The comic collected editions scheduled for release by major comic publishers on any given week are a surprisingly unknowable and subjective list, which is exactly why I’ve done my best to summarize them here in a single post for you.
Why is the release schedule of trade paperbacks, deluxe hardcovers, and omnibuses so unknowable when other new media releases like novels, films and DVDs, and music are so predictable?
Preview Magazine tells us what comic publishers have scheduled to release to the direct market as of three to six months out from publication dates. Yet, that the schedule frequently changes and is not updated in a uniform fashion (although Previews does continue to update it right through the last moment before releases are shipped).
Meanwhile, Mass market booksellers receive comic collections on a delay from the direct market, but the delay differs from publisher to publisher depending on their distribution arrangements. Marvel is consistently delayed two weeks, while Image can range anywhere from one week to over a month.
Yikes.
So what is the book list below? It’s based on a combination of the Previews catalog, Amazon listings adjusted for the common mass market delay, and a poll of the top comic selling websites. There’s no other place you can find a similarly curated list.
Publishers:
What are the must-read books this week?
There are a lot of good collections out this week, but just one is must-buy – and that’s not even due to my personal affinity for the character! Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies is the first Wonder Woman collection of the present-day story from her Rebirth comic, written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Liam Sharp. Fans already loved Rucka from a mid-2000s WW run, and they’ve been raving about this one.
And now, on to the books!
DC Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
DC Collected Editions hit the mass market one week after the direct market, so these books are available from Amazon on February 28.
Batgirl: An Adult Coloring Book – With modern and classic Batgirl art from by Babs Tarr, Adam Hughes, Cameron Stewart, Carmine Infantino, and more
Batman: Night of the Monster Men hardcover – Collects a crossover from Batman #7-8, Nightwing #5-6, and Detective Comics #941-942 – it’s effectively Volume 1.5 of each title. Puzzlingly, this appears to be a standard size hardcover rather than oversize. Though these series are independently each a fan favorite, fans weren’t wild about this crossover. See Rebirth, Batman, or Detective Comics for more!
Batman Beyond Vol. 3: Wired for Death – Collects the end of the New 52 Batman Beyond series with issues #12-16, plus Batman Beyond: Rebirth.c
Cosmic Odyssey: The Deluxe Edition hardcover – Collects Cosmic Odyssey (1988) #1-4 by writer Jim Starlin with art from Mike Mignola, Carlos Garzón, and Steve Oliff.
Green Lantern: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 Hardcover – Collects Hal Jordan’s run as Green Lantern from the beginning with Showcase #22-24 and Green Lantern #1-35.
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Vol. 2 Hardcover – The digital-first video game tie-in series surges on, currently with writer Brian Buccellato on print issues #7-12. This is one of the final collections in the run that precedes the first Injustice game.
Superman/Batman Vol. 5 – Collects Superman/Batman (2003) #50-63 and Superman/Batman (2003) Annual 3.
Superman: The Golden Age Newspaper Dailies: 1942-1944 Hardcover – This is technically and IDW release, as they handle newspaper dailies collections for DC. DC has already collected Superman’s Silver Age strips via IDW, but this is the first collection of purportedly over 800 strips since their original newspaper publication!
Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies – This first Wonder Woman Rebirth collection is the present-day story from her Rebirth comic, which was written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Liam Sharp in issues #1, 3, 5, 7, 9, & 11, plus Wonder Woman: Rebirth. See Rebirth and Wonder Woman for more!
Dark Horse Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
Dark Horse collected editions generally hit the mass market two weeks after the direct market, so these books are available from Amazon on March 7.
The EC Archives: Valor Hardcover – Collects complete run of Valor #1-5 in full color
Groo: Fray of the Gods Volume 1 – Collects Groo: Fray of the Gods #1-4 by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier. This may be delayed based on Amazon’s release date.
The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts hardcover – A collection of concept and release art from three decades of Zelda games! This book is actually out on the mass market this week as a title with general interest outside of comics. This is a matching edition to the similar story history tome, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia hardcover.
The Machines Hardcover – An OGN by John McLean-Foreman and Eric Nguyen based on the upcoming strategy game. Previews had this book scheduled for last week and Direct Market sites listed it in stock, so perhaps it simply has a delayed mass market release (or, the mass market sites just have the date wrong).
Sabertooth Swordsman Volume 1 (Second Edition) Hardcover – by Damon Gentry, this edition includes “Double Date Disaster,” “Colossal Casuals Crusade,” and “Swamp Snake Sickness” from Dark Horse Presents anthology and additional artwork. It’s unclear if this book is really on schedule for this week, as Previews had it scheduled for last week.
Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years Omnibus Volume 1 paperback – Collects Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Archives Volumes 1, 2, and 3.
Vampire Hunter D Volume 25: Island of Immortality – Manga by by Hideyuki Kikuchi and Yoshitaka Amano.
IDW Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
IDW collected editions generally hit the mass market two weeks after the direct market, so these books are available from Amazon on March 7. A significant amount of IDW books are direct market-only, especially their high-end hardcovers.
Lex Toth Bravo For Adventure Artist Edition hardcover – This artist edition reproducing original art pages of Toth’s signature work is a direct market-only book, but you can grab a hardcover Bravo For Adventure color collection.
Corto Maltese: In Siberia paperback – The first full Corto Maltese original graphic novel by Hugo Pratt after years of shorter tales.
Dave Stevens Rocketeer Artisan Edition paperback – Again, artist editions aren’t available from mass market sellers (plus, this isn’t in previews for this week, but multiple sites confirm its release). You can collect the entirety of Stevens’ Rocketeer in a single paperback.
Haunted Horror Vol. 5: The Screaming Skulls and Much More
Jackboot & Ironheel – A WWII tale by Max Millgate.
Jay Disbrow’s Monster Invasion Hardcover – Reprints Disbrow’s pre comic code stories from Dark Mysteries, Ghostly Weird Stories, Spook, and Startling Terror Tales.
Locke & Key Welcome to Lovecraft Volume 1 Deluxe New Edition Hardcover – A special leather-bound, foil-stamped edition of Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft #1-6. Or, pick up a paperback edition of Welcome to Lovecraft for a fourth of the price – I recommend it highly!
Michael WM Kaluta’s Starstruck Artist Edition hardcover – Again, for the cheap seats, artist editions aren’t available from mass market sellers. Starstruck is a 1985 creator-owned space adventure for Marvel’s Epic Comics has been reprinted multiple times, and each edition soon falls out of print. The most recent collection was a 2012 paperback collection of Starstruck, which can still be had inexpensively.
Revolution Deluxe Hardcover – This collection is a direct market exclusive that collects Revolution #1-5 and the eight Revolution one-shots. A generally-available Revolution paperback collects #1-5 of this licensed property crossover bonanza starring between Transformers, Micronauts, ROM, Action Man, MASK, and G.I. Joe (but, apparently, not the one-shots).
Revolution: Transformers – Collects The Transformers, More Than Meets The Eye, and Till All Are One Revolution One-Shots plus the 2015 Holiday Special.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 100 Project paperback – Appears to be a Direct Market only book. The “100 Project” format sees 100 different artists contribute a unique cover for a specific issue, which are then collected to benefit The Hero Initiative.
Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 5 hardcover – Collects Transformers: Primacy, Transformers: Robots in Disguise #19–22, and Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #17–22.
Image Comics Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
Image Comics collected editions hit the mass market one week after the direct market, so these books are available from Amazon on February 28.
The Autumnlands Volume 2: Woodland Creatures – Collects The Autumnlands #7-14 by Kurt Busiek, Ben Dewey, and Jordie Bellaire. Pick up Volume 1.
Blue Monday Volume 3: Inbetween Days – by Chynna Clugston-Flores. Pick up Volume 1 and Volume 2. This may be delayed, as it’s listed on Amazon for a month from now.
Lake of Fire – Collects the five-issue Lake of Fire mini-series by by Nathan Fairbairn and Matt Smith.
Lazarus Volume 5 – Collects Lazarus #22-26 by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. This one’s a little puzzling; Previews doesn’t have it listed for the week and Amazon has it out two months from now, but comic sites are listing it in the new releases. I guess we’ll see!
Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta Volume 4 – Collects Outcast #19-24 by Robert Kirkman, Paul Azaceta, Elizabeth Breitweiser.
Pix OGN Volume 1: One Weirdest Weekend – by Gregg Schigiel
Snotgirl Volume 1: Green Hair Don’t Care – Collects Snotgirl #1-5 by Bryan Lee O’Malley (creator of Scott Pilgrim!) and Leslie Hung
Switch Volume 1 – Collects webcomic Switch #1-7 by prolific mega-talent Stjepan Sejic. Again, this is not due out for several weeks and isn’t in Previews, but some comic sites are listing it out this week.
Marvel Comics Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
Marvel Comics collected editions hit the mass market two weeks after the direct market, so these books are available from Amazon on March 7.
All-New X-Men: Inevitable Vol. 3: Hell Hath So Much Fury – Collects #12-16 and Annual 1 of this story starring young version the original X-Men (plus some younger new x-characters). See Young X-Men for more!
Daredevil: Back in Black Vol. 3: Dark Art – Collects #10-14 of Charles Soule’s run, which has been well-received by fans. See Daredevil for more!
Daredevil Epic Collection: Brother, Take My Hand (Epic Vol. 3) – Collects Daredevil (1964) #42-63, which is the run immediately following the Daredevil Vol. 1 Omnibus, out a few weeks ago. – See Daredevil for more!
Deadpool: Back in Black – Collects the five-issue Deadpool mini-series which retcons him into the original Secret Wars and gives him his own black symbiote suit. See Deadpool for more!
Doctor Strange Vol. 3: Blood in the Aether – Collects #11-16 of Jason Aaron’s ongoing series. See Doctor Strange for more!
Elektra by Peter Milligan, Larry Hama & Mike Deodato Jr.: The Complete Collection – Collects Elektra’s first ongoing series, Elektra (1996) #1-19 & -1. See Elektra for more!
Punisher & Bullseye: Deadliest Hits – Collects Punisher: Trial Of The Punisher #1-2 (for the first time!), Bullseye: Perfect Game #1-2, and material from Daredevil #500. See Punisher for more!
Wolverine vs. Deadpool – Collects a variety of Wolverine and Deadpool showdowns, all of which have been collected elsewhere previously – Wolverine (1988) #88, 154-155; Deadpool (1997) #27; Cable & Deadpool #43-44; Wolverine: Origins #21-25; Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy #1; and material from Wolverine Annual ’95 and ’99. See Wolverine or Deadpool for more!
Valiant Entertainment Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
Valiant Entertainment collected editions generally hit the mass market two weeks after the direct market, so these books are available from Amazon on March 7. See Guide to Valiant Comics for more information about Valiant Entertainment collected editions.
Britannia – Collects the Britannia #1-4 mini-series by Peter Milligan. This book isn’t consistently listed across all comics sites, but Previews does have it scheduled for this week.
X-O Manowar Deluxe Edition Book 4 hardcover – Collects X-O Manowar #30–42, X-O Manowar #0, and X-O Manowar: Valiant 25th Anniversary Special #1
Other Publishers Collected Editions for February 22, 2017
A selection of books out this week from Archie, Avatar, Boom! Studios, Disney / Joe Books, Drawn & Quarterly, Dynamite, Fantagraphics Books,First Second, Magnetic Press, NBM Publishing, Oni Press, Titan Comics, Zenoscope
The Assignment Paperback (Titan Comics) – A crime noir thriller by Walter Hill, Matz, and Jef soon to become a movie starring Sigourney Weaver & Michelle Rodriguez and directed by Walter Hill!
Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Volume 4 – The School of Death Hardcover (Titan Comics) – Collects Doctor Who Twelfth Doctor: Year Two Issues #1-5
The Draw Of Sport Hardcover (Fantagraphics Books) – by Murray Olderman
Grimm Fairy Tales Apocalypse (Zenoscope) – This Zenoscope event series isn’t listed in Previews for the week and may be delayed.
The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two, The Son of Neptune: The Graphic Novel Paperback (Hyperion Books) – Hardcover / Paperback
Hugo Broyler, Vol. 1 (Magnetic Press) – Collects the online series
The Interview Hardcover (Fantagraphics Books) – by Manuele Fior. This might not be out this week, as Amazon has it for April and Fantagraphics doesn’t typically have that much of a delay from the Direct Market.
Jughead, Vol. 2 (Archie) – Written by the inane Chip Zdarsky, of Sex Criminals and Howard the Duck, with Ryan North, of Dinosaur Comics and Squirrel Girl. Volume 1 is also by Zdarsky and drawn by Squirrel Girl’s Erica North.
Mountebank OGN (Fantagraphics) – Currently only solicited on Amazon as a Kindle version
Providence Act 1 Final Printing (Avatar) – Collects Providence #1-4. This is Alan Moore’s current work, a horror comic that per the “Final Printing” in the title will see limited recollection in this initial format (the first HC is already 3x its initial cover price). Avatar typically follows through with these threats, but Moore’s work almost always winds up recollected later, so make of it what you will. (This is not listed in Previews for the week.)
Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar (Oni Press) – Collects Rick And Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar #1-5, written and drawn by Sarah Graley.
Robocop: Dead or Alive Vol. 3 (Boom! Studios) – Written by Joshua Williamson, who is on quite a hot streak right now! Pick up Volume 1 and Volume 2, also by Williamson. (This one is not in this week’s Previews, so it might not really be out on the Direct Market this week.)
Shaft: Imitation of Life (Dynamite) – Collects Shift: Imitation of Life #1-4, written by David Walker
Spaniel Rage (Drawn & Quarterly) – A graphic autobiography by Vanessa Davis
Disney Star vs. The Forces of Evil Comics Collection: Deep Trouble (Disney / Joe Books)
Take That, Adolf!: The Fighting Comic Books Of The Second World War paperback (Fantagraphics) – A Timely collection of the Hitler punching comics covers of the 1940s
Time Time Museum, Vol. 1 (First Second)
To Have And To Hold Paperback (Fantagraphics) – A para-noir graphic novel set during the Cuban Missile Crisis by Graham Chaffee
A Treasury of XX Century Murder Compendium I: Including The Lindbergh Child, The Axe-Man of New Orleans, and Madison Square Tragedy hardcover (NBM Publishing) – An illustration collection of true crime by Rick Geary
[…] In Siberia paperback – You’re not seeing things; this was originally scheduled for last week but got pushed to this one. The first full Corto Maltese original graphic novel by Hugo Pratt after […]