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.
Follow the cut to see everyone’s picks for the week.
Matthew’s List
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 ($3.99) – The most important title in my personal collection. I would not be as heavily into buying single issues if it weren’t for Ultimate Spidey. As long as there is an Ultimate Spidey on the market, I will buy it.
Fear Itself #6 ($3.99) – In the grand scheme of things, this event is not really panning out like I would’ve hoped. Faith in Fraction and Immonen has resulted in a pretty to look at book with some fun hero-on-hero violence, but the story quality is pretty below average, especially for events. That being said, I’d still rather stick it out with this book than feign interest in the wider selection of DCnU titles this week, so hey, whatever works!
(Additionally, both the Hulk vs. Dracula and the Monkey King tie-in books look like they could be entertaining. I never thought I’d say that in a million years, but hey, I’ve got room on my pull thanks to DC so I might as well look, right?)
Daken: Dark Wolverine #14 ($2.99) – Rob Williams has come out of left field for most of us here at MC and has in turn provided some of the most entertaining books available. In this week’s Daken: Dark Wolverine, Daken fights Moon Knight and probably takes more drugs. Everyone wins!
Amazing Spider-Man #669 ($3.99) – I have nothing to justify why you should buy this book other than this: I am buying it, because Spider-Man is awesome and Dan Slott is kicking ass. You look up to me and think I’m super cool, so just buy it too.
Demon Knights #1/Grifter #1/Batwoman #1 ($2.99 each) – The other guys of this site will whine and moan at me if I don’t put at least ONE DCnU book on my list, so here are the ones I think will be worth reading. Pick one, go from there.
Total: $17.95
Walt’s List
Unwritten #29 ($2.99) – Yeah. You get it at this point.
Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #4 ($3.50) – This is shaping up to by my favorite Criminal story yet. And now that we’re at the end, there’s a distinct possibility that it is actually going to be my favorite (until the next one, at least!). It’s Brubaker, Phillips and Staples at their respective bests. Do you need any more reason to buy this?
American Vampire – Survival of the Fittest #4 ($2.99) – I love when tie-in minis are just as good as the main ongoing. Granted, Survival of the Fittest gets points from the get-go due to having both Sean Murphy and Nazi Vampires (and I’m sure you readers are ready for this to be finished so you don’t have to read the term Nazi Vampires ever again), but there’s also the fact that it’s executed with excellence and precision across the board. If you’ve been missing out on this mini, you have made a poor life decision.
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1 ($3.99) – Of all the number ones coming out this week, the one I’m most excited for isn’t from DC! The first volume of Ultimate Spider-Man (if you count Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man) was a shining example of how to do the long-form superhero comic. Who’s to say the newest of volume will be any different? Here’s to 160 more issues!
Continued belowBatwoman #1 ($2.99) – I very rarely buy a book based solely on art. J.H. Williams III is an exception. Now, I’m not saying that this will be poorly written; rather, I’m just not sure. I loved Kate Kane’s story when it was written by Rucka, so let’s hope it will continue being exciting and generally awesome, but even if it isn’t, at least this book is going to be goddamn beautiful.
Grifter #1 ($2.99) – Who sounds more like the interesting choice for a relaunched superhero title: someone that has been writing standard superhero comics for a while, or a relative newcomer with a hit espionage thriller comic under his belt? Yeah, that’s not difficult to answer. Plus: Cafu!
Total: $19.45
Brandon’s List
Green Lantern #1 ($2.99) — The relaunch of one of my favorite DC franchises — you better believe I’m in for this one! Granted, the direction and history won’t be changed as much as other DC properties, but that’s just fine with me. I’m just excited to see Sinestro as a GL.
Uncanny X-Force #15 ($3.99) — How good has this book been lately? Good enough that two of my top five picks for best of August went to this title, and here we are again, getting another issue already! Three issues in two months is a great thing, especially when this arc has been so phenomenal.
X-Men Legacy #255 ($2.99) – I love Mike Carey’s run on X-Men. He is by far my favorite writer on a core X-Title. Him and Peter David are like Old Faithful at this point. We get more of the Starjammers this issue, which is exciting because I’m interested to see how they get from where they are to X-Factor. Should be a lot of fun.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 ($3.99) — While DC seems to have the media lockdown for #1s, it wasn’t too long ago this title built up a lot of buzz as well. Now just like the DC books, it’s time to see if there is a payoff to the hype. I am inclined to believe there will be. Otherwise, I’m one step closer to stepping out from the Ultimate universe since I’m passing on Ultimates.
Grifter #1 ($2.99) — While I never really followed much of the Wildstorm characters, I do remember the W.I.L.D.Cats cartoon series rather fondly, and one of my favorite characters from that was Grifter. I am excited to see him as a potential major player in the DC universe. This is the book that I feel has the potential to be a pull list item for me.
Batman and Robin #1 ($2.99) — I am excited to have the Damian and Bruce dynamic. I really hope we get some snide Damian action where he compares Dick to Bruce at Bruce’s expense. I also enjoy the writer and artist pair we’ve got here in Tomasi and Gleason. Their arc before the book’s relaunch wasn’t amazing but it really grew on me. Now that they are free to cut loose, I hope they take full advantage of it.
Total: $19.94
Brian’s List
Demon Knights #1 ($2.99) – Paul Cornell writing a Middle Ages superhero team book is an intriguing idea, and certainly gets my 3 bucks.
Green Lantern #1 ($2.99) – Hands down, the reason I am such a big comics fan is Green Lantern. I don’t know how i feel about Sinestro in the lead spot, but I have faith in the grand GL story that Geoff Johns is telling.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 ($3.99) – When Ultimate Spider-Man started, it was one of the books that got me back into comics when I was in college. I jumped off the Ultimate line years ago, but am willing to give this a shot.
The Stand: Night Has Come #2 ($3.99) – The Stand is one of my all time favorite novels, and I have been enjoying the comic adaptation thoroughly. This series is in the place in the novel where the pressure of all the storylines made me anxious for how the ending would be resolved, and I am looking forward to how that feeling translates in the comics.
Continued belowFrankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1 ($2.99) – With all the amazing (and well deserved) reviews for Animal Man, I could see this being DC’s “Book to Try” for the week.
Resurrection Man #1 ($2.99) – I never read the original run of this series, but the character has one of the most clever power-sets I can think of. This book has the potential to be a ton of fun.
Total: $19.94
Josh’s List
Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1 ($2.99) – The Flashpoint Frankenstein mini-series had a ton of horror-action shenanigans and was also fun as hell. I suspect this series will be no different. That said, Jeff Lemire is writing it, so I probably would have bought it anyway.
Journey Into Mystery #627 ($2.99) – Nothing about this book has been anything short of absolutely fantastic since it changed titles earlier this year. Kieron Gillen is taking such a completely fresh hand to the fantasy-action genre that it lives and breathes like nothing I’ve quite read before, and allowing Doug Braithwaithe to really cut loose just adds to overall quality and engagement of the book. Plus, this issue actually involves the devil walking into a bar. You can’t not be intrigued!
Grifter #1 ($2.99) – I have never read a single comic book with Grifter in it (other than, I guess, Flashpoint #5, which really shouldn’t count for anythin ever), but the one-two punch of Nathan Edmonson and CAFU make an unbeatable combination in my head.
Li’l Depressed Boy #6 ($2.99) – This book has been lovably fantastic since it launched and I suspect Struble and Grace’s moody, indie-rock influenced slice of life tale will continue to deliver for quite a while yet.
Daken: Dark Wolverine #14 ($2.99) – Not just the freshest take on this particular character in, well, ever, but a damn fun, drugs and debauchery filled ride. Rob Williams is slowly but surely proving his worth as an entirely unique hand at this game we call super heroes, and he’s ended up a must-read author as a result.
Demon Knights #1 ($2.99) – In Paul Cornell I trust, and if the DCnU isn’t good enough of an idea to get me to try new ideas by authors I respect, then what is it good for?
Total:$17.94
Ryan’s Picks
Luckily I “bought” Severed #2 last week on Comixology so that made this week a little easier
Uncanny X-Force #15 ($3.99) – Probably the best book Marvel is putting out right now, and definitely the best X-Book. I’ve been loving this arc, and when Jerome Opena came back last issue things kicked up several notches. I can’t wait to see how this all plays out and how Nightcrawler ends up joining the team.
Demon Knights #1 ($2.99) – Paul Cornell is the man; Paul Cornell writing the demon is some kind of dream come true. We know after reading Stormwatch #1 that this book seems to be the original (or at least an earlier version) of the group that will turn into Stormwatch. I’m diving head first into the Dark section of the new DCU and so far I’m loving it.
Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1 ($2.99) – Jeff Lemire wrote one of the best issues of the relaunch so far and his Frankenstein book was one of the best tie-ins of Flashpoint. It’s also yet another DCU Dark book. I’m a little bummed that Ibraim Roberson isn’t continuing the art duties but Ponticelli is definitely no slouch.
Lil Depressed Boy #6 ($2.99) – I’ve been loving this series and its really quirky art, and this is the first of two books I’m picking up that are (tangentially) music related. We just started the second arc last issue and LDB has been stranded in the middle of. I can’t wait to see him try and get home.
27: Second Set #1 ($3.99) – I thoroughly enjoyed the first “set” of 27 dealing with a guy who quite literally has to battle with the curse of the 27 Club. The second set seems to deal with the question of if it’s more important to be famous and sell out or keep true to your art and toil in obscurity (at least that’s what I remember Soule saying at the panel at Fanexpo). I’m really happy to see Renzo Podesta is back on art duties too, as he did a fantastic job on the first mini.
Continued belowResurrection Man #1 ($2.99) – I just read through the entire original series and I loved it. I’m curious how much of this relaunch will touch on the old series and answer some of the questions it posed and never really answered. In the original he’s tied fairly closely with Vandal Savage and has a mysterious past where he’s encountered Phantom Stranger that was never really explained. I’m glad Abnett and Lanning are picking this series back up as it was really a hidden gem from the 90s.
Total: $19.94
David’s Picks
Scalped #52 ($2.99) – Jason Aaron and RM Guera’s Vertigo Comics series is, in my mind, the absolute best comic in the industry. Month in and month out it is completely satisfying, and as we approach the end of this series with issue #60, I have a feeling it is just going to get better and better.
Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1 ($2.99) – While Animal Man wasn’t a perfect book for me, Lemire has proved himself time and time again to be an absolutely incredible writer. With Frankenstein, it looks like he’s got another incredible book on his hands, especially with artist Alberto Ponticelli joining him on it. I can’t wait to read it.
Uncanny X-Force #15 ($3.99) – This book is almost outrageously badass, as Rick Remender has crafted a book that is one of the best Marvel comics period (not to mention easily the best X-Book). Plus, this arc (“the Dark Angel Saga”) has been the best one yet, and now that artist Jerome Opena is back in the fold, this book is just going to keep improving as we move along.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 ($3.99) – Oh boy! Our favorite bi-racial gay replacement for a legendary superhero is finally here! Will this book be as controversial as Glenn Beck suggested it was? Of course not. But with Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli on it, this book is just destined to be great.
Grifter #1 ($2.99) – I’m a long time fan of Cole Cash, and by putting up-and-coming like creators like Nathan Edmondson and Cafu on this book, you guarantee one thing: getting my money. Can’t wait to cjheck this out.
Batwoman #1 ($2.99) – Because JH Williams III is drawing it. I don’t need any other reason.
