Collector Keys Corner — Collectible Comics To Look Out For This Week

Welcome back to Collector Keys Corner! There are basically two kinds of people buying comics. Those who read them, and those who collect them. There is quite a bit of overlap between the two groups, but comics consumers generally lean hard one way or the other. This column is aimed at the collectors, highlighting some of this week’s comics keys.

John le Carré’s The Circus: Losing Control #1 

Every day, the intelligence agents of the Circus are enmeshed in high-stakes, high-wire acts that the average citizen would never notice. They protect Britain’s most sensitive secrets — and in modern Britain, secrets are everything. At the head of it all is Control: the all-powerful puppet master who decides who goes where, who does what, and sometimes, of necessity, who lives and who dies. But now, Control has vanished.

John le Carre is known for spy thrillers Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Tailor of Panama, and The Constant Gardener, among many others. If you’re unaware of le Carre’s work, Control is sort of like James Bonds’ M and The Circus is M16.

DC / Marvel: Batman / Deadpool #1

The Dark Knight and the Merc with a Mouth team up for an adventure so mind-bending you’ll think you’re in a dream! Brought to you by legendary creators Grant Morrison and Dan Mora! And be sure not to miss these incredible extra stories:

Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson team up with Hayden Sherman for a magical Constantine/Doctor Strange tale! Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo bring you an epic Nightwing/Dick Grayson and Laura Kinney/Wolverine story! Mariko Tamaki and Amanda Conner smash Harley Quinn and the Hulk together! G. Willow Wilson and Denys Cowan tell an electrifying Static and Ms. Marvel yarn!

This one-shot is an anthology of DC and Marvel crossover stories featuring two character team-ups from each universe. Collectible for the main story headliners, both of whom appear on this cover, but… the “Big Two” missed a massive opportunity on some of the back up stories, which could have easily carried their own one-shots or even a mini series of their own. 

DC / Marvel: Batman / Deadpool #1- Retailer Exclusive: Sad Lemon Comics / KRS Comics Brian Bolland Virgin Variant

I realized the other day that I hadn’t featured any retailer exclusives yet, either on the pod or in this feature. We’ve talked about open order covers, which retailers can order to their heart’s content with no limits, qualifying terms, or restrictions. We’ve kicked around incentive covers, which require retailers to order a certain number of open order covers to be allowed to purchase, in a set ratio. Now let’s talk about retailer exclusives.

Retailers have the ability to commission special covers that will only be available for them to sell through their own stores, websites, convention booths, or wherever they choose. They pay the artist to commission the cover and the publisher prints however many pieces are commissioned. It’s a smaller print run than open order and most incentive covers, and each unit costs the retailer significantly more. The rarity and higher cost of production can drive the collector market, and then there’s this one which evokes The Killing Joke, making it all the more desirable.

Spawn: The Dark Ages #1

Saxon barbarians harry Britain from the east. In the North, the Pictish threat looms. From the West, Hibernians send raiders from the land that shall one day be called Ireland. Aurelianus, newly anointed king, must defend Britain against all of these threats, whilst also dealing with the growing rebellion amongst his own people. For there are stories of another, more worthy king. One anointed by the old Celtic gods — whom the Christians refer to as the Devil Spawn…

Writer/artist Liam Sharp is well known for Conan, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman/Batman, Man-Thing, Batman: Reptilian… He was also the writer/artist for the original Spawn: The Dark Ages run from 1999-2001. We have a proven entity on creative and a dope-ass cover with plenty of open space for autos and remarques. This is a big one.

Capes #1

A special remastering of CAPES, featuring new art and dialogue!

Bolt! Kid Thor! Knock Out! Captain Cosmic! Claire Voyant! Big Brain! Commander Capitalism! Welcome to Capes Inc, employers of your favorite super heroes that protect — well, at least when they’re on the clock — New York City from threats like Machine Head, Titan… and now are in the crosshairs of an enemy they never expected!

This is a reprint of the Invincible Universe Capes with new art and dialogue. I don’t necessarily understand why the dialogue and interiors are different in a reprint, but it’s a Kirkman joint, so you know it’s going to be in demand.  

Final Boss #1

A thrilling new action hero: Tommy Brazen in FINAL BOSS! Get ready for an over-the-top adventure that’s a high-octane nod to classic action stories. Trying to forge a new path, Tommy uses his newfound powers for various paid enforcer gigs and street fights, only to uncover a past far more complex than he ever imagined.

Straight from the Liefeld school, writer/artist Tyler Kirkham set out to make the most 90s Image title possible. This is not one I’m going to run out to grab personally, but there is definitely a market out there for it.

The Lion King #1

The once and future kings! Get ready to return to the sweeping plains of Africa for a brand-new series of adventures starring Mufasa and Simba!

Follow the ruler of the Pride Lands and his young heir as they navigate the complex network of relationships that make up their kingdom — and learn firsthand how to defend it against the forces that threaten it both from the outside and from within.

Speaking of that 90s stuff, it doesn’t get much more 90s nostalgic than The Lion King. Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba! If you didn’t just sing that out loud, you definitely heard it in your head. 

G.I. Joe #14

Dreadnok War Continues! 

Duke and Cobra Commander are on the run and the only way to survive the Dreadnoks is trusting each other.

And that’s the last thing either of them plans to do…

Plus, the FIRST APPEARANCE of a fan favorite character.

The most action-packed G.I. Joe epic yet continues with two issues each month!

This one has a few things going for it. Duke and Cobra being unconventional allies is interesting enough, but the solicit teases a big first appearance of a “fan favorite” character. I just know it had better not be Sergeant Slaughter.

G.I. Joe #14- Retailer Exclusive: 616 Comics Björn Barends Destro Virgin Variant

Another retailer exclusive, and this one shows just how sexy these things can be when done right. There are a couple different colorways available for this one, and they both look amazing. The metallic effect, the reflected flames, the glow of Destro’s eyes… No notes. This is damn near perfect.