Marvel Collected Editions

[krisis]

By the way, Original Sin reads much better as a collected edition. I am now trying to decide if I want to pick up the Companion volume too -- out in a couple of months. There are some good books in there (e.g., those Hickman Avengers issues).

I mentioned last week that I really dug Original Sin as a collection. However, due to the nature of the tie-ins, they have NOTHING whatsoever to do with the event or each other. Inhumanity at least had the thread of new Inhumans being birthed. On the other hand, it's looking a lot like that Original Sin Annual is going to be otherwise stranded, and I'd wager they squeeze it into the companion.

Of course, if you don't buy all of those other series collections regularly anyway, the Companion is the tidiest way to read a ton of good stories, so that should be your main guide

Personally, my stance is that all Companions get clearanced eventually, so unless they include otherwise uncollected issues from an ongoing I buy (as Inhumanity Companion did) I will abstain until they get cheap and I discuss them in the other thread

[aquitaine]

I couldn't agree more. Original Sin is better read collected. I was actually more interested in the companion. The deadpool, daredevil, avengers, mighty avengers, thor and loki, and ironman vs hulk series are all interesting to me. But now I'm good for getting the set.

I honestly had trouble getting over the HUGE retcon. I loved the first few issues of Original Sin though. Im sorely tempted to buy the OHC, but that price is really killing my motivation. The art was great though.

[bkart1978]

I honestly had trouble getting over the HUGE retcon. I loved the first few issues of Original Sin though. Im sorely tempted to buy the OHC, but that price is really killing my motivation. The art was great though.

I'm actually considering it from CGN for $30/60% off for Black Friday; if I end up buying Christmas presents for people, and I'm already paying shipping, I'll probably pick it up.

[alb2009]

Are any of the event companions which have been recently released important to the main series and/or a good read by themselves? I mean the AoA, infinity and original sin companions specifically.

[Canucked]

Are any of the event companions which have been recently released important to the main series and/or a good read by themselves? I mean the AoA, infinity and original sin companions specifically.

Of the companions I have:
Acts of Vengeance - Nope
Age of Apocalypse - Nope
Inferno - Nope
Infinity - Yes
Spider Island - Yes
AvX - eeeeeehhh
Original Sin - What little I've read of what wil be in it, yes, IF you don't follow the individual series'.

I am probably forgetting some but that's off the top of my head. Unfortunately I don't have what some consider the best companion: miller daredevil companion.

[krisis]

Alright, I've teased a few times, so here's my most-recent Marvel Now review roundup.

All-New Ghost Rider, Vol. 1: 4.5/5. I now understand why so many Marvel editors have been pushing this book so hard for so long. To enjoy it, first accept that (a) this is an all-new Ghost Rider with NO COMMENT to make on any past iteration, (b) this is very nearly an all-ages book, and certainly a teen-oriented one, and (c) the insanely angular cover art is much more round and dynamic in the interiors. I loved this to death and would put it nearly on-par with Ms. Marvel. It's such a likeable, grounded presentation of a teen hero dealing with newfound powers. Oh, and the possibility that he's actually dead.

Avengers, Vol. 6: 2/5. I believe I am in the minority in disliking this Original Sin tale of time travel. Yu's artwork is about five miles past phenomenal, but I'm just too tired of these cryptic alt-time, alt-dimension stories from Hickman - even when they're super-connected to the main plot. Does it give Cap and Widow great moments? Sure. But its just not what I'm seeking from the main Avengers title, and it's annoying to me that Hickman has fundamentally given up on writing Avengers stories for this many consecutive issues of hint-dropping.

Avengers Undercover, Vol. 2: 4/5. For a book rushed to an untimely conclusion, there's hardly anything to dislike here. A few characters get a bit short-shrift, and some of the biggest action feels a bit rushed, but it's a solid and respectful final chapter to Hopeless's incredibly entertaining riff on how Hunger Games would play out in the Marvel U. He really reaches for all of the possible outcomes, from PTSD to doubting one's own morality, and actually finds some new shades to his core characters (especially the women) along the way.

Elektra, Vol. 1: 4.5/5. Marvel clearly brought on William Blackman, introduced him to Mike Del Mundo, and said, "get as close to the Batwoman all splash-pages, heavy narration feel as you can." And they did. And it's awesome. By far the best Elektra solo story I've read. Gorgeous, violent, funny. So great. I cannot believe this book is going to be cancelled, but there's word that the Blackman/DelMundo team is already being assembled for another book.

Hulk, Vol. 1: 1.5/5. I'm not sure what's going on with Waid here other than that I'm happy he decided to cede this title. Maybe it's the Bagley art, but this feels like a very 90s story - a poorly-conceived plot that's going to have to be quickly reversed with lots of EXTREMELY SERIOUS SITUATIONS, DUDE - all of which get neatly resolved. Not anything like the incredibly high-quality run that came before.

Iron Man, Vol. 5: 2/5. Gillen's verve for this series is clearly worn thin here, as this scramble to possess and exploit Mandarin's rings is a total snooze. There are pages of virtual rings "talking" to each other in a virtual reality environment. I am not lying to you. Still, it's assembled serviceably and has some decent Malekith action.

Magneto, Vol. 1: 3/5. Cullen Bunn may have finally hit his mark at Marvel, and it's super-weird. This Magneto is pretty much a traveling hobo - a well-dressed deadly mutant terrorist traveling hobo trying to make some small rights in a county of wrongs. Even with some hyper-violence, the book feels very subtle - in no small part due to Walta's indie-flavored art. However, a one-off issue about hunting Marauder clones ranks as perhaps the best X story all year, and has some frightening implications for Magneto's mission. I'm definitely hooked.

New Avengers, Vol. 4: 3.5/5. Weirdly, this is the fascinating good stuff I'm seeking from Avengers right now and I would have happily swapped it with the run in Avengers above. We get to really FEEL the awful horror of having to decide how to save a world, and we see heroes make some truly awful choices because they have no other option. This is the most interesting the incursions have been for me so far, and the book looked terrific. Slightly graded down for a few talking-head scenes that seemed a bit excessive, but otherwise I loved it.

Nightcrawler, Vol. 2: 2.5/5. It is entirely possible some of this score is pure Claremont nostalgia, and I'm fine with that. The X-Man is in his prime of over-narrating, reintroducing, huge dialog balloons, repetitive speech tics, and everything else you love to hate to love about him. Weirdly, the result is a PERFECT all-ages X-Men comic. None of that "Look at me being whacky!" crap from Aaron's efforts at the same. Just a likeable, easy-to-understand comic book story with standard comic book art. Not everything has to be world-changing.

Secret Avengers, Vol. 1: 4.5/5. Please do not be put off by the weirdly-blocky cover art that makes this out to be a cartoonish series. I utterly devoured this trade. Kot picks up the baton from both Spencer's Secret and DeConnick's Assemble in presenting a movie-esque Avengers team being Whedon levels of amusing while defending the world from danger. Actually, it feels more like Fraction's Hawkeye in its madcap tone, but while maintaining a wider scope and Kot's base level of subversiveness and depravity. Witness: MODOK is a key supporting character who enjoys coffee on the Hellicarier veranda with Maria Hill! It's like the Avengers version of Superior Foes.

Silver Surfer, Vol. 1: 5/5. This book is perfect. The first story could not be any better-crafted or more amusing. The second one is a pure delight. There's this interesting thing that happens for me where I feel like all writers write well for Allred in this amusing late-60s pastiche, but what's really happening is that Allred draws well for all writers and finds the humanity in their stories to imply a late-60s pastiche. Maybe not palatable to hard-core Surfer fans, but highly recommended, especially for people who loved Hickman or Fraction's FF but wished each was more about the grown-ups.

Superior Foes of Spider-Man, Vol. 2: 4/5. Spencer is so, so good on just about everything, and this volume continues to be no exception - elevated further by Lieber/Rosenberg delivering Aja/Hollingsworth-quality artwork. Who would have ever guessed I'd be oohing over the origin of the New Beetle, but that's just one of the great one-shot stories here that each manage to move the plot forward. A pair of fill-in issues interrupts the flow but actually does well maintaining the tone and quality (I'd expect no less from Asmus).

Bonus Non-Marvel Quickies: Soule's Letter 44 (4/5) brilliant launch though I have doubts he can keep up the intrigue. Parker's Meteor Men (3/5) a quick, enjoyable horror-tinged version of ET. Gillen's Wicked + Divine (1.5/5) a hipsterish flatline that's getting by on hype and pedigree. Tynion's Woods Vol. 1 (3.5/5) a Buffy-descendant horror that actually has well-rounded characters to go with its tropes. Failkov's Bunker Vol. 1 (2/5) a strongly-constructed snooze that has super-flat characters to prop up its tropes. Luna's Alex and Ada Vol. 1 (5/5) a half-android odd couple with plenty of hints of a broader story beyond.

Krisis: Reading Marvel Now so you don't have to (unless you really feel like it).

Next up? New Warriors, Deadly Hands, Deadpool v. Carnage and X-Force, Iron Patriot, Avengers World, Wolverine & The X-Men, X-Iron Nova specials, the much-maligned Infinity Revelation, a dying Wolverine, and a ton of Original Sin!

[chicainery]

Silver Surfer, Vol. 1: 5/5. This book is perfect. The first story could not be any better-crafted or more amusing. The second one is a pure delight. There's this interesting thing that happens for me where I feel like all writers write well for Allred in this amusing late-60s pastiche, but what's really happening is that Allred draws well for all writers and finds the humanity in their stories to imply a late-60s pastiche. Maybe not palatable to hard-core Surfer fans, but highly recommended, especially for people who loved Hickman or Fraction's FF but wished each was more about the grown-ups.

I am SO hoping that this gets an OSHC/Omnibus someday. I love Allred's art!



Slott's good too!

[Trigganosis]

Thanks, Krisis!!!
I may give Silver Surfer a try, thanks to you!

[Trigganosis]

I am SO hoping that this gets an OSHC/Omnibus someday. I love Allred's art!



Slott's good too!

Add Superior Foes to that list. It definitely needs to be OSHC, at least!

[gearsofcrabs]

Next up? New Warriors, Deadly Hands, Deadpool v. Carnage and X-Force, Iron Patriot, Avengers World, Wolverine & The X-Men, X-Iron Nova specials, the much-maligned Infinity Revelation, a dying Wolverine, and a ton of Original Sin!

Curious as to what you think of Deadpool vs. Carnage. I didn't think it was really anything special, just reminded me of one of those 48 page vs. one-shots they used to do all the time during the 90s just somehow stretched out to 4 issues.

[gearsofcrabs]

Add Superior Foes to that list. It definitely needs to be OSHC, at least!

I've been holding out for one, but I imagine since it isn't selling that well it'll prolly never happen?

[NZ_InFerno]

Alrighty last post on this, there has been some good discussion etc which has been taken on board. The deals thread was not my idea, it was created in response to several pm's from posters about B&N codes etc given out and various other things that were in the thread. As a mod I would prefer there was only 1 thread to read every day and not more

BTW never has this thread been so up in arms about MOAR DEALS ON COMICS.

Its spreading. Yyyeeeeesssss.

And I feel like I should chime in. I don't like the separate deal thread. Its extremely inconvenient to have to flip through an entire other thread full of stuff that's completely irrelevant to me.

See above. I think in the long term, it will be more convenient to find deals in the deal thread, considering that the Marvel thread moves at a rate of 2-10 pages per day. If you want deals, you got to deals. Easy.

Since you're referencing the use of a BN code, this belongs in the DEAL FORUM!!!

Seriously though, long time lurker, first time poster since the forum reset. Add me to the seemingly large majority of people not in favor of a separate deal forum. Look at the volume of posts that do not want a separate forum. Bad decision.

Welcome to the forum. If you've been reading here a while you will know that as long as you are reasonably on topic you are fine. No one has been banned for posting in the wrong thread. You will find a few who have had a polite reminder pm though. Shit I don't think me or SJ have ever banned anyone, but we will take volunteers
Unfortunately there is not actually a majority in favour of a seperate deal forum so far. Sorry.

Anybody know if there is an in print Thor collection that collects the issues between the Epic Collection: A Kingdom Lost and the Simonson run?
I know the other epic (War of the Pantheons) picks up where the Simonson run ends.

Also with regard to the deal thread, I'd prefer the the info stay here. Being in the U.K deals are rarely posted that I can take advantage of so I wont bother checking a dedicated thread but occasionally a deal gets posted here that is applicable which is great. The posted U.S, Australian, Canadian etc deals that get posted I just skim over jealously

Hey there are hardly any deals internationally, been that way for years now. but I would imagine the deals thread would be the place to go and easy to find something useful. There has been more deals posted there in one day than even I expected. Plus there is a whole forum out there now I just discovered Thorgal from the General thread, which is sort of like Conan so far, and its an awesome read.

[NZ_InFerno]

BTW a lot of people are worried that can't post like normal. The below post(courtesy of grahamgg) is fine in either thread:

For the CGN sale I picked up the Punisher MAX omnibus. Always been curious about that one and looking forward to reading it.

Spider-Man by Millar Ultimate Collection ... Had it long ago in HC but sold it off when prices spiked. Looking forward to getting it back.

Indestructible Hulk v4 HC

Avengers West Coast Darker than Scarlet ... Had it long ago but sold it off. Glad to have it back.

UXM Omnibus v2 DM cover ... Been on the fence for months. Finally pulled the trigger at 50% off and the Byrne cover.

Something along the lines of :

CGN is having a 50% off sale, end tonight.


Is more suited to the deals thread, buuut on a case by case basis we may or may not care if it ends up in here and move it on.



capische?

[Balakin]

All-New Ghost Rider, Vol. 1: 4.5/5. I now understand why so many Marvel editors have been pushing this book so hard for so long. To enjoy it, first accept that (a) this is an all-new Ghost Rider with NO COMMENT to make on any past iteration, (b) this is very nearly an all-ages book, and certainly a teen-oriented one, and (c) the insanely angular cover art is much more round and dynamic in the interiors. I loved this to death and would put it nearly on-par with Ms. Marvel. It's such a likeable, grounded presentation of a teen hero dealing with newfound powers. Oh, and the possibility that he's actually dead.

Loved it when Tradd Moore was on art but dropped it with Damion Scott. I really like Scott's style but after Tradd the whole book seemd off to me.
But at least he went back to draw Luther Strode (although, I'm not sure I don't like ANGR more).

Also, I really hope they will release an OHC of Silver Surfer, I'm really curious. Love Slott's writing and I heard it is a good book for Doctor Who fans.

[krisis]

Loved it when Tradd Moore was on art but dropped it with Damion Scott. I really like Scott's style but after Tradd the whole book seemd off to me.
But at least he went back to draw Luther Strode (although, I'm not sure I don't like ANGR more).

Also, I really hope they will release an OHC of Silver Surfer, I'm really curious. Love Slott's writing and I heard it is a good book for Doctor Who fans.

That's a bummer. I was hoping the colors and the author being an artist himself would hold together the visual style for the second book. They've created such a rich world for the first, I'd hate to see it squandered.

Silver Surfer is doing decently in sales, but Marvel has been pretty specific with their OHCs in the Now period - Hawkeye, Daredevil, Deadpool, Thor, All-New X-Men, Avengers & New Avengers, Young Avengers, GotG - they're all books with either mega critical acclaim or mega sales. But, they also snuck in that abysmal Fraction FF Omnibus. Hopefully Silver Surfer maintains its critical pedigree and makes it to a third and fourth collection and we wind up with an OHC late in 2015.

Curious as to what you think of Deadpool vs. Carnage. I didn't think it was really anything special, just reminded me of one of those 48 page vs. one-shots they used to do all the time during the 90s just somehow stretched out to 4 issues.

I usually don't have a lot of patience for zany Deadpool minis, but I finished Vs. X-Force last night and it was an enjoyable enough read. They all just feel so disposable to me, generally.