FOC PICKS FOR 6/22/26
Happy Father’s Day for all the Dads out there! USA advancing to the 32 team knockout round was all I wanted did Dad Day! Almost took a pass this week on putting an article together….but glad I did as I may have missed out on grabbing the pick of the week book myself! Here we go!
Don’t forget to use code CHU2026 at checkout at Third Eye Comics to save 15% off all your orders!
COVERS
After the horrifying events of last issue, Dinah must capture the Green Arrow Killer as she finally finds Oliver Queen’s protege Roy Harper. But as the killer’s attacks intensify and Dinah discovers the unsettling effect they’re having on Star City, Harper’s trail takes her on a journey darker and more twisted than she ever imagined.
Heard good things about this series so far. This cover is awesome.
Something Epic is known for its homage covers, but this one is interesting as its art by both Szymon KUDRANSKI and Todd McFarlane. There is a sketch variant of just that character as well.
YOU’RE STILL HERE?
I feel like this book has been on FOC a few times already. We’ll see if it sticks this time. Supposedly Deniz Camp is now exclusive with DC…but still writing this title for Image…? Ok.
NOTABLE REPRINTS
Showcase #4 – Facsimile Edition (Foil Variant)
NEW ONES
Badrock #1 (Brett Bean Variant)
THE YOUNGBLOOD FAVORITE GETS HIS OWN SOLO SPINOFF SERIES. The youngest and most dynamic member of the world’s greatest super squad blasts off in his own solo spotlight! When Badrock’s mom is abducted, he is forced to submit to the demands of her mysterious abductors.
I’m no fan of Leifeld, but I do like Brett Bean’s covers a n occasion. This is pretty cool, and it’s a first issue of the series.
A brilliant analyst uncovers a global conspiracy—and is immediately marked for disappearance—only to be rescued by the mysterious Nemo, a man waging a secret war from beneath the ocean . As they dive into a hidden world of covert power and impossible technology, one question remains: can they save the world before it even knows it’s in danger?
Sana is a bad-ass operative of the underground organization The Order. She and her longtime comrade, Lukas, have been assigned to Nano, a mega-city run on prison labor and roiling from blackouts. While Lukas is tasked with infiltrating Nanocorp’s secretive research facility, Sana’s mission is something she’s never trained for: playing the doting wife of Lukas’s cover. In her guise as a middle school P.E. teacher, she’s forced to cool her jets and teach 8th graders stretching, while Lukas puts himself in danger. But when the signs are unmistakable and Lukas’s mission is clearly going sideways, Sana can no longer sit on the bench.
Three issue series.
All the secrets of the Queen in Black – revealed! • Why were Hela and Tyr in Midgard when the Rainbow Bridge fell? How did she cage Knull, God of the Void? And which Thor tried to stop her? Balder the Brave seeks the answers from Karnilla of the Norns…but will he live to tell anyone else?
INDY SPOTLIGHT
All the great artists have one thing in common…they’re dead. A true patron of the fine arts, Mr. Cherish has dedicated his life to scouting and supporting emerging artists, launching countless unknowns from obscurity into industry superstardom. Unfortunately for these young artists, the secret to Cherish’s success is their untimely demise. Nothing makes a work of art more desirable and valuable to collectors than the passing of its creator, and Cherish has refined his ability to orchestrate spectacular tragedies without leaving a trace…before selling his dead protégés’ oeuvres for massive profits. Painter Matty Barnes is primed to become Cherish’s next “hit”—but when the script is flipped on this latest murder, a posthumous twist calls the artist’s fate and legacy into question putting the patron’s empire in the dueling crosshairs of law enforcement and a merciless third-party connoisseur.
Long description, but of all the Indy 1s this week I think this one has the most unique and intriguing plot line.
GIMMICK OF THE WEEK
DNX #1 (True Believers Blind Bag Variant)
The X-Men and 3K. Each steered by an original heir of Xavier, each with their own vision for the mutant people. Each at one another’s throats. Cyclops and the Chairman both experienced the future of the Age of Revelation and came home with a renewed mission: The X-Men to prevent that future. 3K to own it. While the X-Men seek out the Fantastic Four to help save one of their own, the White Beast begins his plan to unleash the X-Virus in a major population area!
Marvel appears to have already revealed the covers in the blind bag…they’re pretty meh. But they will be inserting more artist sketches.
Also curious what the “hidden double cover” is for cover A.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Nightwing #140 (Dan Mora Swimsuit Variant)
Nightwing has not historically been a great spec book. But the Dan Mora and “beefcake” covers have done well.
So here we have a Dan Mora Beefcake…so of course this is going to the moon, right?
Well, this variant was announced a few months back, as well as the cover art reveal. And many of the past variants that command a premium were before the masses caught on.
BUTT……(see what I did there), it’s been a while and I have not seen much hype talking about this cover this week leading up to FOC. A lot of people don’t react until the book comes out….so it’s still possible it could go under the radar.
So I think this still does well…maybe not hot out is the gate well, but over time we’ll. Worth picking up a few for spec. That’s why this book is the Dirty D PICK of the WEEK.
Parting Thoughts
Putting in my FOC order and going to bed. Later CHU!