Comics Should Be Cheap! (8/16/2017)

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:

Southern Bastards #17 ($3.50) – The last time we saw a new issue of “Southern Bastards” in a comic shop, Donald Trump was not yet sworn in as our President. That seems like whole lifetimes ago at this point. Still,the wait was for good reasons and I’m sure the book will deliver as always. Here’s hoping we get more of Burt Reynolds letting a tiny monkey drive a car because Trump is our President now and we need all the joy we can get.

Curse Words #7 ($3.99) – Just buy this weird, wonderful book, y’all.

Invincible #139 ($2.99) – “Invincible” gets ever closer to its finale and things are getting increasingly bloody and gruesome and over the top. I love it.

Kaijumax Season 3 #2 ($3.99) – Zander Cannon continues to make one of the best books out there with “Kaijumax”. I try to recommend this to everyone I know because it’s just so damn good.

Total: $14.97

Vince’s Picks:

Dark Nights: Metal #1 ($3.99) – Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday! For one night only, at the Gotham City Fairgrounds – it’s Scott Snyder & Grrrrrreg Capullo together again, to melt your faces off. And melt them, they will. A Justice League event with cameos from so many DC characters (some expected, some very much unexpected) it’ll make your head spin. It’s the most fun Scott Snyder has ever put on a page, and the Capullo art is must-see. I don’t care what you think of event comics, do not miss this one.

Spy Seal #1 ($3.99) – Rich Tommaso channeling Stan Sakai? Oh my word…

Kaijumax Season 3 #2 ($3.99) – Zander Cannon’s greatest work keeps on trucking in a 3rd volume. When it’s coming out, “Kaijumax” is easily among the top 10 comics on the stands. It’s got a massive scope and bonkers concepts that can only be seen in our most beloved medium.

Motor Girl #8 ($3.99) – Terry Moore is a master craftsman, yet I’ve seen almost zero props for “Motor Girl” after the week it first came out. I suppose I, myself, the guy with something of a platform, could have done something about that. Either way, shame on all of us. Everything Moore does is good. This is no exception.

Total: $15.96

Matt Lune’s Picks:

Dark Knights Metal #1 ($4.99) – This is the big one. The biggest DC Comic since last year’s Rebirth #1, and an event that promises to draw from a whole bunch of DC history to weave a tale that’s epic and exciting. Can you tell I’m very excited?

Sandman Special #1 ($4.99) – I’ve also been enjoying the Jack Kirby anniversary books that have been released so far, and although I know very little about Sandman I’ll definitely be picking this up too. It’s good to see Kirby’s creations celebrated in this way, especially with some of his classic tales in the back of every issue.

Genius Cartel #1 ($3.99) – The original “Genius” series from a few years ago was a great series that felt original and unpredictable. Dipping back into the life of genius military strategist Destiny as she mobilises her neighborhood against corrupt powers. It’s a shame Afua Richardson isn’t returning on art but I’m excited to see what Rosi Kampe brings.

Ultimates 2 #100 ($4.99) – Now this is a strange one. On the one hand, I’ve loved Al Ewing’s tenure on the “Ultimates” series, it’s felt like old-school grand cosmic Marvel at its finest. On the other hand, this anniversary issue is bringing back The Ultimates team from Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s original, alternate universe run from way back when, which always left me a little cold. Still, I trust Ewing so I’m definitely going to check it out.

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Total: $18.96 – Man, comics really should be cheap huh? Still, “Dark Knights Metal” is very exciting!

Kent’s Picks

Aquaman #27 ($3.99) – Never thought I’d ever be jonesing for an Aquaman book to be coming out, but here we are. Dan Abnett and Stjepan Sejic have me hooked. While “Superman” and “Nightwing” have been stumbling of late, “Aquaman” has steadily risen to the top of my DC pile.

Dark Nights Metal #1 ($3.99) – Capullo and Snyder… Reunited, and it feels so good.

Spy Seal #1 ($3.99) – Rich Tommaso is a gem. His classically cartoonish lines have played off the darkness of his subject matter to a devilishly fun effect in “Dark Corridor” and “She Wolf.” But there’s something to his art that just lends itself so easily to both anthropomorphic pinnipeds and British espionage.

Black Cloud #5 ($3.99) – It seems liked everything that Jason Latour, Greg Hinkle and Ivan Brandon felt like tossing into their mystical, metaphysical cauldron finally started to coalesce last month. This week they close out their first arc, and it feels like they’ll do so with flourish.

Kaijumax Season 3 #2 ($3.99) – Third verse as impeccable as the first. How “Kaijumax” keeps getting better and better astonishes me.

Total: $19.95 – Any week with new “Kaijumax” is a great week.

Nick’s Picks:

Time & Vine #2 ($4.99) – This book was completely off my radar until the first issue came out last month, and I’m so glad I read it! An old man with a time-traveling wine cellar befriends a young woman and goes on simple trips with her to past events at the winery. It’s like a much more mundane Doctor Who, in the best possible way. Combine that with cartoony art and genuine human drama, and we’ve got a winner.

Curse Words #7 ($3.99) – Come for Soule’s endlessly inventive writing, stay for Browne’s endlessly expressive art.

Spy Seal #1 ($3.99) – I don’t know much about this but I am 98% certain I will love it.

Astro City #46 ($3.99) – The issue before this was my first exposure to Astro City, and it was great enough to immediately put the title on my pull list. Ironically, a book that’s been around for over two decades is one of a few books that still has new things to say about superheroes.

Kaijumax: Season Three #2 ($3.99) – If you read CSBC regularly, you already know the deal.

Total: $20.95 – 95 cents over budget is a small price to pay for such a quality week.

Mark’s Picks:

“Locke & Key: Heaven & Earth” deluxe hardcover ($14.99) — I sure miss “Locke & Key.” The original run was truly something spectacular to behold. Of course, the main storyline wrapped up in 2013, but thankfully creators Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez aren’t entirely done with the “Locke & Key” world just yet. Earlier this year we got the hardcover “Small World” and now we have another, “Heaven & Earth.”

I should point out, this isn’t the next “Locke & Key” collection. I believe there will be a hardcover called “Locke & Key – Volume 7: Golden Age” at some point, and it’ll most likely collect “Small World,” the short stories in “Heaven & Earth,” and a few others. So why do I recommend picking this one up? Well, the numbered “Locke & Key” books tend to be a bit short on special features, whereas these special deluxe hardcovers are packed with them. “Small World” was only a 24-page story, but it came with 46 pages of special features including interviews, cover galleries, pages process, script outlines, and final script pages… Yep, packed. “Heaven & Earth” is much the same, and for someone like me that loves special features (and, obviously, “Locke & Key”) this is a must-get book.

“Southern Bastards” #17 ($3.99)— C’mon, everyone’s reading this, right? After a half-year hiatus, it’s good to have the series back.

Total: $18.98.

Justin Beeson’s Picks:

Dark Nights: Metal #1 ($3.99) – This is the first event since Hickman and Ribic’s “Secret Wars” that I won’t be reading just to keep up with continuity. I’m genuinely excited for it, especially after the big reveal yesterday.

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Teen Titans Earth One Vol. 2 TP ($16.99) – I haven’t been able to get into Lemire’s work-for-hire stuff, besides the first volume in this series. So I’m looking forward to seeing how he and Andy MacDonald continue their story.

Total: $20.98. A dollar over, but there was no way I was skipping DC’s first big event in the Rebirth era.

Brian’s Picks:

Dark Nights: Metal #1 ($3.99) – This is the event you’ve been waiting DC to do for years. It somehow feels fresh, while also bringing back/referencing ideas that are 75 years old. It’s a fun, rollicking tour de force of cape comics. Dig the fuck in.

Southern Bastards #17 ($3.99) – Not that we ever didn’t need this book in our lives, but this week it feels especially appropriate. God bless the Jasons.

Aquaman #27 ($3.99) – The most epic comic DC is publishing monthly, and one of the best looking, too.

Spy Seal #1 / Curse Words #7 ($3.99 each) – Two totally different, totally amazing comics this week. Pick them both up – you won’t be disappointed.

Total: $19.95 – Just squeaked under the wire.