Marvel and DC Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age collections

[John Dunbar]

It looks like DC Comics are using the Omnibus format as their current way to collect classic material in chronological order.  In the past, there have been the Archives series (hardcover, full color), the Showcase Presents series (softcover, black and white, usually twice the page count of an Archive), and the Chronicles series (softcover, full color, smaller page count than an Archive).  In the past few years, all of these lines have been quietly shuttered, and now DC is releasing Omnibus collections in both hardcover and softcover formats.

As you would expect, the Omnibus hardcovers are huge.  Two Silver Age volumes collected the first 76 issues of JLA (along with Brave and Bold 28-30 and Mystery in Space 75), for example.  Earlier this year, DC released JLA: The Bronze Age Omnibus Volume 1, collecting JLA # 77-113.  That's almost half of the original series collected in this way, which for a fan like me is great news.  The JLA Archives had 10 volumes, collected the first 93 issues, and the first volume and last volume were released twenty-two years apart.  The first JLA Omnibus came out in 2014.

DC is also releasing these collections in trade paperbacks with a smaller page count than the hardcovers.  The great thing is that these TPBs collect more issues than the Archives did!  The material collected in the first JLA Silver Age Omnibus has all been released in 3 TPBs.

I have the first JLA Silver Age TPB, and I loved it!  I also have the first JLA Showcase Presents, but I find that without color, I just don't enjoy the stories as much as I could.  Actually, I find I enjoy most Silver Age comics more in color versus reading them in Showcase Presents and Essential Marvel.

I wonder how many of the rest of you are buying and reading these Omnibus collections, and what you think of the format.

[Dennis Summers]

I wouldn't get my hopes up. It'll be just like the House of Secrets - some great art, the occasional good story, and a whole lot of filler non-stories.

[Fraser Sherman]

Yes out of the many, many, many Bronze Age books I regret not collecting, I've never had any qualms about HoM or HoS. Rereading the few that I have just confirms they're not for me, though obviously they're beloved by a lot of people.

Dennis Summers said:

I wouldn't get my hopes up. It'll be just like the House of Secrets - some great art, the occasional good story, and a whole lot of filler non-stories.

[Captain Comics]

I don't know anybody who loves them. But then, I didn't know any other comics fans when they were on the stands. I'm just glad to be buying a collection where there's material I haven't already read!

[Fraser Sherman]

I have a fondness for the Robby Reed HoM well out of proportion to the stories' quality. But I already have all of those.

[Josh]

Any news on a Superman Golden Age Omnibus Vol.1 Reprint or A Golden Age Flash Omnibus yet?

[Doctor Hmmm?]

None that I'm aware of, but I'd be all over both. Since they went back to print on SA Flash Vol.1, I'm hopeful they'll do the same for Superman.

[Philip Portelli]

The new Marvel Previews advertises Sgt. Fury Epic Collection: The Howling Commandos for March 27, 2019 while the DC one lists Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen By Jack Kirby for April 10, 2019.

Wahoo!!! And Jeepers!!

[Captain Comics]

Lordie, I have the Kirby Jimmy Olsens in about a half dozen formats.

How far does the Sgt. Fury collection go? The Masterworks seem to have petered out at volume 4, ending with issue #43. That's not even halfway!

Philip Portelli said:

The new Marvel Previews advertises Sgt. Fury Epic Collection: The Howling Commandos for March 27, 2019 while the DC one lists Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen By Jack Kirby for April 10, 2019.

Wahoo!!! And Jeepers!!

[Philip Portelli]

I know! I have the earlier two-volume Jimmy set!

As for Sgt. Fury, it collects #1-19.As for future Epic Collections, there was only one Essential Sgt. Fury but that format was fading by that point.

Captain Comics said:

Lordie, I have the Kirby Jimmy Olsens in about a half dozen formats.

How far does the Sgt. Fury collection go? The Masterworks seem to have petered out at volume 4, ending with issue #43. That's not even halfway!

Philip Portelli said:

The new Marvel Previews advertises Sgt. Fury Epic Collection: The Howling Commandos for March 27, 2019 while the DC one lists Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen By Jack Kirby for April 10, 2019.

Wahoo!!! And Jeepers!!

[Captain Comics]

My Sgt. Fury collection is complete except for issues #1-4, so having the first Masterworks pretty much finished me off on that score. But I'd like to get the whole series in hardback -- as I would all Silver Age series, since that's a dream I've had since I was, like, six years old.

[Richard Willis]

John (Dunbar), since you started this thread maybe you could change its title to reflect that we're not just talking about DC books?

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Just used a birthday gift card from my mom to order the Jack Kirby's Kamandi Omnibus! I sat on this card for a couple months, but finally came to terms with the fact that, yeah, there's pretty much no time that I won't want this book.