Hero Trade the Butler #1 (ONE SHOT) (Cover A–I Variants & Bundles)

New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (BRZRKR) and Eisner Award-winning legend David Lapham (STRAY BULLETS) return to their seminal series of superhero deconstruction with THE HERO TRADE: THE BUTLER. Told entirely through splash pages, this brutal tale marries the grit and grime of Frank Miller's SIN CITY with the psychological depth of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' WATCHMEN in an explosive new one-shot that dares to seek justice in an unjust world. Every night, THE WATCH takes out the trash. Trouble is, somebody's gotta clean up the mess. Another sleepless night spent knee-deep in the gutter, ripping scumbags off the streets and stuffing them into the body bags they deserve. Because if there's one thing THE WATCH believes in, it's justice -- permanent justice. THE BUTLER once stood shoulder to shoulder with THE WATCH, his partner in the war on crime. Until he realized THE WATCH is no hero -- just a loose-cannon psycho who takes sick pleasure in playing judge, jury and executioner, no matter the collateral damage. Now, THE BUTLER is through taking orders. He knows THE WATCH inside and out, and he'll stop at nothing to beat him at his own game -- getting the criminals behind bars before his former partner can put them six feet under.

Available Covers

• Cover A – David Lapham
• Cover B – Bernard Baily Old Masters Variant
• Cover C – Lb Cole Old Masters Variant
• Cover D – Lou Morales Old Masters Variant
• Cover E – Steve Ditko Old Masters Variant
• Cover F – Bernard Baily Glow-in-the-Dark Old Masters Variant
• Cover G – Steve Ditko Glow-in-the-Dark Old Masters Variant
• Cover H – 1:20 Ratio David Lapham B&W Variant
• Cover I – 1:50 Ratio Lou Morales Metal Old Masters Variant

Bundles

• Bundle – Covers A–G (No Incentive) – One copy each of Covers A–G
• Bundle – Covers A–I (incl. Ratio Incentives) – One copy each of Covers A–I

Ratio covers (1:20, 1:50) are retailer incentive variants with limited availability.

Details

• Publisher: BAD IDEA
• Writer: Matt Kindt
• Artist: David Lapham
• Format: Softcover, 32 pages, black & white
• Trim Size: 6.625 x 10.1875"
• Rating: T – Teen
• Cover Price (SRP): $5.99
• Expected Release Date: 01/06/2027

Pre-Order Terms

• Pre-Order Due Date: 11/26/2026
• NO CANCELLATIONS after the Due Date (11/26/2026). Once the Due Date has passed, the order is final.
• This pre-order listing closes on 11/29/2026.

This is a pre-order item. Release dates are set by the publisher/distributor and are subject to change. Item ships once received.