New Comic Book Highlights: This Week’s Hot Picks and Must-Have Variants

InvestComics Hot Picks. New releases 5/1/24

In the whirlwind of this week’s comic book frenzy, there’s enough drama to fuel a soap opera on Krypton. This week, Marvel Comics decides that it’s time to shock everyone—not with a new superhero romance, but with something that’ll make your grandma clutch her pearls: Blood Hunt #1. Yes, it’s as dramatic as it sounds. This vampire saga is not only unleashing a new villain team, the Bloodcoven, but it’s also making history with its very first “Red Band” issue. Think of it as the R-rated cut of a comic, too spicy for the average shelf, complete with poly-bagging to keep all that explicit content from innocent eyes. A must-watch for the speculative crowd.
Meanwhile, as May flowers bloom, so does the madness of Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). It’s like the comic gods’ way of saying, “Here, have some free storylines!” But the real gold is often hidden in these giveaways, with key first appearances sneaking into the aftermarket when you least expect it. Among the treasures to grab are Ultimate Universe Spider-Man #1, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and, guess what, another round of Blood Hunt #1—because who doesn’t want seconds? Don’t overlook the Energon Universe 2024 Special, Marvel’s Voices #1, and Spidey And His Amazing Friends #1. If you want to avoid the sad fate of the outsider, make sure you snag at least one of each FCBD comic.
Star Wars fans, ready your lightsabers because Star Wars: The Phantom Menace #1 is here to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Marvel promises tales of Anakin Skywalker’s early days that haven’t been told before. Spoiler alert: he was always a charmer.

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This week, Marvel throws a black-tie affair with a twist, celebrating 40 glorious years since the comic world first caught a glimpse of Spider-Man’s iconic black costume. They’re rolling out the black carpet with 23 variant covers, but let’s be real—not all of them deserve a spot in the limelight. Some are downright goofy! We’ll keep it classy and spotlight only the chicest, like Spider-Woman #7 and Immortal Thor #10. Trust us, some things you just can’t unsee. Marvel’s gearing up with a new tag-team extravaganza in Deadpool/Wolverine: WWIII #1. Picture this: Joe Kelly penning the madness and Adam Kubert at the artistic helm, with a dash of classic Rob Liefeld flair on the variant cover. It’s like the comic book version of a buddy cop movie, but with more claws and wisecracks. Deadpool’s third movie is coming soon! Taking a sharp turn back to the gritty past, Get Fury #1 sees Nick Fury recruiting Frank Castle during the Vietnam War. And guess who’s back to tell this tale? None other than Garth Ennis. You know when Garth’s in town, things are about to get intense. Oni Press introduces us to Roboforce #1, where toys and animations collide in the comic world. And DC? They’re throwing a Spring Break party with DC Spring Breakout #1, cramming eight stories into one issue for a whopping $9.99—yikes, indeed. Don’t forget about that Spider-Woman #7. It might just pack a first appearance that could have fans buzzing.

Shifting gears to Dynamite Comics, they’re launching Space Ghost #1 by David Pepose and Jonathan Lau. Yes, that Space Ghost. Meanwhile, Image Comics isn’t pulling any punches either, debuting two new miniseries. There’s Bear Pirate Viking Queen #1 from Sean Lewis, packing 72 pages of story at a steal of $4.99. Then there’s The Whisper Queen #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Kris Anka, which is set to whisper sweet nothings of dark secrets. And rounding out the DC lineup, we’ve got three annuals hitting the stands. Check out the Harley Quinn 2024 Annual #1, Flash 2024 Annual #1 (hint, hint: first appearance alert), and Nightwing 2024 Annual #1, featuring the origin of Bea Bennett.