The world of comic books started back in 1897, though it was far different than the classic comic books we think of today. Initially, the comic book was a collection of reprinted political comics found in the newspaper. Of course, the comic book of the month clubs that we are highlighting in this list follow the modern style.
Political comic strips and cartoons were found in newspapers in both England and the U.S. since the early 1800s. These cartoons are what made up the first comic book, The Yellow Kid in McFadden’s Flats.
1922 saw the first comic book published. However, Comics Monthly only featured reprints from the daily newspaper too. It was not until 1933 that we saw Funnies on Parade, the first comic book featuring colored illustrations.
Finally, in 1935 DC Comics, originally known as National Allied Publications, came out with the first comic book filled with original material. And in 1938, the first superhero comic book came out, changing the comic book industry forever.
The first superhero to grace the pages of a comic book was Superman, followed shortly after by Batman. And in 1939, Timely Publications, which would later be known as Marvel Comics, released their first superhero comic books starring Human Torch, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Angel.
Since then, comic books have been a favorite for children and adults alike, which is why so many comic book stores started offering a comic book of the month club. A comic book monthly subscription is a great way to grow your comic book collection while also exploring a new series.
Comic Book of the Month Clubs
- Comic Crate
- ComicBoxer
- Comic Mystery Box
- The Comic Garage
- Manga Spice Cafe
- Super Hero Crate LLC
Comic Crate
Comic Crate is the online store for Comics and Collectibles located in Sacramento, California. The family-owned and operated store opened in 1998. Gene and Pam, the owners of Comic Crate, have been long time comic book enthusiasts and opened Comics and Collectible as a way to “share the joy of reading comics” with others.
Comic Crate was created with kids in mind, it is their goal is to help children learn to love reading, and comic books are one of the easiest ways to improve literacy in kids.
Comic Crate specializes in comic book subscriptions and does not offer individual comic books for sale online. They offer 3 comic book subscription options:
- Comic Crate: G-Rated Comics – Perfect for young readers and includes series like Sonic the Hedgehog, My Little Pony, Star Wars Adventures, and Disney
- Comic Crate: PG+ Rated Comics – These comics are for intermediate readers; comic series found in this category are Power Rangers, Batman, Aquaman, and Fantastic Four
- Comic Crate: Teen+ Rated Comics – This subscription is intended for the more advanced and mature readers and includes comics like Wolverine, Avengers, X-Men, Justice League, and Wonder Woman.
Prices range from $30 to $299 depending on which plan you choose:
- Month-to-month for $30/month
- 3 months prepay for $90
- 6 months prepay for $165
- 12months prepay for $299
Each month the recipient will receive 6 new comic books, all of which are hand-selected by comic-loving parents.
ComicBoxer
ComicBoxer is a comic book subscription club and does not sell individual comics. Their monthly mystery comic club includes 5-7 surprise comics. The comics chosen for the subscription include new releases, first appearances, top issues, and more. The comics come from various publishers, including DC Comics, Dark Horse, Marvel, and other leading brands.
ComicBoxer only offers one subscription box, which may not be appropriate for all ages. Some of the comics included are best for mature readers only, since they may contain violence, explicit language, and adult situations.
ComicBoxer is located in Ontario, Canada, but they ship worldwide. Depending on where you want the comic books shipped will determine the delivery date. Orders shipping within North America take about 2 weeks, and comics going anywhere outside of North America may take up to 4 weeks. However, the good news is if you live near their store in Brampton, Ontario, you are welcome to stop in and pick up your order.
There are 3 plans to choose from:
- Month-to-month for $19.99/month
- 3 months for $18.99/month
- 6 months for $17.99/month
Comic Mystery Box
Comic Mystery Box is an online store only. Comics included in their club are always first print new comics. The comic books included in the subscription are chosen from first issues, new issues, back issues, and one-shots, and you will never receive a duplicate.
Whether you are a new collector or a veteran collect the Comic Mystery Box will help you grow your comic book collection. Each month you will receive 15 new comic books with a retail value of at least $60.
Some of the comic series you may see include: Star Wars, Daredevil, Venom, Supergirl, and Green Arrow.
Comic Mystery Box has three different payment plans:
- Month-to-month for $29.95/month
- 3 months prepay for $86.85
- 6 months prepay for $167.70
All orders ship within 2-4 days and then every 30 days thereafter. Currently Comic Mystery Box only ships in the US.
The Comic Garage
The Comic Garage prides itself on being a “no strings attached” comic book subscription company. They offer both subscription boxes as well as single boxes. Their individual boxes feature specific characters or groupings like Wonder Woman, Hulk, Batman, Superman, or the Flash
And they even have your choice, so even if they don’t feature your favorite character, you can still get their character box.
There are two Comic Box subscriptions:
- Super Box – 10 Comics for $24.99 – $263.88
- Ultimate Box – 24 comics for $44.99 – $467.88
Each subscription comes in 4 different duration options from month-to-month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Once you place your order, your first box will arrive in 2-4 days, then every 30 days after that for the duration of your membership.
Manga Spice Cafe
Manga Spice Cafe is an online comic company specializing in Manga comics. The Manga Spice Cafe company focuses on bringing the Japanese cafe experience to the convenience of your home.
The Manga Spice Cafe subscription boxes are like no other comic book subscription company found in the US. Each box includes:
- 3 new manga comics – printed in English
- 5-6 sweet and savory Asian snacks
- 1 specialty cafe beverage like sangria juices, ramune sodas, and herbal dessert teas
- Notes with information about that month’s comic selection
- An occasional surprise gift from one of the maids
They only offer a month-to-month plan for $37 per month plus $5.95 shipping. And, if you like this box, there are also some other interesting Japanese snack subscription boxes to check out.
Super Hero Crate LLC
Super Hero Crate LLC is a comic book subscription club that focuses on superhero comics, perfect for any superhero enthusiast. The company started to help share the love of superhero comics with others who enjoy reading similar comics. The Super Hero Crate subscription is an excellent way to meet different superheroes, authors, and artists.
The Super Hero Crate subscription box options are:
- Showcase Box, which starts at $17 – Two back-issue comics that are boarded & bagged, a T-shirt, and other surprise items with a retail value of $30
- Ultimate Box, which starts at $26 – Two back-issue comics that are boarded & bagged OR a Graphic novel, a T-shirt, and other surprise items with a retail value of $40
When you order a subscription, you receive a discount based on which prepay option you choose. In addition to Super Hero Crate’s comic book of the month club, they also offer the two above options as a single purchase.
If you like the idea of a comic-related shirt, you could also check out shirt of the month clubs. These can sometimes have a strong geek focus too.
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