Final Order Cutoff for this week's order window closes Monday, August 31 at 10:00 PM ET — the last chance for your local shop to lock in copies of these books before print runs are set. It's one of the biggest FOCs of the month: a brand-new shared horror universe launches from Marvel, and the next chapter of comics' best-selling ongoing series closes its order window the same night. Here's what's generating the most buzz in the speculation market this week.
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 brings Jonathan Hickman back to the X-Men — this time reimagining the team for a new world of terror, with vampires and mutant factions colliding over New York City. Midnight Fantastic Four #1, subtitled "First Steps Into Darkness," follows Benjamin Percy's take on an obsessive scientist who delves into secrets of the universe best left unknown. Midnight Spider-Man #1, from Phillip Kennedy Johnson, rounds out the launch with a horror take on Peter Parker that readers have already compared to Junji Ito's style of body horror.
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 confirmed a full publishing schedule extending into 2027, and starting with issue #2, the line's "Cloaked Covers" stay cloaked until release. Each debut issue carries a full slate of variant covers, from painted homage covers to connecting and virgin editions, giving shops plenty to build a launch display around.
Absolute Batman #24 — Barbara Gordon Revealed as the Absolute Bat
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. Multiple outlets have already confirmed the reveal driving this issue's order sheet: Barbara Gordon steps into the role of "The Bat," recast as a buff, MMA-trained fighter wielding a repurposed Batshotgun — a significant new-character debut for the Absolute Universe.
One scheduling note worth flagging: 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.
Angel #1 — Buffy's Universe Expands With an Extra-Sized Premiere
Following July's extra-sized Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 relaunch, BOOM! Studios brings Angel back into the fold with his own extra-sized 48-page premiere issue. New #1s that expand an already-hot shared universe tend to draw steady speculator interest on their own, and this one backs that up with one of the deepest variant programs of the week — including a painted Jenny Frison "Icon" cover alongside its standard art covers.
Lancer #1 — A New Action-Thriller From a NYT Bestselling Writer
New York Times best-selling writer Mike Costa teams with artist Jake Baker for a savage, all-too-plausible action thriller set in a near-future arms race. Creator-driven #1 launches with a full variant program — including an Old Masters homage cover and an augmented-reality edition — are a recurring FOC target for collectors looking to build a complete cover set before the first issue sells out.
Sources
- Key Collector Comics — Trending 20
- Key Collector Comics — Midnight X-Men #1
- Key Collector Comics — Absolute Batman #24
- Key Collector Comics — New Comics This Week
- AIPT — Midnight Spider-Man, X-Men & Fantastic Four Preview
- Comics Heating Up Forum — Midnight Spider-Man/X-Men/Fantastic Four
- Bleeding Cool — Barbara Gordon Is the Absolute Bat
- Bleeding Cool — Absolute Batman #24 Release Date Update
- CBR — Absolute Batgirl Confirmed
- CBR — Absolute Batman #24 Delayed
- Popverse — Absolute Batman #24 Coverage
- The Beat — Top Comics to Buy for August 26, 2026
- Comic Nation — This Week's FOC Comic Presales