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!
Kent’s Picks
Aquaman #28 ($3.99) — In a brawl with “Deathstroke” for top DC’s top dog right now, Dan Abnett and Stjepan Sejic’s current arc just gets the win. The labyrinthine political and social machinations in Abnett’s Atlantis are as dense and compelling as Priest’s bastard tapestry of Slade Wilson’s life. But Sejic’s art, both ethereal and grimy in alternating strokes, gives “Aquaman” a majestic edge the former has never had.
Shirtless Bear-Fighter #4 ($3.99) — Hats off, shirts off, and maybe even pants off to Jody LeHeup, Sebastian Girner and Nil Vendril for putting the fun back into the funny back into the funny books. The wait between issues has been unbearable, but we’re rounding the corner into end game… bear end game. There will be blood. There will be bloody bear blood.
Wild Storm #7 ($3.99) — Universal reboots rarely feel as vital this one. Warren Ellis crafts just the right flare-ups in this relative slow burn that you’re never really sure when the inferno will erupt or how bad it will be. Jon Davis-Hunt is dropping his best work with crisp, Quitely-esque futurism.
Head Lopper #7 ($5.99) — It’s fitting that a story this epic only drops when the season’s change. It’s not a question of picking this issue up; it’s a question of whether to grab the angular, acid-dropped minimalism of Andrew McClean’s cover or the monstrous, maximalism of Ryan Ottley’s head-splitting one.
Samurai Jack: Quantum Jack #4 ($3.99) — At a bit of loss here, since Samurai Jack inhabits the negative space in my grey matter. But licensed-property blindspots aside, I’m not saying no to any book from the “Helena Crash” braintrust of Fabian Rangel, Jr. and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell. They could feed me the fine print from a rental car agreement and I’d eat it up just the same.
Total: $22.99 — Had to make some tough concessions – even then, “Head Lopper” tips the scales a bit too far. “Dept H” #18 ($3.99) just misses the cut, but we’re all just waiting for those classy HCs anyway. And Image continues their deluge of fall debuts with “Angelic” #1 ($3.99) from Si Spurrier and Caspar Winjgaard.
Matt Lune’s Picks:
Dark Ark #1 ($3.99) — Is there a more prolific writer of horror comics than Cullen Bunn at the moment? It feels like every month there’s a new series from him, from “Regression,” “Unholy Grail,” “The Unsound,” and “Harrow County” and now this. The concept of this book – a secret ark to survive the floods alongside Noah, but filled with mythical monsters is both fiendishly simple and absolutely buck wild.
Black Hammer #13 ($3.99) — From the look of the solicit, it seems like we’ll finally get the full story on the massive multiversal crisis that sent the heroes of Black Hammer into the claustrophobic town they cannot escape from. We’ve had glimpses of the actual moment where it happened, but hopefully this will fill in the gaps as to how and why the crisis occurred.
Batman: The Red Death #1 ($3.99) — Dark Knights: Metal has been an insane deep dive into DC continuity, and while its constant callbacks and canonical deep cuts have put some people off, I for one am all in. This, the first one shot to look at the twisted Batmen of the Dark Multiverse looks to be a lot of fun, and probably way more accessible than its dense parent series.
Angelic #1 ($3.99) — With a creative team as string as Simon Spurrier and Caspar Wijngaard, I have high hopes for “Angelic” #1. They already had my curiosity, but when the solicit proclaims “Winged Monkeys! Techno-Dolphins! Quantum Alleycats!” now they have my attention.
Continued belowCaptain Phasma #2 ($3.99) — The first issue of this was a blockbuster in every sense of the word, and felt like it could have been a deleted scene straight from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” With the promise of more Phasma in the upcoming movie “The Last Jedi,” this is a great way to dig into the character before we next see her on the big screen.
Total: $19.95.
Justin’s Picks:
Angelic #1 ($3.99) — I don’t always stick with Si Spurrier’s series, but every single one is worth checking out. The worlds he creates in his comics are incredible, and I can’t wait to check out the latest.
Batman: The Red Death #1 ($3.99) — I’m all-in on ‘Dark Nights: Metal’ anyways, but I’m looking forward to seeing what the primary “The Flash” creators do with their Batman alter ego.
Magnus #4 ($3.99) — Kyle Higgins and Jorge Fornés have been telling a very compelling A.I. story over at Dynamite. Fornés art has been amazing (which isn’t always the case on dynamite books).
Nightwing #29 ($2.99) — “Teen Titans” #12 was a very promising start to the ‘Gotham Resistance’ crossover. I usually skip these event tie-ins, but I think this one will end up being pretty great.
Wonder Woman/Conan #1 ($3.99) — I’m here for a Wonder Woman/Conan team-up. The fact that Gail Simone is writing it is just a huge bonus.
Total: $18.95. These are my must-reads, but there are a ton of other books that I want to pick up this week as well.
Brian’s Picks:
Bloodshot Salvation #1 ($3.99) – Jeff Lemire’s Bloodshot saga has been building to this for some time; very few creators get to do this much with a character that will change them forever. Bloodshot post-Lemire will barely resemble Bloodshot pre-Lemire, and for a killing machine, that’s something absolutely remarkable. Astounding, even.
Aquaman #28 ($3.99) – This is very close to being the best “Aquaman” arc…ever, maybe? Certainly in the past ten to fifteen years. Dan Abnett and Stjepan Sejic are doing some career-best work right now, and we need to savor every page of it.
Star Wars Adventures #2 ($3.99) – More all-ages Star Wars goodness for me to share with my kids. This is a happy day in the Salvatore home.
Head Lopper #7 ($5.99) – Andrew MacLean is building something truly unique and special with “Head Lopper,” and is doing so on his own terms in every possible way. It is truly inspiring to see. Also, the comic kicks so much ass.
Total: 17.96
Mark’s Picks:
“Head Looper” #7 ($5.99) — Norgal and Agatha are back! I love the way each issue of this series feels like an event. The cover on this one alone feels like a strong enough argument to pick this up—the promise of strangeness is too tantalizing to ignore. Plus it’s a great issue for highlighting what makes this series so fun, especially where Agatha is concerned. Being restricted to being just a head that’s carted around, she could easily become a mere commentator (which in all fairness she often is, but she’s so good at it), but this issue gives her a meatier role. Plus MacLean and Bellaire work beautifully together. I’m hoping they’ll be working together on “Head Lopper” for a long time.
“Black Hammer” #13 ($3.99) — I guess this is a bad place to jump on, but it’s an excellent time to catch up. This issue marks a major turning point for the series—things’ll clearly be different going into the third arc—and it’d be fun to read all thirteen issues (plus the 2017 special) before launching into the upcoming “Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil” miniseries.
Total: $9.98.
Leo’s Picks:
Invincible #140 ($2.99) — Only four more issues after this one, so things are starting to wrap up for Mark and what’s left of his family. Still, Thragg and his new Viltrumite Empire have been on a warpath throughout the galaxy and things aren’t over quite yet.
Angelic #1 ($3.99) — Si Spurrier usually writes a solid first issue, even if his various series don’t always end up being for me. I also was in love with Caspar Wijngaard’s work on “Limbo”, so seeing him back on an Image book is just fantastic. Here’s hoping the two make magic.
Total: $6.98. A very light week for me, but still not too shabby.
