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!
Johnny’s Picks:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #1 ($4.99): Stan Sakai drawing the ninja turtles is one of my all-time favorite things in comics. This little mini-series bringing the mutant turtles back together with Sakai’s masterful creation, Usagi Yojimbo, is a perfect spring drop, a comforting blend of nostalgia and warm, lively cartooning!
Ambassadors #2 ($3.99): Millar continues his unimpeachable lineup of talent on this miniseries about humanity unlocking superhuman powers, this issue adding “ISOLA” artist Karl Kerschl to the mix. Kerschl’s lavish style brings to mind Euro comics by way of Studio Ghibli, the detailed environments and settings strongly informing the expressive character work.
Briar #4 ($3.99): German Garcia is one of my favorite artists to have discovered in recent years. Like Kerschl above, Garcia’s figures convey so much through posture and motion alone, and along with colorist Matheus Lopes, the pair (along with writer Christopher Cantwell) have crafted a alluring and gorgeous dark fantasy/fable.
Total: $12.97
Kate’s Picks:
Giant Kokju #1 ($3.99): This one, featuring a kaiju that needs to get freaky in order to survive, is not for the kids, although the solicit promises “tasteful” swearing.
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 ($4.99): This one, featuring a kaiju that needs to get freaky in order to survive, is not for the kids, although the solicit promises “tasteful” swearing.
Great British Bump-Off #1 ($3.99): Great British Bake-Off is one of the most genteel reality show there is, so mashing it up into a Sopranos-style competition makes the most sense, and more so when you have the genius behind “Giant Days” and “Steeple,” John Allison behind it.
Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #1 ($3.99): The Corinithian is back, baby!
Total: $16.96
Christopher’s Pick:
The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire Omnibus ($24.99): A collection of the most recent entry in the Nickelodeon Avatarverse, by writer Michael Dante Dimartino and artist Michelle Wong, which continues the story of my favorite villain from the series, Zelda Williams’s Kuvira. I’m completing my shelf of all the “Last Airbender” comics, so I was hardly going to skip this, but yeah, Kuvira friends! She could’ve been an interesting love interest for Korra, but then She-Ra did that (very well).
Total: $24.99. Gone over budget, but fortunately only slightly, and it’s worth it.
Mark’s Picks:
The Great British Bump-Off #1 ($3.99) – The team behind “Giant Days,” John Allison and Max Sarin, reunite for “The Great British Bump-Off.” I don’t need to tell you what this is about, the premise is right there in the title. Considering “Giant Days” was one of the best comics of the 2010s, you should be picking this up for very obvious reasons. Also, I just have to say, the variant covers on this series are really fantastic. Clearly everyone involved heard that title and were immediately hit with inspiration.
Kit + The Wolf ($1.00) – OK, technically this isn’t in comic stores, and it’s not out tomorrow, it actually came out yesterday on John Allison’s Patreon. But it’s a great comic and that’s why we write Comics Should Be Cheap, to bring great comics to your attention. That and the world needs to know the story of Brick Springstern. You can read it by supporting Allison at the $1 tier level.
Little Monsters #12 ($3.99) – The penultimate issue. I was hoping this series would run a lot longer, but it is coming to its natural end. Hopefully we’ll see Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen work together again soon. They make a great team.
Phantom Road #2 ($3.99) – One series ends, and another begins. This time teaming up with Gabriel Hernández Walta, Jeff Lemire has plans for this series to run for a long time. Given how much I enjoy the projects these two creators do together, I’m hoping these plans are allowed to come to fruition. I’d love this to be a long-haul comic.
Total: $12.97. Hey, I made it under. Except that I’m totally picking up The Art of Peter Bergting too.
