The Essential Collections

[yobiko]

I have a little question about the essential lines. Do they contain all the issues of a comic or just selected comics?
I'm hoping they contain all the issues of the comics.

[MarsCactus]

Just selected ones, either stories considered important to the character(s), or stories judged to be the cream of the crop by Marvel

[Beast]

Just selected ones, either stories considered important to the character(s), or stories judged to be the cream of the crop by Marvel
That's not true. Other than some Essentials like 'The Essential Punisher', the books contain a large run of issues in order. You can see a good example of what's in each book at this link. :)

http://www.marvelessentials.com/cornershop/buy_essentials.html

[david r]

I have a little question about the essential lines. Do they contain all the issues of a comic or just selected comics?
I'm hoping they contain all the issues of the comics.

They contain all the issues in continuity. For instance, the first Fantastic Four Essential begins with #1, and proceeds from there issue by issue. So you get their earliest appearances, in continuity and order.

The only drawback is no color. But otherwise, these books are fantastic for new readers who cannot afford Masterworks or the expensive issues themselves.

[The Foreigner]

Just selected ones, either stories considered important to the character(s), or stories judged to be the cream of the crop by Marvel

You're way off the mark. I have no idea where you got this idea from.

Essentials are, slowly but surely, collecting each series from it's beginnings in very affordable, black and white volumes (Including Annuals).

[dingo]

You're way off the mark. I have no idea where you got this idea from.

Essentials are, slowly but surely, collecting each series from it's beginnings in very affordable, black and white volumes (Including Annuals).

Some of the smaller characters jump around a bit. Moonknight is a good example:

Werewolf By Night #32-33, Marvel Spotlight #28-29, Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #22-23, Marvel Two-In-One #52, Hulk Magazine #11-15, 17-18 & 20, Marvel Preview #21, Moon Knight #1-12, Marvel Team-Up Annual #4

[lordlad]

Some of the smaller characters jump around a bit. Moonknight is a good example:

Werewolf By Night #32-33, Marvel Spotlight #28-29, Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #22-23, Marvel Two-In-One #52, Hulk Magazine #11-15, 17-18 & 20, Marvel Preview #21, Moon Knight #1-12, Marvel Team-Up Annual #4
that's because moonknight's first appearance is in Werewolf by night.
just that simple.

[dingo]

that's because moonknight's first appearance is in Werewolf by night.
just that simple.

Yes, I know.

The point I was making is that assuming that an essential volume just prints one series is wrong. I follows the character, not the series.

[Nesteaman]

You're way off the mark. I have no idea where you got this idea from.

Essentials are, slowly but surely, collecting each series from it's beginnings in very affordable, black and white volumes (Including Annuals).


Sometimes they are random issues, I don't know about essentials, but I know the X-Factor book and a couple of the Jim Lee X-men books are random issues.

So go easy on the guy.

Maybe mixing up "essential"

[Expletive Deleted]

The Jim Lee book is a "Visionaries," isn't it?

"Essential" volumes are, by and large, about long continuous runs of a series. The only time they deviate from that is when other comics are needed to properly follow everything. You couldn't just start with MOON KNIGHT #1. You need the issues where he makes his first appearances. Likewise, X-FACTOR needs the issues of AVENGERS and FF where Jean Grey returns as well as the "Mutant Massacre" crossover issues that feature the main X-Factor cast.

[Kirk G]

I noted that to complete Avengers Essential Vol. #5, they inserted Daredevil #99, which (I was completely unaware prior to this) is necessary to follow the plot and resolve a storyline that continues in Avengers. In my view, this is a great policy. Therefore, the Avengers Essentials have followed the Avengers series and annuals (only two so far) in order, and only deviated to follow the plot for a moment over into DD.

The FF follow that series.
The PowerMan/IronFist essential follows Iron Fist from his first appearances over into his own book.

Supervillian team-up jumps around a bit, but still, there is a logical reason for including the books that they do.

My only concern is that some of these essential reprints have taken the stats from the last time some of the books were reprinted, including the footnotes that reference REPRINTS instead of the original issue numbers. Example: If the footnote said, "Dr. Doom was last seen in FF #23", the reprint was modified to say "Dr. Doom was last seen in Marvel 3in1 #15", since that was most accessable by the current reader, and made sense in the reprint series Marvel 3in1 (that I have made up).

Otherwise, they are pretty good. I only occassionally miss the color, but even in the reprint books, they were getting recolored with different background colors like skyblue instead of pale yellow... or increased shading or zip tone in some key locations to clarify or focus the eye or attention on the main action.

has anyone else noticed any changes in artwork?

[Kirk G]

Oh yeah... when they reprinted the Submariner series in the Marvel Mastworks series, I was very distressed that they didn't follow the storyline in the first major crossover into the Tales of Suspense issue that was needed to tell the tale of the fight between Namor and Iron Man.
BUT, I note that when reprinting the Tales of Suspense Iron Man stories in the latest solicitation of Iron Man Masterworks Vol.3.... They DID include the cross-over fight from Tales To Astonish, which would allow the reader to follow the story more completely.

So, we got one one way, and one the other. Which, I guess, makes sense.

Even in the Subby Volume, they started with a 4 page 1940s golden age origin story, and then Daredevil #7, which sets up Subby's new run in Tales to Astonish... so, I guess it all works out!

[Captain Exaggeration]

Like many people said. Most of them start at a #1 and go on in order. If a character was introduced in another comic it should be in there... save Silver Surfer Vol. 1 and maybe some others. They also include tie-in issues from other comics, Annuals, and other specials.

(Me? I got Essential Avengers Vol. 1-5, Captain America Vol. 1 and Iron Man vol. 1)

[yobiko]

Thanks guys, it's more clear now to me. :)
Black & White pages is a pretty acceptable drawback regarding the price on these babies I think.

Ordered Essential Iron-Man vol.1 today. Ah, the painful wait until something arrives by mail... :)

[The Foreigner]

Yes, I know.

The point I was making is that assuming that an essential volume just prints one series is wrong. I follows the character, not the series.

Yeah, you are right; it's more accurate to say it follows characters rather than series. Thanks for the correction!

Regardless, I must say Essentials kick ass. :D

[meethraa]

Is there a Moonknight #2 coming out any time soon? Because I just realized he has an Essential and I'll be getting #1 asap, and it would be nice to know that Marvel will keep putting those out.

That will be my first Essential, btw... :D

[Brandon McKinnis]

I'm stoked for Power-Man V2...it's only like 2 more weeks now till I get my massive Luke Cage fix.

[Hombre]

I noted that to complete Avengers Essential Vol. #5, they inserted Daredevil #99, which (I was completely unaware prior to this) is necessary to follow the plot and resolve a storyline that continues in Avengers. In my view, this is a great policy. Therefore, the Avengers Essentials have followed the Avengers series and annuals (only two so far) in order, and only deviated to follow the plot for a moment over into DD.


Avengers Essential Vol. 5 also includes the entire Avengers/Defenders crossover, and Vol. 4 reprints Incredible Hulk #140, part two of a story plotted by Harlan Ellison, with the first appearance of Jarella.