Happy Daylight Savings Day, CHU Nation! Yes, that is sarcasm you are reading. Unfortunately for those of us that live in states that still observe such nonsense, it’s a rough morning. I don’t get enough sleep on a normal day, so DLS is like sticking it to me.
But I am a trooper, so I will power through this week’s FOC list!
If You Don’t Love Star Wars…You’re Wrong!
Going to kick things off with the latest Star Wars themed covers this week, which features the relationships between the Master and Apprentice. These aren’t necessarily the best art, but I can see these being popular amongst Star Wars fans. Star Wars Darth Vader features the first cover appearance of Baylan Skoll and his apprentice Shin Hati from Ahsokoa, and for that reason it is the Dirty D Cover of the Week. These characters would make their first appearance in story if Marvel decides to make a comic out of the show as they have for Mandalorian and Obi-Wan.
Star Wars Darth Vader #45 (Master & Apprentice Variant)
Star Wars Thrawn Alliances #4 (Master & Apprentice Variant)
Star Wars High Republic #6 (Master & Apprentice Variant)
Notable Cover Art
Something a little different from Alex Ross this week. Has a very noir and pulp fiction feel to it. I like it.
After a few essentially cameo like appearances, Issue #11 may be the end of Frozen Charlotte. I hope she sticks around because she seems to be a good fit for a Hulk villain in this horror type story telling.
But that’s not the reason I’m highlighting this book. I’m generally not a fan of “themed covers but I do like the idea of a Vampire Hulk as it’s basically a mash-up of Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula. In an age of mash-ups, seems like “monster mashes” are an untapped resource.
Savage Sabretooth is not a new character, but I’m not sure she’s graced a cover yet. But here we have X-23 and Savage battling, and thus joins other cool Wolverine vs. Sabretooth covers we’ve seen over the years.
Foiled Again
Foil covers seem to be less of a thing these days. But a few are still trickling out. They can get expensive so grabbing them pre-FOC can save you a few dollars. Here are the notable ones from this week.
I think this is the final art as its coming from Previews, but Lunar and TFAW have different art. Either way, issue #10 is getting a foil variant.
One of the longest current running comics titles is coming to an end at 150. And IDW is putting out a special foil cover to commemorate the occasion. If you have to have this, you may want to order pre-FOC as it’s a bit pricey at $13.
If there’s one facsimile that just isn’t right without the foil treatment, it’s a cover featuring Dazzler! One thing to note, this facsimile doesn’t come out until April 24th.
Notable Reprints
The latest installment of Transformers 2nd prints spotlights two of the more popular characters, Megatron and Jazz!
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (4th Printing)
I had pre-ordered some 2nd printings of this book, which were cancelled on me. Came across a stack of them yesterday and would have grabbed one, however I knew this 4th printing is coming out and would much rather have it as it features the last panel of the issue with peter in his all-black costume. Plus no incentive ratios or exclusives that I could find to artificially pump up orders. There is a blank variant as well.
Worth a Look
Miguel O’Hara’s oldest foe – the VENOM of 2099 – is back and out for blood…Miguel has no choice but to power himself up with a SYMBIOTE the likes of which the world has never seen.Miguel’s gotten what he wanted out of the deal, but what does this hostile alien organism need in return?!
It is odd for publishers to have an FOC for a follow on issue before the previous issue is on the street, yet that’s the case here. Issue #1 goes on sale this Wednesday, and I haven’t been able to find any spoilers yet. So we don’t know if it will be full or cameos of this new symbiote, including when Miguel “bonds” with it. All we do know is the pair is shown on the cover of issue #1.
So if issue #1 fails to deliver (likely a big “if”), issue #2 could see some heat being under ordered.
Across almost every universe in existence, Wolverine is driven by pain, by the sins of his past and his future. But in one world – the very one that Onslaught has targeted next for annihilation – has a Wolverine unlike any other. A Wolverine who got what he wanted…
Ultimate Spider-Man has delivered a Peter Parker who got his happy family and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Now we’re going to see a Wolverine in somewhat of a similar situation…what if everything went right for the guy? Well, we’re about be find out with the introduction of The Wolverine-Who-Got-What-He-Wanted…(Or as I like to call him, TWWGWHW…)
So this book would normally be the pick of the week…but I’m going to pump the breaks just a little bit. Mainly because she’s already appeared in Ultimate Universe #1 (yes…it was more like a preview but she’s still right there for everyone to see…multiple panels…), and she’s had multiple cover appearances up to this point. So what is this book really? It’s an introduction with some cool covers (issue #3 will delve more into her origins). So just tamper expectations a bit here and don’t get wrapped up into the first appearance mumbo jumbo.
That being said, it still good be a hot book even though everyone knows it’s coming, and probably worth a long term hold. I’m really liking the Momoko variant as it makes a great compliment to X-Men #27 (her first cover), and a great book to be signed by Momoko at a convention.
The Cho variant (shown below) is pretty cool too as the cloud overhead is somewhat featuring her powers relating to weather…and her punk hair style.
Indy Spotlight
A ghost story steeped in the decay of a century of capitalism. For years, the mansion has sat strangely, nestled into the coastline just a short drive north of Los Angeles. Rumors have haunted the place for years. Its owner a titan of American industry, with a strange fascination in the occult and the paranormal. For decades, the richest men and women in the country have whispered to each other, trying to understand what he was building alone in that mansion for all those years. And now finally, with his death, and his estate finally open for sale, they are eager to find out for themselves.
This book is highlighted as it features the creative talent from the team of James Tynion and Christrian Ward. “A haunting, cerebral horror novel that peels back the layers of America’s opulent wealth and uncovers the rot underneath.” These DSTLRY books are larger formats and more pricey than most. Ordering a copy pre-FOC can save you a few dollars.
There are a lot of covers, but Jenny Frisson stands out to me.
Dirty D’s Pick of the Week
Are any of you surprised? Another Spider-Verse book, another new spider. Automatic Pick-of-the-Week. Sorry…I just couldn’t give it to Maystorm…I’ll probably regret it, but here we are, and I’m not going back!
This issue debuts STAR-SPIDER. The spider that slings through the stars in her Silk ship thwipping from world to world helping aliens in need…ok, this is starting to sound kinda lame. At least make the web like a hyperdrive or something.
Cover could be tough to find in 9.8 grade with it being so dark and marvel paper being so poor quality. Don’t go crazy with this one…but maybe pick up a few for the long haul, and only cover A.
Drek of the Week
Ultimate Black Panther #1 (3rd Printing)
Sometimes later printings can be low print runs. This is not one of them as it also has a 1:25 incentive. Avoid both. No one really seems to care much about this book and it likely will stay that way.
But wait, there’s more!
This is not to say avoid these as reads, but to say don’t go heavy on buying extra copies as these characters have already appeared in other books. There will be no shortage of copies out there given all the retailer incentives to artificially pump the print runs (Rook alone has a 1:1000 incentive). I would expect these books to show up in dollar bins and $1 sales in a few months. So skip the FOC ordering and maybe wait this one out if you’re on a budget.
Parting Thoughts
Given I’ve already been shorted an hour today, I’ve not much else to add! Enjoy the weekend!