Ok another week, another set of crazy books coming.
First and foremost, thank you all for working with us on this program in it's early stages. It has been so awesome to adapt and learn with you all over the past 6-8 months. Still some kinks, but overall this is going super well.
On to the spec.
SPEC RECS
Exquisite Corpses #1 - James Tynion IV, Walsh, Bellaire
https://www.ecgce.com/products/exquisite-corpses-1-cvr-a-michael-walsh-mr
This is likely the biggest one we have had in a while. The A covers will be heavily printed, but worth getting a handful I'd say.
The REAL party is in cover C, the blind bag. If the card game takes off, these are going to be where the long term $ is I believe. Assuming some of these are special cards. 13 in total and it is completely random. SOOO, I'd say your best chance at getting them is to go a bit heavier, especially LEGENDS with the 40% discount!
https://www.ecgce.com/products/exquisite-corpses-1-cvr-c-michael-walsh-polybagged-var-mr
Outside this, all the covers are superb, Jenny will likely hold up well over time, and the ratios are absolutely amazing! Jae Lee on the 1:100!
Incentives can be found here - https://www.ecgce.com/collections/foc-incentives
Again, this is Tynion and the biggest effort I've seen put into anything he has done to date. A VERY safe assumption is that this has been optioned already, or will be shortly. It lends itself insanely well to media outside the comic and TCG. Be on the look out for lower printings in the earlier issues, so ratios, blind bags, reprints of early issues, one per stores (I don't see any yet).
Ok, back to hitting the list in order now that we got the highlight out of the way.
Ultimates #12 - Initially had this lower on my list!
https://www.ecgce.com/products/ultimates-12
Don't sleep on this, likely to finally be the big reveal we have all been waiting on. I believe this issue will become a key for this storyline and set a much much larger stage moving forward (do you see me trying my hardest not to spoil things?)
I am grabbing 20, happy to be wrong on this, but I'd rather take the chance.
Absolute Batman #8 - ABSOLUTE FREEZE
https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-batman-8-cvr-a-nick-dragotta
Another key issue for the hottest Batman series in a long time! Mr. Freeze is on both the A cover and F cover. Both covers are absolutely superb, and I will be getting at least 5 of each. This is a longer term play for me as far as collecting goes.
https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-batman-8-cvr-f-brian-bolland-card-stock-var
Outside those, the 1:25 is absolutely unreal. Love it or hate it, it has the internet absolutely riled up and that is typically when I pay the most attention. I will be getting at least one for myself. Personally I love LOBOS' take on bats, like JOJO batman? hahaha.
Free for All #1 3rd Print - Horvath
https://www.ecgce.com/products/free-for-all-1-one-shot-third-printing-allocations-may-occur
Just FYI, they are NOT printing heavy on this. I had a chance to read this the other week. This has option bate all over it and it was actually crazy fun. Horvath is still a sleeper, even after Beneath the Trees, but this book is superb and the 3rd printing is likely the one to try and hit here.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #1 - No brainer
https://www.ecgce.com/products/ultimate-spider-man-incursion-1
This is a no brainer and I will be getting 10-20 of A, and likely multiples of the rest with ratios. This has been a wildly anticipated series in the Ultimates line up, and I am not missing out on this!
I was a Fashion School Serial Killer #2 cvr B - Homage
This is another I've seen a lot of talk about. Personally not a huge homage person, but this is likely one that does well if/when we get a show announcement for the series (which I just cannot imagine an scenario in which it doesn't).
W0rltr33 #14
https://www.ecgce.com/products/w0rldtr33-14-cvr-a-fernando-blanco-mr
This is another no brainer for me, this has been one of Tynions best works for me and the stage has barely been set I feel. The ratios are what I am really after (outside see where the story is going to take us).
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Amazing Spider-Man #1 & #4 - It's spider-man
https://www.ecgce.com/products/amazing-spider-man-1-pepe-larraz-2nd-printing-variant
https://www.ecgce.com/products/amazing-spider-man-4-pepe-larraz-impossible-man-pop-up-variant
Always a good bet on spider, also there is a new variant for #4, the "pop-up". Worth taking a risk on spec wise, especially given everything going on with impossible man!
Incredible Hulk #25 - Iconic
https://www.ecgce.com/products/incredible-hulk-25-chris-giarrusso-variant
Iconic 181 homage, these always do well and Giarrusso is on fire lately.
Batman Dark Patterns #6 - Sneaky
https://www.ecgce.com/products/batman-dark-patterns-6-of-12-cvr-a-hayden-sherman
This is a series I should have mentioned a while ago, it's been a sleeper. Not super valuable, but the story is one I could easily see getting something further down the line as it's been brilliant. Also anytime I see someone tribute Elison I get excited haha. All the covers for this are amazing, grabbing one of each.
Fantastic Four #32 - Lots happening here.
https://www.ecgce.com/search?q=FANTASTIC+FOUR+%2332&options%5Bprefix%5D=last
We have Disney What If? Impossible Man Pop-Up, Saturday Morning Cartoon, AND DOOM covers. All worth noting!
Fantastic Four #48 - Facsimile
https://www.ecgce.com/products/fantastic-four-48-facsimile-edition
These are always going to make the honorable section, they are super fun, they hold their value, and give us a glimpse/chance to check out books many of us will never be able to afford. I always grab 2, 1 to read, 1 to save!
The Thing #1 - Fleecs,
https://www.ecgce.com/products/the-thing-1
Fleecs is at the helm here, and I am curious. Normally not one to go after his work, nothing against him, just not a huge fan. But this has me intrigued, so will be grabbing some. He def has a talent for creating buzz, so it's worth adding to the recommended list.
MOON KNIGHT FIST OF THE KHONSHU #8 - Alex Ross
https://www.ecgce.com/products/moon-knight-fist-of-khonshu-8-alex-ross-timeless-virgin-variant
Because Alex Ross! Also this looks like it will be a pretty important issue with Carver and Knight, worth checking out.
Seven Years in Darkness TP Year TWO
https://www.ecgce.com/products/seven-years-in-darkness-tp-year-two-previously-offered-thru-diamond
I've said it since before this dropped, get what you can with this series. This isn't so much a spec rec, but a grab it and read it. Joe is just off the charts with this series and it will not be long until the rest of the world catches up. It is seriously some of the best world building, character development, art, and pure storytelling out there. A visceral uppercut to the occipital lobe!
He was also smart, and made these into a very easy to travel with format, seriously waiting for the rest of the industry to start paying attention to what Joe does and take note!
SiKtC #42 - Because SiKtC
https://www.ecgce.com/products/something-is-killing-the-children-42-a-main-dressed-delledera
It's SiKtC, I don't need to explain further. Some superb ratios as well! The Lee & Chung is the one I am nabbing 100% multiples of.
Supergirl #1 - Campbell is back
https://www.ecgce.com/products/supergirl-1-cvr-a-sophie-campbell
This is not a huge spec rec, but I pay attention when Campbell is on the case with female characters I love. Def worth checking out, there are some absolutely awesome covers!
BOOKS OF INTEREST
Absolute Wildcats - Jim Lee, Silvestri, Morrison!
https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-wildcats-by-jim-lee-hc-2025-edition
A new collected edition of one of the most iconic series to come out of the 90s and the FIRST work published by Lee to help launch the brand new label we all now know and love IMAGE Comics. This is arguably one of the most important collections for anyone who loves comics and the history of our industry. Ths is literally the series that put IMAGE in the lime light, and helped establish Lee as an absolute pioneer and force on the business end of all of this.
Batman Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special Facsimile Edition #1
Fun facsimile, nothing super note worthy outside these are awesome!
Transformers Compendium Vol. 1
Bill Sienkiewicz on a cover for Transformers.... SOLD
Dark Regards #1 - Dave Hill, Topilin
https://www.ecgce.com/products/dark-regards-1-of-4-cvr-a-artom-topilin
The premise is wild, the art is absolutely nuts, I am sold. The incentives are absolutely fucking LEGENDARY as well!
Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Omnibus Vol. 2 - HOLY SHIT THESE ARE COOL
https://www.ecgce.com/products/ghost-rider-danny-ketch-omnibus-vol-2
https://www.ecgce.com/products/ghost-rider-danny-ketch-omnibus-vol-2-variant-dm-only
Both of these have made it into my "will be buying", the story is super fun, but the covers are absolutely insane!
Minor Arcana #7 - you will thank me in a few years
https://www.ecgce.com/products/minor-arcana-7-c-boom-20th-anniversary-variant-dressed-lee-chung
I am grabbing all the early issues, this series is Lemire at his finest and it has a years long run ahead. BOOM 20th highlighted in link above, but grabbing all covers.
Sacred Decay: The Art of Lauren Marx
https://www.ecgce.com/products/sacred-decay-the-art-of-lauren-marx-second-edition
No spec here, just a really incredible book, but a really incredible artist.
Shade the Changin Man - Milligan & Bachalo
This is another one, not really a spec rec, but a wild wild wild piece of work.