By Lefteros

[SPOILER ALERT] Know before you go! This week's line-up has me excited. We are getting some great reads and great covers on the spinner rack. There are plenty of worthwhile selections to consider.

It's as good of a week as any to point out that not all selections are created equal, and not all of them are for everyone. Some of these books, I think, have some solid upside, but others, I think, are featured more just to share knowledge and for you to know what you may want to or not want to buy into. This NCBD is a fine example of this because it features a wide variety of books. That means we have a lot to cover; let's get into it!

COVRPRICE TIP: Below are some of this week's releases sorted by the highest market value. If you visit the NEW RELEASE section, you can filter by "Est Value (Highest to Lowest)." Make sure to check it out before heading to your local comic shop. If you miss something, no worries! We have a DAY AFTER WEDNESDAY article every Thursday, highlighting the best new release trends. Don't forget to check in regularly to see the current Fair Market Value (FMV) with our handy dandy comic book price guide for each comic book.

OPEN ORDER SELECTIONS

ANANSI BOYS #1 COVER A DAVID MACK | DARK HORSE

A lot of people have lost faith in option news hype because, more often than not, shows end up in development hell. You don't have to worry about that with this comic book that is based on the best-seller Neil Gaiman novel. Not only has it been optioned, but reports are stating that production has wrapped up, and a release date and trailer should be out soon. Picking up a copy or two with a cover price of just $3.99 and a creator like Neil Gaiman behind it already seems like a no-brainer. Factor in that it will be streaming soon, and we may have a winner here!

BLOOD HUNT: RED BAND EDITION #4 MAIN COVER PEPE LARRAZ | MARVEL

The one thing the best-performing spec books have had in common in 2024 is great creators. That's why I don't think any of us should be surprised when a crossover title by Jed MacKay and Pepe Larraz does well. This title, and these Red Band Editions in particular, have been selling pretty well. Many Red Band Editions have broken cover price on the aftermarket just days after release. I guess people feel that one dollar for more gore is a solid deal. This issue features the first cover appearance of Blood Coven. It also has a pretty interesting turn of events related to Jed MacKay's Moon Knight run. If you're like me, you've been looking forward to this issue!

DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #23 MARTIN SIMMONDS | IMAGE

This series is finally back, and I could not be more excited about it. Somehow, I feel I am in the minority there, as I have not heard too much hype or excitement about it. That's a good thing because that type of sentiment tends to keep print runs low. This first arc will focus on Lee Harvey Oswald and the JFK assassination, so you know it will be a core part of this title's overall storyline. With creators like Tynion and Simmonds behind this series and more option news possibly on the horizon, I think the next few issues of this series will be interesting to keep an eye on!

DETECTIVE COMICS #1086 COVER A EVAN CAGLE | DC

So far, we are four for four with selections with upsides and also great reads. This one may be the best read of the bunch. There are great moments featuring the likes of Two-Face and the Joker. We also get a first appearance. If that wasn't enough, it is teased that Joker's ex-daughter, AKA Duela Dent, will be taking on that mantle again. Possibly the Scarecrow. We will have to wait and see. This Ram V. Detective Comics run has been one the best-kept secrets in comics, and this is the perfect issue to dive into this run!

GIANT-SIZE LITTLE MARVELS #1 MAIN COVER SKOTTIE YOUNG | MARVEL

If you want a light-hearted good time, this is your book. It features pint-sized versions of all our favorite Marvel heroes and villains, including my personal favorite, Doctor Doom. The cover price for this book is high, but it has no variants (even incentives). Skottie Young writes it and has art by Dax Gordine (who does a phenomenal job on these interiors). It's hard to say how the market will react to a book like this long-term, but if you're a fan of Skottie Young, you know you need a copy of this one!

HELLVERINE #2 MAIN COVER RYAN STEGMAN | MARVEL

This Ryan Stegman cover is stunning! It features the first cover appearance of the Hellfire Warriors team. We have seen Hellverine books gain traction on release without fail. It's one thing to have a cool concept, but expanding on it the way Benjamin Percy has so far is exciting. The first issue was well received, and the Spoiler Variant made some gains in the aftermarket. I think if you're into fire and claws, and I don't see how you could not be, this issue and title, in general, are worth checking out!

ROOK EXODUS #3 COVER A JASON FABOK | GHOST MACHINE

Buckle up, Energon Universe, because you have some real competition presenting itself with the Ghost Machine Universe. Just kidding, these two comic book universes are not really in direct competition, and there is plenty of room for two incredible lines of titles. Rook continues to impress me. The last issue brought us the first full in-story appearance of Dire Wolf, and what do Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok do for an encore? They introduce us to 15 new characters. That's right, 15 new characters are fully introduced, and each one seems more wicked than the last. If this property continues to gain traction, and with the talent behind it, I fully expect it to, these will be the key issues new fans want. If you haven't jumped on yet, I think now is a pretty good time to do so!

ZATANNA BRING DOWN THE HOUSE #1 COVER A JAVIER RODRIGUEZ | DC

I had a feeling there would be a first appearance in this one, but there was no mention or hint in the solicitation. I gave it a read as soon as I got my hands on a copy, and it ended with a bang. A mysterious figure appears in the audience at a Zatanna show that states that their name is Stranger. I am not sure if that will end up being their actual name, but the next issue's solicitation states we will be introduced to even more magic users. This first new character (whatever their actual name may be) is somehow related to Giovanni "John" Zatara - Zatanna's father. I am looking forward to learning more about the next issue!

COVER SELECTIONS

HELLVERINE #2 ELENA CASAGRANDE STORMBREAKERS VARIANT | MARVEL

We have a few great cover selections this week, but this one may have the most potential. People love Wolverine, AKA X-23, AKA Laura Kinney covers, and they love fire-claws. That's exactly what we are getting with this cover. There are not many copies on eBay, so this variant may have flown a bit under the radar. Let's see if and how quickly this sells out at distribution. If there aren't a large amount of copies remaining, this one to keep an eye on!

SPIDER-GWEN GHOST-SPIDER #2 STEPHANIE HANS BLACK COSTUME VARIANT | MARVEL

I love what Stephanie Hans did with this Black Costume Variant. This is my favorite Ghost-Spider costume ever, and it's not even close. I hope we get to see it in-story at some point, but this is a great variant even if we don't. I could see Gwen fans wanting a copy of it for years to come!

ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #5 CLAYTON CRAIN VARIANT | MARVEL

I like that we are getting more open-order Clayton Crain Marvel work. I hope they keep it that way. This is an artist with a huge fan following, and most of them keep an eye out for his Exclusive Variants and not Marvel new releases. Completionists may be on the lookout for some of them in the long run. While this isn't his greatest cover, it's a worthy cover buy, especially if you're a fan of his work. Beyond that, this is a great read, so if you're looking for an excuse to pick up a copy, this may be it!

ZATANNA BRING DOWN THE HOUSE #1 COVER D ARTGERM FOIL VARIANT | DC

No matter how many times we get cover girl DC Comics Foil Variant covers by Artgerm, I find it impossible to resist them. And even if I was trying to resist them, I would not start with my favorite DC Comics cover girl, Zatanna. This one looks even better in print, and don't worry, there is a card stock version for all you foil haters. Either way, this great cover may have gone nuclear as an incentive!

INCENTIVE SELECTIONS

DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #23 SEBASTIAN FIUMARA 1:25 INCENTIVE VARIANT | IMAGE

When I said this series' return did not have a lot of hype around it, I meant it. Perhaps people aren't paying attention; perhaps people have taken it off their pull-lists. Whatever the case, this stunning incentive seems to have a relatively low supply. If we get positive word of mouth, which we likely will, it could gain even more momentum. Right now, it's been selling between $30 and $50 on eBay, and copies are not plentiful. If you can secure one for ratio and are a fan of this series, it's well worth it!

DETECTIVE COMICS #1086 SEBASTIAN FIUMARA 1:25 INCENTIVE VARIANT | DC

We have our second Sebastian Fiumara incentive in a row, and with good reason. He is putting out some stunning work. As I mentioned earlier, Joker appears in this issue, and I think he did about as wicked a job as possible creating a Joker cover that does not actually feature the Joker on it. So far, this book has not been breaking any sales records. As a matter of fact, it has been selling for only $15 on eBay. But those copies have since dried up, and the cheapest one available is for $25, and after that, it jumps to $50. This is a great cover for a great comic book, so if you can snatch one up at the right price, I think you can't go wrong!

STAR WARS DARTH MAUL BLACK, WHITE AND RED #3 DAVID MARQUEZ 1:25 INCENTIVE VARIANT | MARVEL

I was excited to do this write-up because I was curious just how well this variant was doing. After all, Darth Maul is a fan favorite, and this series has been incredible thus far. I was shocked and disappointed to see that the last copy sold for only $15 on eBay. I was shocked before its high sale was for over $50 and disappointed that it wasn't me to buy that copy. This is a great Maul depiction, and there aren't a ton of copies on eBay right now, so I can see this one gaining some momentum!

ULTIMATES #1 2ND PRINT JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER 1:25 INCENTIVE NEGATIVE SPACE VARIANT | MARVEL

I'm not sure what to make about this one. It is a 1:25 for the second printing of a comic book that had FOC before the first printing was released. It has a $5.99 cover price, and times are tough. Does Marvel really think there are a lot of shops that would order 25 copies of the second printing of a book when they don't even know if the first printing will sell out? On eBay, we had only two presales, one for $50 and the other for $130. The latter also happens to be the cheapest (and only) copy listed on 'Buy It Now' at the moment. There is also one auction listing for about three days left. It will be interesting to see where this ends when the dust settles!

ULTIMATE X-MEN #2 2ND PRINT PEACH MOMOKO 1:25 INCENTIVE VIRGIN VARIANT | MARVEL

Since being introduced in that New Champions Variant, it seems that Maystorm has taken the comic book world by storm (pun intended). There was a lot of anticipation for her first in-story appearance, and after we did not see her in the first issue, we got confirmation she would be in the second. As you can imagine, orders were high before FOC, and as a result, the print run appears to have been high. Enter this second printing. I don't think anyone ordered this, to be honest. Even looking at the open order for this book, which is part of a connecting set with the third issue second printing, there aren't a ton of copies listed on eBay. It may have been wise to include that in this article as well. As for this incentive, there was only one sale about a month ago for $40. The cheapest of two copies available is $80. Its third-issue counterpart has never been sold on eBay and has two copies available for the same price. These are looking like they will be pretty scarce on release, so if you can secure a copy from your favorite shop anywhere near ratio, count your blessings!

ZATANNA BRING DOWN THE HOUSE #1 MIKEL JANIN 1:50 INCENTIVE VARIANT | DC

I was on the fence about including this one at FOC because it had an Exclusive Variant attached to it. Still, at the end of the day, it is the high ratio for a Zatanna book, so I figured it would have a decent enough amount of demand to handle that extra supply. Looks like that is exactly the case. It has been holding steady above ratio at $60 to $80 on eBay. I can't say I am surprised, people do love covers featuring this character. The next issue has a 1:25 by Jenny Frison, so it will be interesting to see what happens with that. As for this one, only a couple of copies are left on eBay, and it's a long week ahead. I am curious to see if it ends up seeing a new high sale!

LATER PRINTING SELECTIONS

X-MEN '97 #1 3RD PRINTING MARVEL ANIMATION VARIANT | MARVEL

Another week, another X-Men Animation Variant! This time, we have a retro television set-style sideways cover. The first season of the X-Men '97 animated series was well received, so it does not surprise me that the demand for this series and the later printings has been high. A couple of these later printings may have potential in the future, so picking a copy up may be a good idea!

X-MEN 97 #1 3RD PRINTING BLANK VARIANT | MARVEL

This may not be the biggest book in the world, but if you ever wanted one of your favorite artists to sketch one of your favorite X-Men '97 characters, this is the book you will want to get. For that reason, I think a later printing Blank Variant like this will always have some demand!

That's it for this week, folks! I would like to provide a friendly reminder that while you should take into consideration the information we share in these articles, you should always buy what you enjoy and feel may have potential. When you buy something that you love, you will be happy with it even if it never gains any value. Happy hunting!

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