Wait… Walt Has That on Pre-Order?!.. and Other FOC You Shouldn't Miss this Week!

3 Highlights from this Week's FOC

WHAT SHOULDN'T YOU MISS THIS WEEK?

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Deluxe Vol. 3

If you read my last newsletter, you probably picked up on the fact that I’m very much into Gundam. So, in the future, it should be no surprise that when there’s a Big-Book Newsletter featuring Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, I’m the one writing it (For the record, the deluxe hardcovers really are the best way to experience it. They’re beautiful and make every page feel special.) At the end of the day, I like to think I was picked because of my enthusiasm, but honestly, it might just be easier for everyone if my Gundam thoughts stay here in the newsletter. My coworkers keep their sanity, and you get my take on the latest volume. Seems like a fair trade!

It’s easy to get swept up by the spectacle, whether it’s the mobile suits or the explosive battles, but what sometimes gets lost (and I’m guilty of it too, especially when I was hyping up Volume 2) is the real heart of Gundam: the characters. There’s no Gundam without Amuro Ray, the anxious, reluctant hero, or Char Aznable, who’s as charming as he is arrogant. Their personal struggles play out on the battlefields of the war between Zeon and the Earth Federation, making every confrontation between the machines feel deeply human.

Volume 3 takes things even deeper, giving us a closer look at Char’s backstory and the origins of Zeon. None of this was in the original anime from the ’70s; it was created just for the manga, and you can tell. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, one of the original creators, adds so much depth and nuance to the story. It truly feels like the work of someone who’s lived with these characters for decades and is still discovering new layers within them. These parts of the story were also adapted into anime films and are available as a six-part series.

If you ever thought Gundam was just about giant robots, this volume will change your mind. It’s about the people, the choices they make, and the true cost of war, and that’s exactly what makes The Origin a timeless classic.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Deluxe 3 HC *PRE-ORDER*

€44,99 €54,95

The classic Gundam series now in a premium Deluxe Edition hardcover!PRAISE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES “It’s a good book. Very good, actually. Very good war comics, requiring no prior experience with anime or mecha or Gundam—just a… read more

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BLACK WIDOW & CAPTAIN AMERICA

In comics, creators tend to come and go. New voices with plenty of promise arrive every year, but due to the fast-paced and sometimes brutal world of comics, many disappear before you even learn their names. Mark Waid, though, is a rare exception. He’s been a mainstay in the industry for over 30 years, not just sticking around but becoming one of the biggest influences in mainstream comics, especially at Marvel and DC. Sure, you won’t see much of his work on the indie side, but when it comes to superhero stories, his runs on Kingdom Come and The Flash have truly defined the genre. His impact is so enduring that James Gunn actually cited Kingdom Come as a major inspiration while working on his first Superman film. Matheus wrote a great article about his career on our Beyond the Panels Blog that I cannot recommend enough, if you want to find out more about his works and explosive arrival onto the superhero-scene.

Waid’s runs on Captain America and Black Widow might have been on the shorter side, but they’re still packed with the same unmistakable spark that makes every Mark Waid comic feel special. He just has a knack for taking familiar characters and steering them somewhere unexpected, making them feel fresh without losing what makes them matter. A big part of that magic comes down to his frequent partner-in-crime, Chris Samnee, whose art is honestly jaw-dropping. If you haven’t seen Samnee’s work, you’re missing out, and when he teams up with Waid, something really clicks. Take the first issue of Black Widow, for example. The two of them play with pacing and action in a way that feels like a Mission Impossible movie on paper. Twenty-plus pages of pure, heart-pounding comics. It’s bold, it’s inventive, and it’s proof that Waid and Samnee are still one of the best creative duos in the business.

Black Widow & Captain America By Waid & Samnee Omnibus HC *PRE-ORDER*

€78,99 €100,00

The award-winning creative team who breathed fresh life into DAREDEVIL work their magic on two iconic Avengers!Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, stars in a knockdown, drag-out tale of action and espionage! The world’s greatest superspy has a lifetime of secrets… read more

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Black Widow & Captain America By Waid & Samnee Omnibus Chris Samnee Captain America Cover HC [DM Only] *PRE-ORDER*

€78,99 €100,00

The award-winning creative team who breathed fresh life into DAREDEVIL, work their magic on two iconic Avengers! Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, stars in a knock-down, drag-out tale of action and espionage! The world's greatest superspy has a lifetime of… read more

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ROSALINA

Okay, this last one might seem a little random. I didn’t even have it on my radar until Walt said, ‘OMG, you need to feature this.’ So bear with me, because it’s absolutely worth your time.

Did you know Super Mario Galaxy actually had a storybook hidden inside it? It’s the one about a little girl who meets a star child named Luma, and together they set oc on an adventure that eventually becomes Rosalina’s origin story. The storybook, complete with those dreamy, watercolor-like illustrations, has now been released as its own standalone book. If you’ve ever been a Rosalina fan, this is a true hidden gem.

Rosalina’s story may be touching, but my Mario memories? Mostly just… all over the place? I haven’t played a ton of Mario games, but the ones I have? Absolute blasts. Mario Kart is obviously the king. But Mario Party is the one that sticks with me. Mostly because my siblings making me cry playing it. But, like, with laughter, you know? Because if you’ve played Mario Party, you know it’s pure chaos. One second you’re winning, the next the dice decide you’re losing everything. Or your character suddenly develops a mind of their own during a mini-game and you end up in last place. Again. Or sometimes, the game just randomly decides you don’t get the points you clearly deserve. And it’s always very fair and doesn’t just single out one person in particular. That person being me! No, that never happens!!! (And again, when I say I was crying, I mean, of course, the kind of tears that come from laughter. Because, really, what else can you do when you lose for the fourth time in a row other than laugh at yourself? It’s hilarious. Yeah, very hilarious. Really. Like, totally not the kind of crying you’d need to mention to your therapist. It’s just a game! I’m 26 years old! Yeah!!!)

Rosalina's Storybook by Nintendo HC *PRE-ORDER*

€18,50 €24,99

The storybook featured in Super Mario Galaxy has arrived!Our story begins a very, very long time ago with a young girl who spotted a rusted spaceship holding a small star child, Luma. This is the tale of that young girl… read more

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All books on FOC today

...can be found here! Wednesday is the official deadline for low pre-order prices (but we never change prices before Friday... shhhh it's a secret!)

All single issues on FOC are to be found here. Because singles are affected by a lot of last minute changes and cover additions, they have a later deadline at Saturday, 4 pm. If you need any instruction how our single issue subscription service works, watch this video and contact Heiko if you still have questions. 

Tomás