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 Pick:
Shuna’s Journey ($27.99): Yes, I’m blowing the budget, but a Hayao Miyazaki book comes along so rarely, it is absolutely worth blowing the budget for. “Shuna’s Journey” is sort of a precursor version of several ideas that ended up in Miyazaki’s films. If you’ve read “Princess Mononoke: The First Story” then you have some idea of what to expect. This isn’t like the “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” manga, which was a full comic. Instead, “Shuna’s Journey” falls in the gray zone between picture book and comic, with beautiful full-color art, but often only a single image or two panels on a page. Most of the text is narrative captions with only the occasional speech balloon. It’s a very different pace, like a guided tour through concept art. For me, this is an absolute must get―there’s no version of Mark in the multiverse that will not be buying this book.
Total: $27.99
Johnny’s Picks:
It’s Lonely At The Centre of the Earth ($12.99): This graphic novel from young-but-veteran talent Zoe Thorogood touts itself as “for fans of Adrian Tomine,” which is almost an unfair comparison, Tomine being one of the premiere cartoonists of the last thirty years, if not for Thorogood’s consistent and remarkable growth in her own right. This autobio comic sees the author at their most vulnerable, mustering the bravery to be honest with oneself on the page, and she seems to be flexing her creative muscles as well – her art style has never been more experimental. I’ve long been a proponent of Thorogood’s talent, and I hope this book pushes her into the limelight!
Total: $12.99 – though I can’t help but mention that Fantagraphics released a softcover version of their “Eightball” collection from cartoonist Dan Clowes, which is just a masterclass in indie comics, and a must-buy/read for aspiring cartoonists!
Kate’s Pick:
Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism ($24.99): Yes, over the budget again. For the second consecutive week. And like my colleagues up there, also a graphic novel. Veterans Day/Armistice Day is fast approaching, and this graphic novel tells the stories of those who serve. But this isn’t a Zero Dark Thirty or American Sniper. This isn’t war as you see it on the big screen. These are the stories of real people reconciling their time on the battlefield with their post-war lives. I have a close friend who is a Navy vet and I’ve seen firsthand how that struggle is his true battlefield, and I will be thinking of him often as I read this.
Total: $24.99
