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:
Days of Sand ($22.99) – This came out digitally last year and I don’t think many people noticed, and so they missed one of the best comics of 2021. It’s getting a print edition now, so hopefully more readers will discover Aimée de Jongh’s work. There’s a focus on environmental storytelling in “Days of Sand,” slowing down to take in the details of living in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, and given that the main character is a photographer whose job is to report on the situation in the Dust Bowl, this focus invites the reader to think about the stories these elements in isolation can evoke. What is the photographer’s responsibility to their subjects, to the truth, to their employer, and to the change they want their photographs to inspire? De Jongh frequently finds both tragedy and beauty in a single panel.
Don’t miss this story a second time.
Total: $22.99
Kate’s Picks:
Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country #1 ($4.99): I’ll be doing the first volume of “Sandman” for my 2022 Summer Comics Binge after receiving a (quite gorgeous) collected edition for Christmas. Nothing wrong with getting the party started a bit early.
Farmhand #16 ($3.99): It’s been too long since this quirky agricultural horror series has been in my life. I’m glad it’s back.
Image 30th Anniversary Anthology #1 ($5.99): I’m a sucker for a good anthology, which is like going to a Las Vegas casino buffet: you’ll find something you like, and you’ll also find something that you didn’t expect to like, and you’ll get to try a plethora of things for just one price!
Minions Mini Boss #1 ($3.99): I have never seen a Minions or Despicable Me film, but I love these little yellow pills with glasses and a lot of mischief.
Total: $18.96.
Christopher’s Picks:
Elektra #100 ($4.99) – Hard to believe this is only the 100th issue of Elektra’s solo series (presumably the legacy numbering doesn’t count her recent time as Daredevil), but I suppose that’s another reason to celebrate this milestone issue for one of Marvel’s most underappreciated heroines. It’s particularly delightful to hear Ann Nocenti is writing this, given she was unable to use the character during her run on “Daredevil” in the late ’80s.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #37 ($3.99) – Miles Morales and Shift, lost in the Spider-Verse? That’s not surprising given Across the Spider-Verse is out later this year, but this should still be a fun segue to the big event storyline in Saladin Ahmed and Chris Allen’s current run.
What If… Miles Morales #2 ($3.99) – Speaking of Miles, this issue round it’s time for none other than John Ridley and Farid Karami to reimagine him as Wolverine. I can’t imagine a family of characters less like Miles, so it should be interesting to say the least.
Total: $12.97
Johnny’s Pick:
The Ghost in You: A Reckless Book ($24.99) – There are a lot of certified bangers out this week – (I’m most excited about the leviathan in size and rarely reprinted Captain Britain Omnibus from Marvel, much to my wallet’s chagrin) – but slightly more budget friendly is this fourth installment of the pulpy “Reckless” series by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Jacob Phillips. A powerhouse mix of gritty action and seedy sleuthing, Brubaker and longtime collaborator Phillips are right at home with Ethan Reckless in 70’s and 80’s Los Angeles. Sun-drenched and rain-soaked, L.A. is a wonderful character in its own right thanks to Jacob Phillips’ moody colors that bring to mind the beautiful palette of “Inherent Vice.” This volume focuses on Ethan’s friend Anna as she helps a film Scream Queen investigate a mystery in a notorious murder mansion. This is my kinda junk food, served on a silver platter by masters of the medium.
Total: $24.99
