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Comics Should Be Cheap! (7/27/2011)

By | July 26th, 2011
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. Follow the cut to see everyone’s picks for the week.

Walt’s Picks:

Secret Warriors #28 ($2.99)Four issue streak! The end is finally here. Last issue, Nick Fury INFORMATION REDACTED. Now, we see the fallout, as well as what the future holds for S.H.I.E.L.D. I’m ready. I think. Fun note: this is the first ongoing series that I’ve collected in singles and in its entirety (not counting series that ended after a year’s worth of stories, which might as well be a mini – I’m looking at you, Flash).

Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #2 ($2.99)Two issue streak! Crime comics! Hooray! Every single Criminal story has been outstanding so far, and I doubt The Last of the Innocent is going to break that streak. In fact, if the rest of this mini matches the incredibly promising first issue, then it’s going to be one of the best. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are one of those pairs where you don’t ask, you just buy, and that goes double for their Criminal stories.

American Vampire #17 ($2.99)Three issue streak! The horrors of war are now a whole lot more horrifying. While the same reasons for buying the previous issues still apply to this one (World War II! Vampires that don’t sparkle! Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque!), here’s one more to tack onto the list: if the end of last issue is any indication, there’s going to be a lot of violence in this issue. Obviously, violence and action don’t make for plot, but Snyder and Albuquerque have nothing to make up for, and they do action so damn well. There’s a reason this book won an Eisner for best new series.

FF #7($2.99)Seven issue streak! I’ll admit, last issue let me down a bit. Even so, that was the one hiccup has had since beginning his run on the series (including his issues of Fantastic Four, so I think I can find it in my heart to forgive him. I’m still very interested in seeing how Black Bolt’s return affects both the Future Foundation and the plans of the Council of Reeds. Now that the explanation for his return is out of the way (I think?), let’s get back to what makes this series great.

Detective Comics #880 ($2.99)Seven issue streak! The previous issue of Detective was pretty much phenomenal. This mega-arc as a whole might be the best modern run on the book. Yes, I’m counting both of Rucka’s turns on the book. If you haven’t been reading Snyder, Jock, and Francavilla’s work on the title, you’re ridiculous, and you better catch it in trade or my ghost will haunt you. My death might be a ways off (hopefully), but I wouldn’t risk it if I were you.

Undying Love #4 ($2.99) – Two doses of awesome vampire comics in one week! Hell yeah! There’s nothing I can say about Undying Love that I haven’t said already. This is comic action at its finest.

Total: $17.94

Matt’s Picks (Well, Pick):

Spider-Man: Blue ($19.99) – Normally I would tell you all about the different titles coming out this week that I enjoy, anywhere from the final issue of Secret Warriors to the latest FF, Uncanny X-Force, Venom, Mighty Thor, Schism, etcetera. But unfortunately, this week on our $20 budget, I can only tell you to get one thing.

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I have never read Spider-Man: Blue. I have always wanted to read Spider-Man: Blue, but ever since I’ve been looking for it it has been out of print. I was only ever able to get Daredevil and the Hulk in Loeb and Sale’s color series (which retells the origins of these heroes), and it always upset me that I was never able to buy the book about my favorite character of the bunch. However, a few weeks ago saw the re-release of Daredevil: Yellow in trade, and now so comes – unexpectedly, mind you – the rerelease of Spider-Man: Blue. Loeb and Sale are hailed, and for good reason, as one of the best duos in comics, and while Sale is no longer doing interiors and Loeb’s output has been mediocre, the past doesn’t change. And now, finally, I get to own and read Spider-Man: Blue.

I don’t relish the idea of putting all my money this week towards one item, especially something I haven’t read, but it stands to reason that as good as this week’s comics may be, this comic is going to be one of the most fantastic things sitting on the shelves this week – and I want it.

Total: $19.99

Gil’s Picks:

Action Comics #903 ($2.99) — The Reign of the Doomsdays continues towards it’s inevitable conclusion with the Doomslayer (you heard that right!). With the DCnU coming, Paul Cornell is giving the Super-Family a send-off you won’t believe. Get it!

Avengers Academy #16 ($2.99) — Avengers Academy is currently the best book with the Avengers logo on the front. I’ll stand by that. And Avengers Academy looks to continue its quality by giving us some solid tie-ins to the Marvel Event Fear Itself.

Detective Comics #880 ($2.99) — I’m suggesting a Batman book? WHAAAAAAT? Well, I love Dick (Grayson, you pervos) and Scott Snyder’s arc has been some of the best Bat-stories in the past 5 years! Check this out before Dick is back to being Nightwing!

FF #7 ($2.99) — Hickman’s FF stories have been some of the best First Family Stories in recent memory. And now that Black Bolt has returned, I couldn’t be more stoked. Let’s get this going and get Johnny back soon!

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #12 ($2.99) — Do you love Guy Gardner? You do? Well, you better check this out, the perhaps final solo adventure with everyone’s favorite football player turned Space Cop, Guy!

Teen Titans #98 ($2.99) — Even if you don’t like J.T. Krul’s work on this title (which I can’t believe personally), Nicola Scott is arguably the best artist DC has at the moment. And she’s been kicking it into High Gear as of late. I can’t wait to see where she ends up post Flashpoint.

Total: $17.94

Josh’s Picks:

Skullkickers #9 ($2.99) – Simply put: one of the most entertaining, laugh out loud books being published by any company right now. Fantasy violence mixed with low brow humor mixed with fairy tale wit mixed with some more violence on top. Also guns. And faeries.

Detective Comics #880 ($2.99) – I had never really been consistently excited to read a Batman book month in and month out. Sure, I dug Grant Morrison’s stuff (less so the Batman Inc stuff, but it’s still okay), but I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on this book whenever it comes out. Stellar art combined with an ongoing saga that can legitimately get under your skin? Yeah, I’ll bite.

Intrepids #5 ($2.99) – A strong contender for best new book of the year, this one combines everything one can know and love about the golden age of comic books (both structurally and aesthetically) and the old pulp magazines that preceded them into one charming, beautifully drawn package. The fact that this is not ongoing is a crying shame.

Amazing Spider-Man #666 ($3.99) – This is it, the big poo-bah “mini-event” (whatever that means) that Dan Slott’s solo run on Spidey has been leading up to. Given the immensely high level of quality exhibited by this run so far, I can’t foresee a Slott-written story about all of Manhattan getting spider-powers being any less than absolutely stellar.

Continued below

FF #7 ($2.99) – Consistently in my top five ongoing series column for over a year now (with Hickman himself achieving must-read status long before that), this book is everything I like to see in a super hero comic: characters that matter interacting with each-other in a meaningful way, stories with scope and purpose that don’t just SAY there is a big threat (I’m looking at you, Fear Itself) but SHOW that threat in all its magnificent terror, a healthy dose of lightheartedness and explosions. Perfect comic combo right there.

X-Men Schism #2 ($3.99) – I liked the first issue of this latest x-epic about as much as I expected to and am intrigued by what I know comes after it. On top of that I’ll read whatever Jason Aaron writes anyway, so this one is kind of in by default at this point.

Total: $19.94


//TAGS | Comics Should Be Cheap

Walt Richardson

Walt is a former editor for Multiversity Comics and current podcaster/ne'er-do-well. Follow him on Twitter @goodbyetoashoe... if you dare!

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