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!
Lazarus #2 ($2.99) – Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s new series had a stellar debut issue, and I’m here to tell you that it only gets better. Add a $2.99 price tag, and you have a series that you’d be silly to say no to.
The Massive #14 ($3.50) – Now, before I go any further, let me first say that I love “The Massive.” That being said, I can understand why some people find it boring or meandering (I disagree, but opinions are opinions). This arc seems to be giving the series the shot in the arm it needs to get back on track, and is sure to have interesting implications for the rest of the ongoing. In Wood I trust.
Mind MGMT #13 ($3.99) – Time for a round of one shots! As great as the actual overarching story of “Mind MGMT” is, part of what makes it such a great series is the fascinating world that Matt Kindt has built to play in. With some series, when a batch of one shots is announced, your reaction may be along the lines of “Aw man,” but in this case, it’s a big “Hell yes!”
Hawkeye Annual #1 ($4.99) – Best Marvel ongoing? Best Marvel ongoing.
The Unwritten #51 ($2.99) – “The Unwritten?” At the bottom of my list? Yes, that was intentional. As regular readers know, this is my favorite series on the stands these days, bar none. However, I have little to no interest in “Fables,” and issue #50 was pretty much everything I feared it would be: Tom took the back seat while the majority of the double-sized issue was devoted to a conflict I have no investment is. Hopefully things will get back on track with this issue, but my hopes are not high.
Total: $18.46
Batman/Superman #2 ($3.99) – Issue #1 was, needless to say, absolutely gorgeous thanks to Jae Lee’s ethereal take on the characters. Greg Pak, too, had a tremendous handle on how the characters compliment each other. I can’t wait to see how DC’s management staff end up screwing over this great new book.
Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction #1 ($3.99) – This is actually the most important team-up book of the week, if you ask me. Mark Waid returning to the Rocketeer and teaming him with Will Eisner’s The Spirit? Yes, please. It’s just a shame that we found out that Paul Smith will only be drawing this lone issue of the mini.
Hawkeye Annual #1 ($4.99) – Javier Pulido is always a buy for me. And so is “Hawkeye”, in general. That $5 price tag doesn’t even flash on my radar screen with such a promising package.
Young Avengers #8 ($2.99) – Constantly climbing the ranks to being in my top 5 ongoing titles. It’s rare enough to find a team book where you aren’t annoyed by any of the characters, much less actually root for and care about every single one.
Lobster Johnson: A Scent of Lotus #1 ($3.50) – Some of my favorite stories in the Mignolaverse are “Lobster Johnson” stories. I don’t expect this to be any different.
Total: $19.46
Lazarus #2 ($2.99) – Let’s face it: Greg Rucka and Michael Lark should always be on your must buy creator list. The first issue of Lazarus did nothing to dissuade me of that idea, in fact, it emboldened it. Buy this damn book, because it is fantastic.
Hawkeye Annual #1 ($4.99) – I don’t like paying $5 for any comic, but Hawkeye? With Javier Pulido art? Dammit, some rules are made to be broken, and I cannot resist this kind of awesome.
Continued belowWolverine and the X-Men #33 ($3.99) – I love this book. That’s a fact. Jason Aaron has created my favorite X-Men book of the present, and the Hellfire Saga is flat out awesome. What’s not to love here?
Lobster Johnson: A Scent of Lotus ($3.50) – As much as I love the Mignolaverse, LoJo is the character I am often least excited to see. That said, when he has the one-shots and short minis? Oh baby, those are good. Thankfully, this is one of those, plus it has Sebastian Fiumara art. That’s a yes please.
Total: $15.47 – Enough to get one more book randomly at the shop.
Lobster Johnson: A Scent of Lotus #1 ($3.50) – There was a time when LoJo seemed to be getting over exposed and used far too often. That time is gone, and this is the release this week that should be an insta-buy for everyone. C’mon, fools – Sebastian Fiumara is on art.
Batman/Superman #2 ($3.99) – The first issue was, perhaps, the best #1 issue of the new 52. Jae Lee and Ben Oliver combined to make a damn pretty comic, and Greg Pak wrote the best Clark/Bruce interaction in years. With the recently announced Superman + Batman Man of Steel combo film, this book is gonna get hot – get in on the ground floor.
Justice League Dark #22 ($3.99) – The bad: a usually $2.99 book is bumped up a book for ‘Trinity War.’ The good: ‘Trinity War’ has actually been pretty good so far, and Mikel Janin’s artwork is worth the cover price alone.
New Avengers #8 ($3.99) – My favorite Marvel NOW! book, and the undercurrent of the Marvel U.
Hunger #1 ($3.99) – This title, on face value doesn’t really get me too excited. However, Joshua Hale Fialkov is writing it, and I try to pick up books by creators I really enjoy. Fialkov is on the verge of being a major player in comics, and everything he writes is worthwhile.
Total: $19.46 – Every book on my list this week is $3.50 or higher, and that is lame. But good books are worth it.
Young Avengers #8 ($2.99) – I hear in this one, they continue to be awesome! It’s supposed to be a good one.
Journey into Mystery #654 ($2.99) – The penultimate issue. Sadness consumes my heart, but I shan’t miss a beat.
Hawkeye Annual #1 ($4.99) – This is maybe one of the biggest issues of the series ever. Pun intended. Ha ha!
Bounce #3 ($2.99) – Never a bad time to enjoy Casey and Messina’s great new book.
Lazarus #2 ($2.99) – Never a bad time to enjoy Rucka and Lark’s great new book, either.
Gamma ($2.99) – If you pick up just one comic this week, it should be this one. Why? Because it’s about Poke’mon killing the fuck out of each other, and it’s awesome. I promise.
Total: $19.94
Dream Merchant #3 ($3.50) – This has been a thoroughly dreamy series so far, and while I don’t think it’s quite found its pace yet, Novosadov’s art is making the journey a really pleasant one.
Lazarus #2 ($2.99) – This had a promising — and very dark — first issue, with excellent work on both art and writing fronts. Your best bet for dystopian SF at the moment.
Hawkeye Annual ($4.99) – The only thing better than regular Hawkeye is Hawkeye with more pages. Am I right?
Total: $11.48. Slow week. S’okay.
