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.

[Richard Mantle]

That's the one! I love her in that -beautiful brave and confident showing great solo-potential even then! I highly recommend that appearance for all those 'composer's that bought her Omnibus to be um... a completist.

Richard Willis said:

Richard Mantle said:

I have that Omnibus and while it is good it is NOT complete! There is an early appearance in original-fishnets & mask look from Captain Marvel (#10 ish - I'd have to look it up) is missing and really annoys me.

This review site has Black Widow acting as a SHIELD agent in Captain Marvel #12. GCD fails to mention her appearance. This is just before she lost the fishnets.

https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/4729686/captain-marvel-12

[Philip Portelli]

By a happy coincidence, I am slowly going through my old longboxes and have the one with Captain Marvel out. #12 (Ap'69) does indeed have the Black Widow in it. She's a guest star but does not encounter Mar-Vell as he battles the android Man-Slayer. She does help defeat it though but she is captured by its unseen creator later revealed to be the Mad Thinker.

The issue ends with the Sultry Spy as a captive and she never reappears in Captain Marvel. Her story immediately continues in Avengers #63 (Ap'69) where she is rescued from the Mad Thinker, Puppet Master and Egghead by Hawkeye who becomes the new Goliath!

However there's nothing in Captain Marvel to direct readers to Avengers!

[Doctor Hmmm?]

I was pretty sure someone must have answered that question by now,  Thanks.

Captain Comics said:

JLA: THE WEDDING OF THE ATOM & JEAN LORING HC
DC COMICS

I assume this is material originally intended for the now-canceled Justice League of America Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 3, which I assume everyone reading this would rather have. Some quick observations:

• Good news: This book picks up right after Justice League of America Bronze Age Vol. 2, which ended with JLA #146.
• Bad news: An Omnibus usually has 40-45 issues for around $100 (a price which almost no one pays, with all the discount houses around). Which is a bargain. This book is 13 issues for $70. You could buy the originals for less.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

COVID has totally screwed up shipping schedules. Although I am aware of that and try not to bug my LCS about this product or that, I do check on one or another from time to time. Here are two I checked on recenty.

SILVER AGE AQUAMAN OMNIBUS: This collection was solicited in 2019 to ship in January of 2020 so theoretically shouldn't have been affected by COVID if it were going to ship at all. Surprisingly, it is still on the list of upcoming releases, but for January 2021. I have not seen it solicited via DCCOMICS.COM/CONNECT.

JOHN BYRNE SUPERMAN OMNIBUS: This one was solicited to ship in July 2020, but has now officially been cancelled. I had really been looking forward to this one. Until DC sees fit to release omnibuses collecting material from the '60s and '70s, Byrne's post-Crisis version is "my" Superman. 

[Fraser Sherman]

I wouldn't mind upgrading my Showcase volumes to the Aquaman omnibus, so I'm glad to hear it's maybe possibly sort of coming out.

Jeff of Earth-J said:

COVID has totally screwed up shipping schedules. Although I am aware of that and try not to bug my LCS about this product or that, I do check on one or another from time to time. Here are two I checked on recenty.

SILVER AGE AQUAMAN OMNIBUS: This collection was solicited in 2019 to ship in January of 2020 so theoretically shouldn't have been affected by COVID if it were going to ship at all. Surprisingly, it is still on the list of upcoming releases, but for January 2021. I have not seen it solicited via DCCOMICS.COM/CONNECT.

JOHN BYRNE SUPERMAN OMNIBUS: This one was solicited to ship in July 2020, but has now officially been cancelled. I had really been looking forward to this one. Until DC sees fit to release omnibuses collecting material from the '60s and '70s, Byrne's post-Crisis version is "my" Superman. 

[Captain Comics]

ICv2.Com just announced Marvel's spring omnibi. Here's the announcement:

MARVEL ROLLS OUT MASSIVE OMNIBUSES FOR SPRING 2021
Beefy Collections of ‘X-Men: Inferno,’ ‘Star Wars: Doctor Aphra,’ and More
Posted by Brigid Alverson on August 28, 2020 @ 12:35 pm CT

Marvel has a hefty lineup of omnibus editions scheduled for spring 2021, with fat hardcover volumes collecting crossover events, complete character stories, and the handbooks of the Marvel Universe, each with a variant cover that’s exclusive to the direct market.

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus Vol. 1 HC: Follow the adventures of the rogue archaeologist of the Star Wars universe in a 1,240-page omnibus that collects Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) #1-40 and Annual #1-3; Darth Vader (2015) #3-4, #8 and #21; Star Wars (2015) #13, #19 and #31-32; Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel; and material from Darth Vader (2015) #25 and Star Wars: Empire Ascendant.Main and variant covers by Ashley Witter; both editions will be released on February 24, 2021, with a MSRP of $125.00.

X-Men: Inferno Omnibus HC: This omnibus collects the massive crossover in a single hardcover volume. The earth becomes a battleground when both Mister Sinister and N’astirh launch their master plans, turning the Marauders on the X-Men and a plague of demons on New York. The fight that ensues draws in the X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants as well as Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Avengers. This 1,240 page hardcover omnibus collectsX-Factor (1986) #33-40, X-Terminators #1-4, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #239-243, New Mutants (1983) #71-73, Power Pack (1984) #40 and #42-44, Avengers (1963) #298-300, Fantastic Four (1961) #322-324, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #311-313, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #146-148, Web Of Spider-Man (1985) #47-48, Daredevil (1964) #262-263 and #265, Excalibur (1988) #6-7, Mutant Misadventures Of Cloak And Dagger #4, and material from X-Factor Annual #4. The regular edition has a Goblin Queen cover by Mark Silvestri and the direct market variant has a headshot cover by Mark Silvestri, Bret Blevins, and Walter Simonson. Both editions have a release date of March 17, 2021 and a MSRP of $125.00.

Avengers: The Gathering Omnibus HC: Another crossover event complete in a single volume, this one brings together an array of antagonists from the Black Knight to the Kree. Collects Avengers (1963) #343-344 and #348-375, Avengers Annual #22, Avengers Strikefile, X-Men (1991) #26, Avengers West Coast #101, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #307, Black Knight: Exodus and Avengers Anniversary Magazine. Covers by Steve Epting and Tom Palmer, with a direct-market only poster cover by the same artists. These 1,152-page hardcovers are both scheduled for March 17, 2021, with a MSRP of $125.00.

Tony Stark: Iron Man By Dan Slott Omnibus HC: Slott spins Tony Stark’s Iron Man off in a new direction with virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and a robot revolution. This 616-page hardcover volume collects Tony Stark: Iron Man #1-19, Iron Man (1998) #25,and Iron Man 2020 #1-6. The main cover is by Adi Granov and direct market variant by Alex Ross. Both editions will be released on March 17, 2021 with a MSRP of $100.00.

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition Omnibus HC: Get all the facts about the Marvel Universe of the 1980s in a single volume with this collection of character profiles, schematics, and more. The omnibus collects Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #1-20 in a 1,392-page volume with a She-Hulk cover and direct market exclusive Spider-Man cover, both by John Byrne. Release date is March 3, and the MSRP is $150.00.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

All of these shipped today:

BLACK WIDOW OMNIBUS

WOLVERINE OMNIBUS

FRANK MILLER/BILL SEINKEWICZ DD/ELEKTRA COLLECTION

All of these had been solicited for March release.

[Dave Palmer]

Arrived in the mail

[Richard Willis]

I finally broke down and bought the Silver Age Adam Strange Omnibus. I only read a handful of his tales back in the day and will enjoy having them all available to me.

[Doctor Hmmm?]

Rrrrr...still wait on MY GA Batman #8 (preordered in MAY)! Rrrr...
I am, coincidentally, just about ready to break down and buy the Adam Strange omnibus.
So ... I dunno ... does that mean that I'm more like Richard than Dave?

[Fraser Sherman]

I have most of them in Bronze Age reprints but they look soooo damn good in the Omnibus.

Very much looking forward to ordering Batman Omnibus #8 as soon as I have some spare change. My respect for Golden Age Batman has gone way up since I started reading these.

Richard Willis said:

I finally broke down and bought the Silver Age Adam Strange Omnibus. I only read a handful of his tales back in the day and will enjoy having them all available to me.

[Dave Palmer]

My respect for Golden Age Batman goes back to these paperbacks from 1966.