Instead, the highest-selling issue sold on eBay of late is a 9.8 slabbed version of the 4th Printing sketch cover of Absolute Batman #1 with a Detective 27 Homage by artist Philip Tan, signed and signed by Nick Dragotta and sold for just under $6500.

The Absolute Batman #10 Dan Quintana remarqued cover slabbed 9.8 for $2100 and

Absolute Batman #16 remarqued and inscribed Dan Quintana cover sold for $2000, raw haven't been beaten.  And a signed 9.8 slabbed copy of that, just signed by Dan and Scott Snyder, recently went for $1500.

The original foil ashcan version of Absolute Batman #1 from the original San Diego Comic-Con has also jumped up the ranks CGC 9.8 slabbed and signed version by Nick Dragotta has sold for $2500. And just slabbed, without signatures, is $1500.

The sketch cover of Absolute Batman #1 with a Daniel Warren Johnson sketch and additional signature by Nick Dragotta, slabbed 9.8, sold for $2000.

An Absolute Batman #1 second printing with the Skottie Young cover has sold, raw for around $1900. The first print with the colour version of his cover, signed by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta and Skottie Young, slabbed 9.8 has sold for $1500.

Also hitting the $1500 mark was the Absolute Batman Annual Felix Comic Art exclusive black-and-white cover by Daniel Warren Johnson, slabbed 9.8. But an Absolute Batman Annual #1 Felix Comic Art Sketch cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and Scott Snyder also 9.8 topped that at $1800.

Absolute Batman #15 foil variant, featuring signatures from Clay Mann and Seth Mann, along with a sketch of the Absolute Joker, slabbed at a whopping 9.9 (always easier to get a much higher grade for foil/chromium covers), sold for over $1700.

The Third Eye retailer exclusive of Absolute Batman #1 with the Sean Murphy cover signed by Scott Snyder has sold, CGC 9.8, for $1500. As did the 4th printing of Absolute Batman #1 sketch cover, featuring dual remarques by Nick Dragotta (back cover) drawn by the owner of Legacy Comics. Scott Snyder has also signed the front cover in blue paint marker. And it went for $1500. The Absolute Batman #15 Felix Art variant, signed by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, sold for $1500 raw.

The Absolute Batman #1 Jim Lee 1:100 Variant, signed by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Nick Dragotta, and Scott Snyder, and graded CGC 9.8, has sold for $1500. But remember, 9.8 slabbed copy of the standard Absolute Batman cover signed by just Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta for Absolute Batman #1 first printing has now sold for $1500 as well. Which is just remarkable. Get your Absolute Batman #1 signed, and it can pay for your trip to see Scott and Nick at a show… And away from all the signing, sketching, slabbing, retailer exclusives and tiered variants, unsigned, unslabbed, raw, standard copies of Absolute Batman #1 from 2024 still go for $190 on eBay… and slabbed, up to $380.

Published in 2007, with a lead Satana strip by Robin Furth and Kalman Andeasofszky, it might have been worth a speculator flip purely as the first Marvel comic by Hickman, as well as one drawn by him too, given his current presence in the company. But if it in any way has any relevance to Midnight? It may have even more appeal…

A couple of copies sold on eBay in March for $5, with another for $8. The other issues in that Legion Of Monsters series of four one-shots have more market appeal, with all four going for $45 and the hardcover collection for $30.

N'Kantu, the Living Mummy, first appeared in Supernatural Thrillers #5 in 1973, created by Steve Gerber and Rich Buckler as part of Marvel's seventies horror/supernatural line, riffing on classic Universal Monsters-style mummies. Born over 3,000 years ago in Northern Africa, N'Kantu was the son of T'Chombi, chieftain of the Swarili tribe. As a young man, he passed the "Test of the Lion", slaying a lion to prove his worth as a warrior, and later became chief.   His people were conquered and enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaoh Aram-Set. Forced to build monuments, N'Kantu led a rebellion, killing the pharaoh. However, the high priest Nephrus paralysed him with a mysterious fluid, mummified him alive, draining his blood and replacing it with a preservative embalming fluid, wrapped him in papyrus, and sealed him in a sarcophagus. He remained conscious but immobilised for millennia.  In the modern day, the paralysing effect wore off. N'Kantu burst from his tomb in Cairo, initially deranged from his long imprisonment, and went on a rampage. He has since wandered the world as an immortal outcast, often clashing with descendants of Nephrus and seeking purpose or an end to his undead existence. Copies of Supernatural Thrillers #5 has also been getting a lot more attention on the aftermarket, a 9.4 CGC copy selling for $275, and raw copies selling from $60 to $135 in recent days... is something in the air?

In his Substack newsletter, Ben 10 co-creator and writer of the comic, Joe Casey, states, "I don't think it's an understatement to say there's been a certain level of anticipation for this first issue. The dedicated BEN 10 fanbase seems to have rallied behind the book, and we're extremely grateful for it. I also think there might've been certain people along the food chain that had more… modest expectations as to how well this first issue debut would go, in terms of pre-orders in the Direct Market. But we cleared 82,000 units ordered and, these days, that's nothing to sneeze at."

That is true. I still think it's not enough. Dynamite Entertainment is the largest comic book publisher owned by a sole owner, Nick Barrucci. And he says, "The initial orders were at 6,000 units, and these days, initial orders are about 25% to 30% of FOC numbers. That means we should have sold between 18,600 and 24,000 copies. But as we released more information on the series, orders were picking up even before FOC. That shows how fans and retailers reacted to the information that was rolled out and how great this series is. And I truly think that the book is under-ordered and may be hard to get in comic stores for fans who did not pre-order it. If fans did not pre-order the new #1, they should reserve copies now."

And he breaks it down further. "Let me give more information, as the breakdown is as follows. 13,000 plus copies of the over 82,000 units were the Mystery Blind Bags, and about 16,000 plus were retailer exclusives, and limited-edition high-end covers. Still strong numbers at over 53,000 units, but man, we can feel that it's not nearly enough for demand. Joe Casey, who is lead writer on the first story arc, and the rest of the Man of Action Team of Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle, all worked very hard on the series. They put their heart and souls into the series, and the passion shows. I can't wait for retailers to have these in their hands and fans to pick them up. There are incredible plans for promotions for sell-through, and the excitement will just build from there. Wait till we announce what is happening in issues #2 and up."

Joe Casey agrees with Nick – and me. "I happen to agree with Nick that — even at those impressive pre-order numbers — I still think the book was under-ordered. I think there are still BEN 10 fans who might've heard about the comic book but have no knowledge of how the Direct Market actually works. They might figure they can just walk into their local comic book store this week and, lo and behold, the comic book they came in to purchase will be there on the shelf, guaranteed. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. If you walk into your local comicbook store this Wednesday and BEN 10 #1 isn't there… by all means, let that retailer know, and they'll do what they can to secure you a copy, after the fact."

It's called a second printing., Though they usually take a month to get out there. Joe Casey also promises, "this series is only going to pick up steam with each subsequent issue. The alien debuts, the reveals, the villains, the Easter eggs… they're all coming fast and furious. Each and every issue is going to be an absolute banger. All of the best comic book series build serious momentum as they go on. I honestly think that's exactly what we're doing here."

Because it's Dynamite, there are lots of covers and lots of blind bag offerings. And because it's Ben 10, there are Retailer-exclusive variants. Such as this U.K. Blank Cover Podcast Retailer Exclusive variant cover by Kevin Tolibao. Limited print run of 400, going for £10 a pop.

Which will win the week, Ben 10 #1, Batman #9 or Dungeon Crawler Carl #0? Let's find out…

• Ben 10 #1 Cover A
• Ben 10 #1 Cover B Duncan Rouleau Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover C Dustin Nguyen Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover D Sebastián Píriz Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover E Eric Canete Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover F Blank Authentix Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover G Blind Bag Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover H Robert Carey Metal Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover I Duncan Rouleau Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover J 1:10 Eric Canete Black & White Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover K 1:15 Sebastián Píriz Black & White Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover L 1:15 Dustin Nguyen Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover M 1:20 Duncan Rouleau Black & White Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover N 1:25 Robert Carey Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover O 1:50 Duncan Rouleau Signed by Man of Action Team Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover P Ben 10 Logo Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover Q Cormac Hughes Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover R Green Blank Authentix Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover S Robert Carey Foil Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover T Robert Carey Foil Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover U 1:7 Cormac Hughes Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover V 1:10 Mystery VariantCover V 1:10 Mystery Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover W 1:10 Eric Canete Foil Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover X 1:15 Sebastián Píriz Foil Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Cover Y 1:20 Dustin Nguyen Foil Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Chris !mber Variant
  Ben 10 #1 Chris !mber Variant
  Ben 10 #1 Chris !mber Variant

Exclusive variants:

• Ben 10 #1 Animocity Carlos M. Velez Foil Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Animocity Carlos M. Velez Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Animocity Carlos M. Velez Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Dynamite Webstore Lucas Lee-Garza Black & White Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Dynamite Webstore Lucas Lee-Garza Black & White Virgin Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Dynamite Webstore Lucas Lee-Garza Variant
• Ben 10 #1 Dynamite Webstore Lucas Lee-Garza Virgin Variant
• Ben #10 #1 U.K. Blank Cover Podcast Kevin Tolibao Virgin Variant

Some other titles have also got some aftermarket attention, with the likes of Supernatural, and He-Man selling copies for around $6 each. M.A.S.K. and Spider-Man/Queen In Black/Hulk fetching $7.  Flash Gordon and The Greatest American Hero are fetching $8 each. But Dungeon Crawler Carl blows them all away. And the exclusive variants even more…

The Nathan Gooden Absolute Batman #1 Homage Variant is a monster having sold for $200, unsigned. It was sold as an "Absolute Catman variant" by publisher Vault Comics (founded by Nathan Gooden) to those who backed the Dungeon Crawler Carl: Crocodile graphic novel crowdfunder, for an additional $10, before putting it for sale on their home page. It went FAST.

The Collected Comics & Games Brian Denham Variant sold multiple copies on eBay for $195. The store was selling them online for $15, then $20 and then $50 and sold out of them all.

Jetpack Comics Yoshi Yoshitani Variant without the FCBD logo and with white action lines, limited to 700 copies, the store selling for $7, one free per family in person. While the Jetpack Comics Yoshi Yoshitani Virgin Variant limited to 300 copies has the store selling for $35

Major Payne's Comic Compound had a Scott Prather Variant as well as a Scott Prather Virgin Variant, multiple copies of the set have just sold for $90 on eBay, but there are still copies on their website for $19 the pair.

A signed version of the Revenge Of variant by Shea Hardacre for $350 has sold on eBay, and a signed and remarked version for $500. As the seller said "Now…why would you pay for something that's FREE?  BECAUSE YOU'RE AN OBSESSIVE LITTLE NERD, THAT'S WHY!  Also, the price of this item is cheaper than a flight to LA, a hotel for the night, and an Uber to/from the venue! Also, because the person who GOT this book had to stand in line for a looong as time with a bunch of other Dungeon obsessed fans and pay a bajillion dollars in GAS Also — this cover has a VERY VERY RARE (we're talking Celestial Level Rare) REMARK from the amazing artist Shea Hardacre!! This listing is offering the EXCLUSIVE TO PEOPLE IN THE LA AREA and the more standard A cover!" This was from the LA store Revenge Of designed by their own Shea Hardacre. But the store also says "after FCBD they will be available online for purchase!" So maybe hold off on dropping half a K straight away?? They say "Our exclusive cover, designed by Shea Hardacre, will be released in waves to help our fulfillment team. The first round opens at noon on May 6th and closes on May 9th.

Any, why Dungeon Crawler Carl? Well, it is a wildly popular science fantasy LitRPG book series written by US author Matt Dinniman that blends dungeon crawler video game mechanics, dark humor, over-the-top violence, and a satirical game show. Aliens from the Borant Corporation invade Earth, hollowing out the planet's subsurface to create Dungeon Crawler World, a massive, multi-level dungeon filled with traps, puzzles, monsters, loot boxes, and loot drops. The surviving public's ordeal is broadcast live as a sadistic reality TV show to billions across the galaxy, with viewer voting, sponsor loot, and increasing insanity on each floor. Humanity's survivors (crawlers) must level up via a heads-up display, grind mobs, form parties, and entertain the audience to stay alive, or risk boring the viewers and getting culled. Carl is a tough, no-nonsense 27-year-old Coast Guard veteran and marine technician who's just been dumped, stuck with his ex's spoiled cat, Princess Donut, who gains sapience, magical powers, and an imperious personality after chowing down on a "Pet Biscuit." And this is their story of survival…

As well as the seven novels, Dungeon Crawler Carl has also being adapted for comics on Webtoon, by Tevegah/Actus and Laurel Pursuit Studios from Aethon Books. Aethon Books bought a majority stake in Vault Comics last year, so naturally, Vault Comics will be publishing the webtoon in print…

Such grades are rare, very rare, unless the comic has some kind of chromium or foil cover, and suddenly there are a lot more of those. There are far more copies of X-Men Prime #1 in 10.0 condition than you might expect from a comic published in 1995. But for something like Absolute Batman #1 first printing, for which 250,000 copies were printed, CGC has graded five thousand of them. Only three were at 9.9, and none were at 10.0.

But what about this Kickstarter bounty? Well, the reason for that utter lack of perfection in the grade is too many people between the printer and the mylar bag and board. Once the comics are printed, printers who care less for dings and rubbings than you and I pack them up. Then the books are shipped to distributors, rubbing against each other. Then the distributor ships them to comic book stores, shaving more molecules off the sharp paper edges, no matter how soft the bubble wrap, or secure the double-layer boxes. And then they have to be picked up and placed on the shelf. Picked up by other customers and put back. Again and again. Or, if lucky to land in a pull box, there can still be… rifflage. And after all that, you ship them once more to CGC, to slab them. It's a miracle that any are 9.8 let alone 10.0.

But for this Kickstarter reward level, publisher and another old friend of Bleeding Cool, Omar Spahi, is travelling to the printer to take comics off the conveyor himself, picking them out personally, with help from a representative from CGC, to find the highest graded books as they roll off the presses, then flown to Florida to be graded. And if it's a 10.0, there is a $1,000 buyer waiting. Would that make a 9.9 worth $500? What about a 9.8? They will be doing the same for the facsimiles of Phantom Lady #17 and Startling Comics #49 as well. But right now, only Black Cat Mystery #50 has the thousand-dollar bounty on it… for now. May the fates be ever in your favour…

There has been a run on Amazing Spider-Man #345 from 1991 with this Boomerang cover by Erik Larsen. Last week, you could buy a near-mint copy for $10 or less. Now, after very brisk sales these last two days, copies have sold on eBay slabbed for $180 and raw for $40, near mint.

An Amazing Spider-Man #134, with this Tarantula cover by John Romita Sr from 1974, in 9.4 slabbed, went for $425, and a 9.6 slabbed went for $525 last month. Yesterday, a slabbed 9.4 copy went for $656. Raw, copies sold multiple copies for $250 each; someone sold a copy for $4 over a week ago.

And while none of this was going to affect one of the most collectable comics of all time, Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man, with its Jack Kirby cover, there was a run on official facsimile editions yesterday, with copies selling for up to $58 raw.

The attacks of The Hand are reminiscent of a number of scenes from the comic, even if there aren't specific exact references used…

But might Daredevil #174 by Frank Miller, the first appearance of The Hand, be worth keeping an eye on? It was selling for $6 or $7 a few weeks ago, jumping to $36 yesterday…

And then of course there's the comic first to feature the Brand New Day title, Amazing Spider-Man #546. But this has more or less kept its value of $15-20. Though the very first issue with a story from the Brand New Day era, where everyone has forgotten Peter Parker's identity as Spider-Man, was the Free Comic Book Day comic the year before, 2007… with the first appearances of Mister Negative and worth digging through your longboxes for, as its going for a similar price now.

Murder Drones #1 standard cover just sold a couple of copies on eBay yesterday for $22 and $20. while the 1:20 variant cover got a cool $80 for its trouble. And the free giveaway variant to retailers for ComicsPRO went for a respectable $50 yesterday as well, which may have drawn new light on the series out last week.  And this despite having had an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign which some believed may have mopped up all the demand in the marketplace. Well, they believed wrong. Murder Drones #1 second printing is out on the 25th of March, as is Murder Drones #2.

• MURDER DRONES #1 (OF 6)
  (W) Wyatt Kennedy (A) Jo Mi-Gyeong (CA) Alessio Zonno
  Based on Glitch Productions' global animation phenomenon created by Liam Vickers and now streaming on Prime Video, it's three cheers for 'destroy all humans' as all-star creators Wyatt Kennedy (Nights, Marvel Voices) and Jo Mi-Gyeong (Eve, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) unleash the record-setting comics adaptation of the series that you have watched 330 million times: MURDER DRONES! In the far future on the desolate exoplanet designated Copper 9, the humans are long gone but the robotic worker drones they created to mine the planet's resources are still hard at work. Together, they have managed to forge their own makeshift society . . . or so they thought until a previously unknown kind of robot—the dreaded 'Murder Drones'—are activated by a long-forgotten human-scripted protocol to disassemble any worker that deviates from its original programming. But when a rebellious young worker drone named Uzi forms an unlikely alliance with two disassembly drones—Serial Designations N and V—can they, together, uncover the secrets of their origins . . . and stop the spread of the unsettling mechanical virus known as the Absolute Solver? Robots, violence, teen angst, mad science, love, loss, doors, hormones, and chaos! What more could you ask for? A pen, perhaps? It's a clicky pen! (Ask your kids. They'll get it!) $4.99 2/25/2026
• MURDER DRONES #2 (OF 6)
  (W) Wyatt Kennedy (A) Jo Mi-Gyeong (CA) Alessio Zonno
  ROBOTS! REBELLION! AND THIS SICK-AS-HELL RAILGUN! From Glitch Productions and Oni Press, the record-shattering adaptation of the groundbreaking animated series from writer Wyatt Kennedy (Nights, Wiccan: Witches' Road) and Jo Mi-Gyeong (Eve) continues! Following the annihilation of the human colonists once tasked with gutting its resources in order to maximize shareholder value, the remote exoplanet of Copper 9 stands in ruin. But, beneath the surface, the colonists' robotic worker drones have built a new kind of life for themselves with purpose, schools, doors, and card games! Now, teenage drone Uzi has made an unlikely bestie in Disassembly Drone N, whose primary purpose, until very recently, was to destroy the worker drones (for reasons). But it's not just prom dates and awkward silences for these two wacky kids. A mysterious force continues to stalk the drone population from within, leaving a bloody trail of bodies in its wake. It's a real drag!
  $4.99 3/25/2026

NECTAR #1 
(W) Jeremy Robinson (A) Annapaola Martello, Francesco Francini (CA) Chris Shehan
A supernatural thriller where horror comes on gossamer wings. 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. For fans of the Netflix series Midnight Mass, Stephen King's Salem's Lot, Let The Right One In, 30 Days of Night (Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith) graphic novel and film, Those Across the River, The Witch, and The Town. $3.99

• On top of that, the Michael Golden foil variant limited to 350 copies has sold in advance for $150 copy,
• The 1:50 Jonathan Waychack variant has sold in advance for $130.
• The black-bagged Suspira nude cover has sold in advance for $100.
• The 1:40 Dany Luckert variant has sold for $90 in advance.
• The 1:30 Jason Shawn Alexander variant has sold for $ $30 in advance.
• The 1:20 Mann House variant has sold for $107 in advance.
• A signed copy of the standard version by Jeremy Robinson has sold in advance for $75.
• The 1:10 Jonathan Waycheck colour variant has sold in advance for $66.
• And the Jeremy Robinson foil version has sold in advance for $32.

And the quotes that may have slightly led up to this…

• "NECTAR is the kind of horror comic that crawls under your skin—gorgeous, grotesque, and completely fearless. A rare creature and a stunning debut from Jeremy Robinson." – Sean Gordon Murphy.
• "NECTAR is great, cinematic folk horror, absolutely worth your time and money! I love this stuff!" —Christopher Golden (New York Times and Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Road of Bones, All Hallows, and Red Hands)
• "NECTAR is a creepy-cool comic that proves there's horror everywhere! A fast-paced nail-biter of a script, superb art, and moody colors combine to make this a must-have! Highly recommended!" -Jonathan Maberry (New York Times bestselling author and 5-time Bram Stoker Award winner of V-Wars, Rot & Ruin, Black Panther: DoomWar, Bad Blood, and the Joe Ledger series)
• "NECTAR is the kind of horror comic that crawls under your skin—gorgeous, grotesque, and completely fearless. A rare creature and a stunning debut." –Sean Murphy (Batman, American Vampire, Hellblazer)
• "A truly unique and disturbing tale. A great read! " —Shawn McManus (Artist: Sandman, Swamp Thing, and Fables)
• "Jeremy Robinson is the only writer since Hitchcock who's been able to blend suspense, sci-fi, paranormal, and the supernatural together seamlessly." —Suspense Magazine

• FLORIDA HIPPOPOTAMUS COCAINE MASSACRE #1 (OF 4) (MR)
  (W) Fred Kennedy (A/CA) James Edward Clark
  Disco Hippo Wonderland is the number one amusement park in Flamingo City. But few realize its corpulent owner, Jans M'jor Discau, is about to release the most potent drug ever created: Coke45! Fortunately for humanity, Agent Clarke Nebraska is on the case! She'll bring down Discau come heck or high water! That was the plan, until her undercover agent, Tico Senecoza, was captured! And before she can rescue him, Miquel—Tico's sexy loose cannon of an older brother beats her to the punch, storming into the park with bullets flying. Discau panics, dumping the Coke45 into the hippo enclosure and letting them loose on the park, before fleeing into Wonderland's tunnel network! Nebraska's plans are totally off the rails, and things get worse when a marijuana smoke fueled hurricane drowns the park in torrential rain! Now it's up to Nebraska and Miquel to create an uncomfortable truce to bring Discau down before he escapes! $4.99 2/18/2026
• FLORIDA HIPPOPOTAMUS COCAINE MASSACRE #2 (OF 4) (MR)
  (W) Fred Kennedy (A/CA) James Edward Clark
  The hippos are LOOSE! Yes, an entire amusement park filled with ravenous hippopotami chomping on families and destroying property values! It's a good thing Miquel Senecoza and Clarke Nebraska are on the case. Although it's a shame that Nebraska has Miquel tied to a chair while she beats him with a phone book and reveals her tragic backstory that left her hungry…for justice! So adjust your karate belts, and get ready for more daring do…Florida style! $4.99 3/25/2026
• FLORIDA HIPPOPOTAMUS COCAINE MASSACRE #3 (OF 4) (MR)
  (W) Fred Kennedy (A/CA) James Edward Clark
  Just when you think things can't get any worse…they do! Not only did that nefarious drug lord, M'jor Disco, unleash coked-up hippos on the masses, but now his assassin nurses and merciless mercenary Clause Dubois are roving the amusement park as well…AND the park is flooding as a giant marijuana-fueled hurricane dumps oodles and zoodles of water all over the place. How will our sexy, well-coifed heroes ever survive!? Maybe if you buy this issue, you'll find out! $4.99 4/22/2026
• FLORIDA HIPPOPOTAMUS COCAINE MASSACRE #4 (OF 4) (MR)
  (W) Fred Kennedy (A/CA) James Edward Clark
  Well, it took a while, but we're finally at the pleasant-smelling final issue! Nebraska and Miquel have tracked down that stinky M'jor Disco, but thanks to the incredible writing, things take a wild turn that leaves everyone shocked. EVERYONE! Bikini boat fights! Mysterious cloaked figures! Helicopters! Corndogs! This baby has it all! Don't miss the smut-laden conclusion of…The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre!
  $4.99 5/27/2026

One of the D'Orc/White Sky promo posters that retailers received has sold for $100, not bad for something that was shipped out as a freebie (check your giveaway bins to see if you still have yours. Or hell, rip that sucker off the wall and auction it). It's all just another indicator that enthusiasm for what's new from Image Comics is at an all-time high.

But D'Orc isn't the only Image title bragging rights right now; White Sky and Andrew MacLean's Death Fight Forever both burned through printings this week, although only the first seemed to kick off on eBay. But then there's still the steady drumbeat of Assorted Crisis Events, Exquisite Corpses, and Feral, all three showing impressive lasting power beyond launch and retailers tell me Image Comics' Invincible Team-Up campaign will give them an edge on supporting the entire line of books for retailers eager to cross-sell sleeper series to their customers. Speaking of Invincible, there's a new story arc of Battle Beast on FOC this weekend for retailers and Season 4 of the Invincible streaming next month, so the Invincible Universe money train shows no sign of slowing down for comic shops either.

And now we're looking at Robert Kirkman's artists all launching their own single issue series amongst this hotbed of sales vigour, Of The Earth sees Charlie Adlard with Chris Condon on eco-horror and Red Roots from Lorenzo de Felici (which we're told is one of those books that has a plot twist at the end of issue #1 that will retcon a reader's brain and leave their jaw on the floor). We're eager to get an early look from Image of both of those… (* hint, hint *).In the meantime, we'll keep our ear to the ground with Image's happenings as they continue to shake up the market. But we're calling it now: D'orc's lucky strike has uncovered more than one vein of gold in them thar Image mines.

This week, White Sky #1 by William Harms, Jean-Paul Mavinga and Lee Loughridge from Image Comics seems to be following the same trajectory, just with far fewer variant covers for collectors to spread their interest across. The first issue standard cover has sold for up to $55, raw, with dozens having sold for $40-50 and more. While the 1:25 cover has sold for $200.

William Harms is a longstanding video game writer, as Narrative Director on Mafia III, as well as comics including Impaler, 39 Minutes, Captain America, The Avengers, and Wolverine, among others. And he pitched White Sky as the thing to read for those who enjoyed The Last Of Us. He said, "I've always been a fan of ghost stories, so I thought, what if the entire world was haunted? That was the genesis for White Sky, and since then it's turned into a deeply personal story about a man and his daughter trying to survive in that world."

In White Sky, five years ago, the sky went white, and the world ended. Now Violet and her father, David, are driven from hiding and forced to cross what's left of America toward the shattered ruins of San Francisco, chasing a rumour of refuge. But in a land haunted by the dead, nowhere is safe for the living. Image Comics reports that White Sky #1 sold out completely at the distributor level instantly the day before it went in sale and they have fast-tracked it for a reprint. "Words can't express how excited and grateful I am that White Sky has resonated with readers and sold out," said Harms. "Thanks to everyone who ordered it!"

Mavinga added: "My thanks to all the fans who have already shown this project so much support, thank you to the retailers and distribution partners. Thanks, Eric and the team at Image. Thanks Bill for making this happen and a special thanks to my family for tolerating my ridiculously long hours, especially a tiny little youngster that makes her own rather amazing books. Thank you."

White Sky #1, second printing will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, 18th of March and White Sky #2 will be out the week afterwards.

TOKYOPOP Valentine's Day Love at First Sight Titles

All orders placed during the promotion for the following featured titles, published under the LoveLove imprint, will include a special corresponding full-color 4×6 inch postcard – "In So Deep It's Love Already", "Wandervogel", "The Margrave's Daughter & The Enemy Prince", "Akyak is in Love with Hiroko", and "Bride of Ignat". Each art card features a stunning original design on the front and a special Valentine's message on the back — perfect for gifting to a favorite fan or loved one keeping for your personal collection. Full details are available at the "Valentine's Day Love at First Site" event site page.

IN SO DEEP, IT'S LOVE ALREADY Vol. 1

By Reida Soragaki

176 pages

Print SRP: $13.99

ISBN: 9781427883551

For Readers 16+

Available Now

This unconventional teen romantic comedy manga features a heartbroken fangirl main lead and a shy, easily embarrassed love interest.

Because of a heartbreak in her past, high schooler Kirino decided to live more for her idol than for actual boys, but one day, a transfer student named Kametani shows up, and he has a somewhat similar vibe to her favorite idol! When Kametani glares at the girls, saying, "Don't even think about talking to me!" on the very first day of transferring to the school, Kirino gets intrigued by him and learns his secret and…?!

WANDERVOGEL

By Sakae Kusama 

SRP: $14.99

200 pages

SBN: 978142788505

For Readers 18+

Available Feb. 10^th

A romantic mystery filled that keeps readers guessing, this is a fantastical BL story for those who love a quick read.

"I can even turn the stories in your head into a novel."

Okitsu, who had been wandering around Okinawa and had been sleeping rough, takes refuge in the home of novelist Ibu after a typhoon. Ibu claims to be able to read other people's minds, and from the moment they first meet, he shows interest in Okitsu, who suffers from claustrophobia due to past trauma…!?

Is he a delusional maniac or a liar? A vivid and stormy night spent with a man with mysterious powers!!

NOTE: This book contains mature content and is intended for readers 18 years of age and over.

THE MARGRAVE'S DAUGHTER & THE ENEMY PRINCE Vol. 1

By An Ogura

192 pages

Print SRP: $13.99

ISBN: 9781427880604

For Readers 13+

Available February 11^th

This enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance follows a strong-willed, sword-wielding heroine who takes control of her own destiny. 

Anna, daughter of the Margrave of Halmich, is tired of the expectations placed on women in court. She has no interest in marrying a nobleman because society expects it of her. Instead, she works hard on her swordsmanship and dreams of joining her father on the battlefield someday. Unfortunately, fate deals her a heavy blow: when the hostile forces of the Kingdom of Albion invade and take the Halmich heir prisoner, she is given to the enemy prince in exchange for her brother's life.

But even in the face of these tragic circumstances, Anna still has plans of her own…

AYAKA IS IN LOVE WITH HIROKO! Vol. 1

By Sal Jiang

160 pages

Print SRP: $13.99

ISBN: 9781427884893

For Readers 13+

Available February 17^th

This girls love workplace rom-com by popular Twitter artist Sal Jiang features two lovestruck coworkers — who each think the other is straight!

Ayaka is passionately, head over heels in love with her work senior, Hiroko. But no matter how hard she tries to catch her eye, the polished, professional Hiroko never seems to get the hint. What's a girl supposed to do to prove her love to her boss?

Hiroko isn't out at work — though she's got a reputation for being a real womanizer in the local lesbian community. But her self-control is tested when her beautiful and busty work subordinate starts getting awfully close to her…

How's a professional supposed to stay cool when she's sure that Ayaka is totally straight?

Bride of Ignat Vol. 1 Hardcover Edition

By Mayori Mori

244 pages

Print SRP: $22.99

ISBN: 9781427887627

For Readers 16+

Available April 28^th

This beautifully illustrated, award-winning fantasy BL tells the story of Rita, a young man chosen by his village to become the "Dragon's Bride", and Ignat, the mythical dragon to whom Rita is sacrificed. Only the warmth of Rita's loving determination is enough to thaw Ignat's long-frozen heart in this sweeping mystical romance by rising star of the BL world, Moyori Mori. A 2025 Chill Chill Award winner!

"If life is meaningless no matter where you are…" Rita, a lonely boy, is chosen as the "Dragon's Bride" by the village custom. The ancient legend of the "Snowy Mountain Dragon" is now nothing more than a legend, but Rita, unable to find his role in the village, accepts the sacrifice while realizing that it is to reduce the number of mouths to feed. Rita, who was left alone and freezing in the snowstorm, is saved by Ignat, a beautiful dragon in human form. Rita's eyes sparkle because the dragon really exists, and he can fulfill his role as a "bride", but Ignat rejects him, saying "I don't need a bride". Still, Rita cannot give up, and he learns the secret of the ritual to turn humans into "dragons". A silent dragon x a fearless sacrifice. A fantasy BL story of a non-human marriage that will heal your frozen heart!

Copies of Absolute Batman #1 had been edging to and then topping $150 even in a raw and unslabbed/ungraded fashion. Yesterday someone bought five copies for $900, or $180 each. And then today, someone just bit the bullet and bought a Absolute Batman #1 raw for $300.

Other versions, have seen Absolute Batman #1 Raw Logo Foil go for $100 today, with the sixth printing sell for $20, the Free Batman Day version of Absolute Batman #1 sell for $15. while copies of issue 2 are going for a mere $20. Again, all ungraded unslabbed copies.

Graded 9.9 slabbed copies have sold for $750, previously, but they are hard to come by. Two copies at 9.8 graded and slabbed, but also signed by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta sold for $840 the pair last week. The new demand for Absoolute Batman #1 hasn't yet been recorded for slabbed copies, but it all seems to have happened this weekend. Expect more record sales to come.

Right now on eBay, you can bid for a signed and 9.8 slabbed copy of Absolute Batman #1 currently at $255, from 9 bids with an hour to go. You can still buy a raw copy for $133, but it is in Australia while there are three copies for $125 each in the USA right here. Though I expect in half an hour there won't be.

Did you buy Absolute Batman #1 and is it bagged and boarded in a longbox? Would you be willing to turn it into a month's worth of supermarket shopping for your family?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also the title of the Spider-Man run that was published directly after the infamous Spider-Man: One More Day storyline by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada, published in 2007, eighteen years ago. In which Aunt May was shot by a stray bullet meant for Spider-Man, who had revealed his secret identity to the world. To save her life, he deals with the demon Mephisto in return for Peter and Mary's marriage. Which went away, restoring Peter's secret identity. This storyline was a partial inspiration for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day launched with Amazing Spider-Man #546 by Dan Slott and Steve McNiven in 2008. Marvel made Amazing Spider-Man the company's sole Spider-Man title, published three times a month, cancelling Sensational Spider-Man and Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to focus attention on Amazing.

His marriage to Mary Jane Watson was erased from everyone's memory and records, believing in an alternative history where they never married and broke up after a long relationship, and no one knowing his secret identity; Aunt May is indeed alive again, volunteering in a homeless shelter. Harry Osborn was also alive again, the big reveal of the issue, having been living in Europe for several years. Peter Parker no longer had the organic webshooters, and his original mechanical webshooters were back. The storyline had Spider-Man, who had not been seen for a hundred days due to the Superhuman Registration Act. And the stress on the Daily Bugle's financials had given J. Jonah Jameson a heart attack. This sees Peter Parker return to Spider-Manning to get photos to help the Bugle…

Anyway, it kicked off everything that has happened since and is still a storyline that some fans have never forgiven Marvel for, demanding the Mary Jane marriage back. Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort had a message for those earlier this week.

But the movie announcement had a big impact on sales of those issues of Brand New Day, the first for quite some time. Amazing Spider-Man #546, with fifty copies selling individually straight away on eBay yesterday, after selling a few copies a week previously.

A 9.8 CGC signed copy by Dan Slott of Amazing Spider-Man #546 just sold for $175, and so did an unsigned CGC 9.8 copy! An unslabbed newsstand copy sold for $60. As did a 1:20 Bryan Hitch variant cover. A second printing sold for $20. And an unslabbed copy of the standard cover sold for $40. Last week a copy of that sold for $6.

But if you were looking for a bit of speculation, the previous issue, Amazing Spider-Man #545, does feature a prelude to Brand New Day with a number of the aspects that were introduced, and that is still selling for under a tenner.

Exiles #23 by Judd Winick and Kev Walker from 2003 has Tony Stark kill Doom and becomes Monarch of Earth as a new Doom. Recently in the dollar bins, now $50 on eBay, raw, with some asking for $80. No slabbed copies for sale.

Marvel Team-Up #2 by Robert Kirkman and Scott Kolins from 2004 seems the world's Doom revealed as Tony Stark, the Iron Maniac in issue 3. Marvel Team-Up #2  has sold for up to $56, with #3 for up to $50.

Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #25 from 2007 by Fred van Lente and Cory Hamscher in a world where the Fantastic Four are villains, and Victor Von Doom is the hero known as Doc Iron. Recently selling for $2.50. there are copies from mycomicshop available for $2.70. That's because Bleeding Cool has the first time this comic has been mentioned in relation to the Robert Downey Jr announcement, and it also may have the lowest print run than any other comic on this list, but is definitely Victor Von Doom looking like Iron Man…

What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor #1 by David Micheline, Bob Layton, Graham Nolan and Mark Pennington in 2010 which Victor von Doom swaps bodies with Tony Stark in college. Tony aims to take down Doom's Stark Universal company. Raw copies have sold on eBay for up to $200. A CGC 9.6 slabbed copy sold for $700.

Infamous Iron Man #1 – #12 by Brian Michael Bendis, and Alex Maleev in 2016 and 2017, sees Doctor Doom become the new Iron Man following the death of Tony Stark, surviving only as an AI, as part of Doom's search for redemption, now that his face has been healed during the Secret Wars. Infamous Iron Man #1 1:25 variant CGC 9.8 just sold for $600, a raw copy for $190, a CGC 9.8 standard cover sold for $400, a raw copy for $150. Infamous Iron Man #2 1:25 variant CGC 9.8 just sold for $180, and raw for $35, a standard cover sold raw for $5. Other issues from the twelve-issue series are getting similar bumps, but the final issue has had a bigger one.

And for a bonus sixth entry, Clobberin' Time #1 by Steve Skroce from 2023 introduced us to Ogdu Fraize, also known as the Psychopomp, a time thief, who has combined Stark and Doom costumes. Don't know if this counts but copies are up for around $3.50 if you fancy…

But how they'll do it in the movies? No idea. Hey, maybe Victor Von Doom, who hates his hideously scarred face, gets surgery to make it look like the world's most admired man, Tony Stark? I don't think anyone has mentioned that possibility yet. Though Robert Downey Jr will probably just Hugo Weaving-V For Vendetta it…

That Lady Deadpool might appear in Deadpool And Wolverine has been a common rumour, including that she may be played by Taylor Swift. Well, up till now, there had been no actual evidence for this. Until the new trailer dropped. Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld posted to X, "WHO DIS????" with a screencap of what appears to be a female-presenting Deadpool – or at least her legs – from the new Deadpool And Wolverine trailer.

As a result, someone decided to buy Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #7, the first appearance of Lady Deadpool, for over $108 today. Last month, copies were selling for half that. The cover featured Deadpool and his dimensional counterpart, Lady Deadpool, in the fashion of the poster for Trainspotting by Arthur Suydam.

In the comic books, created by Victor Gischler and Rob Liefeld, Wanda Wilson from Earth-3010 is her Earth's version of Deadpool. and first appeared in 2010 in Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #7, in every issue of the subsequent Deadpool Corps and was meant to have died in self-sacrifice in Deadpool Kills Deadpool #3. Fighting against loyalists in the United States after fascists in the federal government started to impose their will on the people, and states seceded from the US, Lady Deadpool found herself up against  General America. Wanda Wilson became a one-woman resistance. She eventually joins the Deadpool Corps made up of parallel universe Deadpool and dies at the hands of a Deadpool Galactus called Galactipool to buy the resistance time. What her role will be in Deadpool And Wolverine, and if it will send back issue prices rocketing ever higher, we are yet to see. But expect a Lady Deadpool comic from Marvel late this year if usual behaviour is anything to go by.

I would also suggest people look out for the second printing with a much smaller print run and this Rob Liefeld cover…

Most raw copies were selling in the $20-$25- $30 mark with CGC 9.8 graded copies selling for around $175. But three days ago it was a ten buck comic, and at the beginning of the month, a mere two bucks.

It certainly might be worth dragging out from your back-issue collection. This was a big-selling relaunch from Marvel Comics at the time, with estimated orders of around 170,000 from North America and the UK/Ireland. There should certainly be plenty of copies out there. And if someone bought multiple, maybe now is the time to cash them in especially if you have them CGC slabbed in a high grade…

Cassandra Nova is a mummudrai, a parasitic life form born bodiless on the astral plane. The mummudrai that became Cassandra became telepathically entangled with Charles Xavier when a foetus. This granted Cassandra psychic powers, including the ability to exit the womb and create a body as Xavier's twin. The greatest enemy of the X-Men, she commanded an army of Sentinels to massacre 16 million mutants on the mutant homeland of Genosha, as a means to announce herself.

More recently, she was brought to the island of Krakoa, where she joined the Marauders on a mission two billion years into the past to save the ancient mutant civilization of Threshold from destruction. before herself being struck down by a psychic attack from Somnus, and was left stranded in the past.

Though with such a prominent role, will Marvel be bringing her back in the comics as well? This image was doing the rounds but appears to be a mocked-up fan-made version. Still, there may be room for something like this…

Here's a look at that trailer again.

Which suggests that January 2024 will bring a new Sinister Sons series by Peter J. Tomasi and David Lafuente, in a fashion ythat Yomasi and Gleason brought to the Super Sons with Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, until it all got Bendisterized. But who will these Sinister Sons be? Well tomorrow's Green Lantern #5 lays out at least one of them.

This is Sinson. Son of… sin. Or rather…

…the son of Sinestro. And hence the Son Of Sin. Now, Sinestro has had other prodigy, namely Soranik Natu. But she is not one (how many are there) of his sons. Now it has been notable that mini-versions of characters, whether offspring or otherwise, have become very popular over at Marvel Spider-Man books, with Spider-Boy, Rek-Rap, Red Goblin, Kid Venom and more. Is Green Lantern wanting in on this action with Sinson? And who will the other of the Sinister Sons be? Green Lantern #4 is published by DC Comics tomorrow. Maybe pick up the 1:25 Lafuente cover if you can…

GREEN LANTERN #4 CVR A XERMANICO
(W) Jeremy Adams, Peter J. Tomasi (A) Xermanico, David Lafuente (CA) Xermanico
GUEST-STARRING THE FLASH! NEW CHARACTER DEBUT: SINSON! After Sinestro's attack on Ferris Air, Hal calls in a fast friend for help. This brave and bold duo comes one step closer to uncovering the mystery of Sinestro's plans, all while Hal continues to figure out what it means to be the only Green Lantern on Earth! PLUS: Meet the all-new character SINSON, in the first installment of a prelude story the to upcoming Sinister Sons by Peter J. Tomasi and David Lafuente!
Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 10/10/2023

GREEN LANTERN #5 CVR A XERMANICO
(W) Jeremy Adams, Peter J. Tomasi (A) Xermanico, David Lafuente (CA) Xermanico
THE RAGE OF THAAL SINESTRO! Sinestro has seized control of Ferris Air! As the rage builds to cataclysmic levels within Hal Jordan's most vicious adversary, the power of the Red Lantern ring has turned Sinestro's wrath into a planetwide fury! Hal's only hope? To break United Planets law and lure the villain out into the final frontier… Then, in Rise of the Sinson: Part Two, Sinson's plan becomes clear: to claim his legacy, he must seek out his father…and face him in combat! The march toward Sinister Sons continues in this epic prequel installment! Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 11/14/2023

GREEN LANTERN #6 CVR A XERMANICO
(W) Jeremy Adams, Peter J. Tomasi (A) Xermanico, David Lafuente (CA) Xermanico
IT'S COME DOWN TO THIS! Hal Jordan, Earth's Green Lantern, finally faces off against his former mentor, Sinestro, whose power to instill fear has been replaced with an elemental rage that could level the planet he once swore to protect. Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 12/12/2023

Later that year, Bleeding Cool was also first to report it a new mini-series from Marvel, called Meet The Skrulls, written by Robbie Thompson and drawn by Niko Henrichon. As we were told to meet the Warners… "The Warners are your typical family. Dad works at Stark. Mom works in a Senator's office. Jennifer and Alice are students at Stamford High School. The only thing that makes them different is that they're shape-shifting Skrulls and have infiltrated our society to pave the way for a Skrull invasion."

Basically, it's the Marvel version of The Americans. It featured a group of sleeper Skrull agents embedded as a nuclear family living and working in the USA, engaging in governmental and industrial espionage but slipped under the radar somewhat. And new Kree/Skrull antics were roughed up in Secret Empire, Bleeding Cool tagged it for comic book speculators.

Back then copies of the original series had been selling briskly on eBay but generally for under cover price – $2.59 to $4 for issue 1, $10 for #1-5.  Tiered variants have been doing well. Declan Shalvey's 1:25 #1 cover variant jumping from $7 to $20, Nico Henrichon's 1:50 variant for $40.

In 2020, Bleeding Cool scooped the news that there would be a Secret Invasion TV show from Marvel and Disney+. We noted the Marvel series Secret Invasion may also be speculator-worthy as copies of #1 were selling for $10 apiece.

In 2021, we noted that Meet The Skrulls was to play a major role in the Secret Invasion TV series, after noting some specifics in a casting call. noted that the return to comics of the Skrull Queen Veranke, and then that the collection of the series had been renamed Secret Invasion: Meet The Skrulls even though the original printing is still available from Marvel.

Now we get the news from Variety that Emilia Clarke will be playing Skrull G'iah (pronounced "Guy-ah"). And that this will be revealed to be the young daughter of Talos from Captain Marvel. "Growing up amidst constant war makes it hard to ever stop fighting. Living in the shadow of a powerful parent makes the situation even more dire—especially when it's a leader who is seen to have failed. In G'iah's case, resistance was virtually inevitable."

And in the comics, G'iah's first appearance? Meet The Skrulls #1, she is the matriarchal figure of the Warners family, known as Gloria Warner, a specialized agent who was picked by the Skrull Homeworld to breed with fellow agent Klrr, expected to give birth to a Warskrull and raising their three daughters on Earth ahead of a future Skrull invasion.

A lot of copies of Meet The Family #1 have been selling on eBay today for $15 to $20, the second printing for $35, a CGC 9.8 copy selling for $135, and CGC 9.8 copies of the 1:50 variant for $300. There have been lots of sales today and many more to come.

• Batman: Son of the Demon (1987) first appearance of Damian Wayne as an unnamed infant by Mike W Barr and Jeremy Bingham, sold first prints for $25 a copy yesterday but today people are asking for $80.
• Batman #655 (2006) was first appearance of Damian Wayne as he is today, son of Talia Ghul and Bruce Wayne, and the beginning of the Batman & Son storyline, by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert. Today it sold for $500 slabbed by CGC at 9.8 and $110 raw. A CGC 9.8 slabbed copy of the variant cover by Andy Kubert sold for $425 and raw for $160.
• Batman #656 (2006) was Damian Wayne's first full appearance. Today it sold CGC 9.8 for $275, and $100 raw,  $410 for the Kubert variant at CGC 9.8.
• Batman #657 2006) had the first Damian Wayne as Robin and has sold CGC 9.8 for $150 today, and $30 raw.
• Batman #666 (2007) featured the first Damian Wayne as a future Batman. And has sold yesterday CGC 9.8 for $300, and $47 raw.
• Damian Son Of Batman #1 (2013) sold for $2 raw and for $80 CGC 9.8  and $180 for the 1:100 Andy Kubert variant.
• Batman & Robin #1 (2009) has sold for $19. third print for $17. 4th print for $15.
• Batman & Robin #10 (2010) using the imagery used for the announcement has sold for $4.50
• Batman Incorporated #8 (2011) with the death of Damian Wayne at the hands of his clone, goes for $15 raw, and $48 at CGC 9.8
• Superman #10 (2015) featuring the first meeting of Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent, has just sold for $12.
• Super Sons #1 (2017)  has sold for $20 for the Fried Pie variant, $15 for the 1;25 variant, $10 for the second print,
• Robin #1 from 2021 has sold CGC 9.8 for $75 with 1-3 being snapped up for $6.50 the lot.

Weird War Tales #93 (1980), by J. M. DeMatteis and Pat Broderick. A VF/NM copy just sold for $150. and a CGC 9.4 slabbed copy currently has bids over $500. And there is a brisk trade in subsequent issues. Creature Commandos #1 (2000) by Tim Truman and Scot Eaton has bids over $20 but subsequent issues can still be picked up at or close to cover price. An out-of-print trade paperback of the original series has sold for over $50.

Richard Flag, Sr. was created by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell, first appearing in Secret Origins #14, which also contained the origin of Amanda Waller. A bargain at $2 right now.

Legends #1 (1986) first appearance of Amanda Waller, created by John Ostrander, Len Wein and John Byrne, has sold for $25 raw, and $80 in 9.6 CGC, and they are asking $200 for a 9.8.

Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1, first appearance of Nina Mazursky, and The Bride, created by Jeff Lemire and Ibraim Roberson has sold for $55 in CGC 9.8, but around $5 raw.

Frankenstein #1 with the first appearance of the modern DC Frankenstein, created by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke has sold for $7,

Detective Comics #469 (1977) first appearance of Doctor Phosphorus, created by Steve Englehart and Walt Simonson, sold for $8 but is listed for more.

Star Spangled War Stories #101 from 1961, first appearance of the first G.I. Robot created by Robert Kanigher, and drawn by Ross Andru, has sold for $30 but it might be hard to find copies with covers right now.

The Fury of Firestorm #35 ( 1985), first appearance of Weasel created by Gerry Conway and Rafael Kayanan, is selling for $2 to $5.

At the time, Bleeding Cool had just looked at a new series called Unforgiven by Tim Seeley and Sid Kotian for 2023, in an attempt to make Vampires happen at Marvel Comics again, with The Forgiven, as a team of unlikely vampiric super heroes. "Who can resist the call of the blood? A group of vigilante vampires have decided to fight crime — while at the same time, wage a desperate war within themselves to reject their own bloodthirsty natures!" We pointed out that Mark Millar has been here before with Marvel over the clash between his Ultimate Avengers comics and Marvel's X-Men decades ago, both with Blade in the middle of vampires vs mutants, saying "I'm writing issue five of six and they're really, really good. How the Hell did this happen? It wouldn't have been as big a deal if I hadn't started the series yet, but it's almost done and just going to look foolish following an X-Men event. Am honestly just so disgusted with this as I've talked about it many times. Thoughts on what I should do next?… How the Hell did this happen when they have weekly meetings about what's coming up across the line?"

Well, it seems that collectors trying to speculate on issue of the new Night Club series have hit a different snag. Another comic book called Night Club that Image Comics published back in 2005 by Mike Baron and Mike Norton, and later with Karim Whalen and Robbi Rodriguez. With an issue coming out twice a year, the indicia states that Night Club is copyright and trademarked by Mike Baron and Mike Norton. The new Night Club has Netflix making the claim of trademarks.

So it seems that collectors have been getting the wrong Night Club on eBay, though those expecting the Mark Millar version have been pleasantly surprised by the Mike Norton version that they got. Here are the covers for the former Night Club and the solicitations for both. And yes, both being published by Image Comics does make this more amusing and weird.

Mike Baron & Mike Norton's Night Club from Image Comics 2005/2006

NIGHT CLUB #1 (OF 4)
IMAGE COMICS
FEB051574
(W) Mike Baron (A) Mike Norton
"The Bar" As Boston prepares for the 4th of July, crime is out of control. An
eerie army of inhuman creatures threatens anyone who ventures away from well-lit streets. Two teen runaways escape to the only shelter they can find from the rain and danger of the streets: an old bar under the freeway. The preacher Walter knows this is no coincidence. Those who join together in its walls are the Night Club. Armed with the word of God, he draws the others to him to prepare for the apocalypse. NIGHT CLUB is (c) Mike Norton & Mike Baron, 2005. All Rights Reserved. In Shops: May 11, 2005 SRP: $2.95

NIGHT CLUB #2 (OF 4) (RES)
IMAGE COMICS
OCT051743
(W) Mike Baron (A) Mike Norton, Karim Whalen
"JUNKYARD APOCALYPSE" Annie sees the future. Walter talks with God. Jerry makes machines mutate and grow. And Jack? Nobody knows exactly what Jack does. The apocalypse begins not in heaven, but in New England. On July 2nd, in a Boston junkyard, these four makeshift heroes must defeat a battalion of lost souls to stop the devil's reign on earth. NIGHT CLUB is and Mike Norton & Mike Baron, 2005. All Rights Reserved. In Shops: Dec 21, 2005 SRP: $2.99

NIGHT CLUB #3 (OF 4) (RES)
IMAGE COMICS
NOV051749
(W) Mike Baron (A) Robbi Rodriguez
"HELLUVA PARTY" The devil throws a party.  As the Tall Ships sail up the Charles River, Screwbarb, the Vice President, and several hundred friends crowd the bluffs to witness the Apocalypse.  The devil is nothing if not arrogant: He's invited the Night Club to witness the demise of civilization, but the Night Club has other plans. In Shops: Apr 12, 2006 SRP: $2.99

NIGHT CLUB #4 (OF 4)
IMAGE COMICS
OCT061878
(W) Mike Baron (A) Robbi Rodriguez
This is how the world ends: not with a bang, but with a viscous shrug, like a snake sloughing off its skin. The President has been murdered. The Vice President, Satan's pawn, has taken control. Only five frail humans stand between humanity and the Great Cleansing. MIKE BARON and ROBBI RODRIGUEZ bring you the final issue of NIGHT CLUB!
In Shops: Dec 06, 2006 SRP: $2.99

Mark Millar. Juanan Ramirez & Netflix's Night Club from Image Comics 2022/2023

NIGHT CLUB #1 (OF 6) CVR A RAMIREZ (MR)
IMAGE COMICS
OCT220052
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Juanan Ramirez
THIS SERIES WILL BE $1.99. TAKE THAT, MARVEL AND DC!
You're 17 years old and you've been bitten by a vampire. Do you live in the shadows and drink human blood, or do you use your newfound gifts for the dream costumed superhero life you've always wanted?
You're bulletproof, you can crawl up walls, and you can turn to mist, bats, or even a wolf. Why not have a little fun?In Shops: Dec 14, 2022
SRP: $1.99

NIGHT CLUB #2 (OF 6) CVR A RAMIREZ (MR)
IMAGE COMICS
NOV220257
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Juanan Ramirez
Danny Garcia is a High School student who was bitten by a vampire, but he isn't going to mope around and be some annoying goth. He's going to be a superhero, and he's bitten his best friends too so they can form a team. This is going to be great. Note the $1.99 price! Take THAT, Marvel and DC!In Shops: Jan 18, 2023
SRP: $1.99

NIGHT CLUB #3 (OF 6) CVR A RAMIREZ (MR)
IMAGE COMICS
DEC220282
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Juanan Ramirez
It's awesome being a vampire-as long as you wear a mask and pretend you're a superhero like high school student Danny Garcia and his two best friends. The only trouble is when you realize there's OTHER vampires out there too, and they're going to murder your ass for blowing their cover. NOTE THE PRICE!In Shops: Feb 15, 2023
SRP: $1.99

NIGHT CLUB #4 (OF 6) CVR A SCALERA (MR)
IMAGE COMICS
JAN230256
(W) Mark Millar (A) Juanan Ramirez (CA) Matteo Scalera
This is already your favorite book. Do we even NEED to write this text anymore? Okay, well, discover the origin of the evil vampire Biker Gang and the truth behind the vampire who bit Danny back in issue one. What was he up to? It's not what you think. Note: This book is half the price of less good ones!In Shops: Mar 15, 2023
SRP: $1.99

NIGHT CLUB #5 (OF 6) CVR A TEMPLESMITH (MR)
IMAGE COMICS
FEB230218
(W) Mark Millar (A) Juanan Ramirez (CA) Ben Templesmith
It's all coming to a head as the vampire biker gang tells Danny and his friends that their superhero days are over and they have to become bloodthirsty murderers just like them. If they refuse? The bad guys are going to slaughter their families right in front of them. Note: Half the price of all the other books you're buying!In Shops: Apr 12, 2023
SRP: $1.99

Separated At Birth used to be called Swipe File, in which we presented two or more images that resemble each other to some degree. They may be homages, parodies, ironic appropriations, coincidences, or works of the lightbox. We trusted you, the reader, to make that judgment yourself. If you are unable to do so, we ask that you please return your eyes to their maker before any further damage is done. The Swipe File didn't judge; it was interested more in the process of creation, how work influences other work, how new work comes from old, and sometimes how the same ideas emerge simultaneously as if their time has just come. The Swipe File was named after the advertising industry habit where writers and artists collect images and lines they admire to inspire them in their work. It was swiped from the Comic Journal, which originally ran this column, and the now-defunct Swipe Of The Week website.

As a result of the Sandman success especially, there has been a boom in sales of collections of the series, as well as a sharp uptick in the value of Sandman back issues, the question is, which other comic book might a keen collector decide might be worth picking up and getting slabbed ahead of everyone else?

1. Violent Cases by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

This has to be the big one, the first graphic novel work by the pair, and originally published in black-and-white by Man At The Crossroads Paul Gravett, of Escape Comics in 1987. It went to at least three prints at Escape, before being published in colour by Titan Comics, then by Tundra/Kitchen Sink and finally by Dark Horse Comics who more recently published an anniversary edition, and there have been many prints between them. But for speculators, I would look to those first three UK printings. The story is told by the narrator, Neil Gaiman, as a small boy who was taken by his father to be treated by an osteopath once employed by Al Capone, with a child's mind trying to grasp the significance of all this. Copies have sold for £4 to £10 recently.

Violent Cases First Printing, Escape Comics

Violent Cases Third Printing, Escape Comics

Violent Cases American Printings, Titan Comics, Tundra/Kitchen Sink & Dark Horse

2. Signal To Noise by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

Signal to Noise was originally serialised in the UK style magazine The Face, beginning in 1989, and collected as a graphic novel in 1992 by Victor Gollancz Ltd in the UK and Dark Horse Comics in the US. It is a story of the difference between a global apocalypse and an apocalypse happening to just one man, with a film-maker imagining the film he no longer has the time to make. It's already been adapted for radio, the stage and a short film. For speculators looking for the first version, they will want The Face Vol 2, issue 9 from June 1989. A copy just sold for a pound on eBay.

3. Mr Punch by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

Again with multiple volumes, Mister Punch reunited the pair on a standalone graphic novel, published in 1994 by proper book publisher Gollancz, in paperback and hardback, before getting the same the following year from DC Comics, recently reprinted in 2006 in paperback by Bloomsbury and in 2017 in hardcover by Urban Comics. The book follows the childhood memories of the narrator, how the natural world and adult world are interpreted by the young mind, while framed with the seaside darkness of the Punch And Judy puppet show. Clearly one for CBBC. You can get a signed copy of the Bloomsbury edition on eBay right now for £30.

The six-figure sum, primarily driven by fans ordering the complete deluxe edition hardcover sets of Irredeemable, Incorruptible, and Insufferable, is an impressive feat for Boom's third Kickstarter campaign. Especially considering a similar campaign for The Boys, which just wrapped a massively successful second season of its streaming series on Amazon, only garnered $111,266 in total.

Which brings us to the speculator potential somewhat hidden in the Complete Irredeemable Deluxe Edition Library pre-order campaign. While most of the attention and promotion has focused around the omnibus-style hardcover sets that start at $160, the campaign also offers more affordable options beginning at $20… in the form of highly limited edition reissues of Irredeemable #1, Incorruptible #1, and Insufferable #1 with new covers by InHyuk Lee. Similar to another comic series with a streaming series on Amazon, Invincible, the special reissues come in multiple variations.

Recent Invincible #1 reissues continue to be hot commodities on eBay, WhatNot, and Skybound's own Comics Vault Live, as few copies of the original printing of the debut issue are available on the aftermarket and collectors look to invest into the long-term value of the series being fueled by Amazon show. With editions of that reissue selling for anywhere from $280 to $2,000… when they are available, it's a clear sign of the potential return on these limited editions of iconic comic series.

Especially ones with a TV show or film on the way… like Irredeemable. As Bleeding Cool scooped thanks to a tease by Waid himself, Netflix plans a feature film adaptation courtesy of BAFTA Award-winning director Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Kemp Powers (Soul), and producers Jay-Z and James Lassiter. The announcement of the new Irredeemable comic series in 2023 may be a signal Boom is confident it will make it onto the streaming service.

Very few copies of Irredeemable #1 have been available on the aftermarket since the Netflix announcement, but those copies that have surfaced have been selling for $30 to $70 ungraded. With investors hanging on them, graded copies are virtually impossible to find, but the ultra-rare "Mark Waid Is Evil" ECCC foil variant recently sold for $150 ungraded, while the ECCC variant of Incorruptible #1 went for $80.

The standard variant editions of Irredeemable #1, Incorruptible #1, and Insufferable #1 only run $20 per cover on Kickstarter (and are still available at the time of this article's writing) and could easily produce a ten times return for smart collectors. Even the unadulterated full art editions, which are limited to 575 copies, are a bargain at $40 per cover. But the version that savvy speculators will snatch up as soon as they read this article is the Gold Foil edition, which will run $60 each, but are limited to only 235 copies – making them the rarest editions of Irredeemable #1, Incorruptible #1, and Insufferable #1 ever produced. That is, unless you count the BOOM! Elite Red Foil editions, which are only available in 9.8 CGC-Graded Signature Series versions at the campaigns highest tier and are limited to 25 copies each.

With 22 days left in the campaign, there's time for collectors to get in on the ground floor, but we predict the Gold Foil editions will start to disappear as quickly as early printings of Irredeemable #1 on eBay.

Now I'm hearing that in order to deliver those second print copies to stores ahead of Grim #2, publisher Boom Studios had to set the print run in advance of final orders being finalised. As a result, it looks like retailer orders will be allocated by around 17% for the second printings… meaning that customers who didn't preorder their copy with their local comic shop may have trouble tracking down a copy when it releases on the 1st of June.

It comes as no surprise to us that retailers' orders for Grim #1 second printing outpaced Boom's expectations based on the rave reviews coming in from outlets like Comicbook.com, Comic Crusaders, and Graphic Policy. Of course, the review I'm waiting on is to see what Bleeding Cool's own Hannibal Tabu thinks of the new series.

We also predicted other popular YouTube influencers like Brian Wood of Simplemans Comics would follow in the footsteps of Gem Mint Collectibles in heartily recommending the new series. Being spotlighted on Key Collector Comics' influential "Keys This Week" list and CBSI's Indie Spotlight list is likely also adding heat to an already burning fire.

As we mentioned earlier, Grim #1 second printing will arrive in stores one week ahead of Grim #2, which means the second issue is up for Final Order Cutoff today, Monday, May 16th. And as we understand it, not only does the second issue begin to pull back the curtain on the mystery that is Jessica Harrow, but it features the first appearance of THE Grim Reaper who it looks like will be a major force in the series going forward. Given that there are always fewer copies of issue #2 available than #1, savvy collectors and fans will want to reserve their copy of this key issue with their local comic shop before FOC closes tonight. Don't say we didn't warn you.

FOCing today alongside Grim #2 is the series whose footsteps Jessica Harrow appears to be following in Something Is Killing The Children #24. With the current "Tribulation" arc introducing new characters and monsters, and topping the sales charts in March, it's a safe bet that the issue before the landmark 25th issue in July will set up key elements in the Slaughterverse.

The only remaining question on my mind is when will we get the announcement of a Grim #1 third printing?

Anyway, it might be worth mentioning as an Asian-American quantum scientist known as Avery just turned up in the CW TV show. And she has a thing for Kid Flash, Bart Allen. Now the DC CW shows don't seem to affect the comic book aftermarket as much as the movies do, but as the Flash movie has been delayed into 2023, and CW looks to the Future of The Flash, is it a coincidence that Avery Ho has just been introduced to the TV show? And might a little more attention be deserved to The Flash Vol 5 #3 from 2016 as a result?

That, as ever, is entirely down to you. Flash Vol 5 #3 has just sold copies for $5 with people asking for $10. Depending on how things go, if you have a copy, it might be something you could consider keeping an eye on. You never know where these things may end up.

Yup, that's right, people are going to either love or hate this as they did One More Day. Might this be what leads to the "What Did Peter Do?" moment that has him on the outs with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and even Mary Jane Watson, as teased in the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man relaunch? You might like to notice that both are written by Zeb Wells?

Does that mean that in fifteen years' time they'll also somehow manage to turn it into a movie? Or could this be a new Amazing Spider-Man #300 with the first full Venom? And turn it into a whole franchise? Let's find out on Wednesday – and in thirty years' time – shall we?

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #93
MARVEL COMICS
JAN220890
(W) Zeb Wells (A) Patrick Gleason (CA) Arthur Adams
THE BIG FINALE OF "BEYOND"!!! SPIDER-MAN VS. SPIDER-MAN! You may surprise yourself with who you're rooting for. Don't miss the conclusion to one of the most surprising Spider-Stories of the past decade. RATED T+In Shops: Mar 30, 2022 SRP: $5.99

Created by Ivan Cohen, Eleonora Carlini and Ulises Arreola, as Bleeding Cool noted, Jesse is unaccounted for in the Dark Crisis #1 cover featuring the new Justice League of the DC Universe. It suggests that DC Comics have other plans for Jesse.

And may give added attention to the issue which currently sells on eBay for around $10, which is cover price, though a CGC 9.8 has recently sold for $35. Future State Justice League #1 goes from between $4 to $6 on eBay, so there is probably room for scope there when Dark Crisis #1 hits. But if I was speculatively minded, right now I'd be buying up a few copies of DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1 if I had the spare cash.

DCS VERY MERRY MULTIVERSE #1 (ONE SHOT)
(W) Various (A) Various (CA) Ivan Reis, Joe Prado
Joy to all 52 worlds—it's time to celebrate the holiday season across the DC Multiverse! In ten stories that will light your yule log and spike your eggnog, Batman decks the gaslit halls, Lobo goes Old Testament in space, Ragman learns the true meaning of Saturnalia, President Superman attempts to figure out how Bizarro stole Christmas, and Harley Quinn tries her hand at interdimensional caroling. These seasonal sagas are sure to help you have yourself a very merry Multiverse! The holidays are nearly here–and the celebration will be felt on infinite Earths in DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1, a new anthology featuring ten tales of heroic holiday hijinks! Here are the full contents of the 80-page one-shot, on sale on December 8: Harley Quinn in "It's a Horrible Life!" Written by Paul Scheer and Nick Giovanetti Art by Steve Lieber Batman in "Christmas by Gaslight" Written by John Layman Art by Dani Teen Justice in "To Stop the Star-Conqueress!" Written by Ivan Cohen Art by Eleanora Carlini President Superman in "Bizarro Love Holiday" Written by David F. Walker Art by Gustavo Duarte Batman Beyond in "Holidays Beyond" Written by Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen Art by Dustin Nguyen The League of Shadows in "Night of the Magi" Written by Sholly Fisch Art by Vanesa Del Rey The Unjustice League of Unamerica in "Have Yourself a Bizarro Little Christmas" Written by Tom Sniegoski Art by Justin Mason Booster Gold in "'Twas the Night" Written by Brittany Holzherr Art by Todd Nauck Prez in "Prez Rickard's Magical Sci-Fi Desolate Souls Club Holiday Special" Written by Jay Baruchel Art by Dominike "Domo" Stanton Lobo in "A Very Lobo Hanukkah" Written by Tom King Art by Scott Koblish
Retail: $9.99 In-Store Date: 12/8/2020

Jake Hull of the Spec Tales Podcast just had Mark Waid on their new episode. The show has a speculation segment where the hosts and guests talk about a comic that we think is undervalued or has some future value. And Mark Waid took this opportunity to say the following "Other stuff without being self-serving, uh, I would hang on to my copies of Irredeemable and track down more copies of Irredeemable if I were you. I cannot specifically say why. There are reasons beyond me wanting you to read it." After Jake told him how much he loves Irredeemable and how it's his favourite work by Waid, Mark then said, "All I will tell you is that you're headed for a world of joy, and that's all I can tell you."

Might an announcement be due? TV show or film? Irredeemable has been optioned by Fox with Don't Look Up director Adam McKay attached to direct the movie, but that was a while ago. Six years, even. Might we be getting an update soon? And might this be the reason that certain folks have been snapping up Irredeemable #1 on eBay?

In recent years there has been increasing criticism of the use of the Punisher skull by police, army, militia, white supremacist groups, QAnon events, and Sean Hannity on Fox News, even Trump Punisher pins have been popular. And then during the January 6th Insurrection at the Capitol building in Washington, many Punisher skull insignias were seen. This also followed Black Lives Matter protests and a focus on real and fictional police behaviour, including the use of Punisher imagery by the police.

Amidst calls for Marvel and Disney to cancel The Punisher as a character, Bleeding Cool observed that this may have happened already and that there had been no published or solicited Punisher comic books since November 2020. There was a collection of Punisher Vs Barracuda – but that series was never completed. It was initially postponed by the pandemic but then abandoned altogether, despite completed issues having been completed. But now the character is returning, changed, in a new series by Jason Aaron and Jesus Saiz.

Bleeding Cool gets a tip that this new look Punisher will first appear in full, after his brief glimpse in Timeless #1, in this week's Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3. Devil Skull chest and everything, The kind of thing that keen Marvel Comics collectors might like a head start over…

Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3
by Chip Zdarsky & Rafael De Latorre, cover by Chris Bachalo
Elektra Natchios has sworn a vow to never take a life as long as she wears the DAREDEVIL cowl, but battered, bruised and with her back to the wall, will she be strong enough to keep it? If she is, will she be strong enough to survive the consequences of mercy?
On sale Mar 02, 2022 | 32 PagesnRated T+ $3.99

PUNISHER #1
JASON AARON (W) • JESÚS SAIZ & PAUL AZACETA (A) • Cover by JESÚS SAIZ
WILL THE PUNISHER'S WAR END?
Born of tragedy. Devoted to war. Unstoppable in his rage. As the Punisher, Frank Castle has become the most accomplished killer the world has ever seen. Now it's time for him to face his true destiny. What shocking secret from Frank's past will convince him to take the reins of the Marvel Universe's most notorious clan of assassins? And once Frank becomes the warlord of the deadly ninjas of the Hand, will it also mean an end for the Punisher? Or a whole new bloody beginning? Join the superstar team of writer Jason Aaron and artists Jesús Saiz and Paul Azaceta for an epic exploration of the dark and violent past and inevitable future of one of Marvel's most iconic characters. 48 PGS./Parental Advisory …$5.99