Poyo’s Spec and Drek for May 27th, 2020

Welcome to my own weekly spec which includes my weekly drek picks. I pick what I think will be winners, not only if you make money by flipping but winners as in either a great read or just awesome art.

Then there’s the pesky drek, the comic you should avoid altogether or not fall into the buying every variant trap.

DC Picks

Not a whole lot going on with DC this week but looking forward to the conclusion of Basketful of Heads.


Basketful of Heads #7 (of 7)

It’s time for a final swing of the axe. In the darkest, coldest hours of the night, June Branch finds herself up against the deadeyed killer who abducted her lover…and comes face to face with some truths even more horrifying than a basketful of heads.

Just a book on the reading list for this weeks DC pick.


Marvel Picks

This first pick is a bias type of pick, solely because I love Moon Knight and it’s nice that he’s getting some attention and some cover appearances in an Avengers book. I don’t expect this one, Avengers #33 to heat up but you can’t go wrong with a Scalera cover, particularly as a regular cover.

Avengers #33

Star Wars Doctor Aphra #1 is back with a new volume. One wonders if this new volume is to kick off renewed interest in the possibility that she’ll be getting her own Disney+ show.

This one won’t catch any heat, unless of course there’s some firsts in it or the volume so it’s a new series to keep an eye on for sure. Particularly if she does end up with a show. Could see some more love for her first appearance in Darth Vader #3, which has already seen some renewed interest but a new series can only help.



The last Marvel pick goes to Venom #25. Venom Island ends. Could be special if there’s a first in this book. Could just be a huge oversize disappointment as well that cost ya a few extra dollars cause they threw in some extra pages.

I do like the Rapoza Variant the best though out of all of the covers. I noticed earlier it had sold out at Midtown but is now listed at 1 per customer, along with a few of the other variants.

Venom #25


Indie and Small Publisher Picks

This pick has already been mentioned and is an early winner on pre-sales. Blackwood Mourning After #3 Peach Momoko Variant.

Mercy #1 (there’s a 2nd Printing out this week) was a great read with great artwork. I’m a fan of this series. Don’t worry if it heats up or not, just pick it up to read. So the next pick goes to Mercy #2. We should be further along in this story but with the shutdowns, this is one I’m happy is back on schedule.

Mirka Andolfo Mercy #2 (of 6) (Cover A - Andolfo)

Rogue Planet #1 is a new Cullen Bunn book out this week. It’s a must pickup for me. Love a good sci-fi monster comic. I’m also a sucker for skulls on cover art.

Rogue Planet #1 (Cover A - Macdonald)


Now on with the dreaded “drek” pick, every writer and artist worst nightmare when it comes to selling their hard work. The book to avoid or not fall victim to in buying at ratio inflated prices.

I have one this week. It’s the Zaffino Venom #25 variant. Okay, I normally like Zaffino’s artwork but this one doesn’t seem that special to me, something seems off about it. So unless you can find it at cover price or for dirt cheap from it’s normal ratio retail price, avoid avoid avoid.

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37 thoughts on “Poyo’s Spec and Drek for May 27th, 2020”

  1. Its that dinky shoulder on Venom, throws the picture off and makes the jawline on that side look disformed even though the jawline is fine.

      1. Yeah. You’re probably overthinking it. Take away the high and the low and it’s pretty consistently going for 30 to 40 which is what it should be at. Tough black cover. Of course if I were to go after anything would probably be the greg horn store variant just because of the first virus cover with the Fcbd delay. Those remarked editions have been going for over a grand.

    1. I got a Rogue Planet copy before the shutdown. B/W cover. It is a really, really good read. This one really does a great job at combining sci-fi with horror. The art and writing were really good.

      1. That’s what I was hoping for. I didn’t get any advance copies myself to review.. I love a good sci-fi thriller type of story. Anything that’s similar to Alien movies where it’s sci-fi and horror mixed together I’m always down for.

    1. LOL. Yes your genius is unquestionable. Her books sellout, because people like them. People don’t buy bad looking books. Why are you so jealous? Is because she is a woman? Japanese? Talented?

      1. You see good art I see a old sailor tattoo on a large white woman’s thigh that’s why eye of the beholder and all that jazz. You hate other people’s opinions but your opinion is to question someone for racism and sexism and give no opinion at all just your undying love for Peach and her third grade art style and if someone doesn’t agree with that they must be a racist or sexist. Sad world you live in Rick keyboard warrior of justice for Japanese woman artists.

        1. Well now we know who 2much is. LoL.

          Your entitled to your opinion even if it’s wrong. Now if all her stuff wasn’t selling out, I might agree your opinion had some validity. However most of the comic world disagrees with you.

          You are obviously butt hurt that she is taking the spotlight off of your fav. I’m sorry for that. Furthermore I don’t like all of her work. But anyone questioning whether she is talented or her stuff is an eyesore, is either blind or just jealous.

          1. It’s not jealous just not my style I will say her Black Cat store variant is a good cover still in stock but really good work from her better than her Spidergwen. I don’t like Skottie Young’s style either but it’s his style just like Peach has her own style. But people don’t have to be racist, sexist, blind, or jealous just because it’s not their cup a tea my 2 cents.

  2. Venom #25 Funko Variant, will be the one I believe, if there is a virus appearance. Midtown initially listed at $88, sold out, and quickly relisted for $110. I don’t see a lot of shops ordering large quantities of the pop figures to get these variants.

    1. Maybe but the Funko art as cover art was cool a few years back, does nothing for me now. It was cute for about 10 minutes… Midtown loves to jack their prices though. They still try to sell the 1 per store variants for hundreds of dollars when they sell for fractions of the price most of the time.

      1. For me it’s not really about the cover art per se. It is the only variant not tied to how many copies of cover of cover A you buy. So it’s an incentive but based off pop figure sales. So I predict the print run will be small.

        But will have to see if something is worth a crap inside as well.

        1. Small print run doesn’t mean there will be demand though. But yes, gotta have a big first appearance in the issue to make it first appealing… And then see if the market swings in its direction.

    2. And I’ll agree with you here Rick weird qualification variants can go for $1000s history tells us.

      1. It’s amazing they actually let you post an article on this site. I’m going to file you under “Troll” status with another well known member.

        1. Doing it for going on 4 years now, much better info than you calling people racist because they don’t like Peach covers for about the two weeks you’ve been here posting comments.

          1. 4 years wow. You must be an expert. ?????

            I called you out because you try to diminish Momoko as an artist. It’s clear to most people that she is very talented. If you don’t like the style that’s fine, but she is talented.

            Her sales number lend weight to my argument. You have nothing to lend weight to yours. I can’t think of any reason why someone would follow your advice on this site.

            I laid out a clear logical argument about why I thought the Funko variant might be a winner. You make up numbers off the top of your head in a sarcastic snipe.

            But keep talking, I can do this all morning long. It will give everyone a chance to see how full of crap you are.

            1. That wasn’t sarcasm it was me agreeing with you…. the Deadpool Seige #3 variant that you could only get by sending in 50 copies of DC books is a monster that goes for $3500 because it had a weird qualification I wasn’t making any numbers up. But you already know this because you are a comic expert.

              1. Ok well given that tone cannot be determined by text, I apologize for believing that you were being sarcastic.

                But let’s just end this argument, it’s not getting us anywhere. I will concede that you probably do have valuable information to give this community. I will also concede that I am no expert and have been wrong many times.

                However, I do strongly believe, Momoko is a talented artist. You are entitled to your opinion on her art style, and I respect that.

                Some of my comments were uncalled for, which usually happens in heated arguments. I suggest we agree to disagree on her art style and let this argument pass.

                What say you?

                1. Truce I apologize for it all. You have good information too I look forward to hearing it, again I’m sorry. I don’t mean to get in an argument where all friends here in the same hobby and I’m a student to all comic information that anyone is willing to share and always will be even though I’ve collected for 30 years. Again sorry not my intention to get in internet battles I know everyone is passionate about what they collect.

                2. Ok well take care. Moderators can you delete my argument with Alana it is unproductive. Thanks.

                3. Don’t you people sleep? I’m gonna immortalize all these comments.. to prove that even when emotions take over, adults can work it out in the end. 😉

    3. It wont be the winner. You could buy them from Entertainment Earth for $45, sold out now. Diamond was the only place that had a 6-figure qualifier. There will be plenty of this variant. And it comes out in June not May. So going by release date, it’s not even on my radar as the book to get.

      Man, if this comment section had a mute button, I’d be using it on you, Rick.

      1. Forgive me if I just ignore the person who’s argument was that Peach Momoko draws like kid. I want waste a single minute on you. Mental Instablock

  3. If there is a big appearance, then I would rather have the book with the smallest print, plus a homage variant to boot. But that’s just me. We will have to wait and see.

  4. Seen an two page interior spread, looks like theres a cameo of Virus and another character who looks like wraith with a symbiote kind of.

  5. That’s good to know. Looks like all the retailers have pulled their Rapoza variants online. I mean it’s a good cover don’t get me wrong, but I think there creating a false sense of demand on that one. You don’t limit covers to one, unless you have a lot of people buying in bulk, planning to resale and rip people off.

    Demand is often times manufactured unfortunately. I think a couple of covers will sell pretty well. Despite the ginormous print run.

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