NCBD Picks for 6/17/2026 — The Comics That Actually Matter
7 min reading time
This week has a little bit of everything: a major Spider-Man launch, Absolute DC momentum, X-Men line movement, horror strength, a few facsimiles with real collector relevance, and some indie books that actually deserve a second look. Looking for the best new comics to buy this week? Here are my top NCBD picks for June 17, 2026. Let's get into it.
Before We Get Started...
Quick apology for missing last week's NCBD.
Unfortunately, the thing that pays for the comics got in the way of talking about comics. Work has been absolutely nuts lately, and between meetings, deadlines, and pretending to be a responsible adult, Wednesday came and went before I could get a post together.
The good news? Nobody had to read me tell you to buy another Spider-Man #1 for a whole week.
The bad news? We're making up for lost time because this week's slate is loaded.
This week has a little bit of everything: a major Spider-Man launch, Absolute DC momentum, X-Men line movement, horror strength, a few facsimiles with real collector relevance, and some indie books that actually deserve a second look.
Looking for the best new comics to buy this week? Here are my top NCBD picks for June 17, 2026.
Let's get into it.
Pick of the Week
Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1
This is the easiest book to put at the top of the list.
Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1 launches this week from Jonathan Hickman and Adam Kubert, and Marvel is positioning it as a five-issue limited series built around Spider-Man, Punisher, Hulk, A.I.M., and a Cosmic Cube chase outside normal continuity.
That is a lot of market gravity in one package.
Hickman still moves readers. Kubert still moves collectors. Spider-Man is still one of the safest liquidity characters in comics. Add Punisher, Hulk, and Cosmic Cube stakes, and this has the kind of broad appeal that modern #1s rarely earn cleanly.
Why I’d Recommend It
- Hickman/Kubert on Spider-Man gives this instant creator-driven credibility
- The Punisher/Hulk/Cosmic Cube setup gives it broader Marvel collector appeal
- A self-contained five-issue series makes it accessible without continuity homework
Collector’s Take
If the story lands, this could be one of the cleaner Marvel launches of the summer. With Marvel's track record recently, that is far from a sure thing, but the creative team gives me some hope.
Add it to your box.
Sleeper Pick
Absolute Green Arrow #2
The obvious Absolute book this week is Absolute Batman #21, and it deserves the attention. But the more interesting sleeper is Absolute Green Arrow #2.
The Weekly Pull List results called out Absolute Batman #21 and Absolute Green Arrow #2 as the top books for the week, which tells me Green Arrow has already cleared the hardest hurdle for a new-ish line extension: people came back for issue #2.
That matters.
Issue #1 gets curiosity.
Issue #2 gets conviction.
Why I’d Recommend It
- Absolute DC momentum is still one of the best modern market stories in years
- Issue #2 demand is more meaningful than launch-week hype
- Green Arrow has room to surprise because expectations are lower than Batman
Collector’s Take
I like this more as a reader/collector play than a pure spec book. If Absolute Green Arrow holds reader attention past the launch, this is exactly the kind of book people under-order early and revisit later.
Best Spec Book
Amazing Spider-Man #31
Marvel’s solicitation for Amazing Spider-Man #31 is doing the thing collectors always notice: calling it “one of the most pivotal issues in Spider-Man history” with “Peter Parker’s world will never be the same.”
Now, let’s be honest.
Modern Spider-Man has trained collectors to be skeptical of language like that. Not every “pivotal” issue becomes a real key. But ASM is still ASM, and when Marvel puts this much emphasis behind an issue, the market pays attention.
Why I’d Recommend It
- ASM remains one of the most liquid modern superhero titles
- The solicitation is clearly signaling a major status quo moment
- Patrick Gleason on interiors gives it stronger collector interest than a throwaway issue
Collector’s Take
Treat this as controlled speculation. Don’t assume “pivotal” automatically equals long-term value. Watch reader reaction and whether the story beat actually sticks. If it does, this becomes more interesting after release than before.
Best Indie Pick
Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1
This is the indie pick that actually feels different.
Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 and the name alone matters because Paul Chadwick’s Concrete is not disposable IP. It has history, credibility, and a very different collector lane than the average indie launch.
A lot of indie #1s are just concepts trying to survive first contact with the shelf.
Concrete already has identity.
Why I’d Recommend It
- Concrete has established creator-owned credibility
- This offers something different from superhero market noise
- Indie books with actual history tend to age better than empty “new IP” pitches
Collector’s Take
This probably isn’t the loudest book on Wednesday, and that’s fine. It’s the kind of indie book that rewards readers first. If the market remembers how strong Concrete can be, this could have a much healthier long tail than the average #1.
Quiet Long-Term Play
Something Is Killing the Children #48
At this point, Something Is Killing the Children is no longer a sleeper. It’s a modern indie institution.
But that’s exactly why issue #48 belongs here.
Something Is Killing the Children #48, and what makes this book interesting isn’t launch heat — it’s consistency.
In a market where most modern horror spikes vanish, SIKTC keeps proving that durable reader demand still exists.
48 issues deep and this is still one of my favorite books.
Why I’d Recommend It
- One of the strongest modern indie horror franchises
- Reader demand has remained unusually consistent over time, despite long breaks
- Long-running issue participation matters more than short-term spike chasing
Collector’s Take
This is not about buying issue #48 as a magic key. It’s about recognizing sustained franchise health. For long-term collectors, consistent demand is more important than loud demand.
Cover Pick of the Week
X-Men United #4 — Kris Anka Variant
Kris Anka has quietly become one of those artists whose covers can stop you mid-scroll.
The best cover artists don't just draw characters well—they create a mood. Anka consistently does both.
This week's X-Men United #4 Kris Anka Variant immediately stood out from the wall of covers shipping on Wednesday. It's clean, striking, and understands exactly what makes the X-Men visually compelling without feeling overcrowded.
Why I'd Recommend It
- Kris Anka continues to build a strong collector following
- Strong character-focused composition - This is one of the better Emma Frost covers in a minute
- Distinct visual identity compared to many modern variants
- The kind of cover that looks just as good on display as it does in a long box
Collector's Take
Not every cover pick needs to be an investment thesis. Sometimes a cover earns attention because it's simply great comic book art. This is one of those covers. If you're an X-Men fan or an Anka fan, this is an easy addition to the box.
Final Thoughts
One of the advantages of being a retailer is getting a front-row seat to what collectors actually respond to—not what social media tells them they should respond to.
Every week there are books that generate a lot of noise before release and disappear just as quickly. Then there are books that readers keep coming back for, books customers ask about weeks later, and books that quietly earn a permanent spot in a collection.
This week's books feel much closer to the second category.
Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1 is the headline launch, Absolute Green Arrow #2 is an important test of sustained interest, Amazing Spider-Man #31 carries legitimate spec potential, and Something Is Killing the Children #48 continues to prove why consistency matters more than hype.
And if you're a cover collector, the Kris Anka variant for X-Men United #4 deserves a long look before it disappears from the rack.
As always, buy what excites you, read what interests you, and don't let FOMO make decisions for you. The best collections aren't built in a single Wednesday—they're built one smart pickup at a time.
See you next week (assuming work doesn't decide otherwise).
Add them to your box.