Epic Collection Discussion | Marvel Collected TPBs

bralinator

Marvel's Epic Collections are trade paperback gapless collections being released in random order. It's basically a hefty color comics collection (around 20 issues), fully restored, sold at a fair price. These seem to be the replacements for the Marvel Masterworks collections, except they are all TPB instead of an available hardcover edition.

Each series is being released in out-of-order volumes. I initially disliked the out-of-order publishing and now, a couple years in, I think it's paid off. I like how some Epics are shaping up. For example, Thor volume 1,2 and 4 have come out, same as Avengers. So the building blocks are stacking sooner than I expected. I've been delighted with the few that I have in my collection. Each of the six original character lines were planned out to around 20 volumes, until about 1990, when company crossovers start getting messy.

A quick list of some of the early releases:

Amazing Spider-Man 1,2
Avengers 1,2,4
Captain America 1,2
Daredevil 1,3
Iron Fist 1
Iron Man 1,2
Moon Knight 1,2
Power Man & Iron Fist 1,2 SS 1,3
Silver Surfer 1, 3
Thor 1,2,4
X-Men 1,2,5

Check out some already to purchase or pre-order through Amazon here

More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Ultimate_Collection,_Complete_Epic_and_Epic_Collection_lines#Epic_Collections

Anyone else enjoying these Epic collections? I'm waiting on Silver Surfer volume 2 to be announced which should contain the entire Buscema run. And I just pre-ordered the first of the Black Panther collections which collects Don McGregor run including Fantastic Four 52, 53 and Jungle Action 6-24.

CaptShazam

I get a large number of these (unless I already have the material in Omnibus format or it is some 90's material that I usually avoid)

I like them but I have two worries:

1. I am worried that these will be like every other collections and Marvel will just stop and leave us with gaps.

2. I also am worried that with the amount of titles being put in Epic Format (supposedly Excaliber, X Force, and New Mutant collections come out next year) that it will take forever for everything to get out, eventually getting me back to worry #1.

SolitaireRose

I much prefer the Essentials. Thicker, cheaper, on the original style of paper, and many of the artists of the Silver Age look amazing in black and white. Ditko's work is MUCH better without the color.

I'm snapping up Essentials when I see them, even if a few I know I will never be able to afford.

CaptShazam

SolitaireRose said:

I much prefer the Essentials. Thicker, cheaper, on the original style of paper, and many of the artists of the Silver Age look amazing in black and white. Ditko's work is MUCH better without the color.

I'm snapping up Essentials when I see them, even if a few I know I will never be able to afford.

I am just the opposite. I like the new paper with the Epic Collections. I do agree that some of the art in the essentials is great. Gene Colan on Daredevil comes to mind.

bralinator

CaptShazam said:

SolitaireRose said:

I much prefer the Essentials. Thicker, cheaper, on the original style of paper, and many of the artists of the Silver Age look amazing in black and white. Ditko's work is MUCH better without the color.

I'm snapping up Essentials when I see them, even if a few I know I will never be able to afford.

I am just the opposite. I like the new paper with the Epic Collections. I do agree that some of the art in the essentials is great. Gene Colan on Daredevil comes to mind.

From Comics Shop News (issue 1397):

"Marvel has confirmed the end of their Essentials program of black and white reprints of classic material. Marvel has sold off almost all remaining inventory of older in-print volumes and will not be adding further books. 'This material needs to be in color,' Marvel Senior VP of Sales David Gabriel said. 'So we'll be replacing our Essentials program with more full-color Epic Collections.'"

I have a few Essentials, but full-color is a feature that I prefer. Besides, I can usually get the Epic's at far less than I can find the discontinued Essentials if I pre-order them via DCBS. Not ALL Marvel comics look great in the Essentials line. I was really disappointed at the Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Deluxe Editions, but someone here on the message boards wanted my set of 3 so I sold them. Still got my She-Hulk though.

RedRight88

Marvel has some digital epic collections too, I remember seeing one for Iron Man: Stark Wars (Armour Wars & the Prologue) & the Invaders hs two volumes.

My only real complaint is that the one for the Invaders replaced a digital Masterworks that was about half the price.

Hex

I've picked up a couple of the Epic trades (Invaders, Avengers etc.), but pretty much stopped buying them when I got my Marvel Unlimited subscription. I much prefer the Marvel Essentials to the Epic line, luckily I've purchased a ton of them and have most of the ones I want. It will take me eons to read them all.

Mr_Cosmic

Hex said:

It will take me eons to read them all.

Foolish human, there is but one EON!

DAR

I bought an Iron Fist collection a few months ago which I haven't yet read

Hex

Mr_Cosmic said:

Hex said:

It will take me eons to read them all.

Foolish human, there is but one EON!

I like your style.
If there was a Quasar Epic collection, I would pick it up in a heartbeat.