As we’ve talked about a lot of times on Multiversity, the world of comics is becoming an increasingly expensive one. With regular issues reaching $3.99 regularly now, your dollar is going less far with each passing week. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t get enjoyment out of the world of comics. Sure, you may not be able to get everything, but there is still a lot to love.
That’s why we’re launching this new weekly column, Comics Should Be Cheap! (the title is pending and a nod to CBR’s Comics Should Be Good!). Each week, all of MC’s writers will pick what comics they would get if they only had $20 to spend. This makes us consider the allure of the comic, importance, price, and everything else when pondering picking it up. Fans on a budget, this will be a good tool to help decide what to grab on a weekly basis.
With that said, click through the jump to see our choices.
The Walking Dead #75 ($3.99) – This is my book of the week, as it is a momentous issue for one of the most consistently great books of the past decade. Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s story is 75 issues in and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. PLUS! A Ryan Ottley illustrated full color back up in the world of The Walking Dead – GLORIOUS!
RASL #8 ($3.50) – Jeff Smith is one of the greatest living cartoonists, and his series RASL took a serious leap in the last issue to go from “good but frustrating” to “very, very good” in my book. I expect it to keep advancing in greatness with this issue.
DV8: Gods and Monsters #4 ($2.99) – Brian Wood writing, Rebekah Isaacs on art duties, and a Fiona Staples cover? This book is so packed with talent that it should be a must buy for everyone.
Welcome to Tranqulity: One Foot in the Grave #1 ($3.99) – Gail Simone and Neil Googe’s original Welcome to Tranquility series was one of the most underappreciated gems in recent memory, and this sequel mini-series sees the return of all of our favorites including Simone (although no Googe). I’m eager to get back to the world of Tranquility, as it has been far too long.
X-Factor #207 ($2.99) – Peter David’s X-Factor adventures continue to be some of the most consistently entertaining on the market, and for those who want a taste of the world of mutants without the convoluted continuity should look no further than this book.
Total: $17.46 (enough for bags and boards for all!)
Matt’s Picks
Amazing Spider-Man #638 ($3.99) – I’m a hardcore Spider-Man fan. I can’t NOT buy this, really.
Avengers #3 ($3.99) and New Avengers #2 ($3.99) – Bendis is one of my favorite writers, and the Avengers are my favorite Marvel team. While I do feel there are a bit too many Avengers titles at the moment, I’ll be damned if my inner nerd/fanboy doesn’t want to buy them all anyway. Besides, the series have just started, so it’s too early to get a feel of if I don’t like one.
Batman: Streets of Gotham #14 ($3.99) – Hush is my favorite Batman villain. His return at the hands of Paul Dini? Definite buy.
The Walking Dead #75 ($3.99) – Kirkman’s ongoing zombie horror is one of the best books on the market. To be without it would be a sin against nature!
Total: $19.95
Gil’s Picks
New Avengers #2 ($3.99) – Bendis’ Avengers suffers a bit from lackluster art, but his New Avengers has some of the prettiest art on the Marvel stable coming from Stuart Immonen. Couple that with fun and snappy dialogue, and it’s a lot of fun.
Amazing Spider-Man #638 ($3.99) – The Spider-Man title has been pretty consistently awesome for a good long while. While I don’t really enjoy the middle finger Quesada seems to give the fans who want Peter with MJ, this is definitely worth picking up.
Continued belowThe Walking Dead #75 ($3.99) – Probably the single best book on my list, you should be reading this book.
Legion of Super-Heroes #3 ($3.99) – Paul Levitz picks up story threads left by Geoff Johns and leads you down a road that is honestly quite shocking.
Darkwing Duck #2 ($3.99) – Remember this lovely little thing from your childhood? Well the writing perfectly captures the voices of the characters and the art is identical to the series.
Total: $19.95
Brandon’s Picks
I just want to start out by saying that Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour is not on my list. I am sure my compatriots all have it on their list but I do not. As much as I am excited to read that book I just started reading it this summer and it doesn’t have the emotional impact for me that it will for many others. Just throwing that out there. If you want to send hate mail to me for this it’s understandable and my email can be found on my bio for the site.
This is in no particular order mind you. But here is my list fanpeeps:
Brightest Day #6 ($2.99) – Brightest Day has been a really fun read and this issue claims that it will explain why the 12 heroes and villains have returned from the dead and what the White Lantern’s deal is. I for one am anxiously awaiting the answer and hoping it does not suck.
The Walking Dead #75 ($3.99) – There has been some serious build up this issue. In the past we’ve seen the prison deal go sour but not because of something our main characters have done. This time around they have such trust issues that they might just cause what they’ve been trying to avoid. I’m really excited to see how this goes.
Amazing Spider-Man #638 ($3.99) – One Moment in Time starts here and this could be the next big game changer for Peter Parker and his life. The last time something like this occurred I threw my arms up like a fanboy. Since then I have been proven wrong as some of the strongest and most enjoyable Spider-Man stories have come my way via Brand New Day and beyond. Will this story catapult us into more excellent stories? Not sure, but I’d like to find out.
New Mutants #15 ($2.99) – Going into Second Coming this title was really picking up the pace and getting really good. This is the first issue since that event wrapped so I’m interested to see if it continues to be good. Plus, with a name like Fall of the New Mutants it should be good.
X-Factor #207 ($2.99) – Billed as the payoff from Dani’s deal during Utopia and also a huge surprise issue my attention is piqued. Peter David has not let me down on this title yet when he says something awesome is going to happen.
Batman: Streets of Gotham #14 ($3.99) – The sequel to Heart of Hush begins in this issue. I really enjoyed Heart of Hush and the way Bruce and Selena’s relationship was focused on.
Total: $20.94 (Burpee Fail!)
Josh’s Picks
If given only $20 dollars for comics this week (assuming of course I did not pre-order online (which in reality I did) and did not buy Scott Pilgrim (which is just complete crazy talk)), I would spring for…
X-Factor #207 ($2.99) — Because it is not only the best book starring mutants on the market right now…by a large margin…it is also easily in the top three books being put out by the big two right now…and has been so consistently for the last five years. Nuff f*cking said.
Thunderbolts #146 ($2.99) — Because the current line-up of the team intrigues me, the concept honors both the original motive behind the team’s existence and acknowledges the changes that have been made to it over the years, the art is strangely fantastic…which I was not expecting when I saw the pencils…AND SOMEHOW Jeff Parker remembers how to write when doesn’t write books with Hulk or Gorilla Man in them…who’d a’ thunk it?
Continued belowNew Mutants #15 ($2.99) — Easily the SECOND best book starring mutants on the market right now…the writing of Zeb Wells gets better with every project he takes on, as proven by all the snappy one-liners and intriguing plots and sub-plots he’s weaving together on this book…and with Leonard Kirk hopping on pencil duty with this issue, this book can only get better.
Avengers #3 ($3.99) — While I’m slowly coming to realize that none of the zillions of Avengers books on the market right now are truly ESSENTIAL reading, sticking close to the core of it all is never a bad idea…and I’ll admit, I have a soft spot for cross-time capers, which makes this current arc especially enjoyable. That trademark Bendis wit and slick, constantly evolving Romita Jr. pencil work also helps matters and pushes it above the OTHER Avengers book out this week…even with that unholy 3.99 price point.
The Walking Dead #75 ($3.99) — I buy this book in trade…but hey, since we’re playing pretend…the fact that Kirkman has managed to keep this story as intriguing, heartbreaking, inspiring and terrifying as he has for 75 issues is quite frankly mind boggling. If you read comics/enjoy quality storytelling and don’t read this book, you are wrong.
Zatanna #3 ($2.99) — Ah yes…the biggest surprise hit of 2010 so far…first issue bought on a whim in order to get a free copy of a comic I had already pre-ordered three months before but wouldn’t have IN MY HANDS for another three weeks, this surprisingly sassy, beautifully drawn book combines two of my favorite subjects…magic and mystery…and combines them impeccably. While I’m fairly certain the book may not be able to hold my attention for much longer, it currently has me undeniably enthralled.
Total: $19.94 (six cents to spare, bitches! JEWPOWER)
Walt’s Picks
Neonomicon #1 $3.99
X-Factor #207 $2.99
New Avengers #2 $3.99
Supergirl #54 $2.99
Streets of Gotham #14 $3.99/Amazing Spider-Man #638 $3.99
Total: $17.95
My first choice is, to me, pretty obvious. Honestly, how often is it that you get the chance to purchase an issue #1 written by Alan Moore? If his latest interview is to be taken seriously, this may be the last, so pick it up while you can (sure, it’s a sequel, but that’s hardly an excuse). For those of you that need an X-Men fix, X-Factor is easily the best X-related ongoing right now, but if you have been following it I doubt that I need to tell you this.
While some people were hesitant about the first issue of New Avengers, I feel that Bendis is much more at home with this team, and would definitely put it above the adjective-less Avengers title (as awesome as Kang is). For those of you not in the know, Supergirl has been one of DC’s best titles since Sterling Gates started writing it, and now is the perfect time to jump on since War of the Supermen is over and done with.
For my last choice, I give you two options: if you want to read something that will inevitably be important to the Spider-Man status quo, you will definitely want to pick up ASM #638, the first part of Joe Quesada’s O.M.I.T. If, however, you want what I’m sure will be a great story, I would highly suggest picking up Bat-title underdog Streets of Gotham. The upcoming arc is a sequel to Dini’s story “Heart of Hush,” which was absolutely incredible. With the same creative team working on this arc, I’m sure we can expect it to be nothing less than great.
Now, I’m sure some may cry foul at me not including Red Mass for Mars on this list, but let’s face it: most people haven’t read the first three issues, and they can be quite difficult to find. However, if you don’t buy it once it comes out in trade, you don’t like good comics.
