NCBD Picks for April 1, 2026: The Comics That Actually Matter

New Comic Book Day gets noisy fast.

Big names. Big covers. Big launch energy.

Some of it is real. Some of it isn’t.

This week for NCBD picks for April 1, 2026 has a few books that are easy to point people toward: one major Daredevil relaunch, a couple Marvel 1's that actually have a hook, a Venom issue with real story weight, and a few DC books that make sense whether you’re buying to read or just buying what looks good on the wall.

Marvel Headliner: NCBD Picks For April 1, 2026 -

The Launch That Actually Matters

Daredevil 1

This is the cleanest superhero launch of the week.

Marvel is clearly treating Daredevil 1 like a real event book, not just another relaunch. It’s written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Lee Garbett, and Marvel pushed it hard enough to give it True Believer Blind Bag treatment. Marvel’s preview coverage also makes it clear the book introduces a new villain named Omen, which at least gives the launch an immediate hook beyond “here we go again.”

Why it stands out:

• Biggest straight-up Marvel 1 this week

• Strong launch support

• New villain gives the issue an actual reason to matter beyond the number on the cover

Collector take: This is the kind of 1 you want in stock because people will come looking for it whether they preordered it or not. The execution of the "True Believer Blind Bags" is better but still a pass for me.

Marvel Wildcard With Better Shelf Appeal Than People Expect

Wonder Man 1

This is one of those books that’s easy to underestimate.

Marvel’s official setup frames it as a love letter to L.A. and the history of Wonder Man, with Gerry Duggan writing and Mark Buckingham on interiors. Buckingham’s variant cover is one of the week’s best, and Marvel’s own write-up leans into Simon Williams’ past catching up with him through Randolph Chancellor, his former cellmate. That’s enough to make this more than just synergy.

Why it stands out:

• Cleaner identity than most second-tier Marvel launches

• TV synergy without feeling completely hollow

• Strong artist-driven cover support

Collector take:

This feels like one people may skip on Wednesday and circle back to later.

Arc's That Matter

Venom 256

If you’re following Death Spiral, this one matters.

Marvel’s issue page is direct: Venom 256 is Part Six of the crossover, and the story pushes straight at Dylan Brock, with Carnage tied into the fallout. That’s enough. This has been a great crossover, It’s a live chapter in a real story people are already reading.

Why it stands out:

• Real crossover relevance

• Dylan Brock gives the issue a strong focal point

• Spider and symbiote books still move when the story is active

Collector take:

If you’re in on the arc, you’re in on this. Simple as that.

DC Book With the Best Ongoing Momentum

Absolute Superman 18

If you want the strongest straight-up DC ongoing pick of the week, start here.

The April solicit positions Absolute Superman 18 as the start of a new arc featuring two new Absolute Universe reinventions and the introduction of the sarcophagus of King Shazam as a major threat. That’s not subtle. It reads like a real escalation point, not just another chapter keeping the engine warm.

Why it stands out:

• New arc energy

• Feels bigger than a random mid-run issue

• Teth-Adam as a Dark Reflection of Kal has me sold

• Absolute line has been one of DC’s strongest consistency plays

Collector take:

Arc starts in hot books are always safer bets than random middle chapters.

Best Pure Batman Shelf Book

Batman 8

This is not the flashiest pick of the week, but it’s a very sellable one.

The setup is simple and strong: Matt Fraction writing, Ryan Sook on art, Jorge Jiménez on the main cover, plus a foil Jiménez cover and a 1:25 David Aja incentive. Story-wise, DC frames it around a hero, a villain, and a reporter — three old men on one night in Gotham — which is weird enough to be interesting and grounded enough to still feel like Batman.

Why it stands out:

• Batman always sells

• The variant lineup is strong

• Fraction/Sook/Jiménez is a serious package

Collector take:

This is exactly the sort of Batman issue people grab because of the cover, then justify because of the team.

Offbeat DC Pick With Real Cover Heat

Bizarro: Year None 1

This is one of the better wildcard books of the week.

It knows exactly what it is. Kevin Smith and Eric Carrasco are writing it, Nick Pitarra is on art, and one thing is for sure: this book is leaning hard into the weirdness, and the main cover sells that immediately.

Why it stands out:

• Clear identity

• Strong cover

• Different enough from the usual stack

Collector take:

Not every weekly pick needs to be elegant. Sometimes weird is enough.

Indie Pick

Dead Samurai 6 — Drax Gal Cover

Dead Samurai 6 is one of those books that earns a look on cover alone, and the Drax Gal variant gives it a real visual hook. The setup is strong too: the sea is turning, nature is pushing back, and Shinzu is heading toward the kind of sacrifice that sounds like it could leave a mark. That’s enough to make it stand out from the usual weekly stack.

Why it stands out:

• Strong cover

• Easy pickup if you want something outside the Marvel/DC lane

• Intriguing story

Collector take:

This is a cover-first buy, but that’s fine. Sometimes that’s the right reason to grab a comic.

Cover Picks of the Week

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

Wonder Man 1 — Mark Buckingham variant

Captain Marvel: Dark Past 1 — J. Scott Campbell

Bizarro: Year None 1 — Nick Pitarra / Michael Garland

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest 50 — Rahzzah variant

Mad About DC 1 — Chip Zdarsky variant

Dead Samurai 6 — Drax Gal cover

How to Buy NCBD 4/01/26 Like a Collector

Buy because it’s the clear headliner

• Daredevil 1

Buy for story

• Venom 256

• Absolute Superman 18

• Batman 8

Buy for launch value

• Wonder Man 1

• Captain Marvel: Dark Past 1

Buy for cover or character appeal

• Bizarro: Year None 1

• Dead Samurai 6

• Batman/Superman: World’s Finest 50

🏪 Final Word from Bound 4 You Comics

This week has enough.

A real Daredevil 1. A couple Marvel launches with actual hooks. A Venom issue that matters to the story. A strong Absolute Superman. A Batman that’s easy pick up. And one indie book with a cover that should get attention.

That’s a good week.

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

Happy New Comic Book Day from Bound 4 You Comics.