The Silver Age DC Showcase and Marvel Essentials Reader

[Lee Stone]

This is a listing of the DC Showcase and Marvel Essentials that carry Silver Age stories.
Listed in order of tpb publication.
For the sake of this listing, the Silver Age includes the period from 1956 through 1969.

DC Showcase
Green Lantern Vol. 1
Superman Vol. 1
Metamorpho Vol. 1
Justice League of America Vol. 1
Green Arrow Vol. 1
House of Mystery Vol. 1
Superman Family Vol. 1
Teen Titans Vol. 1
Haunted Tank Vol. 1
Superman Vol. 2
Elongated Man Vol. 1
Batman Vol. 1
Challengers of the Unknown Vol. 1
Phantom Stranger Vol. 1
Justice League of America Vol. 2
The Brave and the Bold: The Batman Team-Ups Vol. 1
Aquaman Vol. 1
Green Lantern Vol. 2
Hawkman Vol. 1
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1
Superman Vol. 3
Flash Vol. 1
The War That Time Forgot Vol. 1
Atom Vol. 1
Batman Vol. 2
Martian Manhunter Vol. 1
Batgirl Vol. 1
Adam Strange Vol. 1
Wonder Woman Vol. 1
Metal Men Vol. 1
World's Finest Comics Vol. 1
Teen Titans Vol. 2
Supergirl Vol. 1
Sgt. Rock Vol. 1
Justice League of America Vol. 3
Aquaman Vol. 2
Robin, the Boy Wonder Vol. 1
Superman Family Vol. 2
Enemy Ace Vol. 1
Challengers of the Unknown Vol. 2
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2
Green Lantern Vol. 3
Flash Vol. 2
Haunted Tank Vol. 2
Batman Vol. 3
Atom Vol. 2
Hawkman Vol. 2
House of Secrets Vol. 1
Superman Vol. 4
Metal Men Vol. 2
Blackhawk Vol. 1
Wonder Woman Vol. 2
World's Finest Comics Vol. 2
Supergirl Vol. 2
Sgt. Rock Vol. 2
Strange Adventures Vol. 1
Superman Family Vol. 3
Aquaman Vol. 3
Justice League of America Vol. 4
Doom Patrol Vol. 1
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3
Martian Manhunter Vol. 2
Green Lantern Vol. 4
Batman Vol. 4
Bat Lash Vol. 1
Flash Vol. 3
Eclipso Vol. 1
Wonder Woman Vol. 3
World's Finest Comics Vol. 3
Dial H For Hero Vol. 1
Sgt. Rock Vol. 3
Doom Patrol Vol. 2
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4
The Witching Hour Vol. 1
Batman Vol. 5
Wonder Woman Vol. 4
Young Love Vol. 1
The Losers Vol. 1
The Spectre Vol. 1
Showcase Vol. 1
Sea Devils Vol. 1
Tales of the Unexpected Vol. 1
Rip Hunter, Time Master Vol. 1
Flash Vol. 4
World's Finest Comics Vol. 4
Sgt. Rock Vol. 4
Superman Family Vol. 4
Strange Adventures Vol. 2
The Great Disaster Featuring the Atomic Knights Vol. 1

[Lee Stone]

Marvel Essentials
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2
Silver Surfer Vol. 1
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3
The Fantastic Four Vol. 1
Avengers Vol. 1
The Incredible Hulk Vol. 1
Classic X-Men Vol. 1 (Originally Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1)
The Fantastic Four Vol. 2
Captain America Vol. 1
Avengers Vol. 2
Iron Man Vol. 1
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4
Thor Vol. 1
Avengers Vol. 3
The Fantastic Four Vol. 3
The Incredible Hulk Vol. 2
Captain America Vol. 2
Doctor Strange Vol. 1
Astonishing Ant-Man Vol. 1
Daredevil Vol. 1
The Human Torch Vol. 1
Daredevil Vol. 2
Avengers Vol. 4
Iron Man Vol. 2
Doctor Strange Vol. 2
The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3
The Defenders Vol. 1
Thor Vol. 2
The Fantastic Four Vol. 4
Daredevil Vol. 3
Classic X-Men Vol. 2
The Fantastic Four Vol. 5
Thor Vol. 3
Iron Man Vol. 3
Captain Marvel Vol. 1
Classic X-Men Vol. 3
Thor Vol. 4
Sub-Mariner Vol. 1
Sgt. Fury Vol. 1
Rawhide Kid Vol. 1

Marvel Epic Collections
Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine
Amazing Spider-Man: Great Power
Thor: The God of Thunder
Iron Man: The Golden Avenger
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Silver Surfer: When Calls Galactus
Captain America: Lives Again
X-Men: Children of the Atom

Honorable Mentions - DC -Silver Age stuff not collected in Showcase
Creeper by Steve Ditko HC -reprints Collects Showcase #73, Beware the Creeper #1-6, First Issue Special #7 and World's Finest #249-255

Honorable Mentions - Marvel -Silver Age stuff not collected in Essentials
Marvel Masterworks Nick Fury HC Vol. 1 -reprints Nick Fury stories from Strange Tales #135-153, Tales of Suspense #78 and Fantastic Four #21.
Marvel Masterworks Nick Fury HC Vol. 3 -reprints Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #4-15, Avengers #72 and Marvel Spotlight #31
Nick Fury, Agent of Shield TPB -reprints Nick Fury stories from Strange Tales #150-168
Marvel Masterworks Sgt. Fury HC Vol. 3 -reprints Sgt. Fury #24-32 and Annual #2
Marvel Masterworks Sgt. Fury HC Vol. 4 -reprints Sgt. Fury #33-34
Nick Fury, Agent of Shield Scorpio TPB -reprints Nick Fury #1-3, 5
Marvel Masterworks Sub-Mariner HC Vol. 3 -reprints Sub-Mariner #2-13
Marvel Masterworks Sub-Mariner HC Vol. 4 -reprints Sub-Mariner #14-25

Material Not Collected (As of yet) DC
Hawk and Dove #1-6
Inferior Five #1-10

Material Not Collected (As of yet) Marvel
Sgt. Fury #35-73, Annual #3-5
Various stories from Marvel Super-Heroes

(Note: I used Wikipedia for the listing, with a bit of searching on Mycomicshop. I may have missed something somewhere. Surprised there wasn't an Essential Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD, for instance.)

[md62]

Thanks for both lists. I find myself buying less modern comics. These collections are a great way to relive my childhood. I have a bookshelf in my bedroom that is rapidly filling up with Showcase Presents & Essential volumes...

[Lee Stone]

Thanks for both lists. I find myself buying less modern comics. These collections are a great way to relive my childhood. I have a bookshelf in my bedroom that is rapidly filling up with Showcase Presents & Essential volumes...

Welcome.
I've recently started reading more Silver Age stuff and find these the most affordable solutions.
I'll update it if any new releases appear.
I was also considering doing a Silver Age DC/Marvel on Comixology list but that would take a while.

Oh, and so far I have almost a dozen of them.
Told myself I couldn't buy anymore until I read a few more of them.

Right now I have:
Superman Vol. 1
Green Lantern Vol. 1
Metamorpho Vol. 1
Justice League of America Vol. 1
Fantastic Four Vol. 1
Spider-Man Vol. 1
Doctor Strange Vol. 1 & 2
Thor Vol. 1
Daredevil Vol. 2 (it was a gift, I woulda got Vol. 1 first)

[dogwelder]

I'm starting on Superman Vol.2 later tonight. It features:

ACTION COMICS #258-275 and SUPERMAN #134-145

[Lee Stone]

I'm starting on Superman Vol.2 later tonight. It features:

ACTION COMICS #258-275 and SUPERMAN #134-145

Nice!
I just started re-reading Volume 1 today (I never finished it the first time). Then I'm either going to go to Green Lantern Vol. 1 or Spider-Man Vol. 1.

Edit: Updated the OP with Honorable Mentions for Silver Age Marvel reprints that haven't appeared in Essentials, yet, as well as stuff that hasn't been reprinted in TPB.

[md62]

I gravitate to stuff that has not been reprinted a lot like the Human Torch stories or the Challengers of the Unknown or Sgt Rock or Sgt Fury.

[Lee Stone]

I gravitate to stuff that has not been reprinted a lot like the Human Torch stories or the Challengers of the Unknown or Sgt Rock or Sgt Fury.

I'm really looking forward to Doom Patrol and the Classic X-Men, myself. I think I gravitate to the oddballs like Metamorpho and Creeper.

Edit: Added Honorable Mentions for DC (since you inadvertently reminded me of Creeper). Plus DC Not Reprinted list with Hawk & Dove.

[md62]

Can this be made a sticky? I find it to be an great resource.

[Ravin' Ray]

Marvel Essentials
The Human Torch Vol. 1

I gravitate to stuff that has not been reprinted a lot like the Human Torch stories or the Challengers of the Unknown or Sgt Rock or Sgt Fury.

I got Johnny's Strange Tales essentials after he died in a fit of nostalgia for my own birthday. Even on B&W newsprint I cherish it.

[md62]

I got Johnny's Strange Tales essentials after he died in a fit of nostalgia for my own birthday. Even on B&W newsprint I cherish it.

One of my favorites...

[Balakin]

Great thread! But wouldn't it be more practical to upgrade to bronze age showcases and essentials too? I don't think there are that many as silver age stuff so maybe a separate thread wouldn't make sense for them. Just an idea. (I'm more of a bronze age reader so far).
Anyone else noticed that the Showcase presents books have a thinner paperstock than the Essentials? It's a bit distracting (I'm absolutely fine with the Essential's paperstock for that price).

[titansupes]

Damn it, I was just looking into some of the Superman ones, but... are they in black and white? I don't want them in black and white.

[SJNeal]

Can this be made a sticky? I find it to be an great resource.

Done!!!

[SJNeal]

Damn it, I was just looking into some of the Superman ones, but... are they in black and white? I don't want them in black and white.

All Showcase Presents volumes are in b&w. If you prefer color, you should check out the Superman Chronicles series of trades. They're smaller, but the same material printed chronologically.