By Ron Reyes

It's that time of the year again - Halloween is just around the corner, and comic book enthusiasts are in for a treat! As we enter the final week leading up to the spooky holiday, incentives are still the most profitable among buyers. Keep in mind that we actively look for standard covers to add, yet most sell for cover price THE DAY AFTER WEDNESDAY since they're still available on shelves. BUT we'll keep looking! We have three clear winners in the double ratio category and even a spoiler to energize you! So, if you're wondering what's trending at your local comic book store, we've got you covered. Get ready to dive into the exciting world of comics and discover what's hot on the shelves today!

THE BOOKS BURNING UP THE SALES CHARTS...

MARVEL ZOMBIES: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD #1 - GABRIELE DELL OTTO (1:100) | MARVEL

The Marvel Zombies series, created by Robert Kirkman in 2005, is set in a parallel universe Earth, distinct from Mark Millar's Ultimate Fantastic Four narrative. The series features various storylines, all revolving around our favorite heroes becoming infected by a mysterious alien virus. This year's installment of the Marvel Zombies series promises to be a perfect Halloween delight for franchise fans. This series has already seen some whopping sales, and the 1:100 is averaging around $214 and climbing! However, for those looking for a more economical option to keep up with the latest iteration of our "Super Walking Dead," the 1:25 by Albuquerque is available for ratio at $25. Don't miss out on immersing yourself in the creepy world of Marvel Zombies.     

VOID RIVALS #5 - JAE LEE - SPOILER (1:50) | IMAGE

Fans of Transformers will be thrilled to hear that Image has unveiled another exciting spoiler cover. This follows the recent success of the spoiler variants of Void Rivals #4 and Transformers #1. Skybound may be starting a new trend, as both previous issues have performed exceptionally well. Jae Lee’s artwork is guaranteed to intrigue this month, revealing additional ties to the Autobots, Decepticons, and Void Rivals microcosm. The exterior features a Quintesson Judge, a nod to the 1986 Transformers movie, suggesting that significant developments will bridge the gap into the Energon Universe. Typically, the sales of spoilers gain momentum once the cover is released, and this one is no exception since it was revealed, climbing to $92. Overall, this is an exciting time for Transformers fans, and we can't wait to see what Skybound has in store for us.

WOLVERINE #37 - GREG CAPULLO - 2ND PRINT - B&W (1:25) | MARVEL

Wolverine has become a fan-favorite in the comic book world, and its recent Hellverine story arc has breathed new life into the latest volume of the series. In our previous CP Content discussions, we highlighted three notable issues that have garnered significant attention from fans and collectors alike. These issues are Wolverine #36, Wolverine #36 1:25 2nd Print, and Wolverine #37, one per store variant. Marvel has taken note of the series' success, and it is a remarkable achievement for a comic book to go into a second printing after more than 30 issues. Fans love the hype, and this rare 1:25 book is in high demand. It’s currently trending at a raw NM FMV of $72. As with the previous 1:25, these tend to be hard to come by for most stores. If you do come across this rare black-and-white edition in your local comic book store and it’s under $40, you might want to consider adding it to your collection!

THESE BOOKS ARE LOOKING PROMISING...

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: DRACULA #1 - LUNAR RETAILER THANK YOU VARIANT (1 PER STORE) | IMAGE

Skybound is all set to enthrall its fans with an upcoming release featuring the talented writer James Tynion IV, who has won numerous awards for his work. This time, he has taken up the challenge of reimagining Dracula, the iconic vampire character, based on the cinematic version from Universal Products & Experiences. The four-part mini-series will surely be a treat for comic book enthusiasts, with Tynion's gripping narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat and Matin Simmonds' exceptional artistic skills to bring this captivating story to life. The series has eight variants, each with unique cover art and design. However, only four variants will be available at your local comic shop, making them highly sought-after collectibles. If you are lucky enough, try and get your hands on the rare one-per-store variant priced at $32. This is currently warm due to the high price variations from store to store. We've seen reports of some stores only charging cover price while others ask for $50 or more. The question for those who bought a copy, was this HOT or WARM for you? Ultimately, it may not matter, as reviews of this series are very favorable. So, whether you are a horror fan or enjoy reading a good comic book, get ready to experience the thrill of the undead with this latest rendition of Dracula! 

ALICE NEVER AFTER #4 - TULA LOTAY - REVEAL - B&W (1:25) | BOOM! STUDIOS

The last Thursday of every month marks the highly anticipated release of a new issue of Alice Never After. To celebrate the event, Boom has planned another reveal cover that is sure to take our breath away. While Adam Hughes' cover for Issue #2 was a big hit, the covers for Issue #1 and #3 by Sean Murphy and Bill Sienkiewicz, respectively, failed to impress. But this time, we're excited to see what Lotay has in store. His interpretation of Dan Panosian's twist on Alice in Wonderland is a mesmerizing black-and-white motif that promises to transport us to another world. The reveal cover is priced at $30 and is worth every penny. Let's keep an eye out for this stunning work of art that is sure to leave us spellbound!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #36 - ARTHUR ADAMS (1:25) | MARVEL

Arthur Adams, the brilliant artist behind many iconic comic book covers, has recently released another variant. This time, it’s a 1:25 cover for ASM #36. It's worth noting that Spider-Man has been one of Marvel's most beloved and successful characters for decades, and Zeb Wells' current storyline is no exception. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer to the series, this latest twist on the "dark" version of Spider-Man will surely keep you on the edge of your seats, especially with Halloween just around the corner. Why not take advantage of this exciting new Spider-Man story chapter for $29?

DAREDEVIL #1 - AARON KUDER - 2ND PRINT (1:25) | MARVEL

Daredevil, the iconic Marvel character, has lost its charm over time, especially since the release of the Netflix show in 2015. Despite Marvel's efforts to bring back the superhero in various spinoffs, nothing has genuinely worked thus far. However, fans of Daredevil can rejoice as the character's latest release, Daredevil: Born Again, set to hit the market in 2024, promises to be a complete revamp of the previous storyline and bring back the classic tale of the lawyer-turned-vigilante Matt Murdock. The show's narrative will focus on the intense battle between Murdock and his arch-nemesis, Wilson Fisk, the ruthless kingpin of Hell's Kitchen. In contrast, has this new start for Series 8 of Daredevil (after only 14 previous issues from Series 7) gone to 2nd print? And a 1:25, 2nd print by Aaron Kuder to boot? Although we've only tracked one pre-sale from September at $30, shops that still have copies of issue #1 on their shelves are not ordering 2nd prints, let alone twenty-five copies. To prove this point, there are only TWO copies currently listed, an international sale at $157 and a US sale at $170. While they most likely won't sell for that high, its scarcity will push this higher than you would expect. Once again, this is your friendly reminder to pay close attention to ratio second prints. They are easily some of the comic market's rarest variants and will do very well over time, especially for key issues or fan-favorite artists.

ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD #10 - TULA LOTAY (1:100) | BOOM! STUDIOS

Once Upon A Time at The End of The World by Jason Aaron is a Dark Fantasy story you SHOULD be reading. Jason Aaron is easily one of the comic industry's best writers, and he delivers that same skill to this series. It's a beautiful post-apocalyptic story focusing on two characters helping each other navigate a planet ravaged by environmental catastrophes. However, it's not a series heavily ordered by stores… let alone one hundred copies! As noted above on Alice Ever After, Tula Lotay has a rapidly growing fanbase. Deservedly so when you look at gorgeous covers like this. However, finding a copy of this 1:100 variant will be very tough. However, finding a copy in the future will be impossible. Currently, only one international sale is available, asking for $182. Will it sell? Maybe. Due to its scarcity, it will have low market visibility and will, therefore, always fly under the radar, leaving a value that will always be hard to determine, which is why we love it even more. It's also worth noting that earlier 1:75 and 1:100 incentives have been by fan-favorite artists like Jenny Frison, Peach Momoko, and Terry Dodson. For some, these covers may be their rarest ones. We love to keep a long-term eye on books like this, especially later issues, to see just how rare they become.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 - ARTHUR ADAMS (1:50) | MARVEL

Yep, another Adams cover. However, this one is (arguably) a bit better than this week’s ASM #36. It’s always nice to see him step away from the side-profile framing for which he’s become notable for. While recent NM sales have only been trending at an FMV of $40, it’s worth noting ALL those copies are now gone, and only a handful of auctions are running amidst a few international BIN listings asking for over $100. These auctions will help to determine whether this will ultimately be a HOT book, and it seems to be going that way. Let’s watch it together and see where it lands!