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!
Animal Man #12 ($2.99) – I will repeat what I have been saying for the past few months: “Animal Man” is one of the very few New 52 books that was good when it started and is still good now. The loss of Travel Foreman’s weirdness might be missed, but it has not been enough to weaken the book as a whole. The ‘Rotworld’ crossover with “Swamp Thing” begins this week, so it might come as a surprise that I don’t have that listed as well. When a book is boring enough to make me dislike a Francavilla-illustrated issue, though, that is a book not worth reading. Crossovers are not reason enough to buy a mediocre book, people!
Earth 2 #4 ($2.99) – Or: How James Robinson got his groove back. When this title was first marketed as a JSA book, hopes were unreasonably high. When it was announced that the team was going to be entirely new versions of the pre-established characters, though, those hopes plummeted. Robinson, though, has proven that he may have that “Starman” touch just waiting to be released. No promises, but maybe!
Sweet Tooth #36 ($2.99) – It’s “Sweet Tooth.” It’s nearing the end. Do I really have to say anything else?
Thief of Thieves #7 ($2.99) – I am so ready. Everything came crashing down last issue, so how will Redmond be able to save his hide in this one? Or will the announcement of James Asmus coming on as new writer turn out to be merely a ruse? Doubtful, says I.
Daredevil #16 ($2.99) – Three Eisner Awards. Your argument is invalid.
Hawkeye #1 ($2.99) – Fraction with anyone else? Hesitance. Fraction with Aja? Exuberance. While I am disappointed that Marvel is once again hastily pushing their product out the door at the expense of a consistent creative team, you can bet I will be buying at least the first issue of this comic. Aja is always, I repeat, always worth it.
Total: $17.96
Godland #36 ($3.99) – GOTTERDAMMERAGNAHABHARATA. ’nuff said.
Hawkeye #1 ($2.99) – Fraction and Aja. ’nuff said.
Mind MGMT #3 ($3.99) – Matt Kindt. ’nuff said.
Mind the Gap #3 ($2.99) – McCann, Esquejo and Oback. ’nuff said.
RASL #15 ($4.99) – Jeff Smith. ’nuff said.
Total: $18.95 – ’nuff said.
Animal Man #12/Swamp Thing #12 ($2.99 each) – They’ve been teasing this one for ages in the New 52. And with DC’s two top writers in Scott Snyder & Jeff Lemire steering the ship, this ‘Rotworld’ crossover is very tough to overlook.
Dial H ($2.99) – You have to like a little insanity in your comics if you’re going to enjoy this book. I sure as hell do. Seeing whatever cavalcade of wacky heroes Mateus Santolouco comes up with on a monthly basis is worth the price of admission, but my true motive in all of this is to support DC in their hiring of a Hugo award winning sci-fi writer and letting him write whatever the hell he wants. We are fortunate that a “big 2” comic company is still willing to take a chance on “weird.”
Earth 2 #4 ($2.99) – The actual writing has been up and down, but the world-building has been a tremendous surprise. James Robinson has been taking chances, making changes, and starting from scratch. Sure, it’s not the prime Earth, but I think it’s commanding that much attention from the comic reading public, and I think that’s important.
Daredevil #16 ($2.99) – Daredevil. Mark Waid. Chris Samnee. In the merry Marvel way? ’nuff said.
Continued belowHawkeye #1 ($2.99) – Matt Fraction might be hit-or-miss, but he and David Aja are a magical team. The graphic design on these covers alone is enough to drum up my excitement for a character and a writer that I could take or leave.
Total: $17.96
Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch ($3.50) – If you missed these stories from Dark Horse Presents (why are you not reading DHP?), you will definitely want to pick up this collection of three wonderful short stories by Eisner award-winning team Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson. Just over three dollars for three stories – that’s the kind of bargain CSBC is all about! Already have the DHP issues and don’t want to double-up? Try “Mind MGMT” #3 instead!
Harvest #1 ($2.99) – It’s a new #1 from Image and the author of “Cowboy Ninja Viking,” but if that doesn’t sell you, it’s also a story about a failed surgeon turning to black-market organ transplants to support his habit of hookers and cocaine until he finally decides to try to do the right thing – emphasis on the try. Sounds like a lot of fun!
RASL #15 ($4.99) – The final installment in Jeff Smith’s sci-fi/noir story I covered in my column Off the Cape! (In that column, I might have sold you on the collected editions instead of the single issues, so if that’s the case try out “Hypernaturals” #2 instead.) I know the price tag on this one looks a little steep, but Smith had to add a bunch of pages to this issue to cram in all the story he had left in him. Also, Smith says this may be the last issue of a serialized comic he ever publishes , so: collector’s item!
Think Tank #1 ($3.99) – This must be our lucky day – another #1 from Image! This one from Top Cow President Matt Hawkins and Rahsan Ekedal follows a scientist trying to escape his job as a top-secret weapons developer.
Ultimate Spider-Man #13 ($3.99) – The last issue saw Miles Morales’ uncle, the Prowler, getting caught in a massive explosion as his weapons backfired before he could finish Miles off. This issue also ties up the Ultimate Universe-wide crossover ‘Divided We Fall.’ With so much leading in to this issue and a guest appearance by Captain America, this should be a rather exciting issue.
Total: $19.46 (or $18.46-$19.95 if you made substitutions)
