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!
Vince’s Picks:
Youth is Wasted ($14.95) – Okay, so Bryan Lee O’Malley’s “Seconds” would be my pick, if I really stuck hard and fast to the rules here. But because I’m going to take a calculated risk that at least one more person might mention “Seconds” as their pick (a gambit that I quickly found out had paid off), I went in a different direction. That Scott Pilgrim guy is going to come out okay, whether I shout him out here or not.
Instead, I wanted to draw some attention to Noah Van Sciver’s latest collection of stories, “Youth is Wasted.” I’m excited to see what ends up in this book. Knowing Van Sciver’s work, it’s going to be offbeat, personal, and probably pretty melancholy – all the stuff that I love about “indie” comics.
Cap’n Dinosaur ($3.99) – Well now my CSBC entry is starting to look like it was ghost-written by Robots From Tomorrow’s Mike Romeo. Based on the cover alone, Shaky Kane looks especially like a Kirby-channeling wizard here. The description sounds just as wonderfully absurd, as well: “The Cap’n and Honey Moon follow a trail which leads them to a deserted Amusement park.” Yup. Okay. Can’t wait.
Total: $18.94
David Harper’s Pick:
Seconds ($25.00) – So this is what I’ve been saving my money for in other weeks! This week finds Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley’s official return to comics, as his graphic novel “Seconds” from Ballantine Books arrives in comic shops. I’ve already read this, so I can tell you two things about this book:
1. It’s not “Scott Pilgrim”, so don’t go in expecting that.
2. It’s incredible, and well worth the extra $5 it takes for me to get it in CSBC.
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to buy a new Bryan Lee O’Malley OGN, but in case I do, here is that reminder. It’s a great comic, and you should certainly be getting it.
Total: $25.00 – I went over, but this is why a little bit of savings can go a long way.
EiC Matt’s Pick:
Seconds ($25.00) – This is my pick of the week. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
“Seconds” is the story of Katie, a young woman who owns a restaurant, finds some magic time-warping mushrooms and uses them about as well as you’d expect. The latest effort from Bryan Lee O’Malley, “Seconds” is a charming book that is well worth the buy. If you’ve ever liked anything that O’Malley has done in the past, this steps it up a notch; O’Malley is growing as an artist, and it is beyond clear with this book that he’s one of the most talented creators out there today. It was a four year wait in between the latst “Scott Pilgrim” book and this, but I would happily wait twice as long to get a story half as good as this from O’Malley at this point.
I wrote a really big, spoiler-free review of the book for the site that went live yesterday if you need some more in-depth convincing.
Total: $25 – look, I didn’t even submit a CSBC last week, so I’ve got leftover money
Brandon’s Picks:
Magneto #7 ($3.99) – This title has been dark, brutal and totally enjoyable. This is a Magneto that brings the character back to his best. He’s doing some shady shit but he’s doing it in the name of a cause that you can’t really argue with. A relatable Magneto who walks the line of sympathetic yet over zealous and incorrigible is a recipe for success that this title has harnessed without fail.
Continued below100th Anniversary X-Men ($3.99) – Scott Summers is the President and Emma Frost is the First Lady of the good ole U.S.A. in this yarn. Consider me sold. Sounds fun and sounds interesting. What else could I want from this title?! Well, i’d take Japeth as Secretary of State I suppose…
Uncanny X-Men #23 ($3.99) – Xavier’s will is brought to light amidst the Original Sin event that has been incredibly enjoying thus far. I’m excited to see who he left his 90’s Shiar hoverchair to! I’d really like to find it was me!
Original Sin #6 ($3.99) – This has been one of the more enjoyable events from either of the Big Two in recent times. I’ve enjoyed the twists and turns and am interested to see what last issues ramifications might actually be. How old and frail was Fury when he sired Nick Jr? Was the Infinity Formula a sham? There are a lot of things up in the air after last issue that I am interested to see resolved.
Teen Titans #1 ($2.99) – I know the cover for this issue alone has caught a tremendous amount of flack but I LOVE Kenneth Rocafort’s art. I’m not as sold on Will “Amazons Attack” Pfeifer but I am willing to give this title a chance. It might be the worst book I’ve bought in some time. Or it might be one of the better looking books I’ve bought since early Red Hood and the Outlaws. It could easily be both of those though. You can hate me, but I won’t stop now.
Total: $18.95
Brian’s Picks:
BPRD #121 ($3.50) – Laurence Campbell wraps up a two issue arc that involves demonic possession, exploding choppers, and some sweet incantations.
Teen Titans #1 ($2.99) – This is, basically, a thank you to Marv Wolfman and George Perez and all they did for my love of comics. I will buy any Titans #1 and give it a shot, in honor of finding that next incarnation of “New Teen Titans” – even if it never happens, that is my solemn oath. This is, essentially, my version of those guys from The Last Crusade with the tattoos on their chests.
Secret Avengers #5 ($3.99) – Most Obvious: Don’t Overlook, K? (It’s a M.O.D.O.K. joke, ya goofs)
Batman Eternal #15 / New 52 Futures End #11 ($2.99 each) – Last week, I caught up on the last few issues of each and – let me say – they are both exceeding expectations right, but especially “Eternal” – that is some solid comic booking, right there.
Total: $16.46
Matt Dodge’s Picks:
Robin Rises Omega #1 ($4.99) – Peter J. Tomasi is often the unsung workhorse of the Bat-books, but his work on “Batman & Robin”, both pre and post-New 52 has been enjoyable and compelling. This might be another dumb character resurrection, but Tomasi will be sure that it makes the most amount of sense possible.
Teen Titans #1 ($2.99) – This group of characters always has a real chance to do something different and fun in the DCU. The New 52 incarnation has been fairly underwhelming, but perhaps this is the fresh start the group needs.
Rocket Racoon #1 Poster ($8.99) – It’s a quiet week, so why the heck not?
Total: – $16.97
David Henderson’s Picks:
Magneto #7 ($3.99) – I am continually astounded by just how much I am enjoying this book. Cullen Bunn has weaved this noir strain of mutantphobic horror throughout the story, giving a look at what people who hate mutants really do to them to hurt them, and then lets Magneto off the chain to do what he does best – protecting his people – in the most Magneto way possible. This is one of those books where the oppression allegory of the X-Men is at its most cathartic.
Ms. Marvel #6 ($2.99) – Six issues in and this is still as infectiously enjoyable as it was when it started. It’s taking the same slow burn approach to the character’s origins that “All New Ghost Rider”, but I think they are both cases where the use of the opening arc to allow us to get to know the main character (in this case, Kamala) is what will allow the book to build a base to give the character a firm place in the Marvel Universe.
Continued belowThe Wicked + The Divine #2 ($3.50) – I have confession to make: I was not that big a fan of Gillen & McKelvie’s “Young Avengers”. I mean, I liked it enough, but the love it got for being all progessive and everything was not something that really bought me over (for every step forward with portraying LGBT relationships, I feel like I need to remind everyone that it took over ten issues for Kate and America to actually speak to each other). HOWEVER, that being said, I enjoyed the first issue of WicDiv a whole hell of a lot more than the entirety of that run. It’s interesting, it’s new, it may be problematic as hell, but at least they seem to acknowledge it instead of trying of hide it with hipster-y white boys making out.
Secret Avengers #5 ($3.99) – It’s like everything I love about the fantastical, magical reality of the espionage of “ZERO” (I’ve been playing a lot of Metal Gear Solid lately, can you tell?), but it has Spider-Woman talking to a sentient bomb. I love this book.
Original Sin #6 ($3.99) – I swear to god, I had this exact same idea for an event two years ago. This Exact Same Idea. I think Jason Aaron reads me tumblr.
Total: $18.46
Zach’s Picks:
Adventure Time #30 ($3.99) – This book is always great, but this particular issue is something else. A tribute to zines, the issue features a collection of short comics by the cast of Adventure Time, drawn by an incredibly talented team of artists. Oh, and BMO writes a story called Cool Bear the Bear. Must buy.
Robin Rises Omega #1 ($4.99) – The cynical, oh-too-cool comic fan inside me might roll his eyes at the thought of this new arc, which will either resurrect a character that died only a year ago or introduce yet another Robin to the DCU. However, the guy who just enjoys fun things can’t help but grin at the image of Batman, Ra’s Al Ghul, and Frankenstein face down Glorious Godfrey and the armies of Apokolips in the middle of the arctic. That Kubert art, come on.
The Wicked + The Divine #2 ($3.50) – I still don’t really know what’s going on here, but it’s Gillen and McKelvie doing a terrific “Phonogram”/”East of West” mash-up, so I’ll take it.
New 52: Futures End #11 ($2.99) – This series is the most anachronistic and eclectic comic I’ve read in a while. It’s so weird that it just works, the guilty pleasure I feel no shame for.
Total: $15.47
Greg’s Picks:
Django Unchained TP ($16.99) – Do not overlook the MR tag on this one, because this adaption of the original script to the Quentin Tarantino movie of the same name is so faithful that it carries over enough of the over-the-top violence and profanity that I have to double-check and make sure I’m old enough to read it. But if you saw the movie, why get the graphic novel? Because not only are you getting the whole script, including deleted material, adapted by producer & comics/film professional Reginald Hudlin, the majority of the book is drawn by RM Guera, with flashback scenes by the likes of Jason Latour. With a team like that handling material this good, when people say comics are just film on paper, you can pull this badboy off your shelf and show them that, no, comics are better!
Atomic Robo: Knights of the Golden Circle #3 ($3.50) – Sticking with the Same setting theme (although all-ages this time), it’s another six-shooter of fun as Robo continues to try and figure out a way to get back to the present from his Dr. Dinosaur-triggered trip to the Old West. And doing so without bringing the space-time continuum crashing down upon his head. Which doesn’t seem to be going well for him, but thanks to Clevinger and Wegener, it’s a great read for us!
Total: $20.49 – a wee bit over at full retail, but doable with your LCS pull list discount. And if you don’t have one of those, I highly recommend getting one!
Continued below
Drew’s Pick:
Umbral #7 ($3.50) – This book excites me like no other I’m currently buying. The world, the characters, and the building conflict are all interesting, but Mitten’s pictures are the real draw for me. The man is a figurative wizard when he draws literal wizards. The plot’s still getting started and I’m not sure where it’s going just yet, but I’m enjoying ride. Every time I read it, it reminds me that I need more fantasy in my comic diet.
Total: $3.50 – A very light week for me. I’ll either buy something old, or save my money for the more expensive half of the month.
