Marvel Masterworks TPB versions questions
 

As a kid of the sixties, now 55, a complete set of Silver Age Marvel is something I've always desired. The operative word is complete. Before diving in I'm looking for some info from those in the know.

1. As of now Marvel plans to continue releasing these as far as anyone knows?
2. They'll get around to everything eventually, as far as anyone knows? ie. Strange Tales Human Torch, Astonish Ant Man, Nick Fury.
3. From what I can tell Spidey #1,4 and Doctor Strange #1 are already OOP. This is a snooze you lose type deal? In other words, whip out the CC, bite the bullet, and get all the available ones now, then pick up the new ones right away before they are gone?

Just curious:
1. There are two cover variants? Don't really care but would like to all the same.
2. Do covers get their own page or is Page #1 on back on cover, and vice verse with cover on back of last page of previous story?

Re: Marvel Masterworks TPB versions questions
 

I haven't carefully studied the topic, and while I've picked up my fair share of Masterworks, I tend to favor the Bronze Age. Unfortunately, since I've picked them up over a span of years, the covers and numbering vary wildly. Anyway,

1. you should probably take a look at the latest release schedule (probably on Wikipedia or someplace like that) and try to figure out a pattern. These companies are fickle and at the drop of a hat might shift to an Essentials or Omnibus focus, then right back again.

2. The physical-media market as a whole is not doing great so I'd guess the under on whether they eventually get to everything.

3. Again, really hard to judge, but I think the core superheroes are your best bet to stay in print. I myself love the price and readability of the TPB Masterworks but that might not fit your vision, and again that would be hard to predict.

Re: Marvel Masterworks TPB versions questions
 

this is a listing of the first 100 volumes. The trade paperbacks are following the same release sequence as the original HC masterworks, with some minor shuffling to take advantage of theatrical tie-ins, so this will give you an idea of what to expect to see released over the next few years at the rate of 1 per month. We are currently at #46

1) Spider-Man #1-10
2) Fantastic Four #1-10
3) X-Men #1-10
4) Avengers #1-10
5) Spider-Man #11-19, Annual #1
6) Fantastic Four #11-20, Annual #1
7) X-Men #11-21
8) Incredible Hulk #1-6
9) Avengers #11-20
10) Spider-Man #20-30, Annual #2
11) Uncanny X-Men #94-100, Giant-Size #1
12) Uncanny X-Men #101-110
13) Fantastic Four #21-30
14) Captain America from ToS #59-81
15) Silver Surfer #1-6
16) Spider-Man #31-40, Annual #2
17) Daredevil #1-11
18) Thor from JiM #83-100
19) Silver Surfer #7-18
20) Iron Man from ToS #39-50
21) Fantastic Four #31-40, Annual #2
22) Spider-Man #41-50, Annual #3
23) Dr. Strange from ST #110-111, 114-141
24) Uncanny X-Men #111-121
25) Fantastic Four #41-50, Annual #3
26) Thor from JiM #101-110
27) Avengers #21-30
28) Fantastic Four #51-60, Annual #4
29) Daredevil #12-21
30) Thor from JiM #111-120, Annual #1
31) X-Men #22-31
32) Sub-Mariner from TtA #70-87
33) Spider-Man #51-61, Annual #4
34) Fantastic Four #61-71, Annual #5
35) X-Men #32-42
36) Golden Age Marvel Comics #1-4
37) Uncanny X-Men #122-131, Annual #3
38) Avengers #31-40
39) Hulk from TtA #59-79
40) Uncanny X-Men #132-140, Annual #4
41) Daredevil #22-32, Annual #1
42) Fantastic Four #72-81, Annual #6
43) Captain America Comics #1-4
44) Spider-Man #62-67, Annual #5, Spectacular #1-2
45) Iron Man from ToS #51-65
46) Captain America from ToS #82-99, Cap #100
47) Sub-Mariner Comics #1-4
48) X-Men #43-53, Angel solo stories
49) Dr. Strange from Strange Tales #142-168
50) Captain Marvel from MSH #12-13, CM #1-9
51) Human Torch Comics #1-4
52) Thor from JiM #121-125, Thor #126-140
53) Fantastic Four #82-93
54) Avengers #41-50, Annual #1
55) All-Winners Comics #1-4
56) Hulk from TtA #80-101, Incredible Hulk #102
57) Tales to Astonish #1-10
58) Sgt. Fury #1-13
59) Ant-Man from TTA #27, 35-52
60) Marvel Mystery Comics #5-8
61) X-Men #54-66
62) Fantastic Four #94-104
63) Rawhide Kid #17-25
64) Captain America #101-113
65) Iron Man from Tales of Suspense #66-83
66) Human Torch from Strange Tales #101-117, Ann. #2
67) Amazing Spider-Man #68-77, MSH #14
68) Tales of Suspense #1-10
69) Thor #131-140, Annual #2
70) Avengers #51-58, King-Size Special #2, X-Men #45
71) All-Winners #5-8
72) Marvel Premiere #1-2, Warlock #1-8, Hulk #176-178
73) Marvel Boy #1-2/Astonishing #3-6/YM #24-28
74) Daredevil #33-41, Fantastic Four #73
75) Dr. Strange #169-179, Avengers #61
76) USA Comics #1-4
77) Iron Man from ToS #84-99, IM & Subby #1, IM #1
78) Incredible Hulk #103-110, Special #1
79) Subby from TtA #88-101, IM & Subby #1, Subby #1
80) Thor #141-152
81) Sub-Mariner Comics #5-8
82) Captain Marvel #10-21
83) Nick Fury from Strange Tales #135-153
84) Avengers #59-68, Marvel Super Heroes #17
85) Strange Tales #1-10
86) Amazing Spider-Man #78-87
87) Rawhide Kid #26-35
88) Human Torch Comics #5b-8
89) Daring Mystery #1-4
90) Uncanny X-Men #141-150
91) Giant-Man from TtA #53-69
92) Men's Adv. #27-28/Cap #76-78/Human T. #36-38
93) Captain America #114-124
94) Tales to Astonish #11-20
95) Captain Marvel #22-33, Iron Man #55
96) Thor #153-162
97) Sgt. Fury #14-23, Annual #1
98) Tales of Suspense #11-20
99) Captain America Comics #5-8
100) Marvel Feature #1-3, Defenders #1-5, etc.


For the longest time, I had confused this set of books with the Barnes & Noble versions put out years ago. I wasn't impressed with those enough to ever drop $25 a piece on them, but I am very happy with these. I think I bought my first volumes this year(Uncanny X-Men 1-4 in one shot) and liked the format so much(paper, reproduction), that I'm tossing in catch up titles with just just about every on-line order I make these days. Soon I plan to order the Ditko Spider-man volumes- though now maybe sooner than I expected if other volumes are already starting to go OoP.

In general, I would prefer to have these in Omnibus form- but for the content I've already missed out in that format, these are a highly satisfying alternative. In most, if not all cases, reproduction and coloring is said to be a substantial improvement over the original HC Masterwork release.

My only complaint is they aren't being released fast enough, and the rigid following of the original HC release schedule means some follow-up volumes will have protracted 2-3 year waits. But I suppose I have plenty of stuff to catch up in the meantime.

I order mine through Cheap Graphic Novels with the usual price being just under $14. New volumes on the week of release are 50% off. S/H is a flat $6 on the total order. Very reasonable to me since most of my orders have cost well over that to ship- and compared to Amazon, their packing is far superior. I've tried TOW and TFAW, but CGN has become my go-to on-line retailer.

Re: Marvel Masterworks TPB versions questions
 

Interesting, I was wondering when the next Uncanny paperback volume was going to be. Seems like a long way out :sad:

Re: Marvel Masterworks TPB versions questions
 

Wikipedia has a complete list that includes future solicits up to April 2013 for both the hardcovers and softcovers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_masterworks