FOC PICKS FOR 9/28/26
An Absolutely Massive FOC list this week. One so big, Dirty D was crushed under the weight of the solicitations and still trying to dig his way out. While he recuperates from the strain of it, Anthony is stepping in to go over the books worth taking note of.
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New Series
ARCHIE IN HELL #1
TO SAVE HIM . . . THEY HAD TO DAMN HIM!In the bloodstained tradition of AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, something wicked this way comes to Riverdale in an infernal new ongoing series from multiple Eisner Award nominee Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees) and Russ Manning Award winner Tyler Crook (Out of Alcatraz, Harrow County)!They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger: An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated its townspeople, bent on using human sacrifice to usher a demon lord into our mortal plane. And they’ve finally identified the final target they need to bring a century’s worth of planning to fruition: hometown football champion and all-around good guy Archie Andrews. But this secret cabal never dreamed that actual witches walk Riverdale’s streets . . . and when cult and coven clash in the final stages of Archie’s secret-ritual sacrifice, the consequences will be cosmic . . . and young Archie Andrews will find himself damned to something far worse than Hell’s inner circle. Unstuck from time and space. Bound to a terrible curse. Late for school. Things are about to go from bad to downright diabolical as Horvath and Crook unleash the most malevolently merciless Archie Comics tale ever told . . . and, truly, you’ll never, ever expect what happens next.
In the basement of Grimaldi Manor, the family patriarch says a prayer and stabs himself in the throat. Blood falls. The demon watches. A woman tries to scream. Upstairs, three generations of the Grimaldi family and a snapping turtle fill the house with unfulfilled promise and joyful childhood shrieks. These are tremendous, terrible times for the lineage! The Grimaldis hold a contract with Their Lord Below for ten more years of prodigious wealth and glory. But old contracts can sour. Monsters can misbehave. And a filthy little lamb can still have teeth.
Great cover, promising premise, a good start for a new horror comics.
Immortal Coil is a dark fantasy comic series that reimagines Norse mythology through the lens of eldritch horror. In a modern world where Ragnarok was a lie, Loki returns to expose the gods’ greatest deception and awaken an ancient cosmic terror that will bring about the second coming of Ragnarok. Ancient gods, forgotten heirs, and unimaginable cosmic forces collide in a battle for reality itself. Rich with gothic atmosphere, brutal action, and mythological intrigue, this series from Third Contact Comics delivers a fresh take on the Norse apocalypse for fans of THE SANDMAN, HELLBLAZER, and LUCIFER.
Another book with a great cover and promising premise. Halloween season is going to be good for horror comics.
It’s no secret Archimedes Anderson is a nepo hire. Assigned chief-coordinator of R&D at the American arm of genetic engineering and bioweapons development company Miyashi-Smith, everyone knows he’s here for one purpose: to slash the budget and trim the fat. If he can cut 30% from the unaffectionately nicknamed “Mad Science Division” budget, he’ll earn a cushy, high-level job at HQ. He goes in with a move-fast-and-break-stuff attitude, knowing absolutely nothing about the dangerous genetic experiments taking place in the division. When he upsets the delicate equilibrium of the department factions and removes guard rails which protect the workers and the public, he winds up exposing them to terrible, evil experiments.
On the night before Halloween 1978, Michael Myers orchestrates a brutal escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. As Dr. Loomis realizes pure evil is loose, Michael begins his relentless journey home toward Haddonfield, slaughtering anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path.
Michael Myers returns to comics just in time for Halloween.
HALLOWEEN THE GAME COMIC #1 (OF 5) CVR B
HALLOWEEN THE GAME COMIC #1 (OF 5) CVR C
UNIVERSAL MONSTERS BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN LIVES #1
The most haunting new horror series of the year. Born in the heart of a thunderstorm, made of stolen flesh, electricity, and monstrous desperation, The Bride lives! With no memory of her past or understanding of what she is, The Bride took her first steps into the world and was…displeased. Now, she must discover where and who she came from and begin what every living thing begins…the process of staying alive.
One and Done
DARKSTALKERS X STREET FIGHTER HELL ON EARTH #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR C DRAX GAL VAR
It’s the epic conclusion to the Darkstalkers x Street Fighter crossover! Our heroes have returend to Earth, only to be confronted with the revival of the most powerful and deadly Darkstlaker of all — Demitri Maximoff! Can the heroes of two worlds take down the Lord of all vampires?
Gal Drax (who did the awesome Dead Samurai #6 cover) provides an incredible Horror Movie poster inspired cover for this one.
Possible Firsts
ABSOLUTE FLASH #20
MEET THE ABSOLUTE ATOM! After his near-death experience in Iron Heights, the Flash is taken into the subatomic realm of Ray Palmer, a.k.a. the Absolute Atom. But the Atom is not the only new hero Wally is about to encounter as another major DCU character makes his Absolute debut!
The solicitation talks about Ray Palmer who we have already met, but also another new “Major DC Character”
HERETIC TAKES A SHOCKING TURN AS THE ABSOLUTE CHEETAH ARRIVES! The world-shaking Heretic arc kicks into a new gear as Diana’s search for Barbara Minerva comes to a bloody end in a milestone oversized issue! Do not miss the debut of the devastating Absolute Cheetah–she’s not quite what anyone expected…which is the only way Barbara Minerva would have it!
We got a glimpse at the new Absolute Cheetah, but we get the first full appearance here.
For the Cover
THE AMAZING VENOM #2 SUPERLOG VARIANT
The Japanese Magazine aesthetic is taking over and I like it. Super-fun cover.
Notable Reprints
AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON #4 MICHAEL CHO 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
Not a fan of when Marvel does this, but they are re-printing a hot cover.
DETECTIVE COMICS #298 FACSIMILE EDITION CVR A SHELDON MOLDOFF
“THE CHALLENGE OF CLAYFACE!” The dynamic duo is part of a charity exchange where they encounter Clayface, a super-criminal with the power to change his body into any shape imaginable thanks to its clay-like constitution! Plus, “THE MAN WHO IMPERSONATED J’ONN J’ONZZ.” When Barry Clark, an impersonation artist imitating his friend J’onn J’onzz, sprains his ankle before attempting a grand comeback, the Martian Manhunter has no choice but to help his friend by impersonating him for his big moment on stage!
In time for the Clayface movie, we are getting reprints of key Clayface issues.
The One to Watch
SAVAGE DRAGON #282 CVR B ERIK LARSEN VAR
As of lately Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon has been hot. Interested to see if it continues. Many stores do not carry shelf copies so it may not be a bad gamble to grab one, or pre-order a copy.
Pick of the Week
Absolute Batman #25
ABSOLUTE BATMAN CELEBRATES 25 ISSUES! All the villains. All the heroes. All the stakes. What’s left…of Absolute Batman?
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #25 CVR L CLAY MANN FOIL VAR
While there are a ton of covers coming out for this issue, the one that caught our attention the most was this Japanese Magazine style foil cover. Pretty awesome in itself.