When do the Essentials no longer become essential?

[Norrin Radd]

Example:
Many would say that the Lee/Kirby issues of Thor are a necessity, but if we're truly going by what is "essential" wouldn't they skip to Walter Simonson's run after that? Honestly, how well would issues by Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, or Tom DeFalco sell? Not saying they're necessarily inferior. They're talented creators and all, but they're definitely not known as the most original or innovative runs on the title.

You could argue the same with titles like FF, Spider-Man, etc.

My question: Are essentials truly going to live up to their name or are they simply going to be Marvel Reprints?

[drwho]

I just see them as cheap marvel reprints. Other than what came out in the Silver age I wouldnt really consider anything else essential.

[Lord S]

When do the Essentials no longer become essential? When the '40 Years of _________' CD is released!

[drwho]

When the '40 Years of _________' CD is released!

That is exactly why I'm getting only essentials for series less likely to have the 40 yr thing released. The others I will wait for the dvd roms.

[Beast]

None of them are really what one could call 'Essential'. They arn't necessary reading to enjoy or understand modern stories. That's not to say they arn't fun reads. Just don't take the 'Essential' moniker to heart. :)

[Lorendiac]

None of them are really what one could call 'Essential'. They arn't necessary reading to enjoy or understand modern stories. That's not to say they arn't fun reads. Just don't take the 'Essential' moniker to heart. :)

Are you suggesting that it is possible for a human being -- even one who is a comic book fan -- to somehow live a long, happy life without having ever seen the Essentials that collect (for example) the first several years of the original Daredevil title so we can see how it all began? Or the full run of Tomb of Dracula?

BLASPHEMY!

Ahem. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest . . . :o

[static]

i am actually enjoying the 70's stuff alot more than the early lee/kirby stuff! Tomb of dracula, Iron fist, Nova, the Defenders ..those are alot more fun to read than the hoaxy (but classic) lee kirby stories sometimes...

[lordlad]

Essentials are for those that wanted to read those long running series from the VERY BEGINNING in chronological order without having to break the bank........that's my take on it.

If what the threadstarter wants is to only include those classic runs by specific creators, i think Visionaries trade is more akin to your taste.

[kalorama]

When I walked into my LCS yeasterday and saw the newly relesed "Essential Tales of the Zombie" volume on the shelf, I knew that Mrvel's definition of "essential" was coming from a different dictionary than any one I've ever owned.

[Ryan K]

The titles of the books aren't Essential Marvel: Tales of the Zombie. Its Essential Tales of the Zombie.

Big difference.

[kalorama]

Not so much really.

[Lorendiac]

When I walked into my LCS yeasterday and saw the newly relesed "Essential Tales of the Zombie" volume on the shelf, I knew that Mrvel's definition of "essential" was coming from a different dictionary than any one I've ever owned.

I don't think I've ever read any of Marvel's old Zombie tales, so I have no idea whether the word "essential" is out of place or not. For all I know, those could be far and away the most brilliant and riveting "horror comics" stories ever published by any company at any time in the Twentieth Century! That would make them "Essential" to anyone who actually likes that sort of thing!

(Personally, I was never all that big on the horror genre in the first place. Although I do read occasional examples.)

[drwho]

I just ordered Monster of frankenstien,Ghost rider vol 1, werewolf by night vol 1,Tomb of dracule vol 1, and dr. strange vol.1 I do like the fact that marvel is taking a chance by reprinting these old series at cheap prices. I will defintely be getting the son of satan essential,man thing, and tales of zombie. My biggest hope is to eventually see these books in the dvd-rom format