We have a good discussion on this board of DC Finest collections (updated and maintained by Rob Staeger), but not one for the similar Marvel Epic Collections. The line began in 2013, so it's past time we had one (although I'm not going to commit to putting the amount of effort into this thread that Rob puts into his). This one is for whichever one anyone here would care to discuss, be it a newly released volume, an upoming one, or an old favorite. Right now I'm reading Enter... Doctor Doom, a collection of the Latverian dictator's appearances from 1962 through 1969 in chronological order. This material was previously released in "omnibus" format, but I didn't think it warrented that kind of high-end treatment. and that's the way it should be: release the hardcover first, the cheaper tpb later. Collections such as this are good opportunities to trace the development of a character over time. Ah, The Kids These Days™ don't know how good they've got it. Back in my day, I had to chase down early appearances as backissues!
Next...?
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HULK: I started collecting Hulk in Masterworks format, and when the first omnibus collection was released, I duplicated it. Then, when the "Man or Monster" Epic collection was released, I triplicated it, because that's the only format which collects the "interstitial material" (as I call it) in a single volume. From that point I was content with the Masterworks, but by the time the series got to the PAD era, I stopped because I had all the omnibuses. After the Masterworks got beyond the the PAD era, I started picking them up again, through v19 (which ended on #291), one of many Masterworks series which ended on volume shy of a logical breakpoint. Actually, I would have been just as happy if the series had ended with v18, also a "logical breakpoint": his pardon. Luckily, I had previously bought the tpbs ("Epic Collections" in all but name): "Pardoned," "Regression" and Crossroads." At that point, I returned to the Epic Collections for "Going Gray," which picks up with the Byrne era and also collects the Milgrom issues between Byrne abd PAD. After PAD, Hulk stopped being fun for me.
SPIDER-MAN: As of just recently, I now have all of Spider-Man through #223 in seven omnibuses. That abuts the Stern omnibus, which in tuns matches up with Masterworks editions which run through #288 (yet another Masterworks series which stopped a volume shy of a logical breakpoint). Then I bought Spider-Man Epic collection v17, "Kraven's Last Hunt," which fills the gap until the beginning of the Michelinie/McFarlane omnibus.
I realize this post is more Masterworks/omnibus than Epic Collections, but there are a few "Epics" peppered in here.
Recent and upcoming releases
The 7th volume of Spider-Girl is the one I’ve preordered. The 8th volume will complete her story. The reason I like Spider-Girl is my rejection of Marvel’s dumping of Mary Jane’s baby. This is her alternate timeline story.
When they schedule Amazing Spider-Man volume 11, it will follow the Epics I recently bought. Pretty sure I want it. Following my Masterworks, there is a five-issue gap (ASM 100-104). This was the end of Omnibus volume 3 and Epic volume 6. To get these five issues, that I wasn’t crazy about originally, would run into serious money.
Richard, I feel exactly the same way about Spider-girl that you do. I was "in" on this character from the beginning (or, rather, "day two"). I had a roommate at the time who bought the issue of What If? in which she made her debut, and he insisted I read it. From there, I bought the "zero" issue which reprinted it, then went on to read the series for about two years. At one point, during what I refer to as a periodic "cutback phase," I dropped the series. Later regretting that decision, I started buying it again toward the end of the run, but there is still a BIG chunk in the middle I have not read. Perhaps these "epic collections" could be a way to fill those holes (after determining exactly which issues I need, that is).
I see that Marvel has no plans to reprint Silver Surfer Epic v13 "Inner Demons" anytime soon, so I guess I can quite holding my breath.
There's one coming up in November I'm considering, though.
What's the saying? Great minds think alike.
"Fools think alike."
("Great minds run in the same channel.")
X-FACTOR EPIC COLLECTION v4 - "Judgement War":
X-Factor, the title itself, was one of the biggest disappointments of the 1980s. On the one hand, it was the return of th original X-Men; on the other, the basic premise was so flawed it was doomed to failure. Even the addition of Walter Simonson on art in #10 didn't help much. Issues #41-50 were worth reading, though, and I had long anticipated them being released on better paperstock than newsprint. The good news is, 2023 saw the release of X-Factor Epic Collection "Judgement War"; the bad is that it also included #37-40, Annual #4 and X-Men #242-243.
The volume picks up in the midst of the "Inferno" crossover, the storyline that drove me away from the X-Men for good. I liked Simonson's art in the X-Factor chapters, but the X-Men chapters were drawn by Marc Silvestri. Of the soon-to-be Image crew, I made fun of Rob Liefeld's art quite a bit (and he is represented in this volume as well), but I found (and find) Silvestri's to be virtually unreadable. I am at a total loss to understand his popularity. "Infreno" is followed up by chapter ten of "Atlantis Attacks" (and a bevy of lame back-up features). I could not bring myself to buy the Epic Collection when it was released three years ago.
But I recently re-read The Eternals (both Kirby and Gaiman/Romita versions), and was in the mood to re-read "Judgement War"... on nice paper if I could find it. Luckily, I happened to find a half-price copy online (which is appropriate because I plan on reading only half of it. #41-42 features a two-parter with art by Arthur Adams, then "Judgement War" begins in #43 and runs through #50. I used to complain quite vociferously about Marc Silvestri being on X-Men, and I remember a friend of mine remarking that he bet I was happy that Paul Smith was now on X-Factor, at least. I was... but my enthusiasm was tempered by the fact that Smith was only providing breakdowns. To add insult to injury, finishes were provided by Al Milgrom. Plus I was disappointed that Walt Simonson was not doing the Kirby-esque "Celestials" storyline. I dropped the series cold after #50, and didn't pick it up again until Peter David took it over.
Still, it's better than SIlvestri any way you look at it (even though I will only be reading half of the book).
X-FACTOR EPIC COLLECTION v2 - "Morlock Massacre":
I'm not as dilligent updating this thread as Rob is with the DC Finest line, but having recently read X-Factor v4 (most of it, anyway), this one caught my eye. It reprints # 10-20 & Annual #2, Thor #373-374, 377-378, Power Pack #27 and Hulk #336-337. I don't have particularly good memories of most of these stories, but in retrospect, how bad can they be? In ant case, FOC is Sep. 2, so I have some time to make up my mind.
I only have one Epic Collection so far: Daredevil: A Touch of Typhoid, largely by Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr. I've had it for about a year, and am finally getting a chance to read it. And I love it!
I'm still in the first (long) story, in which Kingpin pits Typhoid Mary (a newcomer to the scene) to defeat Daredevil in battle but also to pull Matt Murdock away from Karen Page in his private life. Romita's art -- inked by Al Williamson -- is incredible. Bold and powerful, but also great with expressions and full of personality. And Nocenti's writing is terrific. She's wordier than we're used to these days, but packs her panels with ideas, whether it's from the main cast, or from supporting characters and passersby. This feels more "New York" than Marvel comics have felt in ages... albeit New York from a distinct political point of view: liberal, but a reaction to Reaganism instead of whatever we have now.
Aside from the recent Zdarsky run, this is my introduction to Typhoid Mary, and I like her more than I'd expected to. She's a blast, and this whole situation is messed up in the ways Daredevil is always messed up. I've got a couple more issues of Mary, and then it looks like Daredevil faces Mephisto? This should be fun.
That's one I've long considered buying. It's from my "Buying new comics and not reading them is stupid" phase, meaning I own the actual issues, but have never read them. I'm often more likely to read a "satisfying chunk" of story if collected and printed in high quality paper stock, though.
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