Final Order Cutoff for the industry's biggest FOC of the month is Monday, August 31 at 10:00pm ET. Two of the year's most anticipated launches close their order windows together: Marvel's new Midnight universe, and the next chapter of Absolute Batman.
Marvel Midnight: three #1s, one horror universe
Marvel's new shared horror imprint launches with three simultaneous #1s, each reimagining a corner of the Marvel Universe as something darker and stranger:
- Midnight X-Men #1 — Jonathan Hickman returns to the X-Men "with a hunger for blood," reimagining the team for this new world of terror.
- Midnight Fantastic Four #1 — "First Steps Into Darkness": an obsessive scientist delves into secrets of the universe best left unknown, with consequences that ripple outward.
- Midnight Spider-Man #1 — completes the launch trio.
All three ship October 6–7 and all three share this Monday's FOC. This isn't a one-and-done event either — Marvel has already confirmed a full publishing schedule extending into 2027, and starting with issue #2, the line's "Cloaked Covers" stay cloaked. Early retailer reaction has been drawing comparisons to the runaway momentum behind DC's Absolute line.
Absolute Batman #24
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's Absolute Batman reaches its next chapter: "Without the badge…without her father…Absolute Bat enters the scene." In the battle of self — Batman versus Batman — there can be only one, and everyone Bruce has ever known, cared about, or loved will face their ultimate inner demons.
One scheduling note worth flagging to customers: issue #24 was solicited for a September 9 release but has since been pushed two weeks to September 23, arriving slightly oversized. This FOC date hasn't moved, though — orders still close Monday night regardless of the later ship date.
Why this FOC matters
A three-book universe launch from a horror-inflected creative slate, landing the same week as the next chapter of comics' best-selling ongoing series, makes this the FOC to prioritize this month. Worth a dedicated table or endcap combining both.
Solicitation and FOC details sourced from Marvel and DC's official September 2026 solicitations, and retailer FOC coverage from Third Eye Comics.