I was always ambivalent toward Marvel's "Essential" and DC's "Showcase" lines back when they were a going concern. On the one hand, they were an inexpensive way to get a large chunk of continuity, but on the other they were black & white. I didn't mind quite so much if they reprinted material I wasn't likely to be able to find anywhere else, but comics intended for color should be published in color. The volumes I didn't have any qualms about were the ones which reprinted comics originally published in b&w, such as the first nine issues of Rampaging Hulk. The series converted to color and changed it's title to simply HULK! with #10, and continued through #27 (but reverted to b&w for the last issue or two). When I was a kid I saw only issues #11, #12 and #14, but I loved them. I eventually collected the entire series as backissues, but it's the b&w issues I'm here to discuss today.
The whole nine-issue storyline ostensibly took place between Hulk #6 (the last issue of his short-lived series) and Tales to Astonish #60 (the first installment of his long-running serial which eventually became his own title with #102). Rampaging Hulk was not without its continuity problems, however; one might say it was plagued with them. During the course of its short run, the Hulk met the Sub-Mariner before he met the Sub-Mariner, the Avengers before he met the Avengers, the X-Men before he met the X-Men, and so on. You can see the problem. The "Essential" Rampaging Hulk collects #10-15 of the color issues as well, but don't read them there, I beg of you. Either find the originals or wait for Marvel to collect them in color. (Which reminds me: I need to add this idea to the "What Should Be Collected Next?" thread if it isn't there already.)
"MAN OR MONSTER?":
[NOTE: For the real stories which took place between Hulk #6 and Tales to Astonish #60, see The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection Vol. 1 - "Man or Monster?" You will find these stories collected in neither MMW Hulk nor the Hulk Omnibus series.]
"PARDONED" (Hulk #269-285):
Eventually, someone at Marvel decided to deal with the continuity problem of Rampaging Hulk #1-9 once and for all and relegated the whole schmear to a "techno-art" movie-creation of the Krylorian birdwoman Bereet, starting in Hulk #286. As luck would have it, the "Pardoned" tpb (#269-285) picks up more-or-less exactly from the end of Rampaging Hulk #9 and carries on to a major turning point.
"REGRESSION" (Hulk #286-300 & Annual #12):
Throughout the course of Pardoned, Bruce Banner gained control of his Hulk persona and strove to redeem himself in a series of events which eventually led to a Presidential pardon. This being comics, though, that happy status quo was not allowed to stand, and Banner's condition began to regress, leading to another major turning point.
"CROSSROADS" (Hulk #301-313 & Annual #13):
Due to the events of Regression, Dr. Strange was forced to banish the Hulk to a mystical "crossroads" where he was to live out the rest of his life. Pardoned, Regression and Crossroads are not part of the "Epic Collections" series, but they are quite similar except for trade dress. At this point, however, the saga circles back to The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection Vol. 14...
"GOING GRAY" (Hulk #314-330 & Annuals #14-15):
This brings us almost to the point at which we're able to switch over to omnibus format. John Byrne short (but classic) run begins in #314, and whereas it has been collected in the Marvel Universe by John Byrne omnibus, it doesn't quite get us to the point at which the Incredible Hulk by Peter David omnibus series begins. For those interim Al Milgrom issues, Epic Collection v14 is the only place to find #320-330 (apart from the original issues).
So where does that leave the Marvel Masterworks series (I'm sure you're wondering)? Already some overlap with the tpbs has begun to creep in. I have collected the MMW Hulk series from the very beginning, and v18 does come to a logical stopping point: his Presidential pardon.
I'll tell you: I almost decided to stop buing the MMW series at that point, but you know what a completist I am (some of you do). I did pre-order v19 (scheduled to ship next month), but then Bleeding Cool breaks the rumor that the MMW series is going on "indefinite hiatus" in 2026. It will end at an unusual point (in the middle of the "Regression" storyline), whereas one more volume would take the series to a more logical stopping point.
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I'm toying with selling whatever omnibusses I've picked up to fill in for missing Masterworks, and getting whatever Epic collections fill the space instead.
Interesting. I am in the process of replacing duplicated Masterworks with omnibusses. Now that the MMW is soon to be kaput, I am toying with the idea of buying more Epic collections. Case in point: I am currently reading FF Epic Collection v18 ("The More Things Change..." from the Englehart era) and have reached some startling conclusions. Although I bought most of these original comics, I am discovering that I have actually read very few of them. (This is an example of where my tenent "Don't buy what you don't read" comes from.) I have also discovered that I'm really liking this run. (I have five more issues to read before I'm ready to bump my "Post-Byrne Fantastic Four" thread up to the top with a new post.) Most "startling," I've discovered how much easier the Epic Collections are to read than the omnibusses.
I may go all trade paperback going forward on PS Artbooks as well.
I already regret my decision to buy only PS Artbooks in HC. It's too late to go back now. :(
I was under the impression that Hulk! wasn't Code-approved, being a magazine and all.
You're right: it's not. What I meant was: "It's kind of funny that Shooter was adamant that no homosexuality was ever hinted at in a Code-approved Marvel comic, yet he wrote that even though it's in a non-Code book."
Interesting. I am in the process of replacing duplicated Masterworks with omnibusses. Now that the MMW is soon to be kaput, I am toying with the idea of buying more Epic collections.
A smart guy on this board recently said something to the effect of, "I'm considering what format I want this material in if I want to re-read it someday." He said it much better, and it really hit me. For years I had been trying to get HCs of any material I wanted to keep for display, omnibus if possible. But now I'm thinking,"If I actually want to read this stuff, what format do I want it in?" And the answer is always "small trades." I just recently bought Hickman's Fantastic Four run in trade and it's been a better experience than a bulky HC. And I'll have read it NOW, instead of waiting until a display-worthy, comprehensive HC came along, or Masterworks got there.
I also recently got DCEASED in a set of boxed TPBs. That will be an easy read, and the box will stand up over time. I have a couple of the mini/maxi series in HC, and I think I'll just get rid of those.
I recently got the first HC of Revival in anticipation of the TV show ... not any sort of comprehensive set. I just got the first one, to see if I liked it. (Verdict: so-so.) I might get Vol. 2, and I might not. I'll wait to see if the TV show grabs me.
This is a whole different way to collect than I have been doing. And a better one, given my current stage in life.
That one comment from that one smart guy has me completely re-evaluating my collecting goals. I'd sure like to thank that guy.
"I may go all trade paperback going forward on PS Artbooks as well."
I already regret my decision to buy only PS Artbooks in HC. It's too late to go back now. :(
Why? If there's something you want to read -- and I recommend early Blackhawk and Plastic Man -- you can still get them at essentially cover price at Amazon or PS Artbooks. You've already skipped all these books, so the collector's fever isn't a factor. If you want to read a book, read a book. If you want to sample Doll Man or Ibis the Invincible, just read the first volume, and if it doesn't grab you, skip the rest. Don't read the ones that don't interest you. It's almost ... a normal way to read stuff.
"I was under the impression that Hulk! wasn't Code-approved, being a magazine and all."
You're right: it's not. What I meant was: "It's kind of funny that Shooter was adamant that no homosexuality was ever hinted at in a Code-approved Marvel comic, yet he wrote that even though it's in a non-Code book."
After I posted I realized I might have misinterpreted you, and that you had a different -- and valid -- point to make. But I was at a baseball game and couldn't do much about it. Yeah, Shooter getting huffy about the suggestion of homosexual content was a bit silly, given that at the first opportunity he wrote exactly that (and badly). None of it aged well, did it?
I'd sure like to thank that guy.
If I talk to him I'll pass it along. He sounds wise indeed. I'm sure I could learn something from him.
It's too late to go back now. :(
Why?
In the past, when I have missed a volume, I have found it cost-prohibitive to acquire it. For one thing, I have not found missed volumes to be readily available in the U.S., either through Diamond or online. The last (HC) volume I missed, which would have cost $39 with my pre-oder discount, cost $72 once I figured in overseas shipping.
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