Well, it’s FOC time…again, which means I wandered into the comic-book mulch pile and started digging around to see what I could find.

Fortunately, this week I actually found some gems.

We’ve got a classic barbarian mendicant, a resurrected Cenobite, and a symbiote situation that apparently requires a flowchart to explain.

So let’s get to it.

📖 GROO: THE PROPHECY #3

Dark Horse Comics
FOC Date: 8/17/2026
Release Date: 9/23/2026
Price: $4.99
Writer: Sergio Aragonés, Mark Evanier
Artist: Sergio Aragonés
Pages: 32

From the Publisher:

With so many of priestess Sybilia’s prophecies of doom not turning out quite right, Sybilia and her townspeople have to wonder: Is Groo to blame?

Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier deliver another stupendously hilarious Groo adventure, with Eisner Award-winning lettering by Stan Sakai and dazzling colors by Carrie Strachan!

Four-issue series.

My Take:

I have been a Sergio Aragonés fan since I bought my first Mad Magazine when I was ten years old.

I'm old.

I collected Groo from the beginning, back when Marvel/Epic was publishing the series, and it was one of those comics that could reliably make me laugh every single month.

And decades later, I'm still excited whenever a new Groo miniseries shows up.

That’s because Groo is one of those rare characters that somehow manages to be both completely nostalgic and completely timeless. You can take the character out of the era when you first discovered him and he still works.

This pick is personal.

If you want a comic that will hit your funny bone like a satirical sword that keeps chopping at it until the very end, grab a copy of Groo: The Prophecy #3.

And if you don't like Groo...

Well, maybe we can't be friends.

Top Pick:

Cover A — No other variants.

📖 Read Pick

📖 HELLRAISER: RESURRECTIONS – HELL'S COUNCIL #1

BOOM! Entertainment
FOC Date: 8/17/2026
Release Date: 9/23/2026
Price: $4.99
Writer: Nero Villagallos O'Reilly
Artist: Francesca Ciregia
Cover Artist: Suspiria Vilchez
Pages: 32

From the Publisher:

Butterball was believed to be dead.

But that was just the beginning...

A new era of ecstasy and agony begins here for Hellraiser! The long-awaited return of Hellraiser to comics is finally upon us, starting with Hellraiser: Resurrections, a series of five one-shots setting up the launch of a new Hellraiserongoing series coming to shelves this winter.

We saw the fall of Butterball at the end of Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Now we’ll witness his rise as the wounded Cenobite is taken in by a mysterious do-gooder who slowly nurses him back to health, all while worming her way into his brain...and maybe even his heart?

The horrors come fast and hard as writer Nero Villagallos O’Reilly and artist Francesca Ciregia weave a terror tale that revisits the classic Cenobite and fills in the gaps between Hellbound and now.

But is Butterball the hero of this story, or is the woman he’s falling for?

My Take:

Another interesting Hellraiser: Resurrections one-shot featuring another classic Cenobite.

This series of one-shots is basically laying the groundwork for the new Hellraiser ongoing series scheduled to launch near the end of the year, and I’m curious to see how everything comes together.

The setup here definitely has my attention.

Butterball is wounded, presumed dead, and then gets taken in by a mysterious woman who nurses him back to health.

Because when someone offers to nurse a Cenobite back to health, I'm sure nothing could possibly go wrong.

Right?

I'm particularly curious about this mysterious woman and what exactly she wants from Butterball. With Hellraiser, "help" is generally one of those words that deserves a pretty big asterisk.

This should be a fun—and probably disturbing—read.

Top Pick:

Cover G — FOC Reveal Variant by Suspiria Vilchez

📖 Read Pick

🎨 THE AMAZING VENOM #1

Marvel
FOC Date: 8/17/2026
Release Date: 9/30/2026
Price: $4.99
Writer: Jordan Morris
Artist: Luke Ross
Cover Artist: Erik Larsen
Pages: 32

From the Publisher:

When last we left the red-and-blue be-symbioted Fred Myers—formerly BOOMERANG, now COMEBACK—he was trying to keep his life uncomplicated.

The last thing he wanted was to get caught up with the symbiote nonsense of Hela and Knull's war over Earth...but the best-laid plans of saps and symbiotes often go awry.

Now, in the fallout, Fred and his symbiote, Passenger, find themselves on a mission way, way, WAY more complicated than your average Venorang can handle!

My Take:

I read The Amazing Spider-Man regularly in the '90s.

Yes, I'm old.

So the original Eddie Brock Venom is the Venom I know best.

I haven't kept up with the revolving door of symbiotes and hosts in a very long time, so when I read that Fred Myers—formerly Boomerang, now Comeback—is running around with a symbiote named Passenger, my first thought was:

Wait...what?

Isn't Fred Myers the name of a store?

I have to admit, I was a little lost reading the description for this new five-issue series by Jordan Morris and Luke Ross.

But here's the thing:

I'm willing to give it a shot.

Because this book has some serious potential in the cover department.

I'm really liking the old-school Erik Larsen cover. It’s an homage of his own artwork from Amazing Spider-Man #347.

There are still six covers that haven't been revealed, including covers by Ito, Matteo Lolli, and Mike Del Mundo. And at least three more artists haven't even been announced yet.

Who are they?

That's the fun part.

They could be anybody.

One of those "TBD Artist" covers could come from a hot new artist nobody is talking about yet.

Or it could be somebody we've been waiting to see draw Venom for years.

And then there's a TBD Artist Foil and a TBD Artist Homage.

I am a sucker for both foil covers and homage covers.

So naturally, now I'm sitting here thinking:

What if it's a Spider-Man homage by Todd McFarlane?

Probably not.

But wouldn't that be awesome?

Top Pick:

Pending — There simply isn't enough information yet.

🎨 Cover Pick

🏆 WRATH'S FOC PICK OF THE WEEK

If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff, it would be:

THE AMAZING VENOM #1 — Cover Pending

Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds.

My Weekly Top Pick is a comic where I haven't even seen the cover I'm picking and it’s a cover pick.

But hear me out.

If there were no covers left to be revealed, I would pick the Erik Larsen cover. I really like it.

So technically, this is still a cover pick either way.

But there are six mystery covers sitting out there waiting to ruin my decision.

We already know that Ito, Matteo Lolli, and Mike Del Mundo are involved, and any of those could produce something fantastic.

But the three TBD Artist covers are what really have me curious.

Those could be anybody.

A rising star.

A superstar.

A legend.

And then we've got the TBD Artist Foil and TBD Artist Homage.

I'm a sucker for both. But, my curiosity says “pick the homage”.

So if those covers still haven't been revealed by the 8/17 FOC deadline, I'm probably going with the TBD Artist Homage.

Because what if we get something completely unexpected?

What if it’s a Spider-Man homage by Todd McFarlane?

It probably won't be.

But comics have surprised me before.

And that's why I'm going to keep digging through the mulch.

You never know what you're going to find.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

💰 Spec Picks: 0
📖 Read Picks: 2
🎨 Cover Picks: 1
🏆 Pick of the Week: The Amazing Venom #1

We highly recommend purchasing from your local comic book shop to help support small businesses.

If you don't have a local comic shop, here are some online shops I recommend. I don't have any affiliation with these shops, and I do not receive anything for recommending them. These are merely shops that I have purchased from and had a good buyer experience:

1. Discount Comic Book Services (Save up to 40% on preorders)
2. Midtown Comics (Save up to 50% on preorders)
3. Impulse Creations (Save 25% on preorders)

Well... it looks like Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft #1 has escaped the Mists and wandered back onto this week's FOC list. I'm guessing it was delayed, so if this sounds familiar, that's because I featured it back on my July 13 FOC Picks.

If you missed it the first time, here it is again.

Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft #1

Top Pick: Cover A – Guillem March

I almost picked Francesco Francavilla's Cover C because... well... it's Francesco Francavilla.

But if I'm only choosing one, I'm sticking with Cover A by Guillem March.

If you grew up playing the classic Ravenloft modules, you already know why this made my list. Ravenloft has always been one of the darkest and most atmospheric settings in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. It leans heavily into gothic horror, haunted castles, vampires, cursed lands, and all the things that make horror fans smile.

And honestly?

We don't get enough horror fantasy comics.

I'm recommending this because I think it'll be a genuinely fun read—not because I think it's going to become a $500 key issue overnight.

Buy it because you love Ravenloft.

Buy it because you enjoy dark fantasy.

Just don't buy it expecting it to pay for your retirement.

📖 Read Pick

Hello Darkness #25

Top Pick: Covers B & C

Once again, BOOM! Studios knows exactly what they're doing.

You know how every week I end my article by saying:

"If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff..."

Well... apparently BOOM! looked at that and said, "That's cute. Buy two."

Covers B and C by Jenny Frison form one gorgeous connecting image.

Mission accomplished.

They got me.

I'll admit it—I haven't actually read Hello Darkness yet. I know it's become one of BOOM!'s most popular horror anthologies, but I can't honestly tell you whether every story in this issue is going to be amazing.

What I can tell you is that these connecting covers are fantastic.

This issue also brings back Marian Heretic, Tini Howard's breakout nunsploitation horror series, while adding a brand-new story about grief, loss, and what looks to be a seriously twisted psychological horror tale.

So yes... this started as a cover buy.

But the contents are becoming more interesting every month.

🎨 Cover Pick

Hellraiser: Resurrections – The Deep Gospel #1

Top Pick: Cover A

We're now up to the third installment in BOOM! Studios' Hellraiser: Resurrections series of one-shots, all leading into the new ongoing Hellraiser series launching later this year.

This issue shifts the spotlight to one of the franchise's classic Cenobites—the Female Cenobite.

After being nearly destroyed, she's rebuilt by the mysterious Engineer... but refuses to become the weapon he intends her to be.

Instead, she's cast into the terrifying Nidus, where newly created Cenobites fight for survival before earning their place in Hell's hierarchy.

I really like that each of these one-shots focuses on a different corner of the Hellraiser mythology instead of simply recycling Pinhead over and over again.

If you've been following the relaunch from the beginning, this looks like another important chapter leading toward the ongoing series.

And Cover A by Rebeca Puebla is an easy choice for me.

📖 Read Pick

Punisher #8

Top Pick: David Marquez Cover

Sometimes a cover doesn't have to be deep.

Sometimes it just has to make you laugh.

That's exactly what happened here.

Seeing The Punisher blast an enormous hole straight through Deadpool is one of those wonderfully ridiculous comic book moments that immediately grabbed my attention.

Sure, Deadpool will heal.

That's kind of the point.

The issue itself promises a showdown between Frank Castle and Wade Wilson while hinting that someone else is secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Sounds fun.

But if I'm being honest...

I'm buying this one for the cover.

David Marquez absolutely nailed it.

Is it destined to become one of Marvel's all-time iconic covers?

Probably not.

Will Punisher and Deadpool fans get a kick out of it?

Absolutely.

🎨 Cover Pick

🏆 Wrath's FOC Pick of the Week

If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff...

...I'd immediately break my own rule.

Hello Darkness #25 – Covers B & C

I know.

It's supposed to be one comic.

But BOOM! got me with those connecting Jenny Frison covers.

Sometimes publishers know exactly how to separate collectors from their money, and this is one of those times.

Between the beautiful artwork and my growing curiosity about one of horror's most talked-about anthology series, Hello Darkness #25 earns my Pick of the Week.

This Week at a Glance

💰 Spec Picks: 0

📖 Read Picks: 2

🎨 Cover Picks: 2

🏆 Pick of the Week: Hello Darkness #25 – Covers B & C

We highly recommend purchasing from your local comic book shop to help support small businesses.

If you don't have a local comic shop, here are some online shops I recommend. I don't have any affiliation with these shops, and I do not receive anything for recommending them. These are merely shops that I have purchased from and had a good buyer experience:

1. Discount Comic Book Services (Save up to 40% on preorders)
2. Midtown Comics (Save up to 50% on preorders)
3. Impulse Creations (Save 25% on preorders)

Last week was exciting for comic book fans. It kicked off with the Avengers: Doomsday trailer and ended with Ryan Reynolds dressed as "Jeanpool" at the San Diego Comic Con.

Now, it's back to the ol' grind. But with a new week comes a new FOC list.

This week's Final Order Cutoff is another one where I'm saying "skip it" a lot more than "ship it."

For example, Marvel is giving us Aliens vs. X-Men, a crossover that's being promoted as something "decades in the making."

Honestly...it probably should have happened decades ago.

Back in the '90s? Sure. That would've felt like an event.

Today, it feels more like, "Hey, Marvel owns the Alien license now. What intellectual property haven't we thrown Xenomorphs at yet?"

Maybe it'll surprise me, but right now I keep picturing Wolverine on water skis jumping a metaphorical shark…again.

Now, on to the books I'm actually excited about...

Forever Home #1

Top Pick: Cover A

I recently wrote a full article about Forever Home #1, so I'll keep this one brief.

This is one of the most intriguing horror comics I've seen announced all year.

The premise immediately grabbed me.

Billionaire scientist Henry D'mour has the knowledge to help save humanity from a dying planet...

...but instead chooses to save only his own family.

As Earth's climate collapses, Henry builds the Forever Home, a luxurious, self-sustaining fortress designed to survive the apocalypse. Inside, time moves differently. Every twenty minutes inside equals one year in the outside world.

Sounds like the perfect plan...

...until something from the outside finally finds a way in.

I love high-concept science fiction, and mixing it with horror is even better. Add in the mystery of what the world has become after centuries have passed outside the walls, and I'm completely sold.

This is a six-issue sci-fi horror series, and it's easily my most anticipated book on this week's list.

📖 Read Pick

Hellraiser: Resurrections – The Onanistic Ritual #1

Top Pick: Cover A

Here we go again.

Last week I picked Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1 as my Pick of the Week, and this week we're getting the second chapter in BOOM! Studios' five-part Hellraiser: Resurrections event.

Each issue is a standalone one-shot, but together they'll build toward the launch of the new ongoing Hellraiser series later this year.

This time the spotlight falls on The Chatterer, one of the franchise's most recognizable Cenobites.

The story follows a young man obsessed with "looksmaxxing" and becoming the ultimate alpha male. After discovering what appears to be an old snuff film showing The Chatterer's creation, he attempts to summon the Cenobite to punish the people he believes have wronged him.

Because, as horror movies have taught us countless times, making deals with creatures from Hell has always worked out wonderfully.

If Hellraiser: Resurrections lives up to the promise of relaunching the Hellraiser universe, this should be another solid entry.

📖 Read Pick

Folk of Dooney Hollow #1

Top Pick: Cover D

This is another book that immediately caught my attention.

It's written by Jeremy Haun, creator of The Red Mother, Murder Podcast, and host of the Curious Haunts podcast, so horror fans already know he's in familiar territory.

The story takes readers deep into the Ozark Mountains, where the isolated village of Dooney Hollow has remained hidden from the outside world for more than a century.

Most people believe it's just another campfire legend.

The people who discover it's real...

...never come back.

Graduate student Kerri travels to the Ozarks to research local folklore but ends up finding something much more terrifying than old stories. Hidden ceremonial grounds, ancient monsters, and a town trapped by whatever lurks in the surrounding woods.

That's exactly the kind of folk horror premise I enjoy.

It's a five-issue miniseries, and while I'm cautiously optimistic, I think it has the potential to be a fun horror read.

There are four covers available:

• Cover A – Jeremy Haun
  
• Cover B – Alex Lins
  
• Cover C (1:10) – Ebrahel Lurci
  
• Cover D – Jae Lee & June Chung
  

My pick is Cover D.

Jae Lee and June Chung have produced some incredible covers over the years, including memorable work on Something is Killing the Children and Shadecraft. Their moody, atmospheric style feels like a perfect fit for a creepy horror series like this.

📖 Read Pick 🎨 Cover Pick

Marvel Mangaverse: Web of Blood #1

Top Pick: Cover B

This one surprised me.

I'm not usually rushing to recommend Marvel's endless stream of #1s these days, but Marvel Mangaverse: Web of Blood actually looks like it could be a lot of fun.

The story teams up Miles Morales, Laura Kinney, and Magik in a version of the Marvel Universe where technology has failed and magic has taken over.

That alone is enough to separate it from Marvel's usual superhero formula.

The setup reminds me a little of a giant What If...? story. It's familiar enough to recognize the characters but different enough that anything can happen.

Sometimes it's nice to step outside regular continuity and just tell a fun story.

My cover choice is Cover B by Peach Momoko.

I haven't seen the final artwork yet, but Peach Momoko rarely disappoints. Her manga-inspired style has become one of Marvel's most recognizable cover aesthetics, so I'm comfortable picking it sight unseen.

📖 Read Pick

🏆 Wrath's FOC Pick of the Week

If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff, it would be:

Forever Home #1 – Cover A

High-concept science fiction.

Post-apocalyptic horror.

A mystery spanning centuries.

A family trapped inside what was supposed to be the safest place on Earth.

That's exactly the kind of premise that gets my attention.

If you're a fan of sci-fi horror, slow-burn mysteries, or stories that make you ask, "What happened while they were locked inside?" then this is one I wouldn't want to miss.

This Week at a Glance

💰 Spec Picks: 0

📖 Read Picks: 4

🎨 Cover Picks: 1

🏆 Pick of the Week: Forever Home #1 – Cover A

We highly recommend purchasing from your local comic book shop to help support small businesses.

If you don't have a local comic shop, here are some online shops I recommend. I don't have any affiliation with these shops, and I do not receive anything for recommending them. These are merely shops that I have purchased from and had a good buyer experience:

1. Discount Comic Book Services (Save up to 40% on preorders)
2. Midtown Comics (Save up to 50% on preorders)
3. Impulse Creations (Save 25% on preorders)

Regrets…I’ve had a few.

We've all had them.

What's your biggest comic book buying regret? I'm talking about that one purchase that seemed like a great idea at the time... but turned into a long box full of disappointment.

Mine isn't just one long box. It's many. But first, I want to tell you about my friend Patrick.

Back in the early 1990s, Patrick and I drove to my friend Jimmy's comic shop every Saturday to pick up our preorders.

At the time, I had already been collecting comics for six years and had started dealing comics myself. I ran ads in Comics Buyer's Guide, printed my own mail-order catalogs, and sold at conventions. Because I ordered so much each week, Jimmy gave me a 50% discount whenever my order topped $100. It helped him qualify for Diamond's larger retailer discount, so it worked out for both of us.

Every month I'd study the Previews catalog like I was preparing for a test, reading every description and trying to predict which books would become tomorrow's keys. I ordered heavily on books like Spider-Man #1 by Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee's X-Men #1, and Ghost Rider #15. I'd also hunt through back issue bins looking for undervalued books like Marvel Spotlight #5 and Albedo #2.

Patrick had a much different approach.

He wasn't really interested in reading comics. To him, they were investments.

One day he flipped through my copy of Previews for a few minutes, stopped on one page, and said to Jimmy:

"Put me down for 100 copies of X-Force #2."

Jimmy and I looked at each other.

"He is joking... right?"

He wasn't.

"Why would you order 100 copies of the second issue?" I asked.

"Because everybody bought hundreds of copies of #1 for the trading cards and because it was the first issue," Patrick replied confidently. "Most people won't order nearly as many copies of #2."

Jimmy laughed.

"Because nobody cares about second issues. Are you sure you want to be stuck with a box of X-Force #2 that you'll never sell?"

Patrick just smiled.

"Oh, they'll sell."

Fast forward to 1993.

Patrick rented a table at the Dallas Fantasy Fair. Most of what he brought to sell was X-Force #1, Jim Lee's X-Men #1... and those 100 copies of X-Force #2.

We spent the entire weekend there.

He didn't sell a single comic.

Sadly, Patrick passed away in 2020. In 2018, he posted the photo above on Facebook. You'll notice many copies of X-Force #1... and right in the middle is that familiar block of X-Force #2… some of them anyway.

Ironically, it turned out to be the second appearance of Deadpool. But the print run was so enormous that it's still easy to find today and isn't worth nearly what he had hoped.

Jimmy had been right.

Patrick was stuck with those comics until the very end.

As for me...

I have enough Patrick Gleason Amazing Spider-Man #55 "Web-Head" variants to shingle my roof.

I have an entire long box full of Shadecraft.

Another one full of Star Wars: The High Republic.

And far more copies of Stray Dogs and Family Tree than any reasonable person should own.

Your turn.

What's your biggest comic buying regret? Let's have a comic book pity party in the comments.

Okay kiddos, buckle up. Uncle Wrath is here to tell you which comics he likes best on the 7/27 FOC list.

Actually, there are only two this week that really stood out. I could tell you about Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett #1. But I personally feel so let down by all the Star Wars titles. It’s quite a lot. Besides, The Book of Boba Fett was already a Disney+ series. If the comic series came first, that might be different.

There's also a 60th Anniversary Star Trek Special that I won’t mention, Amazing Spider-Man #35 (Yeah, not as exciting as #1,000 is it? Have to go back to the current volume numbering), Wolverine #26, X-Men #36, and blah, bluh, blah, blooh, blaaah.

But this weekly feature is about saving you time so you don’t have to wade through the sea of monotony.

So, let’s get to the good stuff:

Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1

Top Pick: Cover A

I met Clive Barker once at the 1993 Dallas Fantasy Fair. He was there promoting The Thief of Always and had the original paintings from the book on display. I had him sign my copy of The Thief of Always along with my copy of Nightbreed #1. It was a great experience, and I hope to write more about my Dallas Fantasy Fair adventures someday.

Until then, let's talk about why Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1 is my top pick this week.

Most people know Clive Barker as the creator of the Hellraiser franchise and the writer/director of the original 1987 film. The comics followed soon after, beginning with Epic Comics' legendary Hellraiser anthology series in 1989. BOOM! Studios later picked up the license in 2012, publishing several series before Hellraiser: Bestiary wrapped up in 2015.

Now, after more than a decade away from comic shelves, Hellraiser is finally returning—and it looks like BOOM! Studios has some big plans.

Rather than launching directly into a new ongoing series, BOOM! is kicking things off with Hellraiser: Resurrections, a series of five standalone one-shots that will lay the foundation for a brand-new ongoing series arriving this winter.

Instead of a traditional five-issue mini-series, each installment is its own #1 issue:

• Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1 – September 2
  
• Hellraiser: Resurrections – The Onanistic Ritual #1 – September 9
  
• Hellraiser: Resurrections – The Deep Gospel #1 – September 16
  
• Hellraiser: Resurrections – Hell's Council #1 – September 23
  
• Hellraiser: Resurrections – The Return of the Priest #1 – September 30
  

That means horror fans will get a brand-new Hellraiser comic almost every Wednesday throughout September before the ongoing series launches later this year.

Each issue is a 32-page one-shot with a $4.99 cover price and features a different creative team, expanding the mythology with new Cenobites, new corners of Hell, and fresh stories while still bringing back familiar faces—including Pinhead himself.

This week's FOC title is the first chapter in that relaunch: Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1, written by Mike Costa with artwork by Paco Camallonga.

I wasn't familiar with Camallonga's work, so I looked him up on Instagram after reading the announcement. His art is impressive. I can't wait to see what he does with this one-shot.

There are six variant covers available in addition to Cover A:

• Cover A – Martin Simpson
  
• Cover B – Sabbatini
  
• Cover C – Blank Sketch
  
• Cover D – 1:10 Full Art Sabbatini
  
• Cover E – 1:25 Full Art Christian Ward
  
• Cover F – Full Art Martin Simpson
  
• Cover G – FOC Reveal by Mercado
  

For me, Cover A by Martin Simpson is the clear winner. It's a striking Pinhead cover, and if you're buying a Hellraiser comic, it's hard to go wrong with Pinhead front and center.

The solicitation also gives us an intriguing setup. An investigation into the mysterious Puzzle Box goes horribly wrong, reopening the gateways to Hell and setting the stage for everything that follows. Since this entire Resurrections line serves as the lead-in to the new ongoing series, this looks like the perfect jumping-on point for both longtime Hellraiser fans and new readers.

📖 Read Pick 🎨 Cover Pick

No Gods, No Masters #1

Top Pick: Cover A

"When afternoon detention is interrupted by the sudden and violent emergence of a kaiju, three New York City teenagers with seemingly nothing in common must work together to survive the apocalypse."

Now this sounds like fun.

Writer Julio Anta describes the series as "one part The Walking Dead, one part Paper Girls, and ALL KAIJU."

Personally, I think Paper Girls meets Godzilla is probably the better comparison. I don't really see much Walking Dead (zombies) in the premise beyond the survival aspect.

I loved Brian K. Vaughan's Paper Girls. I'm a sucker for time-travel stories, and that series kept surprising me from beginning to end. If No Gods, No Masters captures even some of that energy while throwing giant monsters into the mix, I'm definitely interested.

Published by BOOM! Studios, No Gods, No Masters is a five-issue miniseries that debuts on September 2.

This isn't a speculation pick for me.

I'm recommending it because I think it has the potential to be a genuinely entertaining read. Could it eventually become the next big streaming series? Maybe. It's impossible to predict those things. But based on the premise alone, it's one I'd be happy to give a shot.

I'm going with Cover A.

📖 Read Pick

🏆 Wrath's FOC Pick of the Week

If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff, it would be:

Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1 Cover A

The return of Hellraiser to comics after more than a decade is exciting enough on its own. Add in the fact that this issue launches an ambitious relaunch leading directly into a brand-new ongoing series, and it becomes an easy choice for my Pick of the Week.

This Week at a Glance

💰 Spec Picks: 0

📖 Read Picks: 2

🎨 Cover Picks: 1

🏆 Pick of the Week: Hellraiser: Resurrections – New Wounds #1 Cover A

We highly recommend purchasing from your local comic book shop to help support small businesses.

If you don't have a local comic shop, here are some online shops I recommend. I don't have any affiliation with these shops, and I do not receive anything for recommending them. These are merely shops that I have purchased from and had a good buyer experience:

1. Discount Comic Book Services (Save up to 40% on preorders)
2. Midtown Comics (Save up to 50% on preorders)
3. Impulse Creations (Save 25% on preorders)

BOOM! Studios recently announced its San Diego Comic-Con 2026 exclusives, and one comic immediately caught my attention:

Something is Killing the Children #1.

Wait...

I had to stop what I was doing and start digging because I distinctly remember something from back in 2021.

And apparently, I wasn't the only one.

A fellow collector messaged me on Instagram, and we both remembered hearing that the Francesco Mobili 8th Printing was supposed to be the final printing of Something is Killing the Children #1.

I remember Ross Richie mentioning it on Instagram, although I haven't been able to locate the original post or comment. It may have been deleted, or perhaps I'm remembering a comment rather than the post itself. Either way, the idea stuck with a lot of collectors.

The "Final" Printing

Released in April 2021, the 8th Printing featured a cover by Francesco Mobili and was distributed as part of BOOM! Studios' promotion with BRZRKR #2. Fans who purchased BRZRKR #1, brought it back to participating comic shops, and bought issue #2 received the special Something is Killing the Children #1 8th Printing.

With a reported print run of around 75,000 copies, it was one of the largest printings the issue had received.

For many collectors—including myself—that felt like the natural end of the reprint cycle.

Then Came the Slaughter Pack

Just when it seemed the story was over, BOOM! surprised everyone.

The website Comics Heating Up reported at the time:

"Just when you thought that Something is Killing the Children #1 8th Print was going to be the final printing of #1 in floppy form (well BOOM said it was)…"

That line immediately caught my attention because it echoed exactly what I remembered.

In January 2022, BOOM! released the Something is Killing the Children Slaughter Pack, collecting issues #1–5 with new David Mack covers.

The issue #1 included in that pack is generally recognized by collectors as the 9th Printing.

So much for the "final" printing.

But It Didn't Stop There

Since then, BOOM! has continued celebrating the series with numerous special editions, including:

• Something is Killing the Children Deluxe Edition #1
  
• Something is Killing the Children Archive Edition
  
• Something is Killing the Children: Pen & Ink #1

Those aren't simply reprints—they're new ways to experience one of modern horror's defining independent comics.

Then there are the convention exclusives.

Every year seems to bring another limited edition of Something is Killing the Children #1 for conventions such as C2E2, New York Comic Con, and San Diego Comic-Con. Looking through the list is almost like watching the comic evolve into a collectible line all its own.

Now... We're still on the 10th Printing?

Fast forward to San Diego Comic-Con 2026, and BOOM! has announced two more Something is Killing the Children #1 exclusives:

• Numbered Metal Embossed Cover (Limited to 100)
• Yellow Variant (Limited to 350)
  

Here's what I find fascinating:

If collectors generally recognize the Slaughter Pack as the 9th Printing, and BOOM! is still releasing convention exclusives years later, why are so many 2026 convention exclusives listed as the 10th printing here? There were convention exclusives released in 2025. Did we skip some printings?

Edit: After further research, I learned that the 2025 convention exclusives were actually variants of the Archive Edition which doesn't count as a separate printing of #1 because adding the words Archive Edition makes it a separate title (even though it also reprints #1).

So, the 2026 reprints, including the convention exclusives, are the 10th printings.

Confusing? Well, whether it's a direct Something is Killing the Children #1 reprint or a reprint with a subtitle, there's no shortage of Something is Killing the Children #1. And apparently no plans for a "final printing" ever. 

It's an unusual publishing history, and I can't think of many other modern comic titles that have managed to reprint their first issue in some way every year since its release.

The Mystery Continues...

I'm still searching for definitive proof that BOOM! officially called the Francesco Mobili edition the "final printing."

Maybe it was an Instagram post.

Maybe it was a comment.

Or maybe it's simply one of those pieces of comic book history that's been lost to time.

If you remember seeing it—or better yet, have a screenshot—post a comment below.

Sometimes the best comic book stories aren't inside the comics at all.

Something is Killing the Children #50

Top Pick: Cover C Blind Bag Variant

Finally.

We're back to present-day Erica Slaughter.

Don't get me wrong—I loved Something is Killing the Children when it first launched. In fact, I was buying copies from the very beginning because it checked every box for a breakout series.

A monster hunter with an unforgettable design? Check.

A creepy premise? Check.

Fantastic cover artists? Double check.

The idea was brilliantly simple: children can see the monsters... adults can't. Erica Slaughter can, and she's the one who shows up to clean up the mess with a machete (or chainsaw) in hand.

It was horror with a great hook.

Then things got... complicated.

The House of Slaughter.

The Order.

Endless lore.

I'm sure some readers love diving into all of that mythology. Personally, I always found myself thinking, "Can we get back to Erica hunting monsters?"

One of my favorite storytelling tricks is the well-placed flashback. You don't need five issues explaining every corner of the world when a few pages sprinkled throughout the story can accomplish the same thing while keeping the momentum going.

Hopefully issue #50 marks a return to what made this series special in the first place.

The solicitation certainly suggests we're getting back to Erica's present-day story, and that's enough to get my attention.

What About the Covers?

Surprisingly...

I'm not in love with any of the standard covers.

Werther Dell'Edera's main cover is clever. Erica slicing through the logo is a nice visual, but it doesn't rank among my favorite covers from the series.

Jenny Frison's variant is good—because it's Jenny Frison—but she's produced some absolute masterpieces for Something is Killing the Children, and this isn't one of them.

The black blank with the gold foil logo is classy.

The Unlimited black-and-white edition is exactly what it sounds like.

There's also an unrevealed FOC Variant, but until we actually see it, it's hard to recommend.

Which leaves...

The Blind Bag Variant

Yep.

I'm picking the mystery option.

Maybe BOOM! is playing the FOMO game a little.

Maybe I'm falling for it.

But if you're charging $14.99 for a blind bag, I'm hoping there's something inside that's worth the gamble.

Call me curious.

UPDATE:

Bleeding Cool posted an article that gives more information about the Blind Bag Variant and it just makes me want it even more.

1. The Blind Bag Variant will contain new covers by artists such as Jaimie McKelvie and Babs Tarr. On top of that, there are "pieces from two industry legends that will be revealed".
2. No regularly solicited covers, no incentive covers, no FOC covers will be in these blind bags.
3. There are going to be "things in the blind bag that collectors will chase for years. There will be original art on SIKTC #50 sketch covers by co-creator Werther Dell'Edera. There will be books that are literally one-of-ones."

Is It a Spec?

Potentially, yes. With a chance at getting a "one-of-a-kind"? That's where the real spec is at.

With both an animated series and a live-action film reportedly in development, issue #50 could become an important milestone if the franchise reaches an even bigger audience.

💰 Spec Pick

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mirage Facsimile #1

Top Pick: Cover B Foil

Some comics deserve another printing.

This is one of them.

There have been previous reprints of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, but this is the first facsimile to recreate the original oversized magazine format from 1984.

That's a pretty big deal.

For anyone who wasn't around in the '80s—or anyone who doesn't have six figures lying around for a first printing—this is probably the closest you'll ever come to experiencing the comic the way readers originally did.

The original TMNT #1 was self-published by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird with a print run of roughly 3,000 copies.

Nobody expected it to become one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world.

Now here we are.

Is It a Spec?

Maybe.

Facsimiles usually aren't retirement plans, but they can surprise you.

Just look at the 2019 Amazing Fantasy #15 Facsimile, which sells for respectable prices on eBay.

Will this oversized TMNT edition follow that path?

It's certainly possible.

Either way, I think it's worth owning simply because of what it represents.

Cover Pick

Normally I'd choose the classic cover every time.

Not here.

The Cover B Foil gives the original artwork just enough extra presentation to make it feel special without losing what made the 1984 cover iconic.

It'll also look fantastic displayed next to any TMNT collection.

🎨 Cover Pick 💰 Spec Pick

🏆 Wrath's FOC Pick of the Week

If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff...

Something is Killing the Children #50 – Cover C Blind Bag Variant

Yes...

It's a gimmick.

And yes...

BOOM! Studios knows exactly what they're doing.

But I have to admit I'm curious.

With a chance of getting a sketch cover, a one-of-a-kind, and "things in the blind bag that collectors will chase for years," I'm willing to take the gamble. 

That's exactly why it's my Pick of the Week.

This Week at a Glance

💰 Spec Picks: 2

📖 Read Picks: 0

🎨 Cover Picks: 1

🏆 Pick of the Week: Something is Killing the Children #50 – Cover C Blind Bag Variant

We highly recommend purchasing from your local comic book shop to help support small businesses.

If you don't have a local comic shop, here are some online shops I recommend. I don't have any affiliation with these shops, and I do not receive anything for recommending them. These are merely shops that I have purchased from and had a good buyer experience:

1. Discount Comic Book Services (Save up to 40% on preorders)
2. Midtown Comics (Save up to 50% on preorders)
3. Impulse Creations (Save 25% on preorders)

I'll admit it.

I'm a sucker for a good curse story.

Give me a morally questionable protagonist making one terrible decision after another, an escalating sense of dread, a touch of dark humor, and a supernatural punishment that fits the crime, and you've got my attention.

That's exactly why Stuff of Nightmares: The Cat in the Coffin #1 is my FOC Pick of the Week.

R.L. Stine's Horror Playground

Like a lot of readers my age, I grew up with Goosebumps. R.L. Stine had a way of taking ordinary situations and twisting them into nightmares that were creepy, fun, and impossible to put down.

Stuff of Nightmares is Stine's horror playground for adults.

Rather than telling one continuing story, each installment is a self-contained tale framed by the mysterious Nightmare Keeper, making the series feel a bit like Tales from the Crypt. Previous stories have featured everything from a twisted take on Frankenstein's monster to a chainsaw-wielding Santa Claus.

That means you don't need to read the previous volumes to jump into The Cat in the Coffin. It's a brand-new nightmare all its own.

A Curse That Fits the Crime

The premise immediately grabbed me.

Harvey Goodwin is broke, desperate, and convinced the antique stuffed black cat buried with his late mother is worth enough money to solve his problems.

There's just one problem.

His mother asked for two final wishes:

Take care of her three black cats.

Bury her with Lucy, the stuffed cat.

Harvey ignores both.

He steals Lucy from the coffin, abandons the three cats at the pound, and discovers that some curses don't forgive so easily.

What follows sounds like exactly the kind of horror story I enjoy—a darkly funny tale where every selfish decision leads to an even worse consequence. The bad luck escalates, reality begins to unravel, and Harvey quickly learns that some debts can't be paid with money.

Francesco Francavilla Never Misses

As excited as I am for R.L. Stine's story, I have to talk about the covers.

Francesco Francavilla is one of my favorite horror artists working today.

His use of shadow, bold colors, and vintage horror aesthetics always feels like the perfect match for spooky comics. If I see Francavilla's name on a horror cover, I'm probably going to stop scrolling.

For me, the easy choice is Cover D, the Glow-in-the-Dark Variant.

I've always had a soft spot for glow-in-the-dark covers ever since Ghost Rider #15. They're fun, they stand out on the shelf, and this one feels especially appropriate for a comic built around curses, black cats, and supernatural misfortune.

My Pick

I'm not saying The Cat in the Coffin will become the hottest spec book of the year.

I am saying it checks every box for me.

• An R.L. Stine horror story written for adults.
  
• A morally flawed protagonist whose choices drive the horror.
  
• A darkly funny curse story built around black-cat folklore.
  
• Incredible Francesco Francavilla cover art.
  
• And yes... a glow-in-the-dark variant.
  

Sometimes that's all the convincing I need.

Stuff of Nightmares: The Cat in the Coffin #1 arrives on August 19, and if you're a fan of horror comics that mix dread, dark humor, and a little supernatural justice, this is one I'd definitely keep on your radar.

I'll be honest—I had to dig through a mountain of comics to find this week's hidden gems.

There was a lot of... let's just say filler.

That said, a few books stood out. Half of this week's picks are nostalgia-fueled heavy hitters like Spider-Man, Batman, and Dungeons & Dragons, while the rest earned their spot by simply having an interesting premise.

Overall, there were far more Skips than Ships this week, but these are the books I'd feel good about pre-ordering before the July 13 Final Order Cutoff.

Let's get into it.

Amazing Spider-Man #1000

This one almost picks itself.

If you're ordering just one variant (and let's be honest, there are enough variants to wallpaper your house), my current favorite is the Ed McGuinness Foil Variant. The Mr. Garcin Variant is another excellent choice.

That said, Marvel still hasn't revealed every cover.

I'm especially curious to see the Peach Momoko & Frank Miller Variant and the Steve Ditko Variant before making a final decision.

This one's going to have a massive print run, but it's still Amazing Spider-Man #1000. That's a milestone worth celebrating.

Update:
More covers have been revealed! I am no longer curious about the Peach Momoko & Frank Miller Variant (It's a pass for me). However, I am loving the Todd Nauck Connecting Cover (if you buy #1000 - 1003, they should connect into one epic piece full of Spidey, friends and foes).

💰 Spec Pick (long-term) 🎨 Cover Pick

Detective Comics #27 Facsimile Edition

Top Pick: Cover B – Jason Geyer & Alex Saviuk Action Figure Variant

We've seen facsimile editions of Detective Comics #27 before. We've seen the classic Bob Kane cover reprinted countless times.

But the Action Figure Variant is something different.

That's why it's my pick.

The foil edition is nice for Batman collectors who want something a little more premium, while the blank sketch cover has obvious appeal if you're planning to commission an original Batman sketch.

Still, Cover B is the one that feels the freshest.
🎨 Cover Pick

Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft #1

Top Pick: Cover A – Guillem March

I almost picked Francesco Francavilla's Cover C because... well... it's Francavilla.

But if I'm choosing only one, I'm going with Cover A.

If you grew up playing the old Ravenloft modules, you already know why this made the list. Ravenloft has always been one of Dungeons & Dragons' darkest and most atmospheric settings, and that horror flavor is something we don't get enough of in comics.

Here's the important part:

I'm recommending this because I think it'll be a fun read.

I'm not recommending it because I think it's going to become a $500 comic.

Buy it because you love Ravenloft.

Buy it because you enjoy dark fantasy.

Don't buy it hoping it'll pay for your retirement.
📖 Read Pick

Lancer #1

Top Pick: Cover A

Bad Idea has... well...

...had some bad ideas.

I've never quite known what to make of the publisher, so I'm cautiously optimistic here.

The artwork isn't really my style, but the premise absolutely grabbed me.

Imagine Aliens, Predator, Jurassic Park, and RoboCop rolled into one world where exterminating monsters is basically DoorDash.

Open an app.

Accept a hunt.

Kill the monsters.

Get paid.

It's a ridiculous concept...

...and I kind of love it.

Mike Costa is writing it, which gives me confidence it'll deliver.

Cover C, the Old Masters Variant, is also interesting, but Cover A gets my vote.
📖 Read Pick

One Last Trick #4

Top Pick: Cover B – Schmalke

This recommendation comes with one important disclaimer.

If you haven't been reading the series...

Skip it.

This is the finale.

But if you've been following One Last Trick, you already know why this belongs on the list.

And honestly?

I'll take almost any excuse to buy a comic with Schmalke artwork.
📖 Read Pick 

Stuff of Nightmares: The Cat in the Coffin #1

Top Pick: Cover D – Glow-in-the-Dark Variant

This is my favorite pick of the week.

The setup alone sold me.

A broke father steals a valuable stuffed black cat from his mother's coffin, abandons her three real black cats at an animal shelter, and discovers that bad luck has teeth.

It's written by R.L. Stine, and it feels exactly like the kind of dark morality tale you'd expect from him.

Think cursed objects...

black-cat folklore...

and the kind of punishment that perfectly fits the crime.

I know Stuff of Nightmares is like Stine's Tales of the Crypt, with each being a self-contained story. But this premise feels like it could support a longer series. If The Cat in the Coffin spanned six issues, I would likely be hooked in for that ride.

As for the covers, they're all strong.

Francavilla's standard cover looks fantastic.

The black-and-white version is beautiful.

Adam Gorham's homage cover is also worth a look.

But if I'm buying one...

Give me the Glow-in-the-Dark Variant every time.

There's also an unrevealed FOC Variant that I'm eager to see before orders close.
📖 Read Pick 🎨 Cover Pick

🏆 Wrath's FOC Top Pick of the Week

If I could only preorder one comic from this week's Final Order Cutoff...

Stuff of Nightmares: The Cat in the Coffin #1 – Cover D Glow-in-the-Dark Variant

The premise hooked me immediately, Francavilla's artwork never disappoints, and glow-in-the-dark covers are just plain fun when they're done right.

This is the book I'd be adding to my pull list.

This Week at a Glance

💰 Spec Picks: 1
📖 Read Picks: 4
🎨 Cover Picks: 3
🏆 Pick of the Week: Stuff of Nightmares: The Cat in the Coffin #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant)

We highly recommend purchasing from your local comic book shop to help support small businesses.

If you don't have a local comic shop, here are some online shops I recommend. I don't have any affiliation with these shops, and I do not receive anything for recommending them. These are merely shops that I have purchased from and had a good buyer experience:

1. Discount Comic Book Services (Save up to 40% on preorders)
2. Midtown Comics (Save up to 50% on preorders)
3. Impulse Creations (Save 25% on preorders)

Some comics hook you with superheroes. Others hook you with monsters.

The Forever Home looks like it's going to hook readers with a terrifying question:

What if you could survive the end of the world... but something survived it too?

Launching September 9, 2026, this new six-issue sci-fi horror series from Oni Press reunites the acclaimed Machine Gun Wizards creative team of Christian Ward and Sami Kivelä for what could be one of the year's most original horror comics.

A Safe House at the End of Time

The story centers on billionaire scientist Henry D'mour, a man who had the intelligence to help save humanity—but chose instead to save only his own family.

As Earth's climate collapses, Henry constructs the Forever Home, a luxurious, self-sustaining fortress designed to protect his wife and children from the apocalypse outside.

But the house does far more than keep danger out.

It bends time itself.

Inside the Forever Home, only twenty minutes pass for every year in the outside world. While civilizations rise, collapse, and evolve beyond the walls, Henry's family experiences only a handful of hours.

It sounds like the perfect survival plan...

...until one small mistake opens the barrier between their sanctuary and whatever has been waiting outside for countless centuries.

That's where this already fascinating premise shifts into full horror.

More Than Just Another Post-Apocalyptic Story

Post-apocalyptic comics aren't exactly rare these days, but The Forever Home feels like it's bringing something genuinely fresh to the genre.

Instead of focusing on the collapse itself, the series explores what happens long after humanity's downfall—and what unimaginable things might evolve when thousands of years pass in what feels like a single afternoon.

The concept blends science fiction, psychological horror, family drama, and cosmic mystery into something that feels both classic and completely new.

Oni Press even described it as a mind-bending thriller where time itself becomes part of the horror.

A Creative Team Worth Watching

Writer Christian Ward says the inspiration came from real-world fears surrounding climate change and the growing stories about wealthy elites building luxury bunkers to survive global catastrophe.

"It's not hard to imagine," Ward explained, "people going to impossible lengths to keep their families safe."

Artist Sami Kivelä describes the world of The Forever Home as a blend of retro-inspired science fiction, robotics, and familiar modern technology, creating a setting where the past and future collide in unsettling ways.

If you've read Machine Gun Wizards, you'll already know these two creators aren't afraid to think big.

Plenty of Covers to Choose From

Like many highly anticipated first issues, The Forever Home #1 will arrive with several covers, including artwork by:

• Christian Ward
  
• Sami Kivelä
  
• Frany
  
• David Rubín
  
• Miguel Mercado
  

Whether you're picking up Cover A or hunting down one of the incentive variants, there are plenty of options for collectors.

Why We're Excited

Every year, a handful of new series come along with concepts that immediately stand out from the crowd.

The Forever Home feels like one of those books.

A family trapped inside a house where time barely moves while unimaginable ages pass outside? That's a premise that instantly makes you want to know what's waiting beyond the front door.

We'll definitely be checking this one out when it arrives.

The Forever Home #1

• Publisher: Oni Press
  
• Writer: Christian Ward
  
• Artist: Sami Kivelä
  
• Format: 6-Issue Limited Series
  
• Release Date: September 9, 2026
  
• Price: $4.99
  
• Pages: 32
  
• Cover A: Christian Ward
  

Will The Forever Home become one of 2026's breakout horror comics? The premise certainly has us curious. If you're a fan of sci-fi horror, post-apocalyptic stories, or slow-burn mysteries, this is one you'll probably want to add to your pull list.