Invaders Omnibus Overview | Roy Thomas' Love Letter to Golden Age Comics!

It's finally here! My overview of the Invaders Omnibus from Marvel Comics. A unique look at the golden age of comics in the 1970s.
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[@hirampacheco8721]

Lets hope DC decides to publish an All Star Squadron omnibus. I read them when they came out in the 1980s but would love to see them again and re read those awesome stories

[@bradpeters7160]

This Omnibus got me into hardcover collecting. Ordered last year and have spent the time since building a modest collection with NMC's info. Great channel. Great series.

[@NearMintCondition]

Thank you for the kind words. And I hope you are enjoying these big books.

[@belgianfrombelgium3233]

After Invaders, Thomas did the same thing for DC with the All-Star Squadron. Old-timey superheroes fighting Nazi's.

[@NichoMania2]

Hope that gets an omnibus sometime then, would love to read that in one big book like this one 😌 (Tho DC’s collected editions offices leave me worried if those sorts of non Trinity books will ever get omni’s 😅)

[@michaelsnyder9375]

As a 13 year old boy on a sunny summer day in 1975 I bought Giant Sized X-Men # 1 and Giant Sized Invaders #1 on the same day !!! At the time I valued the Invaders 1st issue more than I valued the New X-men 1st issue.

[@thomashernandez6985]

I started reading comics hard-core in early 77. Invaders were some of my favorites back then. I started with issue 13 going forward. Annual 1 had artwork , if I recall with some of the original 1940's artists. The artwork for those 1st 26 or 27 issues of Invaders were well regarded at the time and in point of fact, it was after the two Frank's left that the book was regarded in somewhat a decline. Their artwork fit the tone of the book perfectly. All my friends at the time who read comics ( there were 5 of us) loved the Invaders. WHAT IF 4 was a perfect companion to the INVADERS and in the end turned out not to be an alternate universe but actual Marvel Canon. Can't express my love for these books enough. Especially that incredible run starting in issue 7 and ending with 21 when they escape from Hitler and Germany.

[@jb683]

After so many delays, it’s awesome to finally see this book in your hands. Great review as always 👍🏼

[@the-G-Man2022]

Great review! I’ve been looking forward to this omnibus since I collected the complete Invaders run from when the single issues hit the newsstand back in the day. Love what rascally Roy Thomas did with the Invaders as well as the All-Star Squadron over at the Distinguished Competition.

[@Frst2nxt]

Great presentation in deed. If only Marvel and DC combined and Roy Thomas were to weave together his Invaders and All-Star Squadron. By the way, around the same time as a team called the Crusaders appear in the Invaders, there is another same-named team in Freedom Fighters that seem similar to the Invaders!!! I wish Roy Thomas would take every comic company's every golden age character and normalize them into a single world. Once equally assimulated, they are like an interesting kaleidoscopic bouquet of characters that are the root of the genre unfolded.

[@michaelsamerdyke108]

I had a letter published in "The Invaders." It was in the issue when they met Thor.

[@monsieuradi5644]

@NearMintCondition You should send Roy an email to ask him to do an interview! I sent him a fan mail once, and he replied almost immediately

[@williamoutlaw28]

Where did you find his mailing address?

[@monsieuradi5644]

You can find it on the website of his Alter Ego magazine, he's the editor.

[@davecironelibrarykid]

Yes, there were letter pages. And yes, there were awesome Bullpen Bulletins in these issues too. The commentary in those pages are a great time capsule of fandom in the 70s.

[@NearMintCondition]

Now I want those letter pages!

[@jwanwaldon2509]

That was awesome review Omar. I am so satisfy with all theses Omnis this year The Savage She Hulk I always wanted that. It gives me hope and patience again. I hope one day we would get the classic Spider-Woman Omnibus one day they are printing in the Marvel Masterworks. I can't wait one day for that to happen. I will buy it.💯💯💯

[@jamess6854]

In regard to art, Robbins was okay in my opinion then, my faves were Byrne and Perez (and still are) but looking at it now, especially compared to some current artists, Robbins was actually pretty good.

[@jamestbrown6317]

I had a beat up copy (no cover) from my childhood that I loved. Reason why I now want this omni so bad. For the artwork felt a bit gritty and dark(ish) so it felt right in a WWII setting.

[@jamesjones5405]

mine is coming from cheap graphic novels tomorrow!

[@jamess6854]

When I was a kid in the 70s, I had sporadic issues in the early run. Some of the ones I had was 7 and 8, back then it was nearly impossible to find many comic stores and we had one in my area with an okay selection, so it took me around 4 or 5 years to get issue 9 and finish off the Baron Blood storyline and to make it worse I had issues 10 and 11 which made it more of a sneak peak than anything. So anyways, because of stuff like that I have fond memories of the Invaders series and am looking forward to my Omnibus being delivered later this week.

[@hawkeye1970s]

I’m definitely picking this up for my brother as a Christmas present. He collected these as a kid as back issues b/c his favourite character (to this day) is Captain America. I remember reading some of them back then and not being the biggest fan of Frank Robbins, but now it has grown on me. Anyway, the spine that I’m picking is the one with Cap on it. Also, if I remember correctly, I do think I remember there being letters pages for the Invaders. Great video Omar!

[@josersreviews137]

This is my most anticipated book for the year. I’m so glad it finally came out. I preordered this last August when it was originally solicited for February of this year (same week as my birthday). I picked up giant sized invaders 1 in the mid 80s at a flea market and fell in love with it. I had the complete collections but was happy to upgrade. I have a soft spot for all these teams that came out in the 70s and 80s that dealt with heroes fighting nazis. Never gets old to me.

[@NearMintCondition]

My brother, hope all is well.

[@josersreviews137]

@@NearMintCondition I'm doing ok, thanks. Glad to see you and your family are doing great as well :)

[@NearMintCondition]

@@josersreviews137 Thank you brother.

[@dhmcadams662]

Big time nostalgia with this one....looking forward to this.

[@davidbeverly6411]

"I don't need this Golden Age junk!" 🤣🤣

[@Krypton_Ken]

Looks fun, I've never read Thomas's Invaders, I really should. Really wish DC would put out an All-Star Squadron omni, that was a great series. Infinity Inc. too.

[@JoeLovesComics]

Ooh this looks awesome!

[@earlschenk4343]

I read some of them as they came out. I am only missing a few and will hopefully pick up the rest to complete the run.

[@Mr_Rob_otto]

I’m late to this video but was curious about this omnibus as I was thinking of making a purchase. I remember liking this series as a teenager buying this title off the spinner rack. I wasn’t a huge fan of Frank Robbins, but thought his style definitely was a throw back to the golden age and totally appropriate for this book. Prior to picking up this title, I remember Frank Robbins being the artist for Batman for a brief while. I absolutely hated his version of Batman with a passion. He wasn’t suited for a character like Batman but he found his niche with the Invaders. Seeing how the price has dropped on this omnibus, I’m definitely going to pick it up. It brings back a flood of memories.

[@NearMintCondition]

I really enjoyed the stories. But Frank Robbins’ art takes some used to.

[@ALEXXTS]

Frank Robbins is best known for the Johnny Hazard comic strip!

[@mannyc19]

This is a must buy,great art !!

[@ianfleetwood8804]

I got the Union Jack variant on the way. I do remember reading some of the issues as a child and think how bizarre Frank Robbins art was compared to what I was used to. Like all art it grows on you. I believe there were letter pages in the earlier issues, but my mind isn't as good as it used to be. I do like that they used the actual logo on the side and wonder if they are now going back to old way on the spines as some people didn't like the new styles. Excellent review as usua guess what i'll be reading later in the week.

[@peterx1957]

Hey Omar, great overview of the Invaders Omnibus. I'm tempted even though I already own the 2 Complete Collections. The interesting thing for me is the happy inclusion of the FF Annual & (Two-In-One) near the back of the book. The FF story was a precursor (maybe an inspiration) to the "What If...?" series that followed shortly after. The whole concept of alternate realities and time continuums fascinated teenage me. I still have that original issue though my brother has our comic books. However I missed out on the following Two-In-One issues so maybe it's an inspiration to buy it? I'm indifferent to Frank Robbins' artwork style. Not a favourite but I don't really hate it either. It actually seems to suit the book. Thanks again Omar. Cheers mate (PS I've just moved house... Not on your own scale but bad enough...🙄)

[@TheMrgreenblade]

How is the printing quality with Imak printer recently? Are the pages still see through? Hard to tell from the video but it looks pretty good page quality here.

[@NearMintCondition]

I mentioned it. Honestly it’s case by case. This one is great.

[@eagleal]

I shall be picking this up, I bought many of the early issues of Invaders on original publication and am a great fan of the golden age characters and original Timely collections that have come out. Never had a problem with Frank Robbins art at the time personally, he was just another guy with a slightly different style (like say George Tuska or Don Heck) and besides which, he was actually perfect for the golden age characters here anyway. I believe when he did his Captain America 70's run he was paired if I recall with more sympathetic inkers on some of the issues. But here - Robbins and Frank (Spider-Man) Springer are fine as a team together.

[@garyfoster65]

Remember this run at the time and really disliking Robbins’ art. Time has not changed this view unfortunately. Discovered omnibuses and your channel in the last 4 months, Omar, and despite the fact that you have convinced me to part with a small fortune over this time, I love your reviews, previews and other video guides. Thank you for all your effort and enthusiasm. I’m not buying Invaders though!!! Roll on the next Omni.

[@andrewcorris5396]

I read and collected the Invaders here in the UK back when they first came out. I was aged 10 in 1976 so they were right in my Marvel heydays. I have the omnibus for pure nostalgia. When they came out I was fascinated because it felt like it was seeing something about these character’s past that we’d not seen. Same feeling as getting a reprint of an old FF comic from the 60s. However, I can clearly remember hating Frank Robbins art at the time. In the same way I hated Carmine Infantino’s art too which seemed similar. I just wanted John Buscema to draw everything. Much like you though, as I’ve grown older I can appreciate the different styles. I love Kirby now, but back then he was a laughing stock when we found an old back issue. It’s not quite the same with Robbins but I’m more relaxed about it now.

[@vincentimbesi3947]

Keep an open mind and look at Robbins art again, I’m sure you’ll appreciate it more as an adult! I felt the same about him now I LOVE his art!! 👍🏼

[@NearMintCondition]

I ended up appreciating Frank Robbin’s art in this. It was so different than anything else at the time.

[@game2572]

I am reading Avengers omnibus . When Cap fought Namor they didn't know each other

[@davidv5995]

I know I'm in the minority, but I love Frank Robbin's art. I wouldn't have wanted him drawing Miracleman, but I like his quirky style. I read The Invaders when it was being released, and I thought he was great on it. He's an acquired taste for sure, but I think he was great.

[@RobRVA]

I can't wait for mine to get here!

[@willmahoney2452]

The Crusaders story was a fun inter company crossover. At the same time Freedom Fighters had their own book and they fought an pastiche of the invaders.

[@beajoh]

Yeah, the Freedom Fighters at the time were battling their own "Invaders" version of the Crusaders. I remember a fan letter in the DC FF book saying how lame the Marvel version of the Crusaders were in comparison to the DC Crusaders--which really amused me at the time because I felt it was a direct insult at the Freedom Fighters themselves. I liked both teams and both comics. Yeah, but the names on the Marvel versions of the Crusaders WERE kind of lame.

[@NearMintCondition]

I called them Freedom Force. Cause always X-men on the brain.

[@jamess6854]

That Red Skull story was another of those storylines that took years to read the whole things because of those Marvel Premiere issues.

[@SifuKodiakc]

I use to sneak my brothers old invaders and read them as a kid. later i tracked down and got the whole set before tpb. some great history in those old books. I remeber the invaders stoping at a asian interment camp in the US and calling it "hell". the writiers pulled from books like All- Winners Squad. Young Allies, and other 1940s Timely and other comic characters . i have all the comics and tpbs but i think i will have to pick this up as well. now u got some of these characters being reused in modern times. love it when they do the characters right. i was a kid when they brought Barron Blood back into Captain America comics . You also get the original Scarlet Scarb in the Invaders that you now see the MCU version in Moon Knight. ;)

[@twentyfour7080]

Wow thanks for that bit of info on the internment camps! I’m always impressed when Marvel addresses actual historical events - particularly criticizing American politics. Roy Thomas had some balls

[@NearMintCondition]

I loved that everything was left untouched. I think all books should be printed that way.

[@nozkaian]

Just bought the complete collection tps on a discount but if I like it I'll totally upgrade. The artwork is beautiful.

[@ancientonezero]

I bought all these issues off the stands. Frank Robbins in general wasn't an artist my other comic collecting friends and I liked - Most of the time. His work on Captain America, Morbius, Ghost Rider, Power Man, Batman and so on was generally hated. One of my friends had a near complete run of Captain America from #118 right through into the 1980's. But he refused to buy anything by Robbins, which left quite a gap in his collection. But...The Invaders was different. Somehow, his art style seemed tolerable there. Maybe because the book was set in the Golden Age where more primitive art was the norm. Robbins was evoking an era just as much as Thomas, and strangely, it worked. To this day The Invaders is the only book I like Robbins' work on. Even my Anti-Robbins buddy has amassed a complete collection. He still hasn't bought those missing Captain America's, though. And yes, there were letters pages in most of the issues.

[@ancientonezero]

PS - Robbins took over Captain America after Sal Buscema. And the reaction in the letters pages there...was brutal.

[@NearMintCondition]

I remember some of those cap issues.

[@ancientonezero]

@@NearMintCondition They're kinda...unforgettable.

[@marzantv]

Frank Robbins is a direct line from Milton Caniff. He's fabulous. No, he's not Byrne or Adams, but then they're not Robbins. He's a classic cartoonist, and the energy of his work is incredible. John Romita spoke highly of him and told me that Robbins was such a speed demon that after doing DC work he'd come over to Marvel looking for work. Check out his Batman and other Marvel work. Fabulous stuff. I loved and still have the original series and will pick this book up.

[@ancientonezero]

@@marzantv I think, perhaps, he should have slowed down a bit. Taken a bit more time. Some of his anatomy is very difficult to look at. On the other hand, his work on Johnny Hazard is excellent. I don't think he was suited to superhero strips (Invaders aside).

[@brucebezold2714]

Hi I read the Invaders off the rack. I found the stories a bit corny but I loved the Invaders Annuel with the original golden age artist minus jack Kirby. Hopefully inculded is the first 3 issues of mavel universe includes the Invaders written by Roger Stern Good stuff. I still have the later issues plus the annual in my collection. Roy wrote some great stuff. You should check his Conan stories as well.

[@RogerDCraft]

Yes Omar. You are correct that the Crusaders were an homage to DC's Freedom Fighters(not Force). Invaders 14,15 were really like a crossover with Freedom Fighters 8,9 by Bob Rozakis, Dick Ayers and Jack Abel. In the Freedom Fighters issues they also fought a group called the Crusaders who were homages to the Invaders. Captain America/Americommando Bucky/Rusty Sub-Mariner/Barracuda Human Torch/Fireball Toro/Hot Stuff Roy Thomas, Len Wein and Marv Wolfman even appear in the issues. Believe the Invaders and Freedom Fighters issues were released the same months. Uncle Sam/Spirit of '76 Phantom Lady/Ghost Girl Black Condor/Captain Wings The Ray/Tommy Lightnin Human Bomb/Thunder-fist Dollman/Dyna-Mite

[@ebilliot510]

You beat me to it. I didn't read the Invaders issues but I was reading DC's Freedom Fighters and I remember those issues. I'm looking forward to finally reading the Invaders issues.

[@NearMintCondition]

Hahahaha. I can’t stop thinking of X-men. I called them Freedom force. Thank you for that.

[@willmahoney2452]

In the 1980’s they did a similar thing with the New Teen Titans and Eclipse’s DNAgents.

[@beajoh]

As a kid when these were coming out, I can say that I had a love-hate relationship with Frank Robbins. It was definitely dynamic, and seemed to fit the Invaders period, but, yeah, sometimes it came off as really cartoony and/or anatomically impossible. His Batman work over at DC (sometimes also scripting) was fun, moody, especially the more-gothic-like Man-Bat stories. Frank Robbins' period work on The Shadow was also pretty good (though a step down from Michael Kaluta) . I liked Robbins less on Captain America (when set in modern times), but the young boy in me also kind of appreciated it, too. I recall out mutual liking for the Tilda Johnson Nightshade character scenes. But, Robbins' work on the Human Fly series didn't much appeal to me., rather muddy-looking and rushed. Might have been the paper at the time and/or printing methods of the day. As I recall, though, whenever Robbins' pencils were inked by Frank Springer, I wasn't much of a fan of that artisitic combination. But I may be misremembering.

[@chrisstone5138]

Thanks, interesting review. Question: this is early Bronze age content so why isnt it that awful tiny spine font? Obviously I’m not complaining as i prefer this one, but it goes against the message so far that every silver and bronze book will have the tiny spine font (and most do).

[@NearMintCondition]

I’m not bringing it to their attention. Maybe when it’s reprinted with the letter pages?

[@TarsTarkas2]

Like Andrew who commented earlier, I was also a big fan of this comic growing up in the UK. I was born in 68 and in the UK during the 70s we had lots of uk weekly black and white war comics that primarily had action stories relating to the second world war, so to see Marvel comics exploring similar territory seemed very cool at the time. The 6 part story where they are captured by Hitler and taken to Berlin was one of my favourite stories as a kid and I must have read it dozens of times. I kind of liked Robbins art as a kid. Kirby was my absolute favourite but Robbins art, though kind of rough, seemed to have movement and action and it just suited the style of the book perfectly. Also loved the Baron Blood 3 parter and the Liberty Legion story. I also loved the last story when so many of the baddies teamed up at the end. I would also have liked them to have the letter columns and have always thought this was a BIG advantage that the ombibuses have over the Masterworks. So I hope this is not a sign of things to come. Lastly Roy Thomas enthusiasm for the Golden Age characters shone through so strongly and I also bought All Star Squadron and Young All Stars when he moved to DC, which made me fascinated to read all these Golden age stories. Anyway one of my most must-own omnibuses. Have the Gil Kane cover pre-ordered. I nearly went with the Robbins cover as it better represents the artist inside but I ALWAYS loved that Kane cover so had to go with that one. Glad you enjoyed it Omar.

[@NearMintCondition]

I loved it, brother. Now I need to finish it and I hope one day an All Star Squadron omnibus comes.

[@TarsTarkas2]

That would be a day 1 buy as well for sure. :)

[@RogerDCraft]

Would absolutely love to have omnibuses of All-Star Squadron, Infinity Inc. and Young All-Stars. Maybe one day...

[@chiefmegadeth]

Ahhh awesome... like I need more Omnibuses. Anything to do with Hitler and WWII I go nuts for. 2 of my fav things comics and WWII

[@brunobillion3435]

Got mine last week. great book.

[@mikekean8002]

Will this be collected in the epic collection line?

[@jsb8261]

Doesn't look like they included the recent one-shot of The Invaders and the Bahamas Triangle in here which is a bit disappointing.

[@cullenn2100]

I'm a sucker for this stuff. Got it on hold, picking it up next week!

[@g.p.ryecroft]

Great overview, Omar--as always! I enjoy the Frank Robbins art, which I see as "What if Milt Caniff drew Marvel Comics?" I also missed the letters pages and hated the cropped-corner covers. But my real loathing was reserved for that woke disclaimer, which is an insult to Roy Thomas and all the book's creators ('it was wrong then and wrong now,' which all but calls Roy et al. racists and haters!). No wonder the Rascally one passed on contributing an intro! That said, I do appreciate their leaving the books intact, unlike DC's censoring the GA Wonder Woman or the blacked-out words in the New Mutants omni. I have my copy of the Invaders omni with the Robbins and Romita cover and am even more eager to wade into this titanic-sized tome after enjoying your enthusiastic introduction!

[@TheComicBookReport]

…I see you Silver Surfer Omnibus 👀😍

[@deadmousyplutaprestige8771]

I porch pirated your original copy of the invaders. I would like to thank David Gabriel and your mailman.

[@NearMintCondition]

I knew it!

[@dannyc8876]

I like the new printed covers (I am not talking about dustjackets), the black covers are boring.

[@NearMintCondition]

I’m digging them too.

[@Jackfromshack]

Stereotypes are never wrong. But glad they do not censoring anything.

[@MegaGene1965]

Freedom Fighters not freedom force

[@NearMintCondition]

I think you are the second person to catch that.

[@FallenSensei]

How to make professional comics bro?

[@georgefeliu2383]

And if you like this book, there's an OHC by Chip Zdarsky well worth your time and money.

[@NearMintCondition]

I dug that book. I read it last year.

[@marcomartins]

Pena que jamais vai ser publicado essa beleza no Brasil 😭☝️🙏😔👍👍👍

[@ladraodebombonadeagua8339]

Chance pequena mesmo, isso devia ter saído quando ainda tinha a Coleção Histórica Marvel

[@jocool7370]

That Frank Robbins art... lol

[@matthewpounder9938]

Really don't like the sanitization of these omnibus books. 1st they censor the Miracleman omnibus, now it's trigger warnings.

[@NearMintCondition]

I’m good with the book left alone. Publisher’s have been putting warnings on books like these for decades. Specially in manga. As long as the art and scripts isn’t Censored, give me the small warning that hardly anyone will read.

[@ZsoltSchumacher]

I guess you are the only person on this planet who says that likes all kinds of arts... :) Kind of inhuman no? :)

[@mattnevins8733]

Better…but still barf.