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!
Vince’s Picks:
Strangers in Paradise Kids #1 ($4.99) – What fresh hell is this and why did I not know about it? Okay, so “Strangers in Paradise” is, like, one of the greatest comic series ever put to print. No matter what, I’m buying whatever new stories or reprints Terry Moore wants to put out. But I’m super shocked because I had no idea that this “SiP Kids” issue was even a thing and all of a sudden it’s here? I’m so there.
Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1 ($3.99) – I’ve been personally hyping this baby for several months now. If you’re a regular Multiversity reader who pays attention to my aimless ramblings, you already know how much I treasure the work of Stan Sakai. I’m going to be walking in to my LCS with a skip in my step this Wednesday.
Imperial #1 ($2.99) – Steven T. Seagle is such a great writer. I’ll check out anything he does on the basis of how much his autobiographical “Superman” story “It’s a
Bird…” moved me. Check this one out and check out some of his other work. He’s a really smart dude.
Moon Knight #6 ($3.99) – I’m going to give some tender kisses to this issue after I’m done reading it, because my love affair with this book is coming to an end. Ellis, Shalvey, Bellaire, and Eliopoulos did something really special here. Something we will no doubt be bringing up multiple times for end of the year honors.
Howtoons [Re]ignition #1 ($2.99) – My girlfriend’s got a 7 year-old kid. We’ve been reading the Marvel “Oz” books and some of the all-ages DC stuff. This seems like a no-brainer for a good time.
Total: $18.95
David Harper’s Picks:
Howtoons [Re]ignition #1 ($2.99) – On one hand, I like supporting all-ages comics, especially ones with honest-to-goodness educational value. On the other, it’s a comic by Fred Van Lente, Tom Fowler, Jordie Bellaire and Rus Wooton originating from an idea by Nick and Ingrid Dragotta, Joost Bonsen and Saul Griffith. If there’s a comic with a better pedigree, I’d be surprised. This isn’t just pedigree though: this is a really, really fun comic that you should check out.
Moon Knight #6 ($3.99) – Ellis and Shalvey’s last issue looks to bring the whole thing full circle, and while I’m sad that this marks the end, I love that they’re leaving us wanting more. More until “Injection” at least.
Alex + Ada #8 ($2.99) – While it’s got competition for Best Comic of 2014 recently, this book continues to impress and amaze. Top of the pile book to the max, for me.
Lazarus #10 ($3.50) – Many books peak early and can’t keep things rolling. Lazarus, on the other hand, is something that has only gotten better as Greg Rucka and Michael Lark build the world in the story. It’s now a richer, more involving world than ever, and this one-shot promises to build in a new way. In the immortal words of Bart Scott, “can’t wait.”
Total: $13.47 – leaving some room for impulse buys
Drew’s picks:
Bleach #61 ($9.99) – It’s taken years to get to this point, but Ichigo finally knows the full truth about his heritage, and the last volume ended on a huge reveal that completely casts the previous sixty volumes in a different light. What happens next? I have no idea, and I can’t wait to find out.
Alex + Ada #8 ($2.99) – I have run out of ways to describe the quality of this book. Since the first issue, it’s been pretty much perfect. Seriously, I can think of nothing from the previous seven issues that could have been improved. The quiet, under-the-radar spot this book is occupying needs to be shattered and replaced with people buying extra copies and leaving them laying around for strangers to find.
Continued belowLazarus #10 ($3.50) – What’s that? The book has gone up half a buck? STILL WORTH IT! No one tell Rucka or Lark, but I’d by $5 an issue for this and still feel satisfied. More, please.
Total: $16.48
Brian’s Picks:
Flash Gordon #4 ($3.99) – If this weren’t a Dynamite book, everyone would be all over this. The fact that people aren’t still is crazy to me.
Earth 2 #26 ($2.99) – With “Earth 2: Worlds End” around the corner, this series really is starting to kick into high gear. This isn’t the book James Robinson was masterfully writing, but Tom Taylor and co. have still managed to make something special out of it. I really hope the weekly does kill it.
Nailbiter #4 ($2.99) – If you don’t want to be creeped out, don’t read this series. Seriously.
Superior Foes of Spider-Man #14 ($3.99) – This book is one of those underrated gems that rarely lasts 14 issues. Thank goodness this is still going (for now).
Grayson #2 ($2.99) – I want this book to work so badly. C’mon gents, don’t let me down.
Total: $16.95
EiC Matt’s Picks:
Nailbiter #4 ($2.99) – Not for nothing but I do believe this is Josh Williamson’s best series yet. With Mike Henderson on art they’re doing some quite wonderful things together. It’s creepy, it’s disturbing, and it’s definitely not a book to miss out. (I’ll relent that part of me does get the feeling that it’ll read tremendously when collected, but I don’t want to miss a thing.)
Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #1 ($3.99) – Well, lets see here. Do I like Jack Kirby? Yup. Do I like Joe Casey? Yup! Do I like Nate Fox? YUP YUP YUP. Ok, then I don’t see what the problem is. The real question is… do you? (Because if the answer is anything but “yup,” then get out.)
Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1 ($3.99) – The latest and the last Usagi Yojimbo story from Stan Sakai. This is arguably one of the biggest events in comics this week, and to miss out on this seems like the biggest folly of all. Stan Sakai is a magnificent storyteller and each installment of Usagi Yojimbo is entirely accessible. While a big omnibus thing is on its way soon from Dark Horse, now is ostensibly both a great time to be introduced to the character and to spend some more time with him, as any decent comic-loving person would do.
Legendary Star-Lord #2 and Rocket Raccoon #2 ($3.99 each) – Totally running on that Guardians high. Not even going to try and pretend I’m not. Come and get your love.
Total: $18.95
Greg’s Picks:
Star Trek New Visions ($7.99) – John Byrne is a Star Trek fanboy, and TOS all the way. You could probably figure this out by the Star Trek work he’s done with IDW. But Byrne is so hardcore in his fandom that he’s not only doing new TOS stories, but he’s doing them as Photoshopped fumetti so they’ll look even more on-model than he could do with line art. And this whole endeavor started when Byrne pitched IDW on the idea after mocking up a whole story in his spare time. Now THAT is hardcore.
But how are the actual stories? Pretty good!
The need to use screen caps as starting points does limit what Byrne can do visually, and some of the page layouts can get crowded with the way those images are cropped and assembled, but the storytelling is the best use of fumetti I can recall. And Byrne has this era of Trek down cold from a writing perspective; the characters sound and act so familiar your brain will make you think these were taken from actual 60’s Trek shows. With all the other fan-produced Trek series out there, these really are the closest we’ll ever get to “lost” episodes being discovered, and Byrne knows how to make them more “Balance of Terror” and “Mirror, Mirror” than “Spock’s Brain”.
Continued belowGenius #1 ($3.99) – The premise of this Top Cow mini is that the world’s next great military strategist, on par with Alexander the Great and Napoleon, is a female gangbanger from South Central who decides to secede a few blocks of her territory from the rest of the country. Top Cow’s strategy of shipping the mini weekly through August shows they are pretty sharp as well, since this premise sounds fantastic and something I want to read right now. Expect this series to show up again in CSBC real soon.
Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1 ($3.99) – Stan Sakai’s samurai rabbit is back, but not quite as you remember him. Sakai’s showing us the Usagi-verse twenty years into the future (but still almost 500 years in our past), where Usagi serves as an army general on the field of battle with his comrades. A field that just so happens to be the landing spot of a Martian invasion a la “War of the Worlds”. I’m hoping this is more out-of-continuity like “Space Usagi” than in-continuity because Sakai’s hinted at no one being safe, and I’m too attached to the cast he’s built up to want to lose any if them, even in the future (or past).
Captain Victory & The Galactic Rangers #1 ($3.99) – If Byrne is a TOS fanboy, then Joe Casey is a Kirby one of the highest order. And he uses the artistic processing power of Nathan Fox and a murderer’s row of indie creators to give us new Kirby Victory for the 21st century. Having seen issue #1, I can honestly say its as whacked-out, senses-shattering, and gloriously over-saturated a slice of awesomeness as I was hoping it would be. Miss this at your peril!
Total: $19.96
Dodge’s Picks:
Grayson #2 ($2.99) – The debut issue was a refreshing change of pace from the usual DC fare, and seeing Dick Grayson lose the confines of the mask is the most exciting thing to happen to the character since he temporarily became Batman.
Green Arrow #34 ($2.99) – Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino have reinvented this character and dramatically expanded the world of the series. Every issue is thrilling and beautifully rendered.
Spread #2 ($3.50) – A new Image title that debuted last month that’s sure to please grisly horror fans. The first issue hit the right balance of violence and character moments, and it will be interesting to see if the second installment can continue the trend.
Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #4 ($3.99) – The only reason to be reading the Ultimate Universe. If there was an award for consistency, this series would win every year.
Total: $13.47
