FOC PICKS FOR 4/6/2026
Hello CHU!! Easter is here, and Spring is officially in the air! I know because it’s allergy season…
This week is a bit insane…Marvel is hitting us with Magic the Gathering variants in full force…DC X Sonic is back with more printings…and then there’s a plethora of new #1’s…I hope your wallet can handle this FOC, or you may need to make some tough choices.
Use code CHU 2026 at Third Eye Comics to save 15% off all your orders.
NOTABLE REPRINTS
Dan Mora covers seem to do better on the aftermarket when they’re variants and even 2nd prints.
And if you were into the Sonic characters as DC Superheros, you’re going to love this next set of reprints…connecting covers!
DC X Sonic The Hedgehog #5 – 2nd Print
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #14 (Hama Files Edition)
With 11 or so panels, driving the story, but never shows his face, issue #11 was considered a “cameo”. And thus issue #14 becomes Destro’s first “full” appearance and first cover, and this book more-or-less reprints it with a new cover. I would like it better if they did this cover for a reprint of issue #11.
Transformers #1 (Dike Ruan – 13th Print)
Wow…13 printings (and counting). I do like the art on this one, though.
GATHER AROUND for the MAGIC SHOW
Amazing Spider-Man #28 (Magic the Gathering Variant)
I think I’m already tired of these MTG variants…just going to grab the ones that I like and pair up with the card. There are also virgin incentive variants, but I think they look weird without the MTG dress.
Fantastic Four #11 (Magic The Gathering Variant)
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #4 (Magic the Gathering Variant)
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (Magic the Gathering Variant)
X-Men #29 (Magic the Gathering Variant)
ONE AND DONE
In the deserts of the American southwest, a man with no face and red eyes follows a cattle drive, seeking the soul of one of the cowboys. Jedidiah is the only member of the team that seems to notice this faceless man following behind their drive// a man, he comes to find, is Satan himself.
From Invader Comics
Star Wars: Rogue One – Cassian Andor #1
Before the heist that shook the galaxy, a lone REBEL operative walks into danger. CASSIAN ANDOR infiltrates the lawless maze of KAFRENE, racing against troopers, bounty hunters and time itself in a tense espionage thriller.
A canon one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics as part of the Star Wars: Rogue One one-shots for the ten-year anniversary of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Focusing on Cassian Andor during the mission to the Ring of Kafrene between the finale of Star Wars: Andor and Rogue One.
Possibly the best Star Wars Movie, and Disney Plus series. If you loved both, probably worth picking up for the read.
TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN AND DONE
Star Wars Insider #237 (Newsstand)
THE FINAL EVER ISSUE OF STAR WARS INSIDER. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: KATHLEEN KENNEDY Exclusive Interview with the departing Lucasfilm President! The Mandalorian and Grogu Preview The SFX of Star Wars PLUS: INTERWIEWS Andor editor John Gilroy The Star Wars creature shop’s Neal Scanlan on Ahsoka Season Two AND: EXCLUSIVE STAR WARS SHORT FICTION
End of an era. Hard to believe this started out as Lucasfilm Fan Club…last week the foil variants were on FOC…but I like this cover the best as it has so many of the past issues in the background.
There’s also a direct variant.
NEW ONES
When a faithful nun and a festering demon are each excommunicated from the church—and from hell—because of a botched exorcism, they must work together to uncover a sinister plot that endangers their lives and the world. New York Times bestselling author Jeremy Robinson and “X-men United” artist Tiago Palma thrill and terrify readers with an unlikely and unholy pairing—a nun and demon working together. With cover art from modern masters like Ito, Josh Hixson, Tyler Crook, and Flaviano Armentaro.
A nun and demon working together to save the world…an interesting concept. There’s also an “Unholy Black/Body Bag” variant…and fan favorite Ito (and his water color art) is the artist for some of the incentive variants which could be hot items if this series catches heat.
You can also find a preview at Vault Comics website.
While on a retirement community field trip, a group of ageing ex-Hollywood stars encounter a baby KAIJU on the run from military agents. Bonding quickly with the creature, the cantankerous cadre of former celebrities have to somehow get the kaiju to safety—before it causes the end of the world!
New series from Dark Horse.
Deadly Reunion! Jubilation Lee always puts her life on the line for those in need – but for family? She’ll do anything! When the cousin she never knew is in sudden need of help, Jubilee tracks him down to save him! But Jubilee may find that her familial bonds aren’t as strong as she hoped! What secrets does her cousin hold? And what dangerous mutant power does he wield?!
New series (?) and potential new character.
The world is becoming a terrifying place. Matt Trakker needs your help saving it. Enter M.A.S.K. – a network of specialists recruited to respond to the next global emergency. At a moment’s notice, Trakker and his agents can deploy bleeding-edge technology that converts their vehicles–and their drivers–into the ultimate weapon. But Miles Mayhem and V.E.N.O.M. are one step ahead in a secret arms race, scouring the globe for deadly weapons from this planet and beyond, ready to sell out the entire human race. Only M.A.S.K. can stop them… but will Trakker’s own secrets jeopardize their entire mission?
New series set in the Energon Universe. What I find interesting that nowhere in the solicitation the acronym M.A.S.K. is defined…Mobile Armored Strike Kommand. Yeah, they can’t spell.
I loved M.A.S.K. toys and the cartoon as a kid…comic never really took off. We’ll see how this one does.
Also offering blind bag variants. These will include a chance to get ANY of the solicited M.A.S.K. #1covers, A-K, intermixed at varying degrees of rarity. However, there are rare SURPRISE variant covers related to the Energon Universe that can be found in these blind bags. Those SURPRISE covers will not be announced publicly in advance of the M.A.S.K. #1 release.
ONE OF THE GREATEST STORIES NEVER TOLD. INTRODUCING THE MOST FAMOUS UNPUBLISHED DC COMIC OF ALL TIME! Over three decades since the controversy and cancellation, Rick Veitch’s legendary lost issues are completed! After a renowned two year run on the series, Veitch’s grand finale to Swamp Thing was cut short, and never to see print! Whispers and leaks hinted at the epic untold saga for years. Now, for the first time, that final story is told! As Swamp Thing is cast back through time, he will come to meet a carpenter who will change the trajectory of his life, and the DC Universe forever. The origin of Etrigan, and Swamp Thing’s journey to the beginning of time starts here!
Zatanna Zatara embarks on her greatest tour yet! As the newest and first Prime Magus in millennia, it is now Zatanna’s sworn responsibility to oversee and guide the world of magic. All eyes are on her. How will she accomplish this grand task? How will she shoulder this heaviest of responsibilities? How will she confront the horrors waiting in forgotten histories? With a wink, a flourish, and a whole lot of magic!
I think just about all the other variant covers are better than cover A. Including the Adam Hughes and Eom variants.
When Trish Sullivan left her hometown for college, she left behind unfinished business. Now she’s back and looking to settle up. Trish blames Harvey Harlowe for the death of her little brother, so Trish’s homecoming is an eye-for-an-eye mission. She’s going to kill him, and Harvey should get his affairs in order. But Harvey’s dad has just died, and an injury destroyed his football scholarship. Without a future ahead of him, Trish’s challenge is all the more welcome. He’s more than ready to go down fighting, and no one is going to step in and save him.
Showdown is a grounded drama rooted in the burden of family and the weight of revenge from writer Dave Wielgosz and artist Tadd Galusha . It’s a gritty and emotional pulp drama. Knuckles will be bruised and noses will be broken…but so will hearts.
NEW CHARACTERS
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (of 5)
MILES MORALES returned from the Ultimate Universe with a plan: safeguard the ORIGIN BOXES – catalysts for the creation of new super heroes – before they fall into the wrong hands! But the secret is out as Miles’ battle over the boxes engulfs the entire Marvel U! This May, Chris Condon (ULTIMATE WOLVERINE) and Stefano Caselli (ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER) team up to create stunning and unforgettable new characters on both sides of a conflict that will shape the future of the 616!
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (First Appearance Variant – Wonder Man)
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (First Appearance Variant – Hostilicus)
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (First Appearance Variant – Mogul)
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (First Appearance Variant – Sightseer)
ASHES ASHES…
Gemma Monroe should be reveling in her ’20s. Instead, she’s on a leave of absence from veterinarian school to save for rising tuition, stacking shifts at a flower shop and juggling her side gig as a dogsitter. Gemma’s favorite canine client — an Akita with an identity crisis — comes with the most demanding dog-mom: Portia Ross, a high-powered executive with deep pockets who sees Gemma as a pet project of her own. It’s delicate, but Gemma knows that getting her life back on track means this customer is always right. And the policy works… until Gemma locks eyes with the charming Neal Mandell, and what starts as a welcome casual fling unleashes a transactional love triangle that could throw her future to the dogs.
Jamie S. Rich and Megan Levens, the veteran romance collaborators behind Ares & Aphrodite and Madame Frankenstein, reunite for a new romp — and a lineup of dog-crazy cover artists joins the pack! All variants for this series will feature the artist’s real-life four-legged friends, beginning with…
Ashcan for a series that comes out in June…FOC for the full issue is late April.
For every 5 copies of Showdown #1 ordered, retailers will be eligible to order a pack of 20 ashcans promoting the upcoming series Dogsitter. Bundles come with 20 copies each and are a standard ashcan trim size of 5.5 x 8.5, and retailers also have the option to buy additional bundles for every 5 copies of Showdown #1 ordered beyond the initial 5.
So if you’re interested, maybe have one set aside by your shop.
Parting Thoughts
Yeah…not doing a Pick of the Week…I can see Excommunicated getting some buzz…and maybe one of those new Marvel Characters catches on…but too early to say and the hype with new Indys and (especially) marvel first appearances has cooled off. So it’s a grab bag this week.
Have a great week!