybe ever. If he is able to do what he did with Avengers and Fantastic Four with X-Men, then we are in for something special.
“History of Marvel Universe” #1 ($4.99) I am loving these condensed retelling of Marvel’s history books they are putting out. Ed Piskor’s X-Men work is so much fun and a cool way to catch up on the loooooooong and complicated X-Men history. I am excited for Tom Scioli’s Fantastic Four series. That said Mark Waid and Javier Rodriguez covering the vast and broad history of the Marvel Universe sounds just as intriguing to me. Waid knows his history and Javier’s art is the style that blends the past and present together so well.
Total: $ 14.97
Nick’s Picks:
“Making Friends: Back to the Drawing Board” ($12.99) – Every now and then I’ll read a middle-grade graphic novel, and I usually enjoy them from the perspective of “This is well-made, but it isn’t designed for me.” The first volume of “Making Friends” was an exception. With a delightful mix of absurdist humor, real emotions, moments of black comedy, and some of the most fun cartooning around, the story of a girl drawing friends to life using a magical notebook became one of my favorite OGNs last year. I can’t wait to see what Gudsnuk does with the follow-up.
“Skyward” #15 ($3.99) – RIP, “Skyward.” We hardly knew you.
Total: $16.98.
