NCBD Picks for April 29, 2026: The Comics That Actually Matter

New Comic Book Day is here.

This weeks NCBD is a little lighter, but the books it does have are easier to talk about. Marvel has a couple launches worth paying attention to, one ongoing that clearly still has people locked in, and there are a few indie books that look a lot better than throw-in recommendations. The goal this week is not to force ten “must-buys.” It’s to point to the books that actually earn the push.

Zatanna 1

This is probably the cleanest DC launch of the week.

Jamal Campbell already had momentum on this character, and now DC is giving him the full series. The setup is simple enough to sell: Zatanna is now the Prime Magus, meaning she is not just doing stage magic and fighting the occasional weirdo. She is carrying real magical responsibility in the DCU now. Early reactions has been strong, and even the cover chatter has been loud.

Why I’d recommend it:

• It has a clear new status quo, which gives the launch a real reason to exist.

• Jamal Campbell is the draw, and that is enough to get a lot of people to at least take a look.

• This feels like one of the safer 1 buys this week because there is real enthusiasm around it, not just launch-week noise.

Collector take:

This is not a sneaky key. It is a strong launch with a meaningful status quo shift for Zatanna. If this run catches, issue one will matter because it is the start of the Prime Magus era.

Swamp Thing 1989 1

This is the weirdest important book of the week.

Not because it has some gimmick. Because this is a story DC didn’t print in 1989 and is finally releasing now. That alone makes it one of the most interesting books on the wall. The bigger point is that the reaction has been very good. People are not just buying the backstory. They seem to actually like the comic.

Why I’d recommend it:

• The backstory is real, and it gives the book instant weight.

• Early reviews make it sound like more than a curiosity piece.

• It gives you something completely different from the usual weekly superhero stack.

Collector take:

This is not “first appearance” important. It is historically important. A lost Rick Veitch Swamp Thing ending finally seeing print is the kind of thing collectors usually wish they grabbed when it was still easy.

Ultimates 23

This is the Marvel ongoing I’d trust the most this week.

This is the most-pulled book  this week. That does not guarantee quality, but it does tell you people are still showing up for it. Personally I have been consistently reading it, and it's had it's up and downs, but as we are nearing the finish line (?) It still gets a place in my stack.

Story-wise, this one leans into Thor and Sif, with Thor’s deal with Surtur finally coming due. If you’ve been on this run, this looks like it'll be fun.

Why I’d recommend it:

• It had the strongest visible pull-list heat of the week.

• The Thor/Sif focus gives the issue a real angle instead of generic team-book drift.

• This is one of the few Marvel books right now that still feels like people are keeping up with it because they want to, not out of habit.

Collector take:

This is a stay-current book. No major key signal here from what I found, but when a run has this kind of weekly support, back issues tend to matter more later than people expect.

Doom 2099: Rage of Doom 1

This is the Marvel launch I’d keep an eye on.

The pitch is good: Doom 2099 in a wrecked future, Ultron’s head buried in the wasteland, and the whole thing turning into a Doom-versus-machine-intelligence story with redemption hanging over it. I've always been a huge Doom 2099 fan and I've been absolutely been loving these Doom 2099 drops the past couple years. Really well done.

Why I’d recommend it:

• The Doom versus Ultron setup is easy to explain and easy to sell.

• Doom 2099!

• The variant covers are excellent.

Collector take:

No big confirmed key here, but this should be one of the most readable books from Marvel this week.

Red Roots 1

This is the indie launch I was looking forward to this NCBD.

The reason is simple: it sounds sharper. Red Roots 1 is Lorenzo De Felici writing and drawing a 48-page debut about a professional killer and a high school teacher whose lives get tied together by something terrifying and unexplained. That’s a clean hook, and it already has the kind of early “sleeper hit” chatter indie launches need.

Why I’d recommend it:

• It has a clear premise and a strong creator name behind it.

• It feels like the kind of Image 1 people notice quickly if word of mouth hits.

• If you want one new indie book this week that is easy to hand-sell, this is the one I’d start with.

Collector take:

I would treat this as an early-run indie buy, The play here is simple: strong Image debut, one creator handling the whole thing, and enough early buzz that issue one could get thin if readers connect with it fast.

Cover Picks of the Week

If you’re buying with your eyes this week, start here:

• Zatanna 1 — Julian Totino Tedesco or Adam Hughes variant

• Doom 2099: Rage of Doom 1 — Peach Momoko variant / strong variant lineup overall

• Giant Size Savage Tales 1 - Bjorn Barends

• Punisher 3 - Marvel Studios Variant

  
  

For me, the best pure cover this week is probably Zatanna #1. The Tedesco variant does exactly what a good Zatanna cover should do: it sells the character immediately.

How to Buy NCBD 4/29/26 Like a Collector

Buy because it’s the cleanest DC launch

• Zatanna 1

Buy because it’s historically interesting

• Swamp Thing 1989 1

Buy to stay current

• Ultimates 23

Buy for launch value

• Doom 2099: Rage of Doom #1

  
  

Buy for pure reading value

• Wrestle Heist 5

• Red Roots 1

🏪 Final Word from Bound 4 You Comics

Light week, but that's alright.

A Zatanna launch people are actually excited for. A lost Swamp Thing comic that finally got out of the vault. A Marvel ongoing that still has real pull-list heat. A Doom 1 with a clean hook.

A Jubilee one-shot with more personality than most one-shots get. And an indie finale that sounds like it actually earns the ending.

That’s a good week.

Shop new comics now and grab the books worth owning before the best ones are gone.