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!
Mark’s Picks:
Monstress #42 ($3.99): The start of the eighth arc of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s “Monstress.” I’ve said it many times before, but this series gets better with each new arc, and given Liu and Takeda’s track record at this point, I see no reason why this new one should be any different.
Saga #61 ($3.99): And the eleventh arc of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ “Saga” kicks off here, but I seriously don’t need to sell you on “Saga,” do I? Even with the price jump from $2.99 (they held on there for a long time) to $3.99, “Saga” is absolutely worth picking up.
Behold, Behemoth #3 ($3.99): I’m recommending this with one caveat: you have to be OK with a slow burn. The story presents questions it isn’t in a hurry to answer. Personally, that plays into my tastes, so that’s a selling point for me, but I know for some readers this can put them off. Plus, you know, Nick Robles’ art is gorgeous.
Total: $11.97
Johnny’s Picks:
Saga #61 ($3.99): It’s always a good comics week when Saga is on the shelves, and while the uptick in price has finally come (“Saga” being one of the last great holdouts at $2.99), Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan have always made this book worth every penny. Honestly, *any* book with a solid letters column is worth an extra buck IMO!
Pink Lemonade #5 ($3.99): This comic continues to be just a wonderful little hidden gem of a series – chock full of gorgeous visuals in a cheerful (but not childish or cloying) package. From main character to plots, this feels like the best quirky after-school cartoon adventure show from your youth!
TMNT: The Last Ronin – Lost Years #1 ($4.99): Speaking of cartoon adventure shows – the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mini-series “The Last Ronin” was a gut-punch of a book. As Michaelangelo, last of the Turtle brothers, embarked on a quest for vengeance, this was far apart from the cartoon Turtles we know and love, and more in line with the original Eastman/Laird series. Gritty, violent, and surprisingly moving, that miniseries grabbed me by the collar and shook me until my teeth rattled. This miniseries looks like more of the same – covering the lost years between the loss of his family and his final revenge march. Written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, with art by Ben Bishop and SL Gallant, this series promises to be another walk down a dark, fascinating path for our favorite mutant terrapins.
Santos Sisters #3 ($5.00): Last but certainly not least is the return of one of my favorite indie comics of 2022 – Greg & Fake’s ode to everything comics – Santos Sisters! This book is just a wonderful mash-up of lots of different comic tropes (mostly Archie Comics inspired) nestled in a very post-modern blankie, but not in any sort of eye-winking “these characters are meant to be ironic” kind of way. Greg & Fake let their characters live in their own silly universe, one that just so happens to cram the sensibilities of multiple decades of comics in one fun little package.
Total: $17.97 – A great week for comics – so make sure to hit your LCS bright and early Wednesday morning!
Christopher’s Picks:
Dragon Age: The Missing #1 ($3.99):Is Dreadwolf coming out this year? Well regardless, Varric and Scout Harding are back in a new miniseries where they’re venturing back into the darkspawn-infested Deep Roads to rescue a friend. Poor Varric, can’t catch a break eh? Luckily for us it won’t be boring at least.
Continued belowGrim Vol. 1 ($14.99): Heard great things about Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano’s BOOM! series, which sounds like Dead Like Me for a new generation, or The Good Place replacement those of us still mourning the show’s end need right now.
Total: $18.98
Kate’s Picks:
Archie vs. The World #1 (3.99) : I’ll be honest. I didn’t think Archie Comics mashed up with horror would work, but it certainly did and birthed a whole new side of the franchise for a whole new generation of readers. Can Archie Comics mashed up with Mad Max replicate that success?
Gangster Ass Barista ($4.99): Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in, and hand me a cappuccino with extra foam to boot! The latest front for gangster activity is your local coffee shop in this new series, so watch what they put in your latte.
Sham Comics: The Pacemaker Collector’s Edition ($4.00): This is the first of the Sham Comics series to have a singular story, so I’n curious to see if the MST3K-with-an-even-sharper-edge humor holds up over more than a handful of pages.
Invincible Undeluxe Edition #1 ($3.99): Just in time for the 20th anniversary of the series, and hot on the heels of the new Season 2 trailer and release window, go back to how it all began.
Total: $16.97
