New Comic Book Day:
what's dropping.

Wednesday is the best day of the week if you love comics — it's when the new books hit the shelves. Every Tuesday night collectors are checking pull lists and every Wednesday morning the shops fill up. So here's my rundown of what's landing over the next two New Comic Book Days: the 8th and the 15th of July. Not every variant and reprint — just the stuff actually worth your attention, and the odd one worth watching as a spec.

Wednesday 8th July — the highlights

Daredevil #4 (Marvel)

I'll be straight with you on this one — I've not been as impressed as I wanted to be. The book looks superb, no argument there, but the writing hasn't grabbed me, and the early introduction of Spider-Man leans on a load of talky classroom nonsense that drags the pace right down. Gorgeous art wrapped around a story that isn't quite landing for me yet. Issue #4 arrives with the usual small army of variants (Magic: The Gathering tie-ins, a Marvel Television cover, incentive ratios) so cover chasers are well catered for. I did a full breakdown of exactly what's frustrating me:

Absolute Catwoman #2 (DC)

Now this is the one I'm genuinely excited for. I loved Absolute Catwoman #1 — it's exactly the kind of bold reinvention the Absolute line does so well, and it left me properly looking forward to issue #2. The Absolute Universe keeps expanding (I wrote a full explainer here if you're new to it), and a strong second issue is where a new series proves it's got legs. Early Absolute issues have a real habit of becoming keys, so this is one I'd grab a first print of. Here's my take on why #1 worked:

Transformers #34 (Image / Skybound)

Daniel Warren Johnson's Transformers has been one of the best-reviewed books on the stands full stop — not just "good for a licensed comic," genuinely great. Issue #34 continues that. The Skybound Energon Universe as a whole has been a modern spec darling, and this title is the flagship.

Also landing the 8th

Uncanny X-Men #31, Wolverine #23, and a raft of Marvel line books (Sorcerer Supreme, Star Wars: Shadow of Maul) keep the shelves busy. On the indie side there's plenty of Dynamite and small-press. It's a broad week without one single mega-key — a good "catch up on your runs" Wednesday.

Wednesday 15th July — the highlights

The following week has a different flavour — a couple of genuine event beats and some milestone numbers worth knowing about.

Milestone watch: Action Comics #1100

July's the month Action Comics rolls over a huge round number. Milestone issues (those big #1000-plus numbers) tend to get anniversary treatment, extra pages and a stack of variants — and they matter historically. Action Comics is the title that started it all back in 1938, so any milestone here is worth a look, reader or collector.

The Absolute line rolls on

Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman and Absolute Wonder Woman all continue through July, and the line has been the single most important thing DC's done in years. If you're building a modern collection, the early runs of these are the modern keys people will be chasing in five years. First prints, sharp copies.

DC/Marvel crossover collections

July also brings the collected DC/Marvel team-up material into print — Batman/Deadpool, Superman/Spider-Man and more, including digital-first stories printed for the first time. Crossovers between the Big Two are rare events, and the collections are the accessible way in if you missed the singles.

My collector's take

Here's the honest advice I'd give anyone walking into a shop over the next fortnight. Buy what you'll actually read first — that's the whole point. For spec, the Absolute #1s and early issues are the safest modern bet because the line has real staying power and demand. Milestone issues like Action #1100 are worth one copy for the shelf. And don't get sucked into buying every variant of a book — a stack of ratio variants you paid over odds for is how people lose money in this hobby. One or two covers you genuinely love beats ten you're only holding to flip.

And a note on condition: new books get damaged in the rush. Check the spine, corners and any print defects before you buy if you're grade-conscious — a Wednesday-morning shelf copy isn't automatically a 9.8.

New Comic Book Day rundowns drop here regularly — follow Retro Relics for the picks that matter.