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.
Replies
Doug Murray, who wrote the majority of stories for The ‘Nam, was a Vietnam veteran. So was Don Lomax*, who finished the series. I have the impression that the forced enclosure of The Punisher into the series caused Murray to bail on it. It looks like there were only three issues of this before normal business returned. Marvel did a separate series that continued The Punisher stuff.
Like me, being a Vietnam veteran does not imply Infantry experiences**, though there were no front lines and no actual safety anywhere “in country.” More on this later.
*Lomax had his own creator-owned title Vietnam Journal.
**Though if "push comes to shove," everybody's Infantry.
Thanks for the feedback, guys. Any other opinions before the deadline?
No? That's okay. I think I've got enough to go on. I've decided to pre-order it. (I was leaning that way, anyway.)
Here's Marvel's latest Omnibus and Masterworks solicitation. I'll probably get both Masterworks. If the Doctor Strange omni is the one where he gets the ghost dog, that might make it necessary. The Captain Marvel one might be nice, just to have "Death" in the same book with the regular series, instead of as a separate. I'm a little annoyed at Tomb of Dracula, since now I'm already ocmmitted to the Masteworks series. I'm not sure how much of the Uncanny X-Men one I've read already -- probably all of it, since I started reading the X-books again with the advent of the Krakoa era (but dropped out before the finale). Not much interested in the rest.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 17 HC
PETER DAVID, WALT JASCHEK & JIM LEE
Penciled by MARC SILVESTRI with JIM LEE, ROB LIEFELD, RICK LEONARDI, MIKE VOSBURG, JIM FERN,
JON BOGDANOVE, MIKE MIGNOLA, JAMES FRY, KYLE BAKER & HECTOR COLLAZO
Cover by JIM LEE
432 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
Chris Claremont’s deeply personalized characterizations in X-Men created a legion of forever fans!
From the ashes of Inferno, the X-Men seek to recover and regroup, but the Reavers have no intentions of letting that happen. As they stalk the depleted team, the remaining members of the X-Men fall one by one. Tortured and gravely wounded, this time even Wolverine might not live to fight another day! Moira MacTaggert forms a group as the final line of defense, but Xavier’s dream might die on Muir Island. It’s a dire and dramatic saga masterfully executed by legendary X-scribe Chris Claremont. Highlights in this volume also feature Rogue’s tragic internal war with Carol Danvers, Master Mold and the threat of a Sentinel resurgence, as well as superstar artist Jim Lee’s X-Men debut – not to mention a li’l humor from wacky world of WHAT THE--?! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #244-255, X-MEN ANNUAL (1970) #13, and material from CLASSIC X-MEN #39 and WHAT THE--?! (1988) #1-5.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE MAN-THING VOL. 2 HC
Penciled by MIKE PLOOG with VAL MAYERIK, JOHN BUSCEMA, ALFREDO ALCALA, VICENTE ALCAZAR & PAT BRODERICK
Cover by MIKE PLOOG
360 PGS./Rated T+ …$75.00
The Marvel Masterworks boast an all-new restoration that makes these stories look better than ever!
A rotten swamp monster never looked so good! Artist Mike Ploog joins writer Steve Gerber, and they’ll have you turning pages to shuffle through the muck and loving every second of it. Gerber’s stories continue to expand the strange world surrounding the Man-Thing – and the people, both helpful (Richard Rory) and hateful (F.A. Schist), who have been drawn into the monster’s orbit. Of course, there’s also top-notch, good-ol’-fashioned fighting. Who wouldn’t want to see the Man-Thing and the Glob swinging fists? Do they even have fists? It doesn’t matter, it’s comic-book perfection. Meanwhile, the Foolkiller debuts, and Man-Thing is hauled to New York City where Reed Richards is left to wonder whether there’s still a man inside the mire! Collecting MAN-THING (1974) #2-14, GIANT-SIZE MAN-THING (1974) #1-2 and material from MONSTERS UNLEASHED (1973) #5 and #8-9.
AGENT VENOM OMINIBUS HC
Penciled by TONY MOORE, TOM FOWLER, LAN MEDINA, DECLAN SHALVEY, THONY SILAS, KIM JACINTO & ARIEL OLIVETTI with HUMBERTO RAMOS, STEFANO CASELLI, LEE GARBETT, SANA TAKEDA, JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO, KEV WALKER,
MARCO CHECCHETTO, REILLY BROWN, KHOI PHAM, PEPE LARRAZ, JORGE COELHO, GERARDO SANDOVAL & MORE
Covers by TONY MOORE & MIKE DEODATO JR.
1,464 PGS./Rated T+ $150.00
A new heroic era for Venom begins as Spider-Man friend and Army veteran Flash Thompson bonds with the symbiote for exploits that span the globe - and the entire universe!
Spider-Man’s biggest fan meets his deadliest foe! The wall-crawler’s heroism inspired Flash Thompson to join the Army, where he became an accomplished soldier. Though he lost his legs in combat, the government has offered Flash a chance to serve his country in a shocking new way: bonded with the Venom symbiote that used to be Spidey’s black costume — and then his bitter enemy! As Agent Venom, Flash is the government’s most lethal operative – but how long can he keep control of his volatile other? It won’t be easy, particularly when facing the likes of Jack O’Lantern, Crime-Master, Daimon Hellstrom and Carnage! And when a portal to the underworld opens in the middle of Las Vegas, Venom must join Red Hulk, Ghost Rider and X-23 in an unlikely alliance fighting to prevent all Hell from being unleashed! Seeking a new start in Philadelphia, Flash only succeeds in sharing his infernal problems with a new symbiote host – and before long, it’s time for an even more dramatic relocation: to outer space! And if he thinks returning to Earth will offer some respite, he didn’t count on Civil War II breaking out! Get ready for Venom vs. Spider-Man like you've never seen before! Collecting Amazing Spider-Man (1999) 654 (B story), 654.1; Venom (2011) 1-42, 13.1-13.4, 27.1; Venom: Space Knight (2015) 1-13; Minimum Carnage: Alpha (2012) 1; Scarlet Spider (2012) 10-11; Minimum Carnage: Omega (2012) #1.
MARVEL ARCHIVE EDITION: MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS GALLERY EDITION HC
Penciled by MIKE ZECK & BOB LAYTON
Covers by MIKE ZECK
480 PGS./Rated T …$125.00
The greatest crossover of them all, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all!
Drawn from Earth across the stars, the Marvel Universe’s greatest villains and heroes are set against one another by the mysterious and unbelievably powerful Beyonder, with the winners promised the ultimate prize. But as battle lines are drawn, new alliances are forged and old enemies clash, one among them is unwilling to settle for anything less than godhood. Can even the combined might of the Avengers, Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men prevent Doctor Doom from becoming the most powerful being in the universe? Featuring shocking twists and turns — including the debut of the new Spider-Woman, a major status-quo change for the Thing and the origin of Spider-Man’s alien costume! Collecting MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS (1984) #1-12 FACSIMILE EDITIONS.
PHOENIX: THE DEATH & REBIRTH OF JEAN GREY OMNIBUS HC
Penciled by IGOR KORDEY, PHIL JIMENEZ, MARC SILVESTRI, GREG LAND, TYLER KIRKHAM, FRANK CHO,
JOHN ROMITA JR., OLIVIER COIPEL, ADAM KUBERT, VICTOR IBÁÑEZ, HARVEY TOLIBAO, ANTHONY PIPER,
PAUL DAVIDSON, ALBERTO ALBURQUERQUE, R.B. SILVA, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, CARLOS PACHECO, JOE BENNETT,
RAMON ROSANAS & ED MCGUINNESS
Covers by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU & JIM LEE
1352 PGS./Rated T …$150.00
The epic mythology of the Phoenix in a single, uncanny Omnibus!
The classic Dark Phoenix Saga was just the start: The cosmic firebird’s fate remained intertwined with that of Jean Grey through her cycle of life, death and rebirth – and even took a few other hosts along the way! This volume collects the biggest Phoenix stories of the 21st century – from the epic future of “Here Comes Tomorrow” to the seismic war between the Avengers and the X-Men, plus the blockbuster returns that show you can never keep Jean Grey down for long! Collecting NEW X-MEN (2001) #128, #139-141 and #146-154; X-MEN: PHOENIX – ENDSONG #1-5; X-MEN: PHOENIX – WARSONG #1-5; AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #0-12; JEAN GREY (2017) #1-11; GENERATIONS: PHOENIX & JEAN GREY; PHOENIX RESURRECTION: THE RETURN OF JEAN GREY #1-5; and material from POINT ONE (2011) #1.
DOCTOR STRANGE BY JED MACKAY OMNIBUS HC
Penciled by LEE GARBETT, MARCELO FERREIRA, PASQUAL FERRY, ANDY MACDONALD, JUAN GEDEON, DANILO S. BEYRUTH & MORE
Covers by ALEX ROSS & STEPHANIE HANS
832 PGS./Rated T+ …$100.00
Death is just the beginning for Jed MacKay’s magical run!
When Stephen Strange is murdered, his friends mourn, his enemies rage at having been deprived of the killing blow and dark forces set their sights on an unprotected Earth. As the planet’s remaining magicians race to protect our world, one very surprising investigator must unravel the mystery of Doctor Strange’s murder. But can he do it before his own time runs out? In the aftermath, Earth needs a new Sorcerer Supreme – and Clea Strange is the ideal candidate! But as Clea faces threats including the Harvestman, the Shadow Knight and her own mother, Umar, she remains determined to find a way to bring her husband back to life. But even if Doctor Strange can return, his own greatest enemy may well be…himself! Guest-starring the new Secret Defenders! Collecting DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE #1-5, DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE: SPIDER-MAN, STRANGE (2022) #1-10 and DOCTOR STRANGE (2023) #1-18.
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST OMNIBUS HC
Written by DAN ABNETT, ANDY LANNING, KEITH GIFFEN, CHRISTOS GAGE, JAVIER GRILLO-MARXUACH & MORE
Penciled by SEAN CHEN, BRIAN DENHAM,
WELLINTON ALVES, PAUL PELLETIER, MIKE PERKINS,
VICTOR OLAZABA, MIKE LILLY, KYLE HOTZ, TOM RANEY & MORE
Covers by ALEKSI BRICLOT & CLINT LANGLEY
872 PGS./Rated T+ …$100.00
Nova hurtles into the cosmic epic that united the blockbuster modern-day Guardians of the Galaxy!
In the aftermath of the Annihilation War, a devastated galaxy struggles to rebuild. The Nova Corps is destroyed, leaving only Richard Rider. Who will rise to guard the galaxy from the threat of Ultron? When the Kree homeworld is invaded by the techno-Organic Phalanx, Star-Lord must lead a ragtag team into battle behind enemy lines with a lineup that includes Mantis, Bug, Groot and Rocket Raccoon! Meanwhile, the new Quasar seeks a mysterious savior – and the Phalanx take over Nova and Gamora! Who is the haunted loner called Wraith? Can the New Mutants’ Warlock free Nova? And what are Ultron and the Phalanx really after? Collecting NOVA (2007) #1-12 and ANNUAL #1, ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST PROLOGUE, ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST – STARLORD #1-4, ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST – QUASAR #1-4, ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST – WRAITH #1-4, ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #1-6 and ANNIHILATION SAGA #1.
TOMB OF DRACULA OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by MARV WOLFMAN, GERRY CONWAY,
ARCHIE GOODWIN, GARDNER FOX, CHRIS CLAREMONT
& DAVID ANTHONY KRAFT
Penciled by GENE COLAN, MIKE PLOOG & DON HECK
Covers by NEAL ADAMS & GENE COLAN
784 PGS./Parental Advisory …$100.00
The Lord of Vampires stars in an acclaimed series from Marvel’s classic era of horror!
He rose from the grave in 1972, ushering in an Age of Horror like nothing seen before or since! Now behold the Prince of Darkness’ first encounters with his most implacable enemies of the era, including legendary Blade the Vampire Hunter! With ghosts, mutants, mad scientists and more! Plus: A tour of the Lord of the Vampires’ earlier U.S. activities, with such stops as the Pool of Blood and the Devil’s Heart! Featuring Werewolf by Night and Lilith, Daughter of Dracula! Collecting TOMB OF DRACULA (1972) #1-31, WEREWOLF BY NIGHT (1972) #15, GIANT-SIZE CHILLERS #1 and GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #2-4.
X-MEN: AGE OF KRAKOA – DAWN OF X OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN, BENJAMIN PERCY, GERRY DUGGAN, TINI HOWARD,
BRYAN HILL & ED BRISSON
Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU, R.B. SILVA, MATTEO BUFFAGNI, JOSHUA CASSARA, STEPHEN SEGOVIA,
JAN BAZALDUA, MATTEO LOLLI, MICHELE BANDINI, LUCAS WERNECK, STEFANO CASELLI, MARCUS TO,
WILTON SANTOS, SZYMON KUDRANSKI, ROD REIS, FLAVIANO, MARCO FAILLA, ADAM KUBERT,
RUSSELL DAUTERMAN & MORE
CoverS by LEINIL FRANCIS YU & RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
1472 PGS./Parental Advisory …$150.00
In the wake of HOUSE OF X/POWERS OF X comes a new age for mutantkind!
The mutant nation of Krakoa has taken its place as a new global superpower, with the influential leaders of the Quiet Council making the big decisions – and fan-favorite heroes (and villains) finding their place in the new world! Cyclops, Jean Grey and their extended clan make a Summer House for themselves – on the moon! Wolverine finally has everything he ever wanted – but that means he has everything to lose! The reunited New Mutants head out on a cosmic quest to find a missing friend! A dangerous crew of mutants are recruited for X-Force – one half intelligence, the other half special ops! Meanwhile, Captain Kate Pryde sets sail on the high seas with her crew of Marauders, searching for mutants in need! A new Captain Britain leads Excalibur, and one of their number is…Apocalypse?! But who are the Fallen Angels? Collecting X-MEN (2019) #1-7, X-FORCE (2019) #1-8, MARAUDERS (2019) #1-8, EXCALIBUR (2019) #1-8, FALLEN ANGELS (2019) #1-6, NEW MUTANTS (2019) #1-7, WOLVERINE (2020) #2-3, GIANT SIZE X-MEN: JEAN GREY AND EMMA FROST and material from WOLVERINE (2020) #1.
THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL OMNIBUS HC
Penciled by AL MILGROM, PAT BRODERICK & JIM STARLIN with ALFREDO ALCALA, MIKE ZECK, DAVE COCKRUM, STEVE DITKO, FRANK MILLER, JERRY BINGHAM, CARMINE INFANTINO & MATT JORGENSEN
Covers by JEFF ACLIN & JIM STARLIN
920 PGS./Rated T …$125.00
Completing the original adventures of the first Captain Marvel!
Welcome to the next level of cosmic consciousness with the adventures of Captain Marvel! From Earth to the Moon to the Watcher’s homeworld and into the Negative Zone, these galaxy-spanning stories set the tone for Marvel epics. Bonded to Rick Jones by the Nega-Bands, Captain Marvel defends his adopted planet against the Kree and their mad quest for genetic superiority and galactic empire. Then, in a deadly plan set in motion by Thanos’ death, the massive computer I.S.A.A.C. takes over an entire world! This once-in-a-lifetime Omnibus also features massive battles with Drax the Destroyer, the bizarre Lunatic Legion and, of course, Jim Starlin’s legendary graphic novel, “The Death of Captain Marvel.” Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #34-62, MARVEL SPOTLIGHT (1979) #1-4 and #8, AVENGERS ANNUAL (1967) #7, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL (1976) #2 and MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #1 – and material from MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (1990) #3, WHAT IF? (1977) #17 and WHAT IF? (1989) #14.
ALL-NEW X-MEN BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS OMNIBUS HC
Penciled by STUART IMMONEN, DAVID MARQUEZ, DAVID LAFUENTE, BRANDON PETERSON, SARA PICHELLI, MAHMUD ASRAR, MIKE DEL MUNDO, ANDREA SORRENTINO & MORE
Covers by STUART IMMONEN & ALEX ROSS
1048 PGS./Rated T+ …$125.00
Brian Michael Bendis blazes a new trail for the original X-Men!
It’s a blast from the past as Professor X’s original five students – Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel and Beast – are plucked from yesteryear and brought to the present day. But what they find – and the state of Xavier’s dream – is far from the future they dreamed of. How will these young, idealistic heroes react when faced with the crushing knowledge of what fate holds for them? And how will the embittered X-Men of the present day deal with their past coming crashing forward? The time-torn teens don new costumes, face life-changing revelations and undertake their first cosmic adventure alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy! Meanwhile, the Utopians hold a secret that will change the future of mutantkind – but who are the Utopians?! The All-New X-Men may regret finding out! Collecting ALL-NEW X-MEN #1-15 and #18-41 and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2013) #11-13.
The Captain Marvel one might be nice, just to have "Death" in the same book with the regular series, instead of as a separate.
If you have MMW Captain Marvel v6 (and I'm betting you do), you already have "Death" in the same book with the regular series. If I may make an alternate suggestion, The Thanos Wars: Infinity Origin omnibus collects the following: IRON MAN (1968) 55, CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) 25-34, MARVEL FEATURE (1971) 12, AVENGERS (1963) 125, STRANGE TALES (1951) 178-181, WARLOCK (1972) 9-15, MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) 55, AVENGERS ANNUAL (1967) 7, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL (1976) 2, MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL (1982) 1, MATERIAL FROM DAREDEVIL (1964) 105, LOGAN'S RUN (1977) 6. Unless you're really hankering for those Marvel Super-Heroes and What If? stories, well... I know which one I'd buy.
There is also an alternate cover featuring Avengers Annual #7.
I think I have all or most of those early Thanos stories in some Infinity Gauntlet collection somewhere. I'll have to check. Whatever I've got, it doesn't have that cool cover!
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