Essential Marvel
The Essential Marvel line of comic book reprints are a collection of black-and-white paperbacks containing about 20-30 issues of silver or bronze age Marvel comic book reprints each. They contain between 500 and 650 pages, and phonebook-style paper is used. With volumes retailing for $14.99 each (now $16.99), they offer a cheaper alternative to the more expensive, but in color, Marvel Masterworks line of reprints.
In the same way that the DC Archive Editions are DC Comics' equivalent of Marvel Masterworks, Showcase presents is their equivalent of the Essential line of reprints.
History
The Essential range launched in March 1997 with the joint release of Esssential X-Men and Essential Spider-Man vol. 1. While Essential Spider-Man started with Spider-Man's first appearance in the Silver Age (collecting Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spider-Man #1-20), Marvel chose to skip ahead to Giant Sized X-Men #1 and Uncanny X-Men #94-119, the relaunch of the title that sparked the X-Men's popularity in the late 1970s and 1980s. The decision to skip the original X-Men in favor of starting with the more well known "All-New, All-Different" X-Men was controversial, though Marvel ultimately went back and began a new collection of Essential volumes, titled "Essential Uncanny X-Men", to collect the earliest X-Men stories.
The current (second) cover design launched with Essential Spider-Man vol. 4 in May 2002 - all the older volumes have been reprinted since then with the new design as well as to correct printing mistakes from previous volumes (such as the fact that both Essential X-Men #1 and 2 both have missing pages from their earlier printings) and to reshuffle content to create a more consistent, continuity-wise, reading experience.
From May 2005, many of the volumes have been reprinted for a third time - this time with the same cover design as the second reprint, but with different cover art.
The series currently has 2 new volumes published every month.
Comparison to Masterworks
Though being widely criticized by some fans for being in black and white, the essential series is also praised by many readers as the sole opportunity to reread or discover comic-books that they would never had the opportunity to read otherwise. The Marvel Masterworks series couldn't be published at such a fast rate: readers just couldn't afford to follow. Also, Marvel has been able to negotiate one-off reprint rights of some licensed comics they used to but no longer have the rights to - namely the Godzilla volume.
As a result of this there are more issues collected in Essentials than in Masterworks. Due to the increased number of Essentials compared to Masterworks, the Essential line has even made headway into Bronze Age reprints - something Marvel Masterworks has rarely done. However, there are some issues found in Masterworks but not in Essentials - for example the Fantastic Four Masterworks run goes farther than the Essential Fantastic Four run does. Also, Masterworks horizons are broadening - there are no Golden Age or Atlas Era Essentials, and no Sgt. Fury Essentials either.
Controversy
The line has suffered controversies over the years for a variety of problems. The biggest complaint has drawn from the constant reissuing of older Essential volumes with their content reshuffled with other volumes in order to bring the stories into proper continuity order. The Essential X-Men series has suffered the most complaints regarding this, due to problems with the first printings of Essential X-Men #2 and #3. Uncanny X-Men Annuals #3 and #4 were omitted from Essential X-Men #2 (where the stories take place chronologically) and placed instead within Essential X-Men #3. Similar problems occurred in later volumes, with Annuals being skipped and collected out of sequence at the end of every other Essential X-Men volume.
Marvel has tried to correct such continuity problems with the new printings as well as add stories that were omitted for space reasons in initial printings. Most notably, Essential X-Men #4's most recent printing featured the inclusion of the X-Men graphic novel “God Loves, Man Kills”, which was not included for the first two print runs of the book.
These corrections have led to controversy in terms of fan complaints about having to rebuy the same book for the new material and to be able to read the stories in proper order.
Another controversy has come about due to the recent “Tomb of Dracula” Essential trade volumes, which were censored by Marvel for their release. Marvel used digital editing to remove or cover up nudity in the third and fourth volumes of “Essential Tomb of Dracula” as both volumes contain reprints of Dracula stories originally published by Marvel in magazine format, which allowed for Marvel to include nudity in it's artwork. The publisher claims that it cannot reprint the unaltered magazine issues as part of the Essential line because much of the sales for the Essential trade paperback line comes from bookstores that would frown on such content.[citation needed]
Table of Essential Volumes
The following table is work in progress. When the table is complete, this tag will be removed. Feel free to continue the table by filling in missing information.
| Age/Era | Volume Name | Issues Collected | Pages | ISBN | Year Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | The Astonishing Ant-Man vol. 1 | Tales to Astonish #27, 35-69 | 576 | ISBN 078510822X | |
| Silver | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 | Amazing Fantasy #15, The Amazing Spider-Man #1-20, Annual #1 | 528 | ISBN 0785109889 | |
| Silver | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 | The Amazing Spider-Man #21-43, Annual #2-3 | 528 | ISBN 0785109897 | |
| Silver | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 | The Amazing Spider-Man #44-68 | 528 | ISBN 0785106588 | |
| Silver/Bronze | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 | The Amazing Spider-Man #69-89, Annual #4-5 | 544 | ISBN 0785107606 | |
| Bronze | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 | The Amazing Spider-Man #90-113 | 528 | ISBN 0785108815 | |
| Bronze | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 6 | The Amazing Spider-Man #114-137, Giant-Size Superheroes #1, Giant-Size Spider-Man #1-2 | 576 | ISBN 0785113657 | |
| Bronze | The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 7 | The Amazing Spider-Man #138-160, Annual #10, Giant-Size Spider-Man #3-5 | 528 | ISBN 0785118799 | |
| Silver | The Avengers vol. 1 | The Avengers #1-24 | 528 | ISBN 0785107010 | |
| Silver | The Avengers vol. 2 | The Avengers #25-46, Annual #1 | 528 | ISBN 078510741X | |
| Silver | The Avengers vol. 3 | The Avengers #47-68, Annual #2 | 520 | ISBN 0785107878 | |
| Silver/Bronze | The Avengers vol. 4 | The Avengers #69-97, The Incredible Hulk #140 | 640 | ISBN 0785114858 | |
| Bronze | The Avengers vol. 5 | The Avengers #98-119, Daredevil #99, The Defenders #8-11, | 552 | ISBN 0785120874 | |
| Silver | Captain America vol. 1 | Captain America Comics #5, Tales of Suspense #59-99, Captain America #100-102 | 528 | ISBN 0785107401 | |
| Silver | Captain America vol. 2 | Captain America #103-126 | 512 | ISBN 0785108270 | |
| Bronze | Conan the Barbarian vol. 1 | Conan the Barbarian #1-25 | 530 | ISBN 0785107517 | |
| Silver | Daredevil vol. 1 | Daredevil #1-25 | 544 | ISBN 0785109498 | |
| Silver | Daredevil vol. 2 | Daredevil #26-48, Annual #1, The Fantastic Four #73 | 568 | ISBN 0785114629 | |
| Silver/Bronze | Daredevil vol. 3 | Daredevil #49-74, Iron Man #35-36 | 584 | ISBN 0785117245 | |
| Bronze | The Defenders vol. 1 | Doctor Strange #183, Sub-Mariner #22, 34-35, The Incredible Hulk #126, Marvel Feature #1-3, The Defenders #1-14, The Avengers #115-118 | 544 | ISBN 0785115471 | |
| Silver | Doctor Strange vol. 1 | Strange Tales #110-111, 114-163 | ISBN | ||
| Silver/Bronze | Doctor Strange vol. 2 | Doctor Strange #169-178, 180-183, The Avengers #61, The Sub-Mariner #22, The Incredible Hulk #126, Marvel Feature #1, Marvel Premiere #3-10, 12-14 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Fantastic Four vol. 1 | The Fantastic Four #1-20, Annual #1 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Fantastic Four vol. 2 | The Fantastic Four #21-40, Annual #2, Strange Tales Annual #2 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Fantastic Four vol. 3 | Fantastic Four #41-63, Annual #3-4 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Fantastic Four vol. 4 | The Fantastic Four #64-83, Annual #5-6 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Fantastic Four vol. 5 | The Fantastic Four #84-110, Annual #7-8 | 568 | ISBN 0785121625 | |
| Bronze | Godzilla vol. 1 | Godzilla #1-24 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Ghost Rider vol. 1 | Marvel Spotlight #5-12, Ghost Rider #1-20, Daredevil #138 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Howard the Duck vol. 1 | Adventure into Fear #19, Howard the Duck #1-27, Annual #2, Marvel Treasury Edition #12, Giant-Size Man-Thing #4-5 | 592 | ISBN | |
| Silver | The Human Torch vol. 1 | Strange Tales #101-134, Annual #2 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Incredible Hulk vol. 1 | The Incredible Hulk #1-6, Tales to Astonish #60-91 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 | Tales to Astonish #92-101, The Incredible Hulk #102-117, Annual #1 | ISBN | ||
| Silver/Bronze | The Incredible Hulk vol. 3 | The Incredible Hulk #118-142, Captain Marvel #20-21, The Avengers #88 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | The Incredible Hulk vol. 4 | The Incredible Hulk #143-170 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Iron Fist vol. 1 | Marvel Premiere #15-25, Iron Fist #1-15, Marvel Team-Up #63-64, Power Man and Iron Fist #48-50 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | Iron Man vol. 1 | Tales of Suspense #39-72 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | Iron Man vol. 2 | Tales of Suspense #73-99, Iron Man & Sub-Mariner #1, Iron Man #1-10 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze/Modern | Killraven vol. 1 | Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #18-39, Marvel Team-Up #45, Marvel Graphic Novel #7, Killraven #1 (Marvel Knights) | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Luke Cage, Power Man vol. 1 | Hero For Hire #1-16, Power Man #17-27 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Marvel Team-Up vol. 1 | Marvel Team-Up #1-24 | ISBN 0785108289 | ||
| Bronze | Marvel Team-Up vol. 2 | Marvel Team-Up #25-51, Marvel Two-In-One #17 | 528 | ISBN 0785121633 | |
| Bronze | Marvel Two-In-One vol. 1 | Marvel Feature #11-12, Marvel Two-In-One #1-20, 22-25, Annual #1, Marvel Team-Up #47, Fantastic Four Annual #11 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Monster of Frankenstein vol. 1 | Monster of Frankenstein #1-5, Frankenstein's Monster #6-18, Giant-Size Werewolf #2, Monsters Unleashed #2, 4-10, Legion of Monsters #1 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Moon Knight vol. 1 | Werewolf By Night #32-33, Marvel Spotlight #28-29, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #22-23, Marvel Two-In-One #52, Hulk Magazine #11-15, 17-18, 20, Marvel Preview #21, Moon Knight #1-12, Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Nova vol. 1 | Nova #1-25, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #3, The Amazing Spider-Man #171 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe vol. 1 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1-15 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze/Modern | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition vol. 1 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #1-7 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #1-29 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 2 | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #32-61, Annual #1-3 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | The Punisher vol. 1 | The Amazing Spider-Man #129,134-135,161-162,174-175,201-202,Annual #15, Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, Marvel Preview #2, Marvel Super-Action #1, Captain America #241, Daredevil #182-184, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83, The Punisher #1-5 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze/Modern | Savage She-Hulk vol. 1 | Savage She-Hulk #1-25 | 552 | ISBN 0785123350 | |
| Silver | Silver Surfer vol. 1 | Silver Surfer #1-18, Fantastic Four Annual #5 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Spider-Woman vol. 1 | Marvel Spotlight #32, Marvel Two-In-One #29-33, Spider-Woman #1-25 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Super-Villain Team-Up vol. 1 | Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1-2, Super-Villain Team-Up #1-14, #16-17, The Avengers #154-156, The Champions #16, Astonishing Tales #1-8 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Tales of the Zombie vol. 1 | TBC | TBC | ISBN | |
| Silver | The Mighty Thor vol. 1 | Journey Into Mystery #83-112 | 544 | ISBN 0785118667 | |
| Silver | The Mighty Thor vol. 2 | Journey Into Mystery #113-124, The Mighty Thor #125-136, Annual #1-2 | 584 | ISBN 0785115919 | |
| Silver | The Mighty Thor vol. 3 | The Mighty Thor #137-166 | 616 | ISBN 0785121498 | |
| Bronze | Tomb of Dracula vol. 1 | The Tomb of Dracula #1-25, Werewolf By Night" #15, Giant-Size Chillers" #1 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Tomb of Dracula vol. 2 | Tomb of Dracula #26-49, Dr. Strange" #14, Giant-Size Dracula" #2-5 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Tomb of Dracula vol. 3 | Tomb of Dracula #50-70, Tomb of Dracula Magazine #1-4 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Tomb of Dracula vol. 4 | Tomb of Dracula Magazine #2, 4-6, Dracula Lives! #1-13, Frankenstein Monster #7-9 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | Uncanny X-Men vol. 1 | X-Men #1-24 | ISBN | ||
| Silver | Uncanny X-Men vol. 2 | The X-Men #25-53, The Avengers #53 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Werewolf By Night vol. 1 | Marvel Spotlight #2-4, Werewolf By Night #1-21, Marvel Team-Up #12, Giant-Size Creatures #1, Tomb of Dracula #18 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Wolverine vol. 1 | Wolverine #1-23 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Wolverine vol. 2 | Wolverine #24-47 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Wolverine vol. 3 | Wolverine #48-69 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | Wolverine vol. 4 | Wolverine #70-90 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | X-Factor vol. 1 | The Avengers #262, The Fantastic Four #286, X-Factor #1-16, Annual #1, The Mighty Thor #373-374, Power Pack #27 | ISBN | ||
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 1 | Giant-Size X-Men #1, X-Men #94-119 | 528 | ISBN 0785102566 | |
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 2 | X-Men 120-144, X-Men Annual #3-4 | 512 | ISBN 0785102981 | |
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 3 | X-Men #145-161, X-Men Annuals #3-5 | 528 | ISBN 0785106618 | |
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 4 | X-Men #162-179, X-Men Annual #6, Marvel Graphic Novel #5: "God Loves, Man Kills" | 528 | ISBN 0785107754 | |
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 5 | X-Men #180-198, X-Men Annuals #7,8 | 576 | ISBN 0785113665 | |
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 6 | X-Men #199-213, New Mutants Special Edition #1, X-Men Annual #9, X-Factor #9-10, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374 and Power Pack #27 | 656 | ISBN 078511727X | |
| Bronze | X-Men vol. 7 | X-Men #214-228; Annuals #10-11; Fantastic Four Vs. The X-Men #1-4 | 560 | ISBN 0785120556 |
See also
- The Silver Age of Comic Books - Information on the Silver Age of comics in General, i.e. the late 1950's to the early 1970's.
- The Bronze Age of Comic Books - Information on the Bronze Age of comics in General, i.e. the early 1970's to the early/mid 1980's.
- Marvel Comics
- Marvel Masterworks
- DC Archive Editions
External links
- The Marvel Masterworks Resource Home Page Whilst primarily dealing with Masterworks, there is a section for Essentials, and the material reprinted in Masterworks is often reprinted in Essentials, too.
- Essentials FAQ
- Marvel Essentials and Trade Paperbacks Yahoo! Group