Upcoming Essentials speculation

[The Lucky One]

Okay, we all know from Joe Q's recent press conference that Marvel's planning to release 24 new Essentials next year. Some of them we know -- Nova, Spider-Woman, a couple collections of the various OHotMUs -- but that still leaves a lot of slots to fill. Obviously some will be the standards... you can count on another Spider-Man volume, another X-Men, probably another each of the Avengers and the FF. But given Marvel's recent focus on the 70s and willingness to reprint more off-the-beaten-path series, what else do you think we can expect? Not what you personally want to see, necessarily, but what you're anticipating?

Personally, I think we can expect another Defenders volume, and if the first sells well, another Werewolf by Night (and Ghost Rider as well). Since they're doing Essential X-Factor in November, I'm guessing we'll see an Essential New Mutants at some point in '06, and I think I heard mention of an Essential Excalibur as well. I would love -- though I'm not sure if we'll get it or not -- a volume 2 (and 3 eventually) of Essential Uncanny X-Men.

Other speculation?

-D

[mattbib]

I don't need to buy them, but I really hope we do see Essential New Mutants if only to reach a wider audience who have never read the original series.

Hopefully they release another Essential Avengers and Uncanny X-Men as well.

[thik_3rd]

1. nova
2. spider-woman
3. handbook
4. avengers?
5. spider-man?
6. x-men?
7. fantastic four?
8. defenders?
9. werewolf by night?
10. ghost rider?
11. new mutants?
12. excalibur?
13. uncanny x-men?
14. alpha flight?
15. captain marvel?
16. captain america?
17. hulk?
18. daredevil?
19. namor?
20. howling commandos?
21. shield?
22. ka-zar?
23. iron man?
24. thor?

x-men (91)?
marvel premiere?
marvel spotlight?


i'd like to see them just start throwing stuff out there. theres a bunch of stuff that didn't have enough issues to warrant an essential on its own (not brand ecch, black goliath, omega the unkown, etc.). they should double them up.
do an essential inhumans/eternals together

[ChildOfTheDarkholde]

The Spider-Woman Essentials Vol 1 comes out in November 05, I bet there will be a volume 2 in 06.
I also bet there is another DEFENDERS, a Moon Knight and a She-Hulk.
(Spider-man, X-men and Wolverine are givens)

[thik_3rd]

i really doubt they'll put out another spider-woman next year.

[Slam_Bradley]

Is Tales of the Zombie set for December or January? I forget.

[Zero Hunter]

Whoa wait a second! We are getting and Essential Nova? How did I miss this?

[Perry Holley]

It's probably too much to hope for an Essential Master Of Kung Fu collection (due to licensing reasons).

[thik_3rd]

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=81077&page=1&pp=15
essential nova was mentioned in this thread.

[Slam_Bradley]

Hmmm...well Essential Tales of the Zombie doesn't show in the December solicits, so I'll assume it is one of the 2006 books.

[thik_3rd]

Hmmm...well Essential Tales of the Zombie doesn't show in the December solicits, so I'll assume it is one of the 2006 books.
i thought it was earlier than december. like november maybe.

[Tony Bang]

Hopefully, we'll get a Essential Sgt. Fury and The Howling Commandos volume.

[Factor-X]

I don't need to buy them, but I really hope we do see Essential New Mutants if only to reach a wider audience who have never read the original series.

Hopefully they release another Essential Avengers and Uncanny X-Men as well.

I agree about The New Mutants, I would like to see those released.

[Edward J Cunningham]

The Spider-Woman Essentials Vol 1 comes out in November 05, I bet there will be a volume 2 in 06.
I also bet there is another DEFENDERS, a Moon Knight and a She-Hulk.
(Spider-Woman, X-men and Wolverine are givens)

I hope you are right about She-Hulk, even though I own every issue twice already!

Eddie Cunningham

[Evan Lanctot]

Two words:

ESSENTIAL INVADERS


Evan

[The Shadow]

.....and here it is... you KNOW it had to happen! LOL

who wants giant colouring books? The books were originally in colour and should be seen as they were intended. The B&W format of just removing the colour takes away a lot of the story (otherwise why would they colour it??) and the books reprinted in the Essentials were never intended to be in B&W. The Batman Chronicles showed you could do an affordible reprint in colour.

:D :D :D

[The Lucky One]

Shadow, I know you think it's funny that you keep repeating the same damn thing in every single thread with the word "essential" in it, but speaking for the rest of us, without any sense of malice or anger- it's not. You don't like the black-and-white format. We. Get. It. Loud and clear. Your opinion is duly noted, now please stop reminding us.

-D

[The Shadow]

Shadow, I know you think it's funny that you keep repeating the same damn thing in every single thread with the word "essential" in it, but speaking for the rest of us, without any sense of malice or anger- it's not. You don't like the black-and-white format. We. Get. It. Loud and clear. Your opinion is duly noted

And everytime someone says what you just said I politely respond: This is a public forum to discuss both pro's and cons of comic related items. Essentials qualify.

And perhaps a new member joined and didn't any read past posts by me regarding the Essentials... it's like a comic... every post is somebody's first. Why should I stay silent because I said this 3 months ago? Someone is reading it for the first time and hopefully my anti-Essential message will get out, gain support and the blight that is B&W essentials will be a footnote in the annals of comic publishing history.

now please stop reminding us.
No.

[PerfectBrak]

I'd guess additional volumes of Spider-Man, Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Captain America, Thor, and Hulk will be released.

For as of yet uncollected series, I'd guess New Mutants, Excalibur, Champions, Avengers West Coast, Marvel Comics Presents, and Alpha Flight.

If a Carol Danvers based series comes out in '06 as it has been rumored, a Captain Marvel Essential would probably be released as well.

[redlantern2051]

How about "Essential Punisher #2" and "Essential Moon Knight"-they are the ones I am waiting for!!!

[Slam_Bradley]

Someone is reading it for the first time and hopefully my anti-Essential message will get out, gain support and the blight that is B&W essentials will be a footnote in the annals of comic publishing history.



Because you've been so successful that Marvel has ramped up to two books a month and DC lauched their Showcase program.

A troll, is a troll, is a troll.

[Hombre]

Because you've been so successful that Marvel has ramped up to two books a month and DC lauched their Showcase program.

A troll, is a troll, is a troll.

You know, I love buying the back issues myself. But that attitude defies all logic. The essentials are unearthing for old and new readers tons of priceless comics from decades past, comprehensively placing them within their proper context, shedding light not only on Marvel's artistic heritage but also on the cultural and social changes that influenced its style and scope across time.

If you combine pricing issues and, most importantly, the time it would take to cover the span of the silver, bronze and modern age without the Essentials, it's pretty obvious that a good deal of extremely significant comics would remain unknown and unrelevant for a majority of readers for an indeterminate amount of time.

[Ryan K]

24 Essentials is gonna kill me. Don't get me wrong, its very exciting and everything . . . but . . . wow.

Nova should fit entirely in one collection right? I think it was just 25 issues. And I'm sure they'll toss in some guest appearences and such.

As for what I think will be released:

Virtually Guaranteed:
Avengers Vol. 5
Fantastic Four Vol. 5
Spider-Man Vol. 8
Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 2
Defenders Vol. 2
X-Men Vol. 7

Probable:
Hulk Vol. 4
Daredevil Vol. 4
Thor Vol. 3
Power Man Vol. 2
Iron Man Vol. 3
Werewolf by Night Vol. 2
Spider-Woman Vol. 2 (Based on her popularity and the excitement over the first volume I think this is pretty much guaranteed)
Moon Knight Vol. 1 (with the new Finch series coming this is probably as good as guaranteed too)


That still leaves 10. Quite a few of which will probably be new lines. New Mutants is very probable, I think Excalibur less so because they are reprinting them in regular tpb form already and will at least want to see how those do. I think Ms. Marvel's probably a good guess too.

[Alistair]

New Mutants is very probable,

Probably not, apparently. Sienkiewicz's art techniques at the time would, we're told, make everything past #18 pretty much unintelligible in b&w.

[Slam_Bradley]

It is LONG past time that we got an Essential Uncanny X-men, vol. 2.

It is also long past time that we got initial volumes for Sub-Mariner and Sgt. Fury. SHIELD also, though with the color tpb's of the Steranko stories, I'd say it is a longer shot.

I'd dearly love to see Rawhide Kid, but with a Masterworks coming out, I suppose that isn't going to happen.

I'm happy about the Official Handbook Essentials. Those I don't have any interest in getting.

[Ryan K]

Probably not, apparently. Sienkiewicz's art techniques at the time would, we're told, make everything past #18 pretty much unintelligible in b&w.

Fair point. Personally I don't want an Essential New Mutants. And that would explain why they went with Essential X-Factor (groan) before an Essential New Mutants.

[thik_3rd]

i forgot invaders, that's one i'd definitely like to see.
also captain america, i'm like 2 essentials and a handful of back issues away from having read his entire series.

[Tadhg]

who wants giant colouring books?

Going by sales? Lots of people.


The books were originally in colour and should be seen as they were intended. The B&W format of just removing the colour takes away a lot of the story (otherwise why would they colour it??) and the books reprinted in the Essentials were never intended to be in B&W.

Is it better to have B&W Tomb of Dracula or no Tomb of Dracula at all.



The Batman Chronicles showed you could do an affordible reprint in colour.

For Batman, DC's number one cashcow. Jonah Hex Chronicles wouldn't be affordable in color and still be profitible for DC . And you forgot to mention that The Batman Chronicles is less than half the page count of an Essentials volume.

You don't like them, that's great, don't buy them. LOTS of people like them. Personally, I'd prefer color but love what I'm getting for the price I'm getting.

[The Lucky One]

Fair point. Personally I don't want an Essential New Mutants.

How come, Ryan? Hell, I've got a complete run and I still want it, to expose newer fans to all the goodness.

I can see the wisdom about Bill S.'s art being murky in b&w, but if Marvel was to do it right, they could at least get one Essentials volume out of the NM- just put in the Magik miniseries and the Marvel Team-Up issue that introduced Karma, plus the NM graphic novel, and you could fill one Essential volume and stop at NM #18.

-D

[Ryan K]

How come, Ryan? Hell, I've got a complete run and I still want it, to expose newer fans to all the goodness.

Basically my reason is selfisness. :D

Same reason why I could care less if they print anymore Essential X-Men volumes (Not Essential Uncanny X-Men - I want those desperately).

I have all the issues, so if Marvel's gonna make 24 Essentials I want 24 Essentials I want.

Plus a run of 25 New Mutants issues would probably be comparatively priced on Ebay. The collection would probably be nice for those that only buy the X-stuff in Essntial format, especially now that they're getting into X-Factor and Fall of the Mutants and Inferno will be coming up shortly in the X-Men line.

But like I said . . . I'm selfish. Selfish, but honest. :)

[Ryan K]

When does Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1 come out?

[Slam_Bradley]

When does Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1 come out?


Scheduled for November 16.

[Ryan K]

Scheduled for November 16.

Thanks Slam!

[Evan Lanctot]

Look, if these books were not a success, Marvel wouldn't be pumping them out at a rate of two a month now. Me, personally, I love them, black and white or not. I now own the first 74 issues of Fantastic Four and paid less then $100 for them. That's how I look at these books. A blessing.


Evan

[Shellhead]

Look, if these books were not a success, Marvel wouldn't be pumping them out at a rate of two a month now. Me, personally, I love them, black and white or not. I now own the first 74 issues of Fantastic Four and paid less then $100 for them. That's how I look at these books. A blessing.


Evan

For $50, you could own the first 44 years (over 500 issues) of Fantastic Four on CD-ROM in full color. I've been enjoying the Essentials volumes, but that CD-ROM deal is even better.

[Mr. Nobody]

For $50, you could own the first 44 years (over 500 issues) of Fantastic Four on CD-ROM in full color. I've been enjoying the Essentials volumes, but that CD-ROM deal is even better.

Yeah, I can't wait to get this, so i can sit back in my nice relaxing desk chair, and spend hours reading it, while the computer screen burns my eyeballs out of their sockets, gives me brain cancer and makes me impotent with the low level radiation its emitting. Why people still bother with papers beyond me.

[Shellhead]

Yeah, I can't wait to get this, so i can sit back in my nice relaxing desk chair, and spend hours reading it, while the computer screen burns my eyeballs out of their sockets, gives me brain cancer and makes me impotent with the low level radiation its emitting. Why people still bother with papers beyond me.

I guess that explains your low post count.

[The Shadow]

A troll, is a troll, is a troll.
Wait... are you calling me a troll?

[Slam_Bradley]

Wait... are you calling me a troll?


I would say that with regard to this topic, that's pretty clear.

[The Shadow]

I would say that with regard to this topic, that's pretty clear.
For expressing my opinions on a subject that you disagree with and without resulting to name calling (like you) you think I'm a troll?

Wow.

I didn't know I could only say something one time and one time only here at CBR. Glad you're here to set the record straight Slam. Of course I've never heard that rule from Bev, Brian, Jonah or any of the other Mods... but I'll look into it and get back to you.

In the meantime I'll do my best not to talk about how much I hate the Essentials, how much I love Brubakers Captain America and am cool on Greg Rucka.

Thanks.

[sixstringguild]

Man, I love the Essentials. I hope there is a Moon Knight and another volume or two of Avengers, Thor, and Wolverine...hopefully they cool off on the xmen...

[Slam_Bradley]

For expressing my opinions on a subject that you disagree with and without resulting to name calling (like you) you think I'm a troll?

Wow.

I didn't know I could only say something one time and one time only here at CBR. Glad you're here to set the record straight Slam. Of course I've never heard that rule from Bev, Brian, Jonah or any of the other Mods... but I'll look into it and get back to you.



I'm not aware that I said you couldn't say anything.

Your purpose in entering any thread about Essentials is to make the same "coloring book" joke and say that they shouldn't be produced. You're adding nothing to the conversation. It's trollish...sorry if you can't handle that.

[The Lucky One]

...hopefully they cool off on the xmen...

You know, normally I'd disagree... but taking a page from Ryan's book, I'm selfish, and since they've now reached the point where my collection begins, I'm fine with that too.
:D

(Still want to see New Mutants, tho'.)

-D

[Mr. Nobody]

My main concern with Marvel putting out so many Essential volumes over such a short period is I likely won’t be able to buy, or at least have time to read everything interesting they put out. I wonder if releasing so many in succession won’t cut back on the number of units for each volume their able to sell and in turn kill or damage the line, but they probably have an idea of what their doing, so I’m not going to worry about it. But seeing how many of these are coming out I can’t really see Marvel bothering to keep most of them in print for very long, so likely we’ll be forced to buy them as soon as they hit, if we really want them. I am excited at the possibilities though, I wouldn’t have expected things like Essential Frankenstein to ever see print again so I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.
anyway suggestions:

Essential What if?
Essential What th-?
Essential Luke Cage
Essential DP7 – one of the best series of the eighties and possibly the most underrated series marvel has done and deserves to be back in print.
Essential Moon Knight – A good possibility with all the hype about the new series
Essential Thunderbolts
Essential Deadpool
Essential Heroes for Hire
Essential Captain Marvel
Essential Adam Warlock
Essential Omega the Unknown – okay some of these series may not have enough issues to fill a complete volume but maybe they could do like themed volumes, like a weird failed Seventies series Essential for example
Essential Weird Cross-Overs – Punisher/Archie, X-Men/Star Trek and the like.

Is any of Marvel’s pre-1961 stuff available for reprint? – if so maybe they could do a volume consisting of some of its better or at least more noteworthy work from that period, like early Fin Fang Foom, or that issue where May and Ben Parker supposedly first appeared, an Essential Marvel 1950’s, or maybe Captain America or Sub-Mariner’s early appearances might be worth seeing just for curiosities sake.

[The Shadow]

Your purpose in entering any thread about Essentials is to make the same "coloring book" joke and say that they shouldn't be produced. You're adding nothing to the conversation. It's trollish...sorry if you can't handle that.
Again... if you had read (or perhaps understood) a previous post I said I repet it because someone may be reading my ideas/opinions for the first time.

I hope you blast the positive posters like Ryan Kirk, Shellhead, and The Lucky One... they say the same things each time as well. How dare they! Damn positive trolls.

[The Shadow]

Essential Thunderbolts
Essential Deadpool
Just curious Mr Nobody, but why do you think they should do these series'? You can probably get the entire run in colour off ebay for a few dollars more than the B&W alternative.




(This line of questioning/reasoning adding anything Slam or it it too trollish?)

[Tadhg]

Again... if you had read (or perhaps understood) a previous post I said I repet it because someone may be reading my ideas/opinions for the first time.

I hope you blast the positive posters like Ryan Kirk, Shellhead, and The Lucky One... they say the same things each time as well. How dare they! Damn positive trolls.

Except this thread isn't about "Are the essentials worth getting" or about the quality of the Essentials or anything like that, it's about upcoming essentials. It's akin to going into every thread about upcoming Batman comics with a post about how much I dislike Batman comics.

[thik_3rd]

Just curious Mr Nobody, but why do you think they should do these series'? You can probably get the entire run in colour off ebay for a few dollars more than the B&W alternative.

not really. the entire run of deadpool will cost you somewhere around $150-$200 on ebay. and full runs of it are few and far between. even small lots of say 10-20 issues aren't cheap or common on ebay.
thunderbolts is a bit better, but still you're looking to pay $100 or so for the entire run. (i myself paid only $20 and change for the entire run sans 2 issues, but the very next day after i bought it, another auction i was watching of the entire run went for something like $190. i'd imagine both cases were flukes.)

[The Shadow]

not really. the entire run of deadpool will cost you somewhere around $150-$200 on ebay. and full runs of it are few and far between. even small lots of say 10-20 issues aren't cheap or common on ebay.
I'll take your word for it... I'm not a Deadpool fan...

thunderbolts is a bit better, but still you're looking to pay $100 or so for the entire run. (i myself paid only $20 and change for the entire run sans 2 issues, but the very next day after i bought it, another auction i was watching of the entire run went for something like $190. i'd imagine both cases were flukes.)
I got my entire T-Bolts run minus the last 3 issues for $27.00 on eBay

[Mr. Nobody]

Just curious Mr Nobody, but why do you think they should do these series'? You can probably get the entire run in colour off ebay for a few dollars more than the B&W alternative.

Because they're a couple of my favorite series and given Marvel hasn't shown any interest in doing proper trades for them, i figure an Essential volume of Thunderbolts for example,with its high entertainment to dollar value, would be a good way to get new readers hooked and thus ensure the survival of my favorite comic for that much longer.

I'm not a big ebayer myself. And i don't think the materials something a lot of people would actively seek out on their own, but i can fully see someone browsing a bookstore, with only marginal interest picking up an Essential Thunderbolts as an impulse buy. Similerly, i'd jump at an Essential What if?, but i don't think i'd want to go through all the effort to track down a full run.

[Siddon]

Inhumans
Dakota North

some genres to test the waters

Kid Colt/Rawhide Kid
Marvel Monsters
Millie the Model

Avengers volume 5 will be Dec/Jan

[Ken Ashcroft]

It's probably too much to hope for an Essential Master Of Kung Fu collection (due to licensing reasons).

Is that because of the Fu Manchu character?

I guess Essential Rom is going to be ruled out as well for licensing reasons. Shame I liked that series.

[Ken Ashcroft]

When does Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1 come out?


I noticed from Marvel Previews that it will be reprinting MTIO#1-20 and #22-25. What happened to #21? Why isn't that been reprinted?

[Slam_Bradley]

I noticed from Marvel Previews that it will be reprinting MTIO#1-20 and #22-25. What happened to #21? Why isn't that been reprinted?


Doc Savage guest starred. Street & Smith holds the trademark.

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/2182/400/2182_4_021.jpg

[Ken Ashcroft]

Thanks SB. Thats looks an interesting cover. Shame they can't reprint the story.

[Alistair]

David Gabriel's said that they're negotiating with the rightsholders to be able to do one-off print-runs of ESSENTIAL DOC SAVAGE, ESSENTIAL GODZILLA and ESSENTIAL MASTER OF KUNG FU. The first two are much more likely than the third, apparently, as the Sax Rohmer estate are not known for letting Fu Manchu out for a stroll very often.

As for confirmed essentials, we know that February will bring AVENGERS v5 and PETER PARKER v2, May will bring TALES OF THE ZOMBIE (now put back by a few months) and OHOTMU, and July will bring OHOTMU DELUXE v1. We also have confirmed, but no month planned for, THE MAN CALLED NOVA, OHOTMU DELUXE v2 and v3 and WOLVERINE v4.

[Lawrence]

Does anybody know how often Essential X-men comes out? I want to work out how long it will take me to catch up to the mid 90's with them. Also, does anybody else think they will print another X-men series for the second series of X-men? If so, what the hell will they call it?

[Tommy]

I would like an Essential Thunderbolts.

Take the first 12 or so issues of Thunderbolts. And then add anouther 12 or so issues of their first apearinces, noteworthy stories prior to them forming as the Thunderbolts... ect.

[Shellhead]

I would like an Essential Thunderbolts.

Take the first 12 or so issues of Thunderbolts. And then add anouther 12 or so issues of their first apearinces, noteworthy stories prior to them forming as the Thunderbolts... ect.

Judging by the Essential Defenders, they might start Essential Thunderbolts with that big Masters of Evil storyline in Avengers, when they invade the Avengers Mansion and hold Jarvis captive.

[Tommy]

Judging by the Essential Defenders, they might start Essential Thunderbolts with that big Masters of Evil storyline in Avengers, when they invade the Avengers Mansion and hold Jarvis captive.
Yeah, plus add the Hulk issue staring Moonstone, the issue Baron Zemo lost to Cap and got his face scared, Screaming Mimi's first apearnce and some Beetle stories.

[Doom]

Yeah, plus add the Hulk issue staring Moonstone, the issue Baron Zemo lost to Cap and got his face scared, Screaming Mimi's first apearnce and some Beetle stories.

I think Marvel already published a TPB which was the first apperances as villians of all members of the Thunderbolts. (It was called Distant Rumblings or somthing.)

As for an Essentail Volume I'd like to see, Essentail Venom, right around the time of Spider-Man 3's release.

It could contain the first few stories with the symbiot, the first stories with Eddy Brock Venom, moving on up to Venom's full scale rivalry with Spidey and ending around the time he called a truece with Peter in Amazing Spider-Man #375. Mainly because I loved those stories. And some of the limited series that came afterwards.