Poyo’s Spec and Drek for April 4th, 2018

It’s once again the time for New Comic Book day! This week seems to be a bit more exciting than a few of the previous weeks. We know the strong start of 2018 couldn’t last into all weeks and months, but it sure has been fun so far.

Now I know last week I told you all to avoid the actual winner book of the week but I stand by my stance on the chase variant poly bagged marketing ploys. So hopefully you people don’t hate me but then again, why would you ever listen to what a chicken has to say?

DC/Vertigo Pick

Batman #44 will be the long term hold. I think it will be a solid $10 to possibly $20 book if the marriage sticks around.
But this weeks winner will be Deathstroke #30 Mattina Killer B cover (available on eBay) . Don’t forget to snag a few Cover As as well.
This has a few things going for it. For one, Deathstroke doesn’t have the biggest fan and reader base. Sure retailers knew Mattina was going to do a cover but I still don’t think they ordered heavily on this one.

Secondly, it has Mattina as the cover artist.

Thirdly, there’s that Maury Povich moment in the story apparently, which will change the landscape for Batman in the DC universe. I sure hope Wayne takes the news well, I mean, come on. Not being the father is sometimes good news for some. It gets one out of child support, college tuition..  you know, all those really expensive sticker shocks that come with every kid package.

And fourthly (if that’s even a word), it’s the start of Batman vs Deathstroke 6 part series. Both covers are sold out at Midtown, so I expect these to fly fast off the shelves.

Marvel Pick

This is a no brainer pick. The hype has built up for this Red Goblin first appearance, the real first appearance.

Amazing Spider-Man #798 (available on eBay) we have been promised an appearance by Marvel. I know most will hate it but give Marvel some credit marketing (by dragging out this story line and hype), it got all these suckers out buying extra copies in hopes there’s a glimpse of a cameo or appearance so they can cherish what could become the new ASM #300 or so according to value and villain in the coming future.

There’s gonna be a billion copies. It will not be that hard to find. Don’t pay premiums now if you don’t have to. Buy a copy for the PC, buy a few for long term hold I say. If you can flip a few to cover the costs of all the copies you picked up, do it.

Indie Pick

What can I say, I love Dredd. No, not Sylvester Stallone Dredd, he almost ruined the character. Karl Urban was a great cast. I really hope they do more movies with him.

Dredd Furies #1 is my Indie pick this week.
Dredd done right is a really great story and concept. The indie movie Dredd that inspires these one shot series was a great movie for the budget it had.

We saw some issues in the past pick up heat and retain some value. Despite that possibility with this issue, I’m hoping for a great read. If these heat up, keep an eye out. I wouldn’t overload at first if you can though. This book is pure speculation at it’s best. Grab a copy for the PC though, read it and tuck it away.

Small Publisher Pick

I literally had to flip a coin for this next pick (okay, I didn’t actually flip a coin but it was a close one to pick). As I don’t anticipate this heating up immediately, it could possibly end up with some long term value.

Sonic is heading back to IDW, in it’s 3rd Volume Sonic #1, from it’s independent Archie press. Perhaps the copyright holders felt IDW could do a better job at expanding this 90s character from the popular Sega game.
I loved Sonic, still do. I really have been trying to scope out an original Sega Genesis just so I can play this game in it’s original format.

My other pick that lost on the coin toss was Analog #1 from Image Comics. I’m a tech guy, that’s what I do for a living (some would say I get paid to sit on my computer on my couch all day). I got an advance preview review copy of Analog but have yet to read it but the story seems right up my alley if it’s done right. It is an ongoing series from what I’ve read so it has that going for it as well. But it’s still a hit or miss. Could be the next Image hit or the next Image dud. Image does have more duds than hits. This is why Sonic won over this book. Sonic has been around for almost 3 decades now. Analog could be around for years to come or vanish within months or a year.


I want to also give a shout out to a few other Indie books hitting the shelves this week.

I’m with Anthony when it comes to these Alterna comics they got going for $1.50.

Zero Jumper #1 is a new book out this week. Midtown has already sold out as well. Maybe they cut their initial ordering but I must say, even my local shops have been either not ordering these books or going very light on them.

An ancient power source that can manipulate space and time is buried deep on a barren world and Juno, the last human, must embark on a dangerous journey to find it. Her mission is simple: go back in time and save humanity from extinction. The cost? Her life.

I’m a sucker for Sci Fi with time traveling. And it’s only a $1.50 so it doesn’t break the bank if you don’t like it.

The other book that’s also sold out at Midtown is Tinsel Town #1. I’m not only a sucker for Sci Fi but I love crime drama stories (I seriously watch Law and Order reruns every week in my down time).
This one is not to pass up on a potential read.

In 1915, Abigail Moore became one of the first female police officers in Hollywood. But beneath the glamorous surface of Tinseltown beats a rotten heart full of corruption, greed, and lies, and Abigail’s about to dive head-first into all of it.

Maybe it’s the 80s and 90s nostalgia that these books bring back for me while reading. I do miss the old newsprint feel and smell though. Sure newer modern books look great but it’s just something about newsprint that does it for me.

Go West #2 is also out this week. I enjoyed #1. Great revenge book. Who doesn’t like a good revenge story?


Enough on praising Alterna Comics (I bet you all think they’re paying me at this point), now let’s get on with the dreaded avoid pick, every writer and artist worst nightmare when it comes to selling their hard work.
I’m truly not sorry about you all missing out on MMPR last week and if this weeks avoid pick becomes a winner, I’m not sorry if you took advice from this chicken again. I think this weeks pick is a clear avoid for most of you CHU readers though.

This goes out to Rugrats R is for Reptar 2018 Special #1. Come on, it’s a kids book with a $7.99 price tag. I bet most retailers did not go heavy on this for very good reason, no one is going to buy it.

Rugrats in print form is years too late if you ask me. The new series they released this past year I still see copies sitting on the shelves. Having kids myself, there’s just way too many other cartoons that appeal to the newer generation I think.

Come on BOOM!, if you’re going to do a kids book like this, bring the price down. If the characters hit it off with new readers, you can then lock them in and slowly do or introduce the Special books and rape the parents wallets at the same time.

Like Porky Pig likes to tell you people, That’s All Folks!

14 thoughts on “Poyo’s Spec and Drek for April 4th, 2018”

      1. Love that cover this week. already seeing several comics from this week’s picks that I’ll probably send to CGC as soon as I can

      2. Last 2 Deathstroke print runs have been around 17-18,000. Grabbing both covers as demand should be high once Batman readers catch on to story, and collecting the Mattina covers for PC (I think he’s doing one for all 6 issues in story). I expect Retailer orders to go up on the rest of the storyline, so I feel Part 1 is definitely the one to have!

  1. I dont think that Bruce Wayne will have any issues with paying Talia, Child support or having to pay for Damians tuition. But, with that brat Damian out of the picture, it opens the door for Bruce to have kittens with Selena.

    1. Sometimes the richest are the biggest cheapskates. No child support means more Batman goodies he can spend money on for his bat belt. 😉

  2. So what’s the deal with BM #44? I heard the wedding is in issue #50…I’m confused about the hype around this one…

    1. Primarily the covers. Depicts them both picking out their wedding attire and it’s the beginning of the road to the actual wedding.

  3. Can’t believe Sonic has been in comics, and lasted for three decades now! That and isn’t there a movie coming out later this year?… Have three or four of those Sonic mini/promo comics that is supposed to be his first appearance. Don’t recall if I got them working at a video game store right after high school or if it was from some of the bags of goodies my fiends father would bring back from the Vegas CES and give us (which was the big E3 type show at the time). Might be time to dig them out.

    1. Yeah. Makes me feel old thinking about it. I was always a bigger fan of Sonic though than Mario Brothers.

      1. I only feel old when I wake up and those aches and pains start showing up….and whenever I look in the mirror….which is now and official enemy of mine.

Leave a Reply to Jason Zimmerman Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *