SPEC RECS for 5/05/25

May 4, 2025

I know this is going up rather late. This was the week of Free Comic Book Day and as a new comic book store owner it's been non-stop prep on top of everything else - so I apologize if I'm a bit more contrite than usual.

SPEC RECS

Wolverine #8 2nd Print - Just grab a few

https://www.ecgce.com/products/wolverine-8-daniel-warren-johnson-2nd-printing-variant

This is one that I hate listing because it’s spec bait, but if it’s remotely as successful as the other similar it will easily be 3x-4x short term. I am taking the risk and getting 25

Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 - Because these will always be mentioned

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-martian-manhunter-3-of-6-cvr-a-javier-rodriguez

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-martian-manhunter-3-of-6-cvr-b-ian-bertram-card-stock-var

This series is my new #2 fav from this run, and I expect #3 to be nothing short of superb. I am speccing this series overall, so I am buying what I can now. The 1:25 and 1:50 likely have me getting enough of A and B to get those as well, lucky for me I am a HUGE Bertram fan and the B cover is amazing!

Absolute Trades - Finally we have collected

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-batman-vol-1-the-zoo-1 - Trade

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-batman-vol-1-the-zoo - Hard Cover

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-superman-vol-1-last-dust-of-krypton-1 - Trade

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-superman-vol-1-last-dust-of-krypton - Hard Cover

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-wonder-woman-vol-1-the-last-amazon-1 - Trade

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-wonder-woman-vol-1-the-last-amazon - Hard Cover

I am grabbing one of each (one for reading and one for the collected shelf). These series are just fire hot, and with the, now official from Snyder, that 24 issues are planned to start, I am building my collection (you all know this already though). *anyone else like my insane choice of comma usage?

Absolute Wonder Woman #8 - Buy Absolute Early

https://www.ecgce.com/products/absolute-wonder-woman-8-cvr-a-hayden-sherman

I will keep saying it, I am buying these early issues and speccing the ENTIRE run. If you can afford $5-10 you should be doing the same as these come out!

The Umbrella Academy Plan B #1 - Highly recommend

https://www.ecgce.com/products/the-umbrella-academy-plan-b-1-cvr-a-gabriel-ba

The series has been doing insanely well, and I know the networks are looking for media fuel for it. Well here we have it, Way and Ba back at it with more UA for us to fall in love with.

Imperial #1 - Been hearing a lot

https://www.ecgce.com/products/imperial-1

Hickman is back, and this series has a lot of rumblings. I am grabbing a bunch, and I am tempted to go for the ratios as well. Hickman has rewritten history a few times, and this looks to be a launch that Marvel is pumping a lot into. I am looking longer term for this to potentially have something that sticks.

Jeff the Land Shark #1 - Can’t get enough

https://www.ecgce.com/products/jeff-the-land-shark-1

Title says it all, I can’t get enough of Jeff and neither can the world apparently. Excited for this, and I am def grabbing one of each of the covers, not a super heavy spec buy. I’d rather grab some though, and be happy later!

Amazing Spider-Man #5 - This has a Spec and Honorable Mention

https://www.ecgce.com/products/amazing-spider-man-5-peach-momoko-marvel-rivals-variant

The Rivals covers from Peach are always going to be, “don’t miss this”. All the rivals covers have been doing well, I don’t know the long term, but I am banking on these to become something people aim to try and collect all of over time.

Bug Wars #1 3rd Print - This series is SO GOOD

https://www.ecgce.com/products/bug-wars-1-of-6-3rd-ptg-mr

This is one I am encouraging people to take a risk on. It’s wildly good, but also has insane potential down the line. These 3rd printings for #1 (and any future printings) has the possibility to be more sought after down the line. I am grabbing a bunch, also PEACH!

Lost Fantasy #1 2nd print - just yes

https://www.ecgce.com/products/lost-fantasy-1-2nd-ptg

This is an auto yes for me, it’s a lovely cover homage and likely lower print as it’s a 2nd printing.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

All New Venom #7 - Cover A

https://www.ecgce.com/products/all-new-venom-7

This isn’t in the main spec because I don’t know a ton about the series, but I see FLASH has made a front cover appearance and looks to be back in a big way. I am grabbing 5 as this series has had some random heaters

The variants are 10000% also something I am nabbing 5 of each.

https://www.ecgce.com/products/all-new-venom-7-david-baldeon-spoiler-variant

https://www.ecgce.com/products/all-new-venom-7-ken-lashley-bring-on-the-bad-guys-variant

Predator Vs. Spider-man #1 2nd print - sneaky

https://www.ecgce.com/products/predator-vs-spider-man-1-greg-land-2nd-printing-variant

This one was sneaky, I am grabbing some. Been enjoying these a lot so far!

Amazing Spider-Man #5 - Spoiler Variant

https://www.ecgce.com/products/amazing-spider-man-5-mark-bagley-spoiler-variant

https://www.ecgce.com/products/amazing-spider-man-5-ryan-brown-bring-on-the-bad-guys-variant

Honestly, grabbing all of them, this new run is “amazing” (see what I did there). The Mark Bagley covers have been wonderful though! The bring on the bad guys variants are something I am noting as well!

Pale Knight #1 - Stupidly awesome looking

https://www.ecgce.com/products/pale-knight-1-of-6-cvr-a-nick-marinkovich-mr

The series just looks amazing, not a big spec rec, but def a “grab if you like fun shit” rec!

Marvel Knights #1 - paying attention

https://www.ecgce.com/products/marvel-knights-the-world-to-come-1

This is one I’ve been tracking for a while and I am super intrigued by. The sheer number of covers and “spoiler” nature of many of them has me intrigued and wondering what they have in store for this!

Immortal Thor #28 - RIVALS

https://www.ecgce.com/products/immortal-thor-24-peach-momoko-marvel-rivals-variant

Another rivals variant, means another 10 books on my weekly order!

Godzilla Vs Avengers #1 - Another super fun book

https://www.ecgce.com/products/godzilla-vs-avengers-1

This is all about the covers for me, there are like 100000 amazing variants. I am gonna grab some for sure.

Hello Darkness #11 - We are still going baby!

https://www.ecgce.com/products/hello-darkness-11-a-main-dressed-mercado

https://www.ecgce.com/products/hello-darkness-11-b-variant-dressed-frison

https://www.ecgce.com/products/hello-darkness-11-d-boom-20th-anniversary-variant-dressed-lee-chung

These are the covers I am grabbing, this anthology has been amazing and with BOOM now at PRH I am nabbing these ongoing as I see big things for this down the line.

All New Collector's Edition #58 - fun fun

https://www.ecgce.com/products/all-new-collectors-edition-58-superman-vs-shazam-facsimile-edition-cvr-a-rich-buckler-dick-giordano

Facsimiles will always make the list

CODENAME GI JOE Deluxe Editions - YES YES YES

https://www.ecgce.com/products/codename-gi-joe-deluxe-edition-hc-book-01-direct-market-exclusive-andrea-milana-annalisa-leoni-spot-foil-cvr

https://www.ecgce.com/products/codename-gi-joe-deluxe-edition-hc-book-01-tom-reilly-cvr

As with Transformers, these are something I am grabbing. These likely don’t stay in print forever and these foiled versions are just insane in person! Also the price point, even before the ViP discount is fucking legit!