This Week's FOC: Pre-Order Before Monday, November 9

This Week's FOC: Pre-Order Before Monday, November 9

Welcome to This Week's FOC, our new weekly rundown of the books you need to lock in before it's too late. We've been a family comic shop since 1988, from Northampton, MA to Los Angeles, CA, and the one date we never let slide is FOC.

What Is FOC?

FOC stands for Final Order Cutoff. It's the last day comic shops can add to or change their orders with the distributor. After that, the numbers are locked, and publishers set their print runs from them. If a book sells out after FOC, there's often no going back for more.

This week's FOC is Monday, November 9, 2026. Most of the books below hit shelves on December 2 or December 9. Pre-order now and we'll set your copy aside. Our pre-orders are 20% off cover, and every book ships bagged and boarded.

The Picks

Batman #16

Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez go big: Bruce Wayne has been assassinated, and Batman has to hunt down the killer and the conspiracy aimed at his secret identity. A Batman story where the dead man is also the detective is exactly the kind of hook that sends people back for second printings. On sale December 2.

Absolute Superman #26

Jason Aaron's Absolute Superman goes somewhere new. After the events of #25, Superman has done the unthinkable and left Earth behind, heading into deep space. Art by Juan Ferreyra, Rafa Sandoval and Carmine Di Giandomenico, with a Rafa Sandoval cover. The Absolute line is a collector favorite, so don't sleep on a fresh direction. On sale December 2.

Absolute Green Lantern #21

Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay bring the Lanterns back to Earth, right into the sights of an assassin. Jo Mullein has to protect Cameron while she digs into the Manhunters. If you're building an Absolute run, grab it now. On sale December 2.

The X-Files #1

Mulder and Scully are back in comics at Dynamite, written by Joe Harris, who wrote the Season 10 and Season 11 comics, with art by Riley Brown. The first case: social media reports of young people with telekinetic powers, a shadowy group, and maybe something not of this Earth. A new #1 for a franchise with this many fans is a must. On sale December 9.

Creature Corps #1

New from Image by Curt Pires and JOK. In 1999, a rift in time drops monsters from the future on Earth, and humanity turns fighting them into a for-profit sport. The kid who won it all at 14 quit in disgust. Seventeen years later, his mom's medical bills force him to get the old team back together. It's '90s monster-battling chaos, and the variant lineup (including ratio covers) tells you Image expects this one to move. On sale December 2.

Merciless #1 (of 4)

Mirka Andolfo returns to the world of her horror series Mercy with artist Lidia Bolognini. It's 15 years later in the same run-down mining town, and Rory and Joel are fighting a new drug with otherworldly origins. A four-issue horror miniseries from a creator with a loyal following. On sale December 2.

Princess Murders #1

Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs serve up a giallo-style whodunit. Princesses from around the world compete for Prince Carlo in the Kingdom of Sardinia, and a black-gloved killer is stalking the castle. Our favorite line from the solicit: "Who will die first?" Series premiere, on sale December 9.

I Saw Spawn (A Twisted Christmas Tale) #2

The finale of the Spawn holiday horror miniseries by Andrew Sanders and Chris Killian, art by Todor Hristov. The soul of a serial killer has possessed Santa, turning him into "Santa Claws," and Spawn is the holiday's last hope. A 48-page finale, and a fun stocking stuffer for any Spawn fan. On sale December 9.

Hitman: It Was The Nineties Special #1

Garth Ennis and John McCrea reunite for a 48-page Tommy Monaghan one-shot. Tommy's chasing a tree-topper star while bounty hunters chase him, and there's a backup starring Baytor. Hitman fans have waited a long time for this team to come back. On sale December 2.

Transformers #39

The main Transformers series is the centerpiece of Skybound's Energon Universe, and Robert Kirkman has been writing it since #25. If you're keeping your run complete, lock this one in before the numbers are set.

Also at FOC This Week

Pre-Order Before Monday

That's just the top of the pile. See all 470+ books at FOC Nov 9 and lock in 20% off cover before the cutoff.

A note on variants: blind-bag and ratio covers depend on what the distributor allocates to us, so they ship as available. Questions about a specific cover? Get in touch.