Epic Collections

New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: Marvel Comics – April 10 2024

April 6, 2024 by krisis

It’s the 15th new comic book day of the new year! This post covers Marvel Comics April 10 2024 releases. Missed last week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering Marvel Comics April 3 2024 new releases.

This week in Marvel Comics: Modern Black Widow Epics, actually classic Daredevil, Carnage’s identity struggle, Star-Spider, X marks the Stark, Ms. Marvel vs. Mojo, and more!

This list includes every comic and digital comic out from Marvel this week, plus collected editions in omnibus, hardcover, paperback, and digest-sized formats. For each new release, I’ll point you to the right guide within my Crushing Comics Guide to Marvel Comics to find out how to collect each character in full – and, if a guide is linked from this post, that means it is updated through the present day!

Marvel Comics April 10 2024 Collected Editions

Black Widow Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 3: Chaos
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956431 / digital)
See Guide to Black Widow. This collects all of Nathan Edmonson & Phil Noto’s 2014 Black Widow series. I enjoyed it. It often played Widow as someone whose plans were constantly ruined, but that came across less as a character flaw and more as the theme of the series – “chaos”!

This being “Vol. 3” has interesting implications for what two volumes before it will contain! While Vol. 2 could wind up being a verbatim reprint of Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital), which collects all of her 2009-2010 material, I wonder if perhaps they would shift the first series in that book – Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) #1-4 – out of that and into Vol. 1 to make room for Captain America & Black Widow (2012) #636-640 even though it is part of Cap’s line and not Natasha’s.

Daredevil Omnibus Vol. 3
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302955182 / digital)
See Guide to Daredevil. This collects what I consider to be the first truly great run of Daredevil – his entire San Francisco period, including Black Widow as his co-star (and her solo stories from Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8). If you really want to read classic Silver and Bronze Age Daredevil, I’d just skip the first two omnibuses and start with this one!

Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 1 (Re-Masterworks)
2024 “Re-Masterworks” hardcover, ISBN 978-1302951382 / digital)
See Guide to Hulk – Bruce Banner. Marvel hasn’t reprinted Masterworks volumes since prior to 2010 with some of the big lines like X-Men and Spider-Man, but their new Re-Masterworks program is giving them an excuse to both revise and expand the contents of these early Masterworks volumes by upgrading the artwork throughout.

I’ve just ordered my first of these re-issues, so I’ll be able to comment on the art restoration soon. From what I’ve seen online, it’s mostly just cleaner, thinner, more-defined ink lines – so, if you’re not the kind of person who would notice that sort of thing, there’s no reason to rush to buy these if you have the original Masterworks or the omnibus that was reprinted in 2022. [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: Marvel Comics – April 10 2024

New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: Marvel Comics – April 3 2024

March 28, 2024 by krisis

It’s the 14th new comic book day of the new year! This post covers Marvel Comics April 3 2024 releases. Missed last week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering Marvel Comics March 27 2024 new releases.

This week in Marvel Comics: new (and old) Deadpool, a hunk of Spider-Man 2099, the earliest X-Men Epic, Avengers join the Fall of X, She-Hulk’s space date, Thor fights his stories, the continuing trial of Lando, and more!

Marvel Comics April 3 2024 Collected Editions

Alien by Shalvey & Broccardo Vol. 2: Descendant (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952303 / digital)
See Guide to Aliens comics. This collects a second Declan Shalvey Alien mini-series, which is a direct sequel to his first earlier in 2023. You don’t have to read the first series to understand this one, but if you don’t it comes off as a very plain “person uses xenomorphs to get revenge” story. Even read together, for me this isn’t must-read Alien material.

Daredevil Epic Collection Vol. 7: The Concrete Jungle
(2024 paperback, ISBN ? 978-1302955175 / digital)
See Guide to Daredevil. This is the second of two Epic Collections bridging the gap between the Black Widow / San Francisco period of this title and the start of Frank Miller’s run, which will occur a few issues into the next collection.

Deadpool: Badder Blood
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302911232 / digital)
See Guide to Deadpool. This is a continuity-lite (if at all) sequel to Liefeld’s execrable 2023 OGN.

Deadpool: The Saga of Wade Wilson
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302958121 / digital)
See Guide to Deadpool. This is actually a solid primer on 90s-style Deadpool, collecting some key issues of his original 1997 series.

Ghost Rider Omnibus by Jason Aaron
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302957599 / digital)
See Guide to Ghost Rider. I am truly shocked to see this slim, partial collection of Ghost Rider (2006) reprinted verbatim after 14 years. It would have been so easy for Marvel to re-issue this book also containing the first 19 issues of this run, written by Daniel Way. If there was enough demand for an Aaron omnibus, certainly there was equally as much demand for an omnibus twice the length by the both authors.

Spider-Man 2099 Omnibus Vol. 2
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302953836 / digital)
See Guide to Spider-Man 2099. This is a Volume 2 you can pick up and read all on its own! It collects Peter David’s mid-2010s return to Spider-Man 2099, which saw him adventuring both in the present day and back in his future. This is a substantial and self-contained run that is a perfect read for you if you enjoyed Miguel O’Hara in the Spider-Verse movie and want to know more. [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: Marvel Comics – April 3 2024

New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: Marvel Comics – March 27 2024

March 21, 2024 by krisis

It’s the 13th new comic book day of the new year! This post covers Marvel Comics March 27 2024 releases. Missed last week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering Marvel Comics March 20 2024 new releases.

This week in Marvel Comics: Inferno Masterworks, Wonder Man’s modern saga, Daredevil’s theological deep-dive, a new Black Cat & MJ team-up, an official X-Men ’97 tie-in, and more!

Marvel Comics March 27 2024 Collected Editions

Daredevil By Ed Brubaker & Michael Lark Omnibus Vol. 2 HC 2024 Printing
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302957575 / digital)
See Guide to Daredevil. This book completes the four-omnibus run of relatively-grounded Daredevil before things get fanciful in Andy Diggle’s Shadowland run. Yet, the seeds of that run are planted here, as Matt descends to perhaps his darkest point to date. I really enjoy this run better than Bendis’s, personally.

Ghost Rider Vol. 4: Rite of Passage
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952358 / digital)
See Guide to Ghost Rider. This is the last of Benjamin Percy’s 2022 ongoing, though he is rolling into a new series called “Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance” with a new rider.

Immortal X-Men by Kieron Gillen Vol. 4
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302953423 / digital)
See Guide to X-Men – The Age of Krakoa. I wish I could tell you this was an all-time great finish to Gillen’s spectacular run on Immortal X-Men, but it ends in a bit of a fizzle. Gillen is deep into his “plots within plots within plots” bullshit, which can be satisfying when it pays off.

Unfortunately, none of it pays off here, because he’s playing for time prior to the Fall of X mini-series that will wrap up this era. Definitely read this if you’ve been reading all along – or, take this opportunity to start Immortal X-Men (2022) from the beginning to catch up with the Fall of Krakoa.

Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale: Hulk Gallery Edition
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302953072 / digital)
See Guide to Hulk – Bruce Banner. This is one of the famous “Color Books” by Loeb & Sale (which Marvel tried to call “Marvel Spectrum,” though it never particularly caught on), which interweaves an origin-era story with present day framing material. Sale’s art will always be eye-catching, and though this story is simplistic it brings a certain emotionality to Hulk that’s different than the original Lee comics. [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: Marvel Comics – March 27 2024

New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – March 20 2024

March 14, 2024 by krisis

It’s the 12th new comic book day of the new year! This post covers Marvel Comics March 20 2024 releases. Missed last week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering Marvel Comics March 13 2024 new releases.

This week in Marvel Comics: Franklin Richards’ secret revealed, Gillen’s final X-book, Spider-Woman old and new, repackaged collected editions, and more!

Marvel Comics March 20 2024 Collected Editions

Astonishing X-Men Modern Era Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Gifted
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302957971 / digital)
See Guide to Astonishing X-Men. On one hand, I’m all for any recollection of the brilliant first two arcs of this title, which should always been easily accessible to new readers. On the other hand, this is an exact copy of a prior Ultimate/Complete collection, which bums me out because it would be cool to see an Epic line of this title include some or all of Kitty Pryde: Shadow & Flame, Phoenix: Endsong, or Phoenix: Warsong – which were all extensions of this title. (For that matter, so was House of M).Shadow and Flame would have fit perfectly as another five issues in this collection.

Captain America Omnibus Vol. 4
(2024 “Vol. 4” oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302955137 / digital)
See Guide to Captain America. This is a reprint of “Captain America by Jack Kirby” simply rebranded to fit seamlessly into the omnibus line. That means it’s actually totally fine to buy as a standalone book – that’s how it’s been sold for well over a decade! If you want to read the beautiful madness that is Kirby drawing and writing Cap, it’s all here.

Carnage Epic Collection Vol. 3: The Monster Inside
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956363 / digital)
I’m working on this Carnage Guide right now, I swear! It’s been a busy month. This is a third (and likely last) “Classic” Carnage collection, picking up in 1998 and cruising all the way through 2009 to pick up some of his modern mini-series.

Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay Vol. 2: The War-Hound of Vishanti
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302951177 / digital)
See Guide to Doctor Strange. I wouldn’t recommend picking up this book as a standalone, as it’s all payoff for the mystery that was set up expertly in the first volume by MacKay. That said, this is immensely enjoyable. It shows off just how good modern Strange comics can be. There’s a way to build off of old magical continuity and established foes without being slavishly devoted to it in a way that is dull or alienating to new fans. MacKay is the author to perfectly walk that tightrope, and it yields a fascinating puzzle box of plot for our Doctor. [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – March 20 2024

New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – March 6 2024

February 29, 2024 by krisis

It’s the 10th new comic book day of the new year! This post covers Marvel Comics March 6 2024 releases. Missed last week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering Marvel Comics February 28 2024 new releases.

This week in Marvel Comics: a major Moon Knight omnibus, Dark Droids collections, the new arc of MacKay’s Strange, Iman Vellani’s return to Ms. Marvel, and more!

Marvel Comics March 6 2024 Collected Editions

The Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, Vol. 5: The Secret of the Petrified Tablet [reprint]
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302957810 / digital)
See Guide to Spider-Man – Peter Parker (1963 – 2018). It’s less interesting that Marvel is reprinting this Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection of issues #68-85 & Annual 5 and more interesting that this is when they are reprinting it. The first printing of this book was just four years ago, and it means Marvel has gotten the first five Epics back into print in a three-year span.

I think that’s really interesting, considering they also now have the Mighty Marvel Masterworks in play to cover this Silver Age material. It shows a real commitment to making their most-historic comics evergreen in an affordable format. Take note DC.

Daredevil Modern Era Epic Collection, Vol. 2: Underboss
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956332 / digital)
See Guide to Daredevil. Speaking of interesting Epic Collections, this second volume of Epics covering Daredevil from 1998 to present is the first time issues #20-25 have ever been collected continuously alongside issues #16-19 & 26-30, which are by Bendis.

Plus, it collects Daredevil: Ninja (2000) #1-3! This is what the Modern Epic collections ought to be doing – not just parroting existing mediocre maps of Complete Collections.

Mighty Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 3: To Be Reborn
(2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302954321 / digital)
See Guide to Captain America – Steve Rogers. In an unusual twist, this Mighty Masterworks line is now behind what was collected in the original hardcover Masterworks of the same volume number. The two lines aren’t meant to match up with each other, but I’ve been working from the expectation that these books would go slightly more aggressively to cover more material, faster.

Moon Knight: Marc Spector Omnibus Vol. 2
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302956899 / digital)
See Guide to Moon Knight. This is a big deal, y’all! This omnibus collects the end of Moon Knight’s 90s series for the first time, as well as his subsequent 1998 and 1999 mini-series. It also means we have every issue of Moon Knight in oversize format from his debut through the beginning of Marvel Now at the end of 2012. That’s pretty major! It’s amazing what some MCU exposure can do for the collected edition coverage of a Marvel character who hasn’t had a single continuous series from the Silver Age to present day. [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – March 6 2024