Comic Bento is a subscription mystery box service from Blind Ferret that’ll run you from $20 (or less depending on how many you sign up for) plus shipping, with a different theme each month to give you an idea of what to expect. I had been eyeing it up for awhile, and from what I could see, the value always seemed to be pretty high, even if some of the books included weren’t always to my taste, but for one reason or another (namely other subscription boxes), I had never taken the plunge. Since I decided that the other box wasn’t right for me, I finally ended up with a Comic Bento.
So how does the box stack up?
Brilliantly.
Shipping on a monthly schedule with a different theme with each box, Comic Bento will set you back about $20 (for the standard month, but longer subscriptions are available at a lower cost per box) plus shipping costs (just over $12 to Canada, $5 to the US), which really isn’t too bad. Now, obviously, the type of graphic novels you receive may not all be your cup of tea, or you may love each and every one in the box. That being said, however, the value of getting four or five books for $20 or less before shipping is hard to argue with. The theme for September was “Fight The Fight,” and while I had initially expected some form of wrestling, boxing, or street fighting comic included, what we ended up wasn’t exactly what I expected.
So, what I’m sure you’re all wondering is what was in the box?
Included this month, along with a handy dandy card to give you all the info about the comics are, with all prices are listed in US dollars:
Daredevil: Season One Hardcover (Marvel) $24.99
X-O Manowar: Enter Ninjak (Valiant) $14.99
Superman/Batman: Vengeance (DC) $12.99
Executive Assistants: Hit List Agenda (Aspen) $19.99
Highlander: Armageddon (Dynamite) $11.99
The total value, based on the prices listed on the back, comes in at $84.95. Not too shabby for a $25 – $32 box, eh?
How do those fit into the Fight The Fight theme? The included card gives the reasons for selection because of the non stop action in the stories, from the son of a boxer in Daredevil, to the ninja verses alien technology in X-O Manowar, and the all out super powered brawling in Superman/Batman there is little doubt of the action prevalent within this collection.
When it comes to the graphic novels within the box, I’m super excited for the Valiant offering, which if you’ve read any of the reviews I’ve written lately should come as no surprise, and I cannot wait to delve into the X-O Manowar collection here which promises an epic confrontation between X-O Manowar and Ninjak. Daredevil is a character that’s been getting a lot more publicity lately because of the fantastic Netflix series (watch it if you haven’t – it’s awesome), so I’m looking forward to cracking into this hard cover. The Superman/Batman collection is one that I already own in single issue format, but since I’ve been hankering to read about Batzarro again, this is a pleasant surprise. I know almost nothing about Executive Assistants, but the premise looks fantastic, and while it isn’t something I’d have picked up normally, I’m looking forward to reading it. Highlander was a bonus comic this month, apparantly, and I’m intrigued by it; I loved the first movie, but little else since then, so we’ll see how it turns out.
If you’re looking to read full stories, or at least a full graphic novel or four each month rather than single issue comic books from your subscription mystery box, then Comic Bento is definitely something you should check out. The deadline to sign up for each box is around the middle of the month (the 15th), and the theme for October is Masks. If you want to check out Comic Bento, click here and use promobento5 to save $5 on the single month, or promobento10 for $10 off the next level up.
Comic Bento provided a FREE box for review. This post, also posted on Ramblings Of A Comics Fan, contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.
Highlander, the epic action/adventure fantasy film starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, will expand its legacy next year as a comic-book miniseries from IDW Publishing.