Five writers…twenty dollars…tons of comics to choose from. That’s the problem faced in our weekly column Comics Should Be Good, and this week is another tough one with a bevy of solid titles to choose from. With comics getting more and more expensive, use this column as a good go-to resource on what books are worth a purchase on a tight budget.
Check out after the jump to find out what each of our writers chose.
Bone: Tall Tales ($10.99) – This is kind of cheating as it both collects an older Bone story and its a trade paperback instead of a single issue, but I can’t say no. It’s Tom Sniegoski scripting and Jeff Smith on art in one of my all-time favorite comic book universes, and while it may not continue the the stories that we know and love, we know it will be one of the most entertaining books of the month, not just week.
Shadowland #2 ($3.99) – The first issue wasn’t as monumental as some expected it to be, but it’s still a massively entertaining continuation of a remarkably solid run by Daredevil writer Andy Diggle. I can’t wait to find out the aftermath of Murdock evidently killing Bullseye. My only beef with this book is I kind of hate the new Daredevil design and I don’t particularly enjoy Billy Tan’s work on this book – his character designs are far too wide.
Secret Six #24 ($2.99) – Secret Six is perhaps the most underrated book in the industry, and it has been consistently entertaining since launch. We have the beginning of a new story from writer Gail Simone and artist J. Calafiore, and come on, I’m not going to pass on that.
Total: $17.97
Matt’s Picks
Casanova #2 ($3.99) – Lately I’ve found myself on a huge Matt Fraction kick. I’ve been itching to read anything of his I can get my hands on. Now – this is TECHNICALLY just a reprint. However, despite owning the hardcover of Luxuria and having read it already, I find re-reading Casanova really helps to understanding it, and it looks absolutely dynamite in color. The additional back-up story helps justify the price tag because I’m technically reading something new, and it helps flush out the overall story.
Secret Warriors ($2.99) – I’m a Jonathan Hickman fanboy. I’ll read anything he puts his name too, and I’ve been this way for quite a while thanks to books like Secret Warriors. I am not going to miss a single issue of this series, ever.
Shadowland #2 ($3.99) – I love Daredevil, and the gauntlet his character is being put through is pretty entertaining to read. I’m actually really enjoying Diggle’s handle of the character, and I thought Shadowland #1 was the bomb. My only problem was the ending being spoiled in the teases for the book… but Shadowland #2 is all new territory. I have no clue what’s coming, and I can’t wait to find out.
SHIELD #3 ($2.99) – Again, Jonathan Hickman fanboy wins. It helps that I’ve adored the first two issues of this book as well, and I can’t wait to see what else is coming from this storyline. I find the whole thing to be amazingly entertaining, and an almost perfect book. Can’t go wrong on a $2.99 price point for this kind of quality either.
Supergod #4 ($3.99) – Supergod is one of my favorite Avatar/Warren Ellis mini’s, but it has been delayed to hell and back. Now that the fourth issue is FINALLY coming out, we can hopefully get back on track for the story. I’ve loved the way Ellis has told it from a third person perspective reflecting back on the events through intense historical dialogue, and the art is absolutely fantastic. I’m hoping that the delay this book has been through doesn’t put my enjoyment of the title at a disadvantage.
I would have added Sweet Tooth #12 ($2.99) to the list as well, but then I would go over budget. Boo.
Continued belowTotal: $17.95
Brandon’s Picks
Supergod #4 ($3.99) – This title has man created Gods causing people to orgasm. Do you really need to know why I, Burpee, WOULDN’T want to read this book? Yeah, that’s what i thought.
Brightest Day #7 ($2.99) – This book has been pretty awesome pretty consistently. I really enjoy Johns delving into some of the lower tier characters, as they tend to be the ones that can have to most development as opposed to a Batman or Superman. It keeps things interesting.
JSA All-Stars #9 ($3.99) – I love the JSA and this is by far the best JSA book on the stands right now. Best team, best stories, best art.
Red Hood Lost Days #3 ($2.99) – Lot’s of haters out there for this book but I think it’s been enjoyable. I personally like Jason Todd and have enjoyed his return ever since Judd Winick hinted at it during his Batman run when Bruce was tripping on Scarecrow’s fear gas.
Secret Six #24 ($2.99) – One of the best books out there. If you aren’t picking up this book…MATT… you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Sweet Tooth #12 ($2.99) – This title gets better and better every issue. The last issue was one of the best yet. I am really stoked to see what happens in this issue as the title hits the one year mark.
Total: $19.94
Josh’s Picks
Doom Patrol #13 ($2.99) – Frankly I’m surprised this book hasn’t been cancelled yet as its one of those “too good in such a specific way that can’t possibly appeal to the vast amount of lunkheads that read comics” kinda way (ALA S.W.O.R.D., Phonogram and *insert chronically underrated comic NOT written by Kieron Gillen*.) The perfect combination of outlandish characters, snarky, self-aware writing, crisp pencil work and intriguing borderline existential plot lines (READ: better when you are high) all from the beautifully deranged mind of Keith Giffen has made this book a complete win for over a year now…and with more and more Morrison-era plots and characters being brought in and expanded on (Danny the Bungalow? HELL yes) it doesn’t appear to be slowing down in the awesome department.
iZombie #4 ($2.99) – Easily the most refreshing comic about zombies within a market overrun (no pun intended) by books about zombies, this book combines pulp humor, mid-90s chique and some genuinely quirky horror to form one of the most intriguing stories of the year…and thats not even taking into account the GORGEOUS, top-of-his-career pencil work from Mike Allred. Taking all of that into account makes this book a COMPLETE must buy.
Sweet Tooth #12 ($2.99) – Man…speaking of refreshing storytelling and beautiful art…Jeff Lemire is crafting a story that combines elements of post-apocalyptic survival, intense coming of age, the darkest areas of the human condition and the lengths in which we will go to survive as a species and I have been absolutely riveted by it for a year now…and it shows no signs of slowing down. I wish this book a long, full run…I sure as hell will be there for every part of it.
Hawkeye and Mockingbird #3 ($2.99) – Its a book starring Clint Barton and Bobbi Morse…so I’d be buying it no matter what anyway. The fact that its also a smartly written espionage/relationship thriller with perfectly suited art and intense nods to the long and storied history of the characters is just the icing on the cake.
Hit-Monkey #2 ($2.99) – A lot of people hate the character, but I love that such quirky ingenuity is still existent in the comic world AND THAT THE STORY IS ACTUALLY SOLID. I know I know…a book about a character called Hit-Monkey shouldn’t, by any logic, actually have a story that holds its own as a smartly crafted action oriented tale of revenge and personal growth with a heaping dose of the supernatural…but this one does and it is just awesomesauce. I very strongly believe we could be witnessing the creation of the next Ambush Bug or Howard the Duck here…the character that proves the rule of “any character can be written well and be entertaining.”
Continued belowSHIELD #3 ($2.99) – Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver telling a story about Leonardo Di Vinci as an honest to God, Galactus-fighting super-hero. If you aren’t sold by that sentence alone there is something profound and sincerely wrong with you.
Total: $17.94
Walt’s Picks
Daredevil: Black and White #1 ($3.99) – There are a lot of reasons why I want this book. Daredevil is my favorite Marvel character, and the thought of Ann Nocenti returning to the character is incredibly exciting. Milligan and Spears should be nice too, but Nocenti is one of Horn Head’s defining writers. Additionally, I love black and white stories, and think that the Big Two should publish more. Some artists rely on coloring as a crutch, but a great artist doesn’t need color to be impressive. In particular, I can’t wait to see what David Aja’s art looks like.
Baltimore: The Plague Ships #1 ($3.50) – I haven’t read the book this is based off of, but I know that few do horror as well as Mike Mignola. The premise sounds very interesting, and while it’s always a bit disappointing to read something by Mignola where he doesn’t handle the art, I’m sure Ben Stenback will do a fine job.
Avengers: Prime #2 ($3.99) – I was surprised with how much I loved the first issue of this, and — as lame as it was to have to wait an extra month — I’m still really excited for the next issue. In the first issue Bendis “got” these three characters better than he ever had before, and I can only hope that this will be the case in the second issue as well. Plus, Alan Davis is an outstanding artist who really makes this book shine.
SHIELD #3 ($2.99) – Despite the terrible typo on the variant cover, everyone should be picking this up. Jonathan Hickman is going absolutely nuts in the best way possible with this book, and Dustin Weaver is matching his brilliance in the art department, with some of the best writer/artist synergy I’ve seen in years. If you missed the first couple of issues (which have now sold out), you better get the trade when it comes out. Believe me, this is something you are going to want to own.
Secret Warriors #18 ($2.99) – Two Hickman titles on the same day? You better believe it. Marvel’s top espionage title went through a bit of a rough spot with the last arc, in my opinion (by that I mean it was just good rather than amazing), but this arc had a gripping first issue that got me all sorts of excited for the rest. With the end of this title slowly approaching, we have to appreciate it while we still have it.
Secret Six #24 ($2.99) – Really, this is the only title from DC this week that I’m really interested in. While the solicit doesn’t say much, interviews with writer Gail Simone indicate that this arc will be taking the title in an interesting new direction. This has consistently been one of DC’s best books, and I doubt that it will dip any time soon.
Total: $20.45 (a little bit over, but I’m sure you can find two quarters to spare)
