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:
Briggs Land #1 ($3.99) – I’m a sucker for Brian Wood books and one that features a giant secessionist colony is all the more enticing. Top it off with that art from Mack Chater and “Briggs Land” could be something very cool.
Manifest Destiny #22 ($2.99) – We all know how much I love “Manifest Destiny” by this point. That there is a whole arc about one-eyed Sasquatch and conquistador ghosts should be an easy way to sell the book for those that are on the fence. Easily one of my favorite titles out there currently.
Black Hammer #2 ($3.99) – I’m currently finding the central mystery of “Black Hammer” more interesting than any of the characters, but that’s enough to keep me for at least another issue or two. Here’s hoping that Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston can really make this book shine.
Black Road #5 ($3.99) – Like I said, I’m a sucker for Brian Wood books.
Total: $14.96
Mark’s Picks:
Lackadaisy – Volume 2 ($39.95) — There are so many great books coming out this week, I’m going completely and utterly over budget. If you aren’t familiar with Tracy Butler’s “Lackadaisy”, it’s a webcomic about bootleggers in the 1920s. Oh, and the cast is all cats. And while the comic can be cute, it doesn’t hold back on the gangster element either—there’s mischievous black comedy throughout. The character work is absolutely fantastic. Facial expressions, body lanuage, and costumes–Butler knows her characters inside out and knows how to make the most of them. Put any two characters in a room together and something interesting is going to happen. This is what great comics look like.
Bird Boy – Volume 2: The Liminal Wood ($9.99) — I love Anne Szabla’s world of winter, ancient woods, and masks. I haven’t read this far into the webcomic specifically so I could read it in print, so I can’t really comment on any of the content, but I loved Volume 1, especially the design work and the long stretches of silence. It was a very immersive book.
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #144 ($3.99) — The “B.P.R.D.” series delves deep into “Hellboy in Hell” territory here. This was hinted at all the way back in the “Cold Day in Hell” arc, and yet I never really imagined “B.P.R.D.” would stray so far into these waters. I’m glad it did though. What comes next is going be EPIC.
Dept. H #5 ($3.99) — I’m not up to date with this series. I want to read the first arc in one go, so I’m waiting for #6. The Agatha Christie–esque set-up was enough to hook me back in issue #1.
Rumble #13 ($3.50) — This is shaping up to be the best arc of “Rumble” so far. The Bobby-Timah storyline especially has a real punch to it, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. And the last panel of #12 was so wonderfully madcap, how could I possibly miss this issue? It was a delightfully fun set-up.
Total: $61.42. There is no way I could miss any of these books, and there are others I haven’t even mentioned (more hardcovers) that I’ll probably be getting too. I’m pretty much blowing the entire month’s budget in a week
Ken’s Picks:
The Backstagers ($3.99): This is a book I’ve had my eye on since its announcement. As a bisexual dude myself, this is the kind of book I needed when I was in high school. May have figured out some things a lot earlier. Tynion’s been impressing me with drawing out Character over in “Detective Comics” and “The Woods” and Rian Sygh’s cartoonwork is fun looking. Have high hopes for this.
Continued belowTokyo Ghoul vol. 8 ($8.99): Meanwhile, in the complete opposite side (in tone, not queerness, I don’t care what anyone says), we’ve got this lovely ball of sunshine book. Last volume saw Kaneki get tortured to such a degree that he finally gave into his inner Ghoul and things got violent. I’m sure the only way out is up now. Right?
Descender #14 ($2.99): Lemire and Nguyen continue their character spotlight issues, this time starring Bandit, the robot dog. So I’m sure this will be wholesome. Well, of course not. Comics are Pain, children.
Total: $13.97- Small week, but with good stuff. Or you could just buy the new episode of Hitman (my current standing for Game of the Year). That’s out today.
Matt’s Picks:
Bird Boy Volume 2: The Liminal Wood ($9.99) – The first volume in this series was a stellar and fantastically illustrated introduction to Anne Szabla’s world. The adventure continues, now, with Bali lost in the woods and the Rook Men hot on his tail. Dark Horse releases the print edition of the webcomic and, seriously, it’s great.
The Backstagers #1 ($3.99) – Boom! has been none too shy in comparing this new series from James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh to “Lumberjanes,” and it has elements of that, I guess? But it definitely bears its own personality and charm.
The Wicked + The Divine #22 ($3.50) – End of a story arc. What shit’s gonna hit this month?
Total: $17.48. There’s also a new Corto Maltese collection out this week that’s worth looking at.
Vince’s Picks:
Supergirl: Rebirth #1 ($2.99) – C’mon. Steve Orlando is the best. And I’m there for whatever Emanuela Lupacchino does, too. Tremendous team, writing a book that should be very important to the DCU given Supergirl’s newfound spotlight.
Nightwing #3 ($2.99) – One of the best post-Rebirth titles DC is putting out. Tim Seeley packs each issue with so much detail and action that it’s unbelievable in the era of Decompression. And where has Javi Fernandez been all my life?
Backstagers #1 ($3.99) – Something tells me this book is going to be a lot of fun, and a breath of fresh air.
Spawn Kills Everyone ($3.99) – I don’t really want this, but I want to see Multiversity’s James Johnston review it.
Total: $13.96
