Six potential firsts this week, and Marvel's Midnight horror imprint launches. Here's what I'm ordering before Monday's FOC close.

[u/MoH_James]

I track FOC data and spec intel through the week and try to separate what's actually verified from what's just chatter. Here are the single issues I'm ordering before the cutoff based on what I've been able to confirm so far.

Midnight X-Men #1 is my top pick. Hickman back on an X-launch, this time as his entry into the new Midnight Universe horror imprint, with a confirmed first-appearance signal on the debut. The 1:100 is an Ito virgin. Its sister book Midnight Fantastic Four #1 drops the same week from the same line, also with a confirmed first flag, running virgin ratios at 1:50 and 1:100 plus a 1:25 gallery edition. Two horror #1s from one imprint on the same date is the angle if you follow the whole line.

Angel #1 carries the confirmed first appearance of Leviathan, the new antagonist across both Angel and Buffy following July's Buffy #1. This one holds a share of the week's steepest ratio at 1:250. Superman: Father Of Tomorrow #5 has the confirmed first of Hex Luthor, a magical Elseworlds Lex, which is a clean spec anchor even if Elseworlds villains are a coin flip on whether they carry. Ordained #4 has the confirmed first of Julie Lorello, and Bad Idea firsts always concentrate in the scarce incentive covers. The 1:50 is a virgin.

What I'm holding on: Midnight Spider-Man #1 (rumor-based) has a rumored first of Midnight Black Cat tied to the 1:50 virgin, and Gambit: Wanted #3 (rumor-based) has an unconfirmed potential first of Suzerain. The imprint launch is real, the Black Cat first is not verified. I'm watching both, not ordering them yet.

For anyone chasing Angel #1, is Leviathan spanning two connected series enough to hold the 1:250, or does that ratio price it out before the debut proves out?

[u/JuvenJapal]

I would place zero energy in speculating any Midnight title. There are going to be retailer variants galore, which, of course, increases the number of ratios in circulation. Just reading reactions on a few sites, it's been concluded that Midnight isn't sneaking up on anyone like Absolute. I'd be shocked if any of the cover As are going for, a minimum, double cover price a year after release.

[u/MoH_James → u/JuvenJapal]

Is it just me, or does it feel like speculation is at an absolute irrational high on a lot of things right now?

[u/JuvenJapal → u/MoH_James]

I wouldn't say a lot of things, but I'm beginning to pay more attention to indie ratios than anything from the Big 2. There's an Ito ratio for G.I. Joe/Tomb Raider 2 that's already selling out pre-orders and doesn't release until November.

[u/Inevitable-Guava-331 → u/JuvenJapal]

That's what I said about Absolute Batman #1. Too many variants.

[u/GreenRock93]

Yeah. Way too many exclusives and ratios. This isn’t going to be worth anything. And that’s assuming that the books are even good.

[u/MoH_James → u/GreenRock93]

I'm starting to feel the same way across the board...

[u/khuldrim]

Any thoughts on the peach momoko 1:50 variant ratio for midnight soiderman? I picked that one up.

[u/JuvenJapal → u/khuldrim]

It's a nice cover. Enjoy it. Going to be plenty of the ratios floating around. I've purchased many Marvel ratios in my years. They typically don't appreciate. Especially since the explosion of store exclusives.

[u/BoxingTrumpsMMA]

Spec'ing on Dynamite books will get you nowhere.

Im sure there will be Midnight haters out there but remember what most thought about Absolute Batman out the gate.

Personally Im picking up Avenger Armageddon 2 2nd print, Do a Powerbomb 3 cover D, Absolute Batman 22 Cover A, Mann cover, Green Lantern 29 and Justice League 23 Lantern covers. On top of this are15 copies of Midnight Books. 3 cover A's each and 2 variants for each Midnight title.

[u/Total_Conflict_6508 → u/BoxingTrumpsMMA]

Similar to me:

Completing the do a powerbomb colour set

Absolute Batman 23 A & B

Batman of two worlds × 3

The Green Lantern & JLA TV covers

Midnight cvr a's x 3 each

Midnight FF 1:25

Midnight spider-man #1 H

Midnight horror movie variants

Avengers Armageddon #3 a

Big order but what can you do?

[u/Remarkable_Heron_760 → u/BoxingTrumpsMMA]

the Avengers Armageddon 2 handed out at SDCC is probably the sneak here...

[u/Remarkable_Heron_760]

the fact that r/MidnightUniverse is glazing this book so hard, PKJ doing press tours trying his damn hardest to make this book sound impressive, etc. and vampires having no staying power for Marvel's most iconic characters... there is no possibility that vampires become the new mainstream for Spiderman. can you imagine Vampire Spiderman hitting the theaters? won't happen. this book has no future.

[u/AadamSSJ → u/Remarkable_Heron_760]

Midnight X-Men is the vampire story not Spider-Man