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!
Leo’s Picks:
Postal #13 ($3.99) – “Postal” continues to consistently be one of my favorite series out there, and one of the most interesting. This starts a new arc of the story, one that will seemingly deal with the Aryan Brotherhood. Considering that the book is about an entire town of wanted criminals, it was only a matter of time before something like this showed up.
Mechanism #1 ($3.99) – I honestly know very little about this title, but a robot learning about what it means to be human is always an interesting concept to explore. What the robot actually learns about humanity, and if it’s worth saving, should be something worth finding out in this story centering around an alien invasion.
Future Quest #3 ($3.99) – Easily the best of the Hanna-Barbera books so far, “Future Quest” has actually managed to blend together a lot of the classic cartoon characters in a way that makes sense. I know, I’m personally super stoked to see the Herculoids in a comic, especially one drawn by Doc Shaner.
Total: $11.97
Greg’s Picks:
The Mighty Thor #9 ($3.99) – It’s Jason Aaron, so you know it’s gonna be good just because of that. But if you haven’t been checking out what Russell Dauterman has been doing on this book, then rectify that oversight immediately if not sooner. I enjoyed his work on the Rucka “Cyclops” book, but wasn’t quite ready for the level-up he did when paired with Aaron. And now that they’ve had at least a dozen issues together, they’re getting even more and more sympatico as a creative team. Add that to the premise of a new Thor and you have a Marvel book that lives up to the hype it gets. Or should be getting.
Thief of Thieves #33 ($2.99) – I seriously thought this book had been stealth-canceled with issue #31. A whole lot of plot points seemed to have been wrapped up and I found zero mention of an intentional extended hiatus, so imagine my pleasant surprise to finally see things were back on track with issue #32. More “Thief of Thieves” means more Shawn Martinbrough on a regular basis. More Shawn Martinbrough is a good thing indeed.
Future Quest #3 ($3.99) – Just like more Doc Shaner and Jeff Parker is a good thing. Nay, a GREAT thing. Given how much of a trainwreck the rest of the Hanna-Barbara reboot has been (or demolition derby of hot mess if you want to go “Wacky Raceland”-specific), that just makes “Future Quest” stand out all the more. Like it’s actively powering its quality by vampire-sucking the goodness out of the rest of that line. It’s not that I don’t want those other books to be good; I do. It’s just that “Future Quest” is SO good and SO much the book you’d want that combination of elements to be that I don’t mind sacrficing a few lambs (or Scooby’s) to get it.
Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens #1 ($3.99) – Speaking of powerful forces colliding at breakneck speeds, the three-way grudge match of Mega-City One’s finest against the Xenomorph and the Predator (yes I know it has another canon name but I refuse to use it) gets a new chapter this week. All three factions have fought each other, but this is the first time all three have done it in the same story at the same time. Having read an advance of this issue, I will say that citizens Layman and Mooneyham acquit themselves admirably. It’s not an easy thing for mainstream American writers to nail Dredd’s cadence and speech (or sparseness thereof) but Layman has clearly read a casefile or three. And Mooneyham is channeling some “Batman vs Predator I”-era Andy Kubert in some of those panels something fierce. No matter who wins for this series, I don’t think there’s any way readers can lose with this book.
Continued belowMechanism #1 ($3.99) – Dark horse pick of the week (although put out by Image Comics). Premise and art looked interesting. Willing to roll the dice on a little non-licensed science fiction.
Total: $18.95
Matt Garcia’s Picks:
Bone: Coda ($14.99) – I’m sure there are other comics coming out this week, but seriously, Jeff Smith returning to the Bones trumps everything. Not only do we get a new comic, but this collection comes complete with essays and a companion piece to the whole series. Make sure to check out our interview with Smith, too!
Adventure Time Comics #1 ($3.99) – There are some other books coming out this week, and chief among them is the new “Adventure Time” series. Boom! takes the backup shorts from the main series and spins them off into their own ongoing anthology. Oftentimes, these shorts were some of the best stuff coming out of “Adventure Time” comics, and I’ve been a fan of how Boom! and Cartoon Network has let these cartoonists run wild in the Land of Ooo.
Total: $18.98.
Mark’s Picks:
Lobster Johnson: Metal Monsters of Midtown #3 ($3.99) — Bloody hell this was a fantastic issue. When Tonci Zonjic does an arc it’s always something special. I’m already excited for the next.
Bone Coda ($14.99) — I know this is going to sound crazy, but my eye twitches a little bit knowing that I’m going to have a big hardcover of the complete “Bone” in one volume… and then a paperback of “Bone Coda”. That aside, I’m really excited about this book. I mean, how could I not be? I was only introduced to “Bone” a few years ago, but this series makes me very nostalgic because it feels so much like the “Asterix” comics I grew up on; it feels like part of my childhood without ever having read it as a child.
This is a really cool way to celebrate the 25th anniversary… although, if a hardcover comes out later, I’m going to have to upgrade.
Total: $18.98, though I could easily spend more. There’s a lot of great trades coming out this week.
Ken’s Picks:
Divinity II #4 ($3.99): The end of this mini-series and the birth of the Stalinverse, comrade.
The Flash #3 or Detective Comics #937 ($2.99): These are perhaps the two books in Rebirth I consistently like. One focusing on expanding concepts (Flash) the other on character (‘Tec).
East of West #28 ($2.99): The End of the World is rushing up real soon.
Total: $7.97
