FOC is the last chance to put in your orders with your comic shops and likely get at a discount for pre-ordering.
Kicking off this weeks FOC list with the Marvel picks again… because they normally have the most titles hitting shelves and this week since Marvel shifted some FOC dates, makes this a big big week for them.
Immortal Hulk is ending and now Cates is picking up writing duties for the next chapter for our beloved Mean Green Smashing Gamma Machine!
Lots of covers for this kickoff, so if you can’t decide and can only go with one, go with the regular cover A.
Hulk #1
Hulk #1 (Momoko Variant)
Hulk #1 (Infinity Saga Phase 1 Variant)
Hulk #1 (Blank Variant)
Hulk #1 (Jurgens Variant)
Hulk #1 (Artist Variant)
Hulk #1 (Ottley Design Variant)
Hulk #1 (Adams Variant)
And while Cates takes on duties for Hulk, he’s leaving Venom now to Ram V (underrated and awesome writer) and Al Ewing. Another title with a lot of variants.
Venom #1
Venom #1 (Black Blank Variant)
Venom #1 (Dellotto Variant)
Venom #1 (Torque Variant)
Venom #1 (Inhyuk Lee Variant) - Ignore the art at TFAW, they mixed Lee’s cover with JRJ’s.
Venom #1 (Romita Jr Variant) - Ignore the art at TFAW, seems they got the covers mixed up with Inhyuk Lee’s cover.
Venom #1 (Nauck Headshot Variant) - I think the first Nauck headshot variant I’ve ever liked so far…
Venom #1 (Momoko Variant) - Art is subjective, art gallery take maybe this would pass off but comic book cover… meh!
Venom #1 (David Yardin TFAW Exclusive Variant)
Anything Star Wars is a spec pick for me. So here’s the list of them all:
Star Wars High Republic #11:
Star Wars High Republic #11
Star Wars High Republic #11 (Momoko Variant)
Star Wars Bounty Hunters #17:
Star Wars Bounty Hunters #17 Wobh
Star Wars Bounty Hunters #17 (Sprouse Lucasfilm 50th Variant) Wobh - Our very own Drunkwooky claims this will be a $50+ book in 2 years. I’m taking him up on that, even setup a calendar reminder to check. If it’s $50 or more, I’m gonna give a copy away. If it’s not $50, I’m still gonna give a copy away in 2 years.
Star Wars Bounty Hunters #17 (Frenz Handbook Variant) Wobh
Star Wars Bounty Hunters #17 (Camuncoli Carbonite Variant) Wobh
Star Wars #18:
Star Wars #18 Wobh
Star Wars #18 (Frenz Handbook Variant) Wobh
Star Wars #18 (Sprouse Lucasfilm 50th Variant) Wobh
Star Wars #18 (Pagulayan Carbonite Variant) Wobh
Star Wars #18 (Jtc Action Figure Variant) Wobh
Star Wars High Republic Adventures Monster of Temple Peak #3:
Star Wars High Republic Adv Monster Temple Peak #3 (of 4)
Is Anka sort of copying JTC’s negative variants? Even if he is, I like Anka’s work and this is a pretty cool cover if you ask me for Miles Morales Spider-Man #32 (Anka Variant).
This might be a $10+ book in 2 years… muhahahaha… Take that Drunkwooky!
Adam Hughes knocks another Black Widow Cover A out of the park with Black Widow #12. He’s killing these covers for this series. Why are they even bothering with variants when AH is setting the bar high already? Maybe I’m just a sucker for the heavy black inking.
Avengers #50 celebrates legacy number #750 with a big $9.99 cover price too. This likely won’t deter shops from ordering extras, because us humans love numbers that end with zero’s and five’s for some reason. Lots of covers, go with A if you can’t decide since it’s kind of cool with the retro style of floating heads around center focal point character. And what’s up with Thor’s eyes? Everyone is looking at Doom but Thor seems to be looking elsewhere!
Avengers #50
Avengers #50 (Liefeld Deadpool 30th Variant) - Didn’t even see the cover but I still barfed a little in my mouth thinking about what it looks like!
Avengers #50 (McGuinness Variant)
Avengers #50 (Caselli Variant)
Avengers #50 (Martin Variant)
Avengers #50 (Carnero Stormbreakers Variant)
Avengers #50 (Ron Lim Variant)
Avengers #50 (Infinity Saga Phase One Variant)
One of the best reads ever out of Marvel comes in a Gallery Edition Hardcover. Death Captain Marvel Gallery Edition HC is a must for any fan of this graphic novel.
Now on with the additional printings on FOC:
Death of Doctor Strange #1 (of 5) (2nd Ptg Garbett Variant) - Got the new younger Strange on the cover the first issue left off with.
Kang the Conqueror #2 (of 5) (2nd Ptg Magno Variant)
Moon Knight #3 (2nd Ptg McNiven Variant)
Although you can get it essentially free, I like my books in physical format most of the time, particularly when it’s indie books but Brubaker is a must for me. Being one of the best writers I think currently in the industry, he’s the master at narrative dialogue that makes you feel like you’re in the characters own mind.
So Friday TPB Book 01 First Day of Christmas is a must for me.
Primordial #2 (of 6) is another must, being a huge Lemire fan. The first issue was spectacular so I’m looking forward to this issue.
Primordial #2 (of 6) (Cover B - Walta)
Primordial #2 (of 6) (Cover C - Shimizu)
I don’t normally have Spawn books on these lists but these by Barends are just pretty awesome cover art if you ask me. I hate clowns but I’m still digging the C variant.
Spawn #323 (Cover A - Barends) and Spawn #323 (Cover C - Barends Clown).
Rosenberg has a new Image book out. The king of the “sentences” as the title of the book brings forth his next book, Whats the Furthest Place From Here #1.
The exclusive vinyl edition I could not resist and pre-ordered 2 of them as I’m a vinyl collector.
Whats the Furthest Place From Here #1 (Cover A - Boss)
Whats the Furthest Place From Here #1 (Cover B - Martin)
Whats the Furthest Place From Here #1 (Cover C - Young)
Whats the Furthest Place From Here #1 (Cover D - Bendis)
Whats the Furthest Place From Here #1 Deluxe Ed 7 Inch Record
Big fan here of the old age EC books and covers. This is a must since I’m also a science junkie with The EC Archives: Weird Science Volume 1 TPB.
Some pretty cool additional prints for Basilisk. No cover art for #3 2nd print but hoping it’s going to match #1 and #2 style.
Basilisk #1 (2rd Printing)
Basilisk #2 (3rd Printing)
Basilisk #3 (2nd Printing)
The solicitation for Digger #1 is kind of boring but for some reason I still want to check this title out. Very odd I think.
The book that Anthony insists that you buy, Gun Honey #1 (of 4) (3rd Ptg). Just do it, you can thank him later!
Never Never #1 gets a second printing. Will it have the same success as the first printing? Will be a book to watch but also a good way for one to pick up if they missed out on the first printing.
It’s definitely going to cater to those old WW Bombshell enthusiasts and collectors.
I’m always iffy on Vault books. Either great or complete garbage. But I’m always willing to give a new one a chance. This round it’s Rush #1 (Cover A - Gooden).
Star Wars Guardians of the Whills: The Manga is a new Manga style graphic novel hitting FOC. Might not be for everyone but could still hold potential with firsts that make their way into the comics, etc.
Last on the list of highlights is a magazine that has proven over time, can catch on fire and make you money. I don’t think this particular issue will but it’s got some cool covers for Star Wars Insider #206.
Star Wars Insider #206 Previews Exclusive Ed - Love this Trick or Treating Variant.
Star Wars Insider #206 (FOC Variant) - If you got the Ahsoka Tano issue in this trading card style, you’re probably gonna want this one to match it.