Money is a tough subject for a lot of people. The fantasy of it can certainly buy happiness, but in reality it can ruin relationships and cause more stress than it’s sometimes worth. Our society demands that we have money to live, freely giving it to people who don’t have it. I have it so I don’t get it for free. I work hard for it, sometimes hurting myself, but I’m working towards a goal and the coming finale is worth the cost in my eyes. That’s why I have no qualms or regrets about buying my comics. I’m going to enjoy my life as much as I can.
My wife’s in school working towards helping us achieve a better tomorrow. My children, at 13 and 11, aren’t near ready enough to help or even pay for themselves in any real way. For over a year Danielle at 13 has been saving, and talking about, a car for when she’s old enough. I’ll still help her with that. She sees her mother and me put gas in the car but that hasn’t clicked as far as the equation goes and she has no idea of insurance. Or driving school, licensing, or any other fees associated with that.
That’s all still a ways down the road. Right now? My property taxes have gone up, my internet, phone, and television bill have gone up, my food bill has gone up, medical expenses have gone up, Ann’s cost of academic career, Jon’s outgrown his pants and shoes, Danielle needs summer clothes... The list goes on and I just got a three percent pay cut. My union won me a one percent increase but we’re paying eight percent more in health care and that works out to a pay cut. I try to take care of the bills first although I’ve certainly floated a few recently, then I take care of the family and when that’s done I buy comics and football cards. That budget’s shrinking and it’s more important than ever to make smart choices with my money. I don’t have near enough of it for all that I want.
For all of my recent attacks on Marvel Comics and gushing love of other publishers and genres, I’m not suffering superhero fatigue. I just read Thor: God Butcher and was blown away, just really impressed. Geoff Johns on Aquaman is doing what Geoff Johns did on Green Lantern. I’m enjoying All New X-Men and Star Wars Legacy. DC Vertigo’s Wake #1 excited me and I wish I had more copies of that. I don’t think it got the attention it deserves. For my money though I find myself drawn to Valiant Entertainment. They’re consistently better than good, in both art and writing. A Valiant comic isn’t a pleasant surprise, but something I expect high quality from and I’ve not been disappointed yet. I missed the first incarnation of Quantum and Woody so have no expectations of it other than what I’m already seeing Valiant produce. For my store I deal almost exclusively with pre-orders and when I ordered Quantum and Woody #1 it ranked up with the largest orders I’ve placed. Even though there are a lot of people waiting for that book, I’m sure a lot more people are going to be happy with it. Valiant’s a good little organization and even though I’m absolutely loving 100% of what they currently publish I know that at some point they’ll either make something I’m not entirely into or I’ll have to make the tough decisions on how to best spend my money.
This week I’m going to spend my money on Dark Horse Comics’ Star Wars Legacy HC volume one, $34.99, written by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema with art by Duursema and cover art by Brad Anderson. A legion of Sith has conquered the Empire and scattered the Jedi. Into this divided galaxy comes Cade Skywalker, heir to the Skywalker legacy. I’m not really going to buy this. I already have the comics and the trade paperbacks. Although I sure do wish I had any indication at the time that these stories would be collected in hardcover. This is what I would have preferred…
DC Comics’ Green Lantern #21, $2.99, welcomes New York Times Best-Selling author Robert Venditti as the new writer following Geoff Johns. Venditti’s not leaving X-O Manowar but it should mean something that to replace Johns DC has dipped into Valiant Entertainment’s talent pool. Featuring art by Billy Tan, Hal Jordan becomes the leader of the Green Lantern Corps, the most feared and hated group in the universe…
In All-New X-Men #12 from Marvel Comics and writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Stuart Immonen young Cyclops meets the adult version of the little brother he thought he may never see again when the X-Men find themselves face-to-face with the Uncanny Avengers…
Boom Studios has got Herobear and the Kid special #1, $3.99, by Mike Kunkel. This is a wonderfully great Eisner-award winning all ages choice in a brand new original adventure. It's Picture Day at Tyler's school, and naturally he's forgotten, yet before Tyler can pick his good side, he has to sneak out of class with his best friend Herobear to stop an attack on the Simpleton Bridge from the mysterious Von Klon and his Sub-of-Doom! ...and he better not lose his hall pass in the process…
Valiant Entertainment’s Archer & Armstrong #10, $3.99, by Fred Van Lente and Pere Perez sees Archer & Armstrong storm Area 51...and things get weirder still! What a great buddy book this is. Try it, you won’t be let down! ...
Shadowman #7, $3.99, by Justin Jordan and Neil Edwards. Shadowman and Doctor Mirage must work together to oppose the sinister will of Master Darque and the power of Baron Samedi or New Orleans fall to the dead? …
…And there are plenty more that are not listed. For a more complete list, feel free to visit your local comic store or favorite site. If you’re interested in more of what I think, follow me on Twitter at Mycomicstore001 or like my Facebook page.
Michael R. Murray is a full time Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service who can turn anything into a comic book conversation. Test him if you doubt the claim.