FINAL ORDER CUT-OFF for February 2nd, 2026!!
Hey Chu’zers. Is it me, or has 2026 started out with some banger books? Some books we’ve called out here, some we missed (i.e., Superman 34 Foccillo…whoops!).
I did take a look back over 2025 to see how the picks did…Associated Crisis Events, Exquisite Corpses, Geiger 10 2nd Print were there. And some picks were “near misses” in that I picked the variant over Cover A. That now seems to be the exception to the rule these days.
Anyway, lets jump into this week’s picks.
COVERS
Star Trek doesn’t have much spec, or stories to talk about (only Red Shirts comes to mind)…but every so often they have a cool cover. This Space Invaders homage fits that bill.
This is a 1:10 ratio variant, but you should be able to find it at or below ratio if interested. I think it’s weird they call it a “photo variant” seeing as how it’s of an animated character…
READS
FRACTION & JIMENEZ KICK OFF THEIR SECOND ART WITH A SHOCKING REINTRODUCTION OF THE JOKER AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE! As Batman is beckoned to Arkham Towers by the mysterious man in Room Ten, nothing will prepare him for who he finds there. Some might call him the Caped Crusader’s archnemesis. Others might call him Batman’s best friend. Everyone calls him the Joker.
Seems like everyone is trying to re-invent the Joker…or make him look drastically different than what we’re accustomed to. Batman #7 is the latest.
NOTABLE REPRINTS
One of the most iconic comic books in history, Daniel Clowes presents a self-described “Orgy of Spite, Vengeance, Hopelessness, Despair, and Sexual Perversion”! Originally published in August, 1989, this timeless classic includes the first chapters of Clowes’s graphic novels “Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron” and “Young Dan Pussey,” as well as the short stories “Devil Doll” (parodying Jack Chick comics), “The Laffin’ Spittin’ Man,” and “What Is the Most Important Invention of the Twentieth Century?” Celebrate 50 years of Fantagraphics Books with this one-time rerelease!
This alternative indy book won several awards through it’s 22 issue run.
FREE COMIC BOOKS
The biggest year in Energon Universe history is here, with four all-new stories from the worlds of Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, and more in this Free Comic Book Day issue. Join the biggest names in comics for both a perfect Energon Universe jumping-on point and a can’t-miss experience for long-time fans.
SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, Spin and Ghost-Spider, think they have their web-shooting hands full when JEFF THE LAND SHARK pays them a visit! But they haven’t seen anything yet – because shapeshifting alien SYMBIE is here to turn Jeff’s world upside down!
Looks like a first meeting between two of the cutest new Marvel characters. [BTW, “Comics Giveaway Day” is so lame…I guess we can call it CGD for short…that sounds a little more cool…”
Pre-order…or just wait and see if you can snag a free copy.
NEW ONES
DEATH AWAITS DANI MOONSTAR! When an ancient, soul-sucking weapon is set loose, it’s up to Dani to track it down! But the weapon’s deadly wielder won’t make it easy for her. After recent tragedies, can Dani trust herself to save those closest to her? Or will her self-doubts lead to even more bloodshed?
A PULPY, EXCITING PREQUEL SERIES SET BEFORE THE EVENTS OF THE UPCOMING DISNEY+ SHOW! Welcome to Janix, a neon-lit, shadow-soaked maze of a planet that lies beyond the reach of the Empire. Captain Brander Lawson is doing his best to navigate the law in a lawless territory. He’s joined by his partner, a droid nicknamed Two Boots, as they face off against scheming crime bosses…and as the looming threat of the shadow lord, Maul, nears.
Excited for the Disney+ series. Rumors are swirling that the red skinned Twi’Lek Maul supposedly takes under his wing may eventually become Darth Talon, who currently only resides in Star Wars Legends…we’ll see. I doubt we’ll see her in this series though.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, SUPER-HERO ACTION! SIMON WILLIAMS has had his ups and down, from being manipulated into villainy by the Enchantress, to being one of the brightest stars in the Avengers! But just like HOLLYWOOD, no matter how low the lows, Simon keeps fighting the good fight! But what happens when the past finally catches up to him? Enter Randolph Chancellor: Simon’s former cellmate! A true love letter to L.A. as well as the history of WONDER MAN, Legendary artist MARK BUCKINGHAM joins Marvel Mainstay GERRY DUGGAN!
INDY SPOTLIGHT
An island village off Salem, Massachusetts, is inundated by a strange species of butterflies that spread the Dancing Plague and have a very particular taste in nectar…human blood. New York Times bestselling author Jeremy Robinson and Italian phenom artists Annapaola Martello & Francesco Francini horrify readers with a quaint village’s descent into madness.
“When my wife, Hilaree, and I started spitballing story concepts, all I knew was that I wanted to create a new Victorian monster to rival Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and Werewolves,” said Robinson. “Our twisted imaginations went to work and just minutes later we had blood sucking butterflies and the dancing plague wrapped together, along with the title: Nectar . I loved the idea so much, I started writing the script the next day.”
Some buzz about this series…some interesting variant covers, including some blind bags. One is a NSFW variant cover by Suspiria. The other seems to be a limited edition foil blind bag that could include a ONE-OF-ONE “Golden Ticket” gold foil variant by Chris Shehan. Other randomly inserted variants include foil, full art variants by Jonathan Wayshak, Jason Shawn Alexander, Suspiria, Chris Shehan, Jeremy Robinson, Maan House, Danny Luckert.
So I’m thinking the foil blind bags are just foils of the same (or similar) art from the other covers solicited.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Do you love comics? Do you want to read more comics that you will love? Do you wish there were a magazine you could pick up every month that also loves comics? WELL, MY DUDES, ALL YOUR WISHES HAVE FINALLY COME TRUE! HOW TO MAKE ABSOLUTE BATMAN! That’s right, we’re kicking things off with the hottest book of the century, with a look at the past, present, and future of Nick Dragotta & Scott Snyder’s absolute masterpiece! Featuring interviews with the creative team and an insane cover by Nick and COMICS! The Magazine Art Director Rico Renzi! COMICS! The Magazine is everything you ever dreamed of and more!
Want to find out about the next big thing before the Internet even knows? Want to discover the secrets behind the big comics you love and the indie darlings you’ve yet to read? How about interviews with people who make the work that excites you? Actual comics exclusive to the magazine? Maybe you’re a comic book creator who seeks external validation from actual sales numbers? ALL THIS AND MORE IN EACH AND EVERY ISSUE OF COMICS! THE MAGAZINE – THE NEXT BIG THING IS FINALLY HERE!
Creator Interviews About What You Do Read! Features On What You Should Read! Staff Picks Of What You Will Read! Actual Comics You Can Read! Power Rankings with Real Sales Data! Maybe a Price Guide? Possibly Art Instruction and Classifieds! Comic-Sized to Fit on Store Racks!
Feels like a variation of what Wizard Magazine was, but with potentially a more modern flare. Can do w/o the price guide (we have Ebay for that).
Anyway, at a $2.99 price point, it’s cheaper than comic books…and every magazine for that matter. And it looks like the next issue is also $2.99, so we’ll see how long that lasts, or what quality is. But worth picking up just for the cover…maybe stashing it away as I’m sure many will likely treat this as another previews or other mag that just gets read and tossed for most people. Should be fun!
And for that reason this “magazine” is the Dirty D Pick of the Week!
Parting Thoughts
And there you have it. Another week’s FOC picks. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!