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)

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.
💰 Spec Pick 📖 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.
💰 Spec Pick 📖 Read Pick 🎨 Cover Pick 🏆 Triple 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: 3
📖 Read Picks: 4
🎨 Cover Picks: 2
🏆 Pick of the Week: Stuff of Nightmares: The Cat in the Coffin #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant)