New Marvel Essentials

[Ryan K]

I was browsing through Amazon.com today and saw some details for some upcoming Marvel Essentials and thought I'd post them here. Some have been mentioned here and on the Marvel Universe board, but figured something comprehensive like this would be nice

Tales of Wonder (http://www.talesofwonder.com/subcat2results.tpl?cats=5&scats=5Z1&subcatsuid=1&rtype=s3&category=Marvel%20Comics&cart=11295813664928982&catsuid=5&page=1)

Essential Avengers Vol. 5

Writers: Roy Thomas, Harlan Ellison, Chris Clarermont, Steve Englehart & Steve Gerber. Artists: Barry Windsor-Smith, Rich Buckler, John Buscema, George Tuska, Jim Starlin, Don Heck, Bob Brown, Dave Cockrum, Sal Buscema, Sam Kweskin & Syd Shores. From the Sentinels and the Savage Land Mutates to Loki, Dormammu and Thanos, the Avengers prove the universe’s worst is no match for their best! Magnetic mayhem and nuclear nostalgia! Featuring Golden Age guest-stars, mythic menaces and more! Plus: the Avengers-Defenders War and Hawkeye vs. Daredevil! Includes rare Marvel work by best-selling author Harlan Ellison! Collects Avengers (Vol. 1) #98-126, Daredevil (Vol. 1) #99, Defenders (Vol. l) #8-11 & Giant-Size Avengers #l. 6.75”x10”, BW, TP, 600 PGS.
Expected to ship 2/2006

Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1

Written by LEN WEIN, MIKE FRIEDRICH, STEVE GERBER, CHRIS CLAREMONT, ROY THOMAS, BILL MANTLO, ROGER SLIFER, MARV WOLFMAN, SCOTT EDELMAN, TONY ISABELLA & JIM SHOOTER. Penciled by JIM STARLIN, GIL KANE, SAL BUSCEMA, GEORGE TUSKA, HERB TRIMPE, BOB BROWN, RON WILSON, ARVELL JONES, DICK GIORDANO, MIKE ESPOSITO, DAVE HUNT, SAM GRAINGER, MARIE SEVERIN & JOHN BUSCEMA. Cover by JIM STARLIN. The Thing can’t stay out of trouble, but at least he makes friends wherever he goes! The Ever-Lovin’ Idol o’ Millions teams up with heroes both frontline and forgotten against menaces spanning time and space! Gods! Aliens! Spies! Demons! Dinosaurs! Time travellers! Martial artists! The Living Eraser and the Mountain That Walked Like a Man! A veritable who’s who of history’s horror heroes! Fans of NEW INVADERS take notice of Ben’s team-ups with the Invaders AND the Liberty Legion! Collects MARVEL FEATURE #11-12; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #1-20, 22-25 and ANNUAL #1; MARVEL TEAM-UP #47; and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #11. 576 PGS./T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP.
Expected to ship 11/2

Essential Moon Knight Vol. 1

Debuting as both enemy and ally of the Werewolf by Night, Moon Knights three personalities equaled one eerie adventure after another by Moench, Miller and more! Earning enemies like the brutal Bushman and the macabre Morpheus early in his career, Moon Knight also teamed up with Spider-Man, the Thing, and others against well-known and forgotten villains alike! Spun by Cyclone! Caught by Crossfire! Plus: an early fight with the Purple Man alongside Luke Cage! Featuring Topaz from Witches and the original White Tiger! Includes black-and-white stories not reprint*ed in more than two decades! Collects Werewolf By Night #32-33, Marvel Spotlight #28-29, Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #22-23. Marvel Two-In-One #52. Hulk Magazine #ll-l5, 17-18 & 20, Marvel Preview #21,Moon Knight #l-12, Marvel Team- Up Annual #4.
Expected to ship 3/2006

Essential Nova Vol. 1

Writers: Marv Wolfman and Len Wein. Artist: John Buscema, Joe Sinnott, Sal Buscema, Tom Palmer, Frank Giacoia, Dick Giordano, The Tribe, Carmine Infantino, Gene Colan, Ross Andru, Mike Esposito and Dave Hunt. Before New Warriors, Nova was one of the seventies most scintillating stars and it shows! Be it murder mystery or cosmic clash, the Human Rocket rises to the occasion! Historic heroes! Futuristic fiends! War with the Skrulls! Special guest-appearances by Spider-Man, the Thing and...Moses!? Collects Nova #1-25, Amazing Spider-Man #171, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #3. 6.75”x10”, BW, TP.
Expected to ship 4/2006

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1

Writer: Mark Gruenwald, Peter Sanderson, Eliot R. Brown and more. Artist: John Byrne, Dave Cockrum, Bob Layton, John Romita Jr., and more. A pictures worth a thousand words, and there have always been top supplies of both in the ever-moving manuals of marvels and miscreants! Now, witness first-hand the series that started it all in Mark Gruenwald’s original fifteen issues worth of secrets, super-powers and schematics! About the best, by the best! Collects Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1-15. 6.75”x10”, BW, TP, 544 PGS.
Expected to ship 2/2006

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 - Deluxe Edition

Writers: Mark Gruenwald, Peter Sanderson, Eliot R. Brown, and more. Artist: John Byrne, Dave Cockrum, Bob Laylon, John Romita Jr., and more. The original encyclopedia of adventures: expanded, augmented and updated! Marvels continuity kings continued their quest for complete¬ness in these issues of dedicated Deluxeness! Top talent teamed to head¬line heroes like Captain America, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Nick Fury, the Hulk and dozens of others! Full lineups of the Avengers, the Defenders, the Fantastic Four and more! Collects Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe (First 3rd). 6.75"x10", BW, TP, 496 PGS
Expected to ship 7/2006

Essential Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 2

Spectacular isnt just the title as Spider-Man's college years are augmented by authorial and illustrative excellence! Enemies old and new, recurring and rare, line up to teach the web-slinger plenty - but will he become his own worst enemy as the sinister Spider-Lizard? Robots, killer bees, living hallucinations and more! Guest-starring the Human Torch and the White Tiger! Plus: the surprising first appearance of the hero-hater who’ll happen into being the Hobgoblin! Collects Spectacular Spider-Man #32-61 & Annual #1-3.
Expected to ship 2/2006

Essential Spider-Woman Vol. 1

Written by MARV WOLFMAN, MARK GRUENWALD & ARCHIE GOODWIN. Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA, CARMINE INFANTINO, JIM MOONEY & RON WILSON. Cover by JOE SINNOTT. Before she was an Avenger, she was...a Hydra agent?! Witness the Arachnidan Adventuress’ dire debut against Nick Fury, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. -- and a follow-up arc alongside the ever-lovin’, blue-eyed Thing! After working a few bugs out of her origin, she set up shop in California and faced an array of eccentric enemies rarely equaled to this day! Featuring Shang-Chi, the Werewolf by Night, the Shroud and more! Collects MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #32, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #29-33 and SPIDER-WOMAN #1-15. 568 PGS. SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP
Expected to ship 12/7

Essential Wolverine Vol. 4

The deadliest X-Man’s on the edge of death when his unbreakable adamantium advantage is eliminated! Even with his claws stripped to the bone, Wolverines up to some of the choicest challenges from his past and future - but how far will he go to make his latest fight with Sabretooth the Final one? Plus: cyborgs, Sentinels, the Savage Land and then some! Guest-starring Gambit, Ghost Rider and more! Collects Wolverine #70-90.
Expected to ship 4/2006

Essential X-Men Vol. 7

This is an advance order item. In the wake of the Marauders’ Mutant Massacre, the X-Men go mobile to plan their next move - but recruiting Dazzler and Havok brings them even more catastrophe! And with a teammate’s life on the line, the mutant marvels are forced to fight the Fantastic Four and seek the genius of Doctor Doom! Another elite X-saga of the eighties concludes with the world-shaking Fall of the Mutants! Plus: the introduction of the X-Babies!? The cosmic power of...Wolverine!? Featuring Sabretooth, the Juggernaut, Mystique, Captain Britain and more! Collects Uncanny X-Men #214-228 & Annual #10-11 & Fantastic Four Vs. The X-Men #1-4
Expected to ship 4/2006

Who knows how accurate all of this information is. It's the first semi-official looking stuff I've seen on a lot of the volumes. The Wolverine and X-Men Vol.'s seem relatively small. And it seems rather fast for another X-Men volume.

Also of note is this mention on the Marvel Universe board of an Essential Godzilla (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=86093) volume. I couldn't find ay word on what this will supposedly contain.

Personally I'll be picking up all of these save the X-Men and Wolverine volumes. And I think I'll take a look at the OHotMU books before decinding if I want both or just one.

[Roquefort Raider]

At the price, most of these books are worth it...

Moon Knight in particular should have plenty of great early Sienkewicz artwork.

[Brad Curran]

I've always had a soft spot for Nova, I have some interest in Spider-Woman and Moon Knight's early adventures (especially Moon Knight, for the contrast between Sienkewicz as a Neal Adams clone and the style he'd later develop) and I've been waiting for the Essential Avengers to get to Engleheart's run, although Essential Defenders 1 does cover the Avengers/Defenders War. Marvel Two-in-One sounds like it might be fun, too, but damn that's a lot of turnover on the creative side of things. Hell, I'm tempted to give Essential Godzilla a look. I draw the line at the Handbooks, though.

[Cei-U!]

Of the titles listed, the only ones that sound at all appealing to me are Avengers Vol. 5 (my run ends at #100) and *maybe* the OHOTMU Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1. (My copy of the Two-in-One volume is already on order.) There are other volumes I'm still hankering for (Dracula Vols. 2-4, Defenders, Dr. Strange Vol. 2, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Super-Villain Team-Up) so I'm kinda glad there's so little interesting stuff coming up.

Cei-U!
I summon the economy size!

[Slam_Bradley]

They're actually starting to hit some stuff I'm not interested in getting (I recently ordered a number of titles so that I'll have all the Essential and Showcase volumes published to date, except Conan).

Of these, I'll definitely get Avengers 5, MTIO, Moon Knight, Nova, PPTSS 2 and Spider-Woman.

I won't be buying the Handbooks. I have the original in floppy and I'm not that interested in the other.

X-men 7 and Wolverine 4. Probably not. Maybe if I run out of stuff to read. But considering that right now, I have about 20 Essentials/Showcases in my too read pile, I don't expect that to happen very soon.

[dan bailey]

nothing here that excites me, though i liked nova & mtio well enough back in the day. i'd pick those essentials up if i found them used or something -- at the very least, it'd save me picking up the occasional original ish of each title.
at some point i'll probably get around to buying the avengers volume ... i own only the first essential, though i've recently gotten the squadron supreme & celestial madonna tpbs.

otherwise, i remain far more interested in the dc showcase presents volumes (brought the metamorpho to work today to dip into, in fact), though the essential dr strange vol 2 & essential human torch are high on my want list.

meanwhile, i continue to wait, & wait, & wait for marvel to get around to a 2nd uncanny x-men essentials & a first submariner ...

[Ryan K]

My thoughts on each of these (I didn't really have time earlier)

Essential Avengers Vol. 5

Must buy for me. The Avengers volumes are one of my highlights every year. 3 more volumes and I'll be pretty much set in terms of my Avengers collection. Kind of sucks this has a lot of stuff from Essential Defenders, but them's the brakes.

Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1

Not terribly excited about this one, but it's certainly one I'll pick up. It'll keep me tided over until Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 5

Essential Moon Knight Vol. 1

Really looking forward to this. I was gonna start putting together a Moon Knight collection last year and just never got around to it.

Essential Nova Vol. 1

I was this close to buying the full run on ebay a couple months ago but hesitated. Nice that this will all fit into one volume.

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1
Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 - Deluxe Edition

Like I said before, I'll wait till both of these come out and make a decision after looking at them and decide which one I want. If nothing else these will be great bathroom reading material.

Essential Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 2

A new Spider-Man volume is always must buy for me. It's amazing that in two volumes we'll already have hit #60. The only downside is most of these occur chronologically after issues that what will be in an Essential Spider-Man Vol. 8. So while I'll pick this up I'll wait until that comes out before getting around to reading it.

Essential Spider-Woman Vol. 1

Maybe the volume I'm looking forward to the most. I was in LOVE with the cartoon and have only read bits of the series here and there. With her current popularity, it's nice to know we'll probably see the entirety of this series collected.

Essential Wolverine Vol. 4

I'm of the opinion we didn't need the first 3 volumes. I'll skip it. I own most of it in singles anyway.

Essential X-Men Vol. 7

I own all of this in singles so no need for this either. Such a shame we're getting another volume of this and Wolverine and still no Uncanny Vol. 2.

[Rob Imes]

The Essential Moon Knight bugs me. In theory, it's a great idea to collect all those old Moon Knight stories in one volume. But I fear what the reproduction is gonna look like. For the stories that originally appeared in the magazine size, they are going to have to make the art smaller to fit the smaller Essential page size. And I seem to remember the Hulk magazine back-ups being in color, so they are not only going to shrink down the pages but take out the color. I dunno.... I'm not crazy about the reproduction values that I've seen in the Essential line and I fear that they are going to make an unsightly mess of it.

[Cei-U!]

Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1

Collects MARVEL FEATURE #11-12; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #1-20, 22-25 and ANNUAL #1; MARVEL TEAM-UP #47; and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #11.

For those who may be wondering, MTIO #21 cannot be included because it co-stars Doc Savage, a character Marvel no longer has the rights to. This, alas, means we'll never see Giant-Size Spider-Man #3 either.

Not that I'm worried. I bought a copy of #21 just a few weeks ago.

Cei-U!
I summon the Boy Scout motto!

[MWGallaher]

At least until they negotiate to put out an Essential Doc Savage, right? That seems like something with just about enough material to fill one of these collections. If they can do Godzilla...

[Ravenheart]

I'll be picking up the Moon Knight,Nova and Spider-Woman ones for sure :D

[DDM]

I'll be picking up the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition Volume 1 book.

[Ryan K]

So are there any Godzilla appearences that might be in the Essential Godzilla volume other than the 24 issues of the series?

[The Wayner]

The Handbooks and X-Men material doesn't interest me. The others... I will slowly hunt down, buy and read.

And I think Zilla only showed up in his book... though my aging memory will probably be shattered by a revelation that he popped up elsewhere in the MU, lol.

[nexuscb]

Didn't Godzilla appear in Iron Man 193-194 & Thing 31 in a mutated form? I'm not sure whether he was named as such though, beacause the license to use him had finished by then?

[sheets]

At least until they negotiate to put out an Essential Doc Savage, right? That seems like something with just about enough material to fill one of these collections. If they can do Godzilla...

Unfortunately, negotiations with Conde Nast, the owners of Doc Savage, fell through, so if it's ever going to happen, it's not going to be any time soon.

I'll be skipping these:

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 - Deluxe Edition

Essential Wolverine Vol. 4

Essential X-Men Vol. 7

The rest I'm very much looking forward to, especially the Avengers and Moon Knight books.

[The Lucky One]

Curious that they're putting out the OHOTMU and the OHOTMUDE so close together... I would have imagined they'd do it like a year apart or something, but won't fans just decide to skip the first if they know the second is out a montho or so later? Someone more knowledgeable, clue me in- what's the big difference between the two?

Wondering about that X-Men volume. If it's real, kudos to them for including the FF vs. X-Men mini, that story was gold. Glad they included annual #10, though they'll have to include a footnote pointing out that it occurs prior to the Mutant Massacre from the last Essential volume. I already own the issues, so doubt I'll buy it, but good to see it anyway.

On the other hand, all this stuff and STILL no Essential New Mutants? I know, I know, the Sienkiewicz artwork is a bitch to reproduce and everything, but come on- at least reprint Marvel Team-Up #100 (first Karma), Magik #1-4, the NM graphic novel, and issues 1-17. Throw in the Handbook entries for all the members if you need to fill pages, just give it to us.

-D

[Ryan K]

Wondering about that X-Men volume. If it's real, kudos to them for including the FF vs. X-Men mini, that story was gold. Glad they included annual #10, though they'll have to include a footnote pointing out that it occurs prior to the Mutant Massacre from the last Essential volume. I already own the issues, so doubt I'll buy it, but good to see it anyway.

It's kind of interesting that they've apparently decided not to reprint the New Mutants and X-Factor issues of Fall of the Mutants with this volume. Fall of the Mutants isn't a true crossover and everything, but it's still kind of interesting. I'll be interested to see how they approach Inferno in an eighth volume. Will they reprint the New Mutants and X-Factor issues there? How about the Excalibur issues? Any of the other MU books with small ties? I'd think they'd have to include X-Terminators.

Things are going to get real interesting with the decisions made with the Essential X-Men volumes now. I think it was a mistake not to reprint the X-Men/Alpha Flight mini and Annual 10 in the last volume.

[Siddon]

Essential Avengers Vol. 5
Collects Avengers (Vol. 1) #98-126, Daredevil (Vol. 1) #99, Defenders (Vol. l) #8-11 & Giant-Size Avengers #l. 6.75”x10”, BW, TP, 600 PGS.
Expected to ship 2/2006

Huge yes I own very few of these issues so I must buy them, I will have filled up all the flopies of Avengers when this comes out

Essential Marvel Two In One Vol. 1

Collects MARVEL FEATURE #11-12; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #1-20, 22-25 and ANNUAL #1; MARVEL TEAM-UP #47; and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #11. 576 PGS./T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP.
Expected to ship 11/2

Maybe, big maybe I am very much interested in this but their are so many great volumes coming out it might be a few months but I will buy this

Essential Moon Knight Vol. 1
Collects Werewolf By Night #32-33, Marvel Spotlight #28-29, Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #22-23. Marvel Two-In-One #52. Hulk Magazine #ll-l5, 17-18 & 20, Marvel Preview #21,Moon Knight #l-12, Marvel Team- Up Annual #4.
Expected to ship 3/2006
Huge yes almost want this more then Avengers because I want a reference book.

Essential Nova Vol. 1

Collects Nova #1-25, Amazing Spider-Man #171, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #3. 6.75”x10”, BW, TP.
Expected to ship 4/2006

Maybe, looks good but I don't have much of an interest

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1

Collects Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1-15. 6.75”x10”, BW, TP, 544 PGS.
Expected to ship 2/2006
no

Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 - Deluxe Edition
6.75"x10", BW, TP, 496 PGS
Expected to ship 7/2006
no

Essential Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 2
Collects Spectacular Spider-Man #32-61 & Annual #1-3.
Expected to ship 2/2006

2007 I will get these Peter Parker's after I finish the Avengers line and the Daredevil/Fantastic Four line I will tackle the Spider line

Essential Spider-Woman Vol. 1
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #32, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #29-33 and SPIDER-WOMAN #1-15. 568 PGS. SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP
Expected to ship 12/7
Huge yes, the week it comes out

Essential Wolverine Vol. 4
Collects Wolverine #70-90.
Expected to ship 4/2006
wow no I have these issues

Essential X-Men Vol. 7
Uncanny X-Men #214-228 & Annual #10-11 & Fantastic Four Vs. The X-Men #1-4
Expected to ship 4/2006
have the issues


Also of note is this mention on the Marvel Universe board of an Essential Godzilla volume. I couldn't find ay word on what this will supposedly contain. 1-24

yes it will be out of print very soon and the cross-overs are hard to find

The great news for me is that I have till Febuary to get my last 30 issues of Avengers and then I have the full line.

[Slam_Bradley]

Also of note is this mention on the Marvel Universe board of an Essential Godzilla volume. I couldn't find ay word on what this will supposedly contain. 1-24



Marvel for Jan (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=6055)


Almost all the way down the page you'll see it solicited.

It's interesting that it is $3 more than the normal Essential and about a hundred pages less. The cost of licensing, I guess.

Essential Avengers vol. 5 is a monster. 600 pages.

[MWGallaher]

I'm guessing a companion volume of SHOGUN WARRIORS (by the same team) is out of the question, alas!
I'll be picking up Godzilla, even though I have all the originals, because, honestly, this is a heckuva fun book! Doug Moench got really creative with what might have seemed to be a restrictive central concept. It's not just giant monster battles, although there are plenty of those! We get the big G doing things he never did in the Toho films, like battling regular-sized superheroes (as well as one giant robot), but my favorite arc is when they try to solve the problem using Hank Pym's shrinking gas--instead of shrinking him down to managable size, he shrinks all the way out of sight, down to the size of a rat! Then we get a human-sized Godzilla, then darn big, and finally the full-size King of the Monsters once more!
Another great thing about this collection is its self-contained nature: 24 issues that track the monster from his arrival in the US to his departure (on the other side of the continent, if I recall correctly). It's all here, one really cool monster odyssey, with shiny Herb Trimpe art with monsters as endearingly goofy as anything Toho dreamed up! If you're sitting on the fence over this one, DON'T!
And anyway, Godzilla stuff doesn't do bad on the collectibles market, so you might be able to sell this one-time printing in a couple of years at a profit, if it doesn't earn a spot in your permanent library!

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Curious that they're putting out the OHOTMU and the OHOTMUDE so close together... I would have imagined they'd do it like a year apart or something, but won't fans just decide to skip the first if they know the second is out a montho or so later? Someone more knowledgeable, clue me in- what's the big difference between the two?-D

The Deluxe Edition featured updated and expanded profiles. The first volume of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe began publication in 1983 and the Deluxe Edition started in 1985. The Deluxe Edition books had about twice as many pages as the Vol. 1 issues. Essential OHOTMU will be collected in a single volume, whereas Essential OHOTMU Deluxe Edition will have multiple volumes. The OHOTMU series are strange choices for Essential treatment, as the information in them is two decades old.

[Roquefort Raider]

The OHOTMU series are strange choices for Essential treatment, as the information in them is two decades old.

That's what I think too, but maybe there are enough comics historians of nostalgic fans of the 1980s-Marvel to justify the reprint.

I'm just worried that many could be disappointed by the limited relevance of some entries, since they reflect short-lived periods of certain characters' careers rather than their long history. We're told, for example, that Iron Man is really James Rhodes and Tony Stark is barely mentioned despite the fact that Rhodey didn't assume that identity for very long.

Still, if enough people are happy with it... It's all good.

[Greg Hatcher]

I'm so on board for the Marvel-Two-in-One. I was just prowling eBay for some of those, so screw it, I'll settle in and wait for the collection. And Julie loves Godzilla movies, so that's a sure thing too.

I remember adoring the early two-part Moon Knight story in Spotlight; I was home sick that weekend and those were the only two new comics I had to read, and they just blew me away. I'd be picking it up just for those early, pre-Sienkewicz appearances alone. And I remember Nova as being a lot of fun. I might get the Avengers even though they are ramping up to where I've got multiple copies of the stuff; I already have the trade collections of Celestial Madonna, Avengers-Defenders War, and Serpent Crown.

Aaah, I might as well admit it. When Marvel puts out the 70's Essentials they own me. That's my era. The stuff is awash in so much remembered childhood delight for me that I have no sales resistance at all.

[jam]

Oh, I'm happy to see the essential Nova by the way ...

but surely they haven't finished mining the 60's, have they? Lee & Kirby's "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD" comes to mind immediately ...

[Slam_Bradley]

but surely they haven't finished mining the 60's, have they? Lee & Kirby's "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD" comes to mind immediately ...


And Sub-Mariner. Where's my Colan Sub-Mariner. Gene "The Dean's" work looks incredible in black and white.

[Cei-U!]

Any word on if or when there'll be an Essential Invaders? Cause I'll be all over that.

Cei-U!
I summon the wartime wackiness!

[Greg Hatcher]

Any word on if or when there'll be an Essential Invaders? Cause I'll be all over that.

Cei-U!
I summon the wartime wackiness!

You and me both. Hell, the FF Annual crossover with the Invaders and Liberty Legion is most of the reason I'm revved up about the MTIO.

I love the 60's stuff too. But it's the 70's stuff where I'm Marvel's helpless zombie consumer. I'd probably buy an Essential Brother Voodoo if they did one.

[sixstringguild]

I will buy each and every one of these w/ a huge smile on my face. This is awesome awesome news. (probably the only one I won't get is Godzilla)...

[Aaron King]

An Essential I'd love to see: Essential Adam Warlock. Will we have to wait until his third or fourth death to have enough material for an Essential?

[Cei-U!]

An Essential I'd love to see: Essential Adam Warlock. Will we have to wait until his third or fourth death to have enough material for an Essential?

I doubt it. Even if you omit his early appearances as "Him" in Fantastic Four #66-67 and Thor #165-66, what with Marvel Premiere #1-2, Warlock #1-8, Incredible Hulk #176-78, Strange Tales #178-181, Warlock #9-15, Marvel Team-Up #55, Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, you've got more than enough for an Essential Adam Warlock.

Cei-U!
How come I know so much about a character I can't stand?

[Aaron King]

You can't stand him? Oh, sad. Maybe it's just that he was one of the first bizarre characters I was introduced to as a young comic reader. He's been stuck in my head ever since. A cosmic Jesus who just keeps coming back for more? Saving Counterearth, getting crucified, trying to be benevolent dictator to the universe, then realizing from a human point of view that that was wrong? I dunno. The flaws are more in line with what I like to read than, say, the FF's family theme or the X-Men angst. Space Messiah!

(I summon the pleading lust for acquiescence from a comic pundit I look up to...?)

[Cei-U!]

(I summon the pleading lust for acquiescence from a comic pundit I look up to...?)

No worries, AK. Lots of people I respect are ga-ga over Warlock. Beats me why, though. All that kozmik hooey bores me to tears. I'm not a big fan of Kirby's Fourth World characters either. I prefer my super-heroics on a more human scale, which may either explain or be explained by my love for Golden Age comics. I'd much rather read about the Golden Age Atom taking on a dishonest used car dealer than about the X-Men saving the universe... again. Anyway, you go ahead and love Warlock all you want. If nothing else, his stories usually feature good artwork.

Cei-U!
I summon Kane and Adkins!

[Lone Ranger]

I'd much rather read about the Golden Age Atom taking on a dishonest used car dealer than about the X-Men saving the universe... again.

This is a priceless quote, Kurt.



As for this list of Essentials - it appears that Marvel has entered the bottom half of the barrel.

I don't think I'll be picking up any of these - maybe the Moon Knight if I see it for a steal. I have most of those Avengers issues and I have all the Handbook issues. Other than that - no real interest - too much art and story by committee crap from the Shooter era. No flow = No Dough from this Joe.

[dan bailey]

As for this list of Essentials - it appears that Marvel has entered the bottom half of the barrel.



which is precisely why i'm becoming downright crotchety over the continuing lack of essentials for namor, vol 2 silver-age x-men & sgt fury (though at least a masterworks for nick & the howlers is finally coming out) ...

[Aaron King]

I'd much rather read about the Golden Age Atom taking on a dishonest used car dealer than about the X-Men saving the universe... again.

So where do you stand on the Atom, saying, going to the future, getting caught by giants, getting put in a birdcage, and saving the day by stabbing said giants in the knee with a pocket pencil?

(Now I'm just being a nuisance.)

[AlanScott606]

Count me in on the Essential Marvel Two in One and Essential Peter Parker. I may also get the Marvel Handbook also.

[Cei-U!]

So where do you stand on the Atom, saying, going to the future, getting caught by giants, getting put in a birdcage, and saving the day by stabbing said giants in the knee with a pocket pencil?

(Now I'm just being a nuisance.)

Are you kidding me? I love that silly shit! There's a world of difference, though, between the light-hearted fantasy of the Golden Age JSA and the ponderous self-importance of Starlin's Warlock.

(Now I'm just being a nuisance.) ;)

Cei-U!
I summon the different strokes!

[The Lucky One]

which is precisely why i'm becoming downright crotchety over the continuing lack of essentials for namor, vol 2 silver-age x-men & sgt fury (though at least a masterworks for nick & the howlers is finally coming out) ...

While I'm pulling for a second Uncanny X-Men volume as well, I will play devil's advocate by asking whether you really consider the quality of those issues comparable to, say, a Moon Knight volume.
;)

-D

[dan bailey]

While I'm pulling for a second Uncanny X-Men volume as well, I will play devil's advocate by asking whether you really consider the quality of those issues comparable to, say, a Moon Knight volume.
;)

-D

well, the only moon knight i've ever read was the character's initial appearance(s?) in werewolf by night, so that's not a question i can really address ...

[Aaron King]

Are you kidding me? I love that silly shit! There's a world of difference, though, between the light-hearted fantasy of the Golden Age JSA and the ponderous self-importance of Starlin's Warlock.


I feel a little bad for sort of hi-jacking the thread, but, uh, I'm going to anyway. I also love the silly shit (I pulled the Atom example from my prized All Star Archives) and I also feel that Starlin had his head in the clouds regarding Warlock most of the time. However, from an "artificial construct striving for humanity," I think the Lee/Kirby appearance(s?) of Him were pretty great. Also, after Infinity Gauntlet, Warlock, along with the Infinity Gauntlet, became a little bit zanier and a lot easier to relate to. He's stuck with a bunch of decisions he made while omnipotent and is seeing them in an entirely new, down-to-earth point of view... and wondering what the hell he'd been thinking. Plus, he lives on Monster Island. That's pretty awesome. They're not the greatest comics by any means, but they're a fun read at a time when lots of comics were more serious. If you haven't read them, you could probably find them in quarter bins or for pennies on Ebay, or I could just package them up and ship them off... if the interest is piqued, which I don't expect it is.

Um, and yeah. I love Essentials. I'd shell out a little bit of money for an Essential Where Monsters Dwell or something similar. If Godzilla, Frankenstein, the Werewolf, and Dracula have Essentials, why don't Fin Fang Foom and his buddies get one?

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Here's my list of potential Essentials:

Thor Vol. 3
Punisher Vol. 2
Defenders Vol. 2
Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2-3 (The Beast's solo stories could be included in the third volume)
Moon Knight Vol. 2
Sub-Mariner Vol. 1
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 1
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes Vol. 1
Captain Marvel Vol. 1
Invaders Vol. 1-2
Man-Thing Vol. 1
Warlock Vol. 1
Master of Kung-Fu Vol. 1
Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu Vol. 1
She-Hulk Vol. 1
Rampaging Hulk Vol. 1
Machine Man Vol. 1
Captain Britain Vol. 1
Deathlok Vol. 1
Jungle Action featuring the Black Panther Vol. 1
Ms. Marvel Vol. 1
Inhumans Vol. 1
Ka-Zar Vol. 1
New Mutants Vol. 1
Alpha Flight Vol. 1
Morbius Vol. 1
Son of Satan Vol. 1
What If? Vol. 1
Where Monsters Dwell Vol. 1
Rawhide Kid Vol. 1
Two-Gun Kid Vol. 1
Kid Colt Vol. 1
Not Brand Echh Vol. 1

[tk421atpost]

Here's my list of potential Essentials:

Thor Vol. 3
Punisher Vol. 2
Defenders Vol. 2
Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2-3 (The Beast's solo stories could be included in the third volume)
Moon Knight Vol. 2
Sub-Mariner Vol. 1
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 1
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes Vol. 1
Captain Marvel Vol. 1
Invaders Vol. 1-2
Man-Thing Vol. 1
Warlock Vol. 1
Master of Kung-Fu Vol. 1
Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu Vol. 1
She-Hulk Vol. 1
Rampaging Hulk Vol. 1
Machine Man Vol. 1
Captain Britain Vol. 1
Deathlok Vol. 1
Jungle Action featuring the Black Panther Vol. 1
Ms. Marvel Vol. 1
Inhumans Vol. 1
Ka-Zar Vol. 1
New Mutants Vol. 1
Alpha Flight Vol. 1
Morbius Vol. 1
Son of Satan Vol. 1
What If? Vol. 1
Where Monsters Dwell Vol. 1
Rawhide Kid Vol. 1
Two-Gun Kid Vol. 1
Kid Colt Vol. 1
Not Brand Echh Vol. 1

I'd buy every single one of them.

[dan bailey]

i'd buy the vast majority. not not brand ecch or jungle action/black panther, because i've already got all the issues (for that matter, i've got every sgt fury except #1), but otherwise ... yeah.

of course, mokf appears to be an impossibility because of the sax rohmer estate's ownership of fu manchu, i'm told. what a shame.

[MWGallaher]

The "monster" Essentials seem to be pretty popular, so they may yet consider a pseudo-anthology of "The Essential Marvel Monsters" combining the characters with runs too short to merit individual volumes: The Living Mummy, It!, The Golem, The Scarecrow, Modred the Mystic, Bloodstone, Gullivar Jones, Legion of Monsters, Wendigo...

[MWGallaher]

i'd buy the vast majority. not not brand ecch or jungle action/black panther, because i've already got all the issues (for that matter, i've got every sgt fury except #1), but otherwise ... yeah.

of course, mokf appears to be an impossibility because of the sax rohmer estate's ownership of fu manchu, i'm told. what a shame.
I wonder if Marvel's lawyers are being too careful; it seems strange that a 35-year-old movie based on the character could be public domain but a comic book that didn't ever actually use the "Fu Manchu" trademark (although I believe Marvel had licensed its use; originally this was supposed to be a "Fu Manchu" comic book, not MOKF) would be susceptible to legal action. And heck, aren't the original novels public domain by now?

[Slam_Bradley]

Here's my list of potential Essentials:

Nice List B-R. I'm gonna look at them individually.

Thor Vol. 3

The second volume came out not too long ago. But I suspect we'll see this if not in '06 then in '07. Must buy

Punisher Vol. 2

We'll probably see this also. Way down on my personal list.

Defenders Vol. 2

This would be great as it would take us in to the Gerber run. High on my list.

Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2-3

Ridiculously over-due. At the top of my list.

Moon Knight Vol. 2

I'd probably pick it up, but there are a lot of others I'd rather see first.

Sub-Mariner Vol. 1

Another one that is ridiculously overdue. The pinnacle of my list.

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 1

I'd love to see this, but I'm not sure it will happen with the Steranko reprints already out.

Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes Vol. 1

Long past due. #2 or 3 on my personal list.

Captain Marvel Vol. 1

Would definitely buy this.

Invaders Vol. 1-2

Definitely in my top 5-10.

Man-Thing Vol. 1

Must buy. I suspect this will happen sooner, rather than later.

Warlock Vol. 1

I'd buy this one. I'd like to see them finish the 60's stuff first, though.

Master of Kung-Fu Vol. 1

This would be near the top of my list, but the rights issues make it problematic.

Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu Vol. 1

Again, rights issues make this problematic.

She-Hulk Vol. 1

Way down on my list.

Rampaging Hulk Vol. 1

This is an interesting idea. I'm not sure how they'd do this. Without the ads, it would be a shortish volume for an Essential. And only about 60% of the material is Hulk. I'd probably buy it though.

Machine Man Vol. 1

You could probably get one volume if you really tried. I can come up with about 3 dozen books I'd rather have first.

Captain Britain Vol. 1

I know nothing about Capt. Britain.

Deathlok Vol. 1

I'd love to see his Astonishing Tales run reprinted, but you can't get and Essential volume without getting in to some really new stuff.

Jungle Action featuring the Black Panther Vol. 1

I wouldn't mind a Black Panther volume, but it would be pretty disjointed with all the changes in creative teams.

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1

I'd buy it, but it would be way down on my list.

Inhumans Vol. 1

This would be a tough one to get enough material for without delving back in to Fantastic Four.

Ka-Zar Vol. 1

I'd buy this.

New Mutants Vol. 1

I'd probably buy one volume.

Alpha Flight Vol. 1

Way down on my list.

Morbius Vol. 1

Is there really enough material here?

Son of Satan Vol. 1

There isn't close to enough material here.

What If? Vol. 1

I'd love to see this. But with the color tpb's coming out, I suspect it isn't going to happen.

Where Monsters Dwell Vol. 1

I'd definitely love to see the Atlas monsters get their due in some format.

Rawhide Kid Vol. 1
Two-Gun Kid Vol. 1
Kid Colt Vol. 1

Hell Yeah!

Not Brand Echh Vol. 1

This would be a great two volume tpb, but there isn't enough material for an Essential volume.

[Slam_Bradley]

I wonder if Marvel's lawyers are being too careful; it seems strange that a 35-year-old movie based on the character could be public domain but a comic book that didn't ever actually use the "Fu Manchu" trademark (although I believe Marvel had licensed its use; originally this was supposed to be a "Fu Manchu" comic book, not MOKF) would be susceptible to legal action. And heck, aren't the original novels public domain by now?


The first three novels are public domain. The rest aren't.

The problem is that the issues of MoKF are still under copyright and, presumably, the owners of Fu Manchu have a part of that copyright.

[Cei-U!]

Actually, Slam, if you use the "Tales of the Inhumans" back-up feature from Thor, the Medusa issue of Marvel Super-Heroes, the 10-issue Amazing Adventures run and the 8-issue Inhumans solo title, you could fill an Essential Inhumans volume. Kirby, Colan, Adams, Sekowsky and Perez? I'd buy it... if I didn't have the originals already.

Cei-U!
I summon the thundering hooves and living locks!

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Just to clarify, my list of potential Essentials included some titles I thought we might see, not necessarily ones I would buy myself. For example, one can buy back issues of Alpha Flight and New Mutants for pretty cheap, but Marvel might publish Essentials for them anyway because of their association with the X-Men. Marvel also releases Essentials to cross-promote with their ongoing series, such as Essential Spider-Woman coinciding with that character's revival. There's a new She-Hulk series and the character is relatively well-known, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Essential She-Hulk somewhere down the road.

I agree that some titles on my list may barely have enough pages to warrant an Essential, but they still might qualify. Morbius appeared in Vampire Tales and Adventures into Fear in the 1970s. Prior to his short-lived solo series, Son of Satan appeared in Marvel Spotlight, and you could toss in his sister Satana's stories if you wanted to beef up the page count. The later issues of Not Brand Echh were 68-page giants, so an Essential of that series would be over 400 pages long. The Inhumans had their own series, back-up stories in Mighty Thor, and appearances in Amazing Adventures. The original Deathlok starred in Astonishing Tales and made guest appearances in Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-in-One, and Captain America over the years.

[dan bailey]

the 8-issue Inhumans solo title,

no love for ishes 9-12?

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Thor Vol. 3

The second volume came out not too long ago. But I suspect we'll see this if not in '06 then in '07. Must buy.

Thor might justify having a fourth Essential volume as well, completing Stan Lee's run as writer on the series. Vol. 3 would have art by Jack Kirby, while Vol. 4 would have pencils by Kirby, Neal Adams, and John Buscema.

[spoon_jenkins]

I have all the issues in the X-Men and OHOTMU Deluxe Essentials, so I'm not picking up either one of the other OHOTMU.

I bought the first six Essential Spider-Man vols and the first Peter Parker, so I'll probably pick up Peter Parker Vol. 2. (I'll probably pick up the seventh Amazing vol. that about to be released too at some point, even though I have a bunch of the issues reprinted in a TPB of the original clone story.)

I've a couple of the Essential Avengers already, so I may pick vol. 5 as well. Plus, (1) that one is so huge and (2) the only materials I have from that are a story or two from "Monster" sized issues. The others don't spark my interest so much. Maybe Spider-Woman. An outside chance of Two-in-One or Moon Knight. Very little chance of Nova.

I also think a high priority for Essentials should be 60s stuff that they haven't touched. I'd be interested in a Sub-Mariner volume, even though I'm not much of a Namor fan (I chose to avoid the phrase "S-M fan.")

[Cei-U!]

no love for ishes 9-12?

I have no love for #1-8 either but, no, I just forgot how long the title ran. Incipient Alzheimers, no doubt.

Cei-U!
What is it I summon again?

[Andy S.]

Today my local shop had a Halloween "2 for 1" horror title sale. I picked up both Tomb of Dracula vol. 1 and Werewolf by Night vol. 1 Essentials for about $15! :)

So far, I really like what I've seen. The artwork is well-done, and I think that the black & white printing really is a perfect fit for these titles. The dark, moody stores of castles and superstitous villagers and vampires is best in B&W, i think.

I know there are at least 3 more Tomb of Dracula Essentials volumes, but are they worth getting? Or does the series get less good after awhile?

[MWGallaher]

Dracula Volume 2 is "essential"...it finishes off the color run of the series, and it had Colan, Wolfman, and Palmer at their peak. The other two aren't bad, but there are many lesser talents at work there...or at least, lesser as applied to the Dracula character. There's some good stuff in those volumes, taken from various black & white magazines, but really, the first two volumes really *are* the "essentials".

[The Lucky One]

Just to clarify- the run of the original, color Tomb of Dracula comic finishes in Essential volume 3, not 2... and I'd argue that the final 20 issues are among the best in the series, giving Drac some great character development. (That was later completely ignored, but whatever.) It's just volume 4 (and the last little bit of volume 3) that reprints the stuff from the Tomb of Dracula magazine and the Dracula Lives! magazine. Which I also think are some really cool stories, actually, so I'd recommend all of them, Andy. And if you have a chance, Essential Monster of Frankenstein is pretty damn spiffy as well... kind of uneven in places, and there's no real ending, which is annoying, but the early issues are good.

-D

[Andy S.]

Sweet. Thanks for the recommendations. Sounds like all the Dracula volumes are worth getting if you have the money. I just wanted to make sure that the series didn't get sucky at the end. So, I'll definitley keep vols. 2 & 3 in mind for the future.

I might give the Frankenstein book a try, too. Just for the heck of it. Question: How does that series portray the Monster? What is the general theme of the stories?

[The Lucky One]

I might give the Frankenstein book a try, too. Just for the heck of it. Question: How does that series portray the Monster? What is the general theme of the stories?

Early on, it's very true to the spirit of Shelley's book- the monster is an articulate, tragic being who's more wretched and lamentable than actually evil. The first 4 issues retell the Shelley story quite accurately, intercut with the monster's discovery and revival by 19th-century explorers of the arctic. From then on, issues 5-10 involve him wandering around the 19th century having a couple of adventures (including one with Dracula), then getting frozen again. He's revived again in 1970's America, and... well, that's where the series starts to derail. The monster becomes inexplicably stupid and the stories falter, at least in my eyes. But the first 10 issues or so have terrific art and really nice writing.

-D

[Cei-U!]

Oops! Wrong thread!

[steeler80]

I'm a definite on the Essential Avengers and the Moonknight volume as well. I remember those back-up stories in Hulk magazine but my copies have long since disappeared. It'll be nice to revisit.

[Dizzy D]

Curious that they're putting out the OHOTMU and the OHOTMUDE so close together... I would have imagined they'd do it like a year apart or something, but won't fans just decide to skip the first if they know the second is out a montho or so later? Someone more knowledgeable, clue me in- what's the big difference between the two?

Wondering about that X-Men volume. If it's real, kudos to them for including the FF vs. X-Men mini, that story was gold. Glad they included annual #10, though they'll have to include a footnote pointing out that it occurs prior to the Mutant Massacre from the last Essential volume. I already own the issues, so doubt I'll buy it, but good to see it anyway.

On the other hand, all this stuff and STILL no Essential New Mutants? I know, I know, the Sienkiewicz artwork is a bitch to reproduce and everything, but come on- at least reprint Marvel Team-Up #100 (first Karma), Magik #1-4, the NM graphic novel, and issues 1-17. Throw in the Handbook entries for all the members if you need to fill pages, just give it to us.

-D

For the Handbooks: if you get the choice, pick up the Deluxe editions. I had the Deluxe Editions and ordered the original ones through Amazon and was disappointed by them. Lots of errors, short entries and only a few characters, while the Deluxe Editions are full of info (lists of alien dimensions and races are great to me). It's definitely dated material though, but I still enjoy reading them.

As for Sienkiewicz artwork: they are doing Moon Knight, so it can be done.
Speaking of which: Essential Moon Knight and Nova are the ones I'm looking forward too the most.

Moon Knight: for Sienkiewicz mostly, but I have a few of the issues and I like them a lot.
Nova: spaceadventures and skrulls for me.

[Hellpop]

And Sub-Mariner. Where's my Colan Sub-Mariner. Gene "The Dean's" work looks incredible in black and white.

I second that. I have been dying for this for ages.

[Bicycle-Repairman]

If they include their crossover appearances in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes, there could be enough issues for Essential Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders. The series featured guest appearances by the Howlers and Ben Grimm, the origin of Hydra, and art by Dick Ayers, Syd Shores, John Severin, and Don Heck.

[Paul Newell]

Avengers Essential #5 for me! And put my vote in for the Invaders. :)

[Graham Vingoe]

I'm definitely in for the Essential Spiderwoman and Moon Knight titles, and Avengers Volume 5( although I have them all in singles form) > I may possibly get Marvel Two in One as well and Nova simply because I used to love the titles as a kid but have no real recollection about much of the respective runs.However, the title I am most obsessed with getting is the as yet not firmly scheduled Tales of the Zombie volume. The instant that is scheduled to arrive at my comic shop, I buy it and read it- Far and away my favourite Marvel monster title ever bar Tomb of Dracula.
In terms of wish list essentials, I would probably have to say Ms Marvel ,and Jungle Action/Blck Panther.

[Chris CCL]

Hey guys, my most recent podcast is all about the Essential program.
November 17, 2005 Collected Comics Library Podcast #43 (http://libsyn.com/media/chrisccl/43_CCL-2005-11-17.mp3)

25,890 Kb; 55m 13s

My first interview/discussion with Eric from the Marvel Essentials and Trade Paperback Yahoo! Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Marvel-Essentials-TPBs/?yguid=223144877).
I also go over DC and Marvel solicitations for February 2006. And as always I go over the New Releases of the week.

Chris CCL

[The Lucky One]

Coolness. But for those of us at work and without the ability to hear it, any chance of someone doing just a brief summary of what's said?
:)

-D

[Chris CCL]

Coolness. But for those of us at work and without the ability to hear it, any chance of someone doing just a brief summary of what's said?
:)

-D

The biggest misconception about Podcasting is that you need an iPod to play them. Not the case. Simply click on the .mp3 link and it will play in you computer.

Well we go over so much stuff, it’s hard to do a thorough recap.
But we do compare Essentials to the Showcase Presents line and we also talk about the pros and cons of a B&W Trade compared to the full color Hardcovers ie Archives and Masterworks.
We also go over the upcoming schedule (which is on page 1 of this post) and some rumors (a What If? Essential exclusively only at Borders) and some previously talked about books that have yet to be officially announced by Marvel (Man-Thing and Tales of Zombie).
Something else of interest: we go over the Conan book and why it may never get reprinted and why the Doc Savage tale is being left out of Marvel Two-In-One.

Chris

[The Lucky One]

The biggest misconception about Podcasting is that you need an iPod to play them. Not the case. Simply click on the .mp3 link and it will play in you computer.

Oh, I know... it's more that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to be listening to anything non-work-related for an extend period of time. ;) But I plan on listening later, and in the meantime, thanks for the info!

-D

[d newton]

Chris, is there any way us non podcast members can see the transcript of the interview between you and Eric about the 2006 essentials? ;)

[Chris CCL]

A full audio transcript of a 55 minute discussion.
Sounds like a neat challenge. I'll see what I can do.
Chris

[d newton]

Thanks! ;)