Comic Book Collected Editions

Epic Comic Book Wednesday
All about Comic Book Collected Editions
Focusing on old stuff…because I’m old.
Check Out Steve Donoghue
/ saintdonoghue

[@saintdonoghue]

Good Gawd, the Hall of Comics ... I guessed, fearfully, at its size, but I was way, way off ... These are LOVECRAFTIAN dimensions!

[@saintdonoghue]

Also: I love how this eventually degenerated into a Seinfeld-style Airing of Grievances!

[@StillOnly25c]

Great Superman Collection

[@mediumjohnsilver]

I agree. A Silver Age Hawkman Omnibus would be fantastic. Starting with the fabulous artwork by Joe Kubert and continuing with the superb artwork by Murphy Anderson, that original run was great. Fortunately, I have the first volume of the DC Archive Editions, and a complete run of the original Hawkman comic books.

[@art.and.lit.matters]

This one was so much fun. Lots and lots of eye candy. I hope you talk sometime a bit more about your early experiences with EC Comics which were and are my all time favorites. Great Video today!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks Thomas! Yeah, I have a lot to say about EC.

[@bookmarkswithjason9445]

Marvel milestones were always way out of my allowance range. They sat on the same shelf at my local comic shop collecting dust until the day it closed.

[@stretmediq]

I have almost all the original Classics Illustrated

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Wow! That must be some collection!

[@stretmediq]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 I think so. It will be better when I have them all

[@gerarddonohoe5806]

Holy cow batman!!!!...that is one awesome comic book collection!

[@JeffMPalermo]

I have read that DC doesn’t make as much per item as Marvel. They let character creators retain ownership rights vs Marvel which is more “you create characters but we own them” kind of place. It could mean that DC would have to pay out more money to creators and thus wouldn’t make as high a profit so they don’t bother.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I doubt DC has to shell out all that much. I’m pretty sure they are just extraordinarily incompetent.

[@smilerwithagun]

Omnibuses are the comics equivalent of binge-watching a Netflix series... I love 'em!

[@jamesholder13]

Awesome discussion! I had a Batman showcase volume when I was younger.

[@stews9]

When I was 12, around 1970, I got suckered into paying several increments of scarce coinage to fund the printing of Jim Steranko's History of Comics, Vol 1. At the time I didn't know it'd be in 2 volumes, but I did have a copy sent to me, finally. Just wondering if you have that, or both. It was a tabloid-sized publication with a paper cover and has been lost in the vicissitudes of moving and I see now that a copy is worth $70+ now. Drat, eh?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’ve never read that. I bet he writes a lot about Steranko!

[@RockandrollNegro]

It's kind of funny that DC (after Dave Sim's _Cerebus_ phonebooks) were the first of the majors to come out with the modern collective reprint format with the _Watchmen_ TPB, yet they seem incapable of doing anything that isn't Batman or Alan Moore without screwing it up. I think the problem began when all of DC's TPBs were being put out by Warner Books, and DC didn't have much of a say in how the books were put together. The giant corporate machine's wisdom dictated that DC knew monthly comics and Warner Books knew the book trade, and there should be an iron curtain separating the two. Now they don't even have a collected editions department, so unless a group editor is competent enough to put out a collection, these books are going to mold over, unpublished. We've been waiting on the Phantom Stranger Omnibus since 2011, ffs. They announced a Sgt Rock Omnibus around the same time, which hasn't ever been solicited. DC sucks at this game.

[@MasterMalrubius]

The “Hall of Comics”. You live a life I could only dream about.

[@briteskin]

DC is definitely harder to collect and they change there mind so often it isn't that collector friendly. They should have been at least printing the Archived line this whole time. One of their presentations you didn't mention that DC did was the Chronicles line which were essentially paperback editions of the Archived hardcovers though believe they had less issues in each volume. I was all in on that one (I was actually buying Superman and Wonder Woman) but it's printing schedule was erratic with only like one character volume a year. It was easy to forget the line but I was excited when would see something in the Previews. I was a big fan of the Essential and DC Showcase lines. I love seeing an artists work in black n white and also a nostalgia fix. Some of my first comics were black n white reprint books from the school book fair. Flash Gordon, The Spirit, Peanuts, Mad Magazine, and even a black n white collection of the Marvel comics original Star Wars movie issues. Both DC and Marvel have Netflix like subscription digital services. I forget there actual service names but you can rent huge catalogs. Also wanted to mention that Image Comics like Dark Horse prints paperback omnibus' but they call them 'compendium' editions.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I forgot about the Chronicles and their oddly boring covers! I always felt their page counts were too low and they weren’t printed often enough. I sold all mine a while ago.

[@thatshaneguy9]

Thanks for covering these! I just discovered your channel. I have got back into comics at the beginning of this year. I dropped a lot of money on various Omnibi and while I love them all - and would have purchased many of the volumes I did anyway - I find them to be cumbersome to read sometimes. Really thinking about diving into some of these epic collections for characters that I’m not as familiar with from my childhood. It seems like a good way to collect without breaking the bank and be able to lounge around on the couch and read comfortably. Thanks again, you’ve earned a new sub!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks Shane!

[@uglystrawberry]

I can’t find my self to collect trade paperbacks .. I feel they will get ruined way faster with wear

[@stevengentry9396]

Individual reprint comics used to be a great way to read stories from the golden and silver age, as well. I read a tremendous number of those stories in actual floppy comic form through very cheap reprints. Those huge omnibuses and Epic collections are great, but way too pricey. Your advice on using digital media if you just want to read them was excellent.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Plus, with digital you aren’t stuck with a bunch of Ka-Zar Marvel Masterworks lying around.

[@davidsigler9690]

I will start collecting the Epic Collection as I miss those comics of my wasted youth......

[@crawdad19141]

Nice collected editions buddy! Im surprised though that I have not seen an Eric Powell "GOON" review though. The pulpy 30s Character and often lovecraftian storylines would be right up your alley I think.

[@paulmonahawk4921]

I enjoyed listening to this😊

[@OrangeGeemer]

aahh you showed the silver age doom patrol!! is OOP and who knows when it'll be reprinted :(

[@macrosense]

I am waiting for a Thunderbunny collection

[@mikekean8002]

Good stuff Michael! I have been collecting the omnibus format but nowadays I am buying the epic collection instead for a number of reasons: first the size and weight of the omnibus mark it cumbersome to read comfortably, the epic is more inviting because you can hold them in your hands. Second, the cost per comic is about half the price for the epic line compared to the omnibus. Third, you can jump from book to book faster because the epic collection has about half the pages as the omnibus. I have learned that the epic collection is just a more fun format. And I do love the trade dress of the epic collection and how they look on the shelf.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I really love the Epic line. They do look sharp on the shelf.

[@ricke.2205]

Wow! Nice collection, Michael. Impressive. I recently bought the Captain America edition from the Folio Society.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I bet that book is magnificent.

[@ricke.2205]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Yes, it is. I am very happy with it. One caveat; They opted to reproduce it like the original comics. So the colors aren't as vibrant as we are used to today.

[@ThisJustInBookTube]

Great video! You forgot to mention the Pocketbook collections of some of the Marvel comics that came out in the 70s, maybe early 80s? It was my introduction to Spider-Man and Captain America. I have fond memories of those.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Those little paperbacks were great! That’s true.

[@Toracube]

I have quite a few omnibus’ but they are heavy… they do look awesome though… but with electricity prices skyrocketing I may have to cut back… oh, by the way, the great Kevin O’Neil passed away. One of our best artists. His work on Nemisis (from 2000ad) was outstanding. I think you’d love it.

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks

[@sgriffin9960]

❤❤❤

[@positiveimageltd]

In the UK we generally had black and white reprints throughout the 60s and 70s. Which is maybe why I am perfectly happy reading the black and white Essentials. I'm really not a fan of comic artwork and colouring from circa 1990 onwards. So yes... backwards is always the direction of travel for me.

[@mathewguglielmi8451]

Wow, what a great collection! I wish DC would reprint the original Plastic Man comic book from the golden age....come on DC ....no silver age Supes in collected editions!

[@wildmanz8233]

You're pretty hardcore having those collected editons of Moon Knight...I got the first Epic for that series and it started pretty weak and I put it down...does Moon Knight get better? I need to find a nice collected edition of Powerman and Iron Fist...I loved those guys as a kid!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Moon Knight gets really great when it gets to the stories printed in The Hulk magazine. Those earlier stories are pretty rough though!

[@wildmanz8233]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 great, because I am thinking of getting back to Moon Knight. I'm hoping they come out with Epics of all the forgotten series like Micronauts, Kazar, Power Pack , Cloak and Dagger etc

[@k-trashradio5163]

Youre like the waycher you have almoat every story ever told in the marvel universe categorized and archived

[@theramblingreviewer5150]

Excellent video! You might even call it EPIC!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@MrMLD1972]

👍🏾

[@stormshadow5555]

So, the current (2024) way of reading printed physical, collected issues of comic book reprints started in the early 2000's? Am I understanding this correctly? Thanks

[@rickcroucher]

DC--Give 'em HELL, Michael!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Ha! I do!

[@luciferfernandez7094]

The first time I saw a collected edition of something with “omnibus” in the cover was the Dark Horse Aliens, Predator and Alien Legion omnis, back in 2008. They were slightly under sized, soft cover. And it happens that right next me is sitting a 600 + pages Dark Horse Omnibus of Grendel - soft cover and it’s better than those earlier Aliens omnis. Marvel Omni bricks are relatively new to me. I just got my first Omni, DC’s The Question because it’s cheaper than tracking the old TPB’s but it’s heavy lifting - I don’t like formats I can’t read laying at bed or in a simple bench, reading comics over a desk or table is not fun. Also I miss the paper feel and smell of the original Question floppies I read 20 + years ago, fortunately those O’Neil and Cowan stories are even better now. I have a handful of Marvel essentials and, as an artist myself, I hate I missed some of those. Got the Weapon X gallery edition because as a BWS fan I wanted the oversized format, but the color (done by BWS for newsprint) sucks in the new paper. The epics are my preferable format, but not that cheap where I live. A word in favor of DC: the absolute editions, mostly Vertigo stuff, are great. And newer stuff? What kid can spend something short of 5 bucks for a floppy?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I really wish I had picked up those Alien Legion books from Dark Horse. I really liked that series.

[@AndrewBuckleBookReviews]

Yes, I had pre-ordered the Aquaman as well, and also the GA Flash volume 1 omni but that was also cancelled. WW Golden Age vol 5 seems to be in a permanent state of drift, been about 5 years now as a pre-order. I agree, DC muck it up and they have such an amazing library of books they could release, even if they were just released in original form without the need for cleanups etc, I would still buy them. They could do a print run of 1000 or so and then reprint later if there is a film or a character becomes a runaway success etc but no, Marvel clearly has the right idea on this, though baffles why there is no Sub-Mariner Volume 1 omnibus as yet or 2. Most of the 1950s DC comics have still yet to see reprint, so many great stories out there such as Rex the Wonder Dog etc or Robot Man or Detective Chimp etc, absolutely nothing.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It’s a literal tragedy!

[@BookBlather]

That would shock me to see that the collected edition sales surpass the single issues. 🤷‍♂️ You really think that’s the case? Anywho, I have a bunch of trades, but none of those epic/omnibus collections. I always prefer the single issues, but it’s a pretty pricey habit.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Not a ton of money is made on monthly comics. It isn’t until they are reprinted in the trades that they begin to make anything. And of course Marvel has that extraordinary back catalog that they are very good at making money off of. DC just can’t get it together!

[@FrankGrauJr]

Do you do newspaper comic volumes, like Prince Valiant, Terry & the Pirates, etc?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Unfortunately I don’t have any of those.

[@FrankGrauJr]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 I honestly never had an interest in Prince Valiant because he looked to “soft” and not like the kind of guy that’s up for a good scrap. Maybe it was the page-boy haircut and lipstick. In any case, once I read a Fantagraphic volume or two, I was hooked. It’s some great writing, incredibly beautiful art, and Valiant is about as brave and nearly tough as a young Conan, with an attitude to match (though less hedonistic... he is eventually one of those noble knights of the round table). But I highly recommend you give one of the first few Fantagraphic’s volumes a try. I really, really think you’ll like it, and if you have a good memory for art, you’ll spot a ton of stuff (including poses) that inspired John Buscema’s Conan comic art. You’ll be glad you tried it and I’ll bet you’ll be hooked.

[@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731]

I thought your comments on Marvel’s reprints and their marketing were really insightful. It is a shame DC doesn’t copy them - they do on everything else so why not? I’m still a fan of Essentials and Showcase Presents- I like seeing the art in b&w in its original form. Plus I’m a fan of their prices - it’s hard to keep up with the omnibus collections. But they actually are only $40 if you get them on kindle and save the storage space headaches. Just a great video as usual.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks Adam!

[@jeroenadmiraal8714]

Do comics still equate to superheroes in the US?

[@mattlawyer3245]

Do you count graphic novels as comics?

[@DDB168]

I'd be happy to buy the war/combat related titles from Marvel, DC and EC but sadly they all seem uninterested in reprinting those.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Where is my SGT Rock omnibus DC!?

[@DDB168]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Where is your comic book Wednesday video about Sgt Rock ? 😇😇😇

[@positiveproductions6699]

What type of bookshelf would you recommend for a omnibus size wise

[@planet6288]

There is a brand called Kallax that people like. Better Homes and Gardens has a cheaper version that you can find at Walmart. They are the square shelfs that fit the fabric storage boxes. For heavy omnibus’s you want the brands with the thicker wood.

[@positiveproductions6699]

@@planet6288 Thanks I appreciate it

[@angelica351a]

Wow wish I had the $$ he spent on those

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Me too!

[@ellesse3862]

mmm yes, collected editions.. as far as nurishment goes, I believe they are now part of your five a day for the healthy 21st century diet, a tastier option than asparagus. Found myself nodding throughout this one, Marvel has this game cracked. Most of my collected editions are softcover collections, a few hardcovers of various sizes - not many are DC. Fancy pants comicbooks, I have one Absolute, two books that may as well be be absolutes but claim to be omnibus, and several omniboo - very few of these are DC. I'd buy DC books but they have no clue how to milk their fantastic back catalog. I could never afford the Archives, I rarely buy omnis, but boy.. I'd love a DC Collection line so I can read things like golden age Justice Society stories, bronze age All-Star Squadron, Infinity Inc, Batman. You'd think it wouldnt be hard. Thank goodness other companies know how to reprint their back catalogs.

[@sketchyloop951]

Michael how much money you spend monthly on books?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Too much

[@sketchyloop951]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 'too much' is an abstract answer 😀 can you be concrete?

[@garrettchristensen8074]

For me , the collected editions are so popular is because Marvel & DC have quite effectively destroyed thier characters. There is WOKE agenda in almost every title. In the Jim Shooter era, Marvel would cancel a book if it couldn't sell 100,000 copies a month. No title sells even remotely close to that now.

[@konstantinos-6-6-6-8]

Probably, but you have to take into account that the best selling titles back then sold like half a million or something. Crazy numbers.

[@nunyabizness6595]

DC Comics is a disgrace.