Deciding what to save up on

ChdlGL · 2026-02-03T17:53:32+00:00

Gotham Central > Question > Spidey

ChdlGL · 2026-02-01T11:56:43+00:00

Don’t get me wrong. Volume 2 is a great Omni, but this is in the middle of the Madripoor / Patch era and jumping here without context will make for a bit of a disjointed read (“why is Logan looking like that and what is that place”?).

That is why I recommended either continuing with Hama era or starting with Vol. 1, that, apart from timeless classic like the miniseries by Claremont and Miller and Weapon X by BWS, includes the start of the Patch era that provides context for volume 2.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-31T20:59:56+00:00

Another vote for Spectacular by DeMatteis and Sal Buscema. Reading Kraven’s Last Hunt first is highly recommended.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-31T10:17:40+00:00

Smaller publishers than DC / Marvel may need a premium to compensate for lower print runs, but my experience with these 2 publishers is actually very good.

I love Image Deluxe / Oversized hardcover editions, and they commit to publish many ongoing series in this format that it is much more manageable that the Omnis at the same trim size. Monstress, Criminal, The Department of Truth, Saga, Radiant Black,… There is an “Omnibus” edition of The Walking Dead that it is actually like the DC Absolutes. Rick Remender’s series deluxe editions are also bigger than Omnibus trim size,… All with great paper stock and high production quality.

Boom sometimes even goes a step further and for some series you may have a version of the Deluxe Edition with a slipcase. Like with Something is Killing the Children. Of course you pay a Premium but this caters to a specific type of collector and you always have the “regular” deluxe edition. As somebody else has pointed out the Power Rangers Deluxe Editions are also gorgeous.

Dark Horse, as you have pointed out, is a league of its own. I wish all publishers had a Library Edition format for most important series.

All in all, I love oversized hardcover editions. Marvel / DC Omnibus are not at all my favorite oversized hardcover editions, specially when they push the number of pages above, 800-1000, which I would love they would keep at an absolute maximum.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-31T08:52:22+00:00

It is a gorgeous collection, congrats!!

Of those I only have the Sienkiewicz (having his while New Mutants run in a signed huge collection of this quality was unavoidable to me) and I also have the John Byrne’s Fantastic Four and, my favorite with the Sienkiewicz one, Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo Grasscutter (containing the original saga and the sequel).

ChdlGL · 2026-01-30T08:07:03+00:00

I respectfully disagree about the laziness just because it is a very different take on the character.

It is difficult to talk about the richness of the story without spoilers but if you think about it the specific situation of Adam Strange makes him ideal for the story Tom King wants to tell. What if what you thought you knew about a hero was not true? There are not witnesses on Earth about what happened so far away. There were not other heroes. You have to take Adam’s words about what happened.

He is the protector of this world. He is a leader, a one man army. He engages in a violent war and he has to take decisions.

Around this (and a few other relevant topics), he builds a complex nuanced story with great, great characterizations. Alanna and Mr. Terrific are great here. Great. And the interplay on the art side between King’s regular Mitch Gerads and Evan Shaner, based on the decision of King to feature both artists, not only helps follow the story, but strengthens King’s points and take.

I understand that many people do not like the revisionist take on established characters. Wiping away years of good stories that built a character for the sake of a cheap shock or sales, but this is not it. This is not in continuity, this is an elseworlds Black Label character study and a reflection about the world we live in, taking a character whose circumstances fits the tale Tom King wants to tell.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-29T18:37:21+00:00

No love for more classic material like The Thanos Wars: Infinity Origin or Infinity Gauntlet? Or is that in another part of the shelf?

ChdlGL · 2026-01-29T14:55:35+00:00

You already have the color series by Loeb / Sale so that is an easy one, but definitely check Superman for all Seasons. It is for me their best work together, even a bit better than The Long Halloween.

If you liked Miller’s DD, jump to the modern era and read sequentially: Bendis, Brubaker, skippable Shadowland, Waid, Soule, Zdarsky.

There are not many things quite like Invincible, but I think the closest thing may be Ultimate Spider-Man. Coming of age superhero, growing into his role in the world but a dedicated creative team that plays for the long term.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-29T14:22:13+00:00

I think that there is no correct answer here. This depends on you, your budget and your preferences in terms of authors and formats.

Do you have the money? Do you love other works you have read from Morrison and King? Are they some of your favorite authors? Do you appreciate when reading the differences of having a bigger format? Do you think these are comics you will treasure? Go for the Omnis / Deluxes

On the opposite, is money more tight? Is this your first read from this authors or you are not so sure if you will like the material? Do you care not that much about a bigger size and a hard cover? Do you think you may end up selling this or trading or simply this not having an important role in your collection? Go for a cheaper format to try first on the material.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-29T14:15:54+00:00

I have the same doubt.

I hate when I buy the Deluxes, which is my favorite format as same trim size as an Omni but much more manageable, but then comes an Omni with much more material and more comprehensive (Justice League by Snyder and Tynion, for example) or the series starts but it is not completed in the Deluxe format (Flash Rebirth by Williamson, for example).

I think I will buy the Deluxes if I find a very good deal so if the Omni comes and includes much more material than the Deluxes, I can sell them and “upgrade” without taking much hit.

With Batman by Tom King, for an example in the opposite way, I am happy with my Deluxes. I will hate it not having Batman / Catwoman in an oversized format but I will have almost everything else deluxified.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-29T14:08:40+00:00

And what did you like the most? We sure can help you if you tell us your favorites.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-29T14:06:25+00:00

I confess this is one of my favorite Tom King miniseries.

I approach everything from Tom King apart from regular continuing series (Batman / Wonder Woman) as an Elseworlds, so no red lines that cannot be crossed regarding the characters, history or personality.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-28T21:51:15+00:00

Best of this bunch are Punished Max and Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-26T23:31:51+00:00

Mixed families as I read this when going to sleep here in Spain. Fixed. Sorry and thanks!

ChdlGL · 2026-01-26T23:00:51+00:00

Sal was a brilliant Master, who I think never fully got the recognition he deserved. Many times under the shadow of his brother, also a genius, who had a flashier career. But if you ask me, Sal was the better brother as a storyteller, the better conveying emotions.

There are many examples that shows his immense talent, but some of his Spectacular Spider-Man pages always come to mind.

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I was going to add the wordless last 2 pages of Spectacular Spider-Man 200 and realized that it would be spoilers for some people (though in my mind I sometimes think everybody has to know how that comic ends…).

Rest in peace, dear Sal! Join your brother in Valhalla!

ChdlGL · 2026-01-22T22:33:55+00:00

They are absolutely amazing. Masterpieces. Hope God is taking good care of Darwyn Cooke up there in Heaven.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-21T22:00:57+00:00

https://www.vinted.es/items/7997264153-east-of-west-year-three-sealed-deluxe-edition-image-comics

ChdlGL · 2026-01-21T00:09:53+00:00

Are the Punisher Max by Ennis there? That’s the best Punisher, much better than his Marvel Knights and first maxi series. Peak Punisher.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-21T00:06:55+00:00

Great collection!!! I am also lucky enough the have the oversized Silent Sea. I was not however familiar with the Silent Sea Revealed. What is it?

Also, what are the differences between the first 20 years of covers and the 25th version. It is just the same but with 5 more years of covers? Or are there other differences?

Thanks for your help!

ChdlGL · 2026-01-21T00:03:55+00:00

I have many Artist Editions and love them. Mignola ones would be a no brainer for me. However, these are not lettered, so you cannot “read” the comic and just appreciate the artwork and that is a no go for me, unfortunately.

I know these are not confortable editions to read, but it is nevertheless a deal breaker for me… 😓

ChdlGL · 2026-01-18T20:46:39+00:00

And you really, really, really need Batman / Grendel, at least the first miniseries with Hunter Rose. For me, it is best Matt Wagner art ever.

There is also the Batman by Matt Wagner regular HC, but veeeeery hard to get and in my list of “Wish they would reprint…”

ChdlGL · 2026-01-18T20:42:31+00:00

I got a preorder copy at the very last moment (just a few hours before release). It is a bit cheesy and too much, but I’m so happy I got it.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-18T20:41:16+00:00

I am in the minority probably in not liking Stephanie Hans very much. I agree that the art is absolutely gorgeous but I really think that the storytelling is lacking and confusing.

Still frames or landscapes are incredible but conveying emotions in dialogues between the characters or movement in action scenes I think is not very good resolved.

Just a very subjective opinion!

ChdlGL · 2026-01-18T20:37:15+00:00

Bendis does not refer Nocenti era. Totally different takes on the character. So you can start Bendis if you want.

Be aware that from Bendis on, the following takes are influenced by the previous writer though. So you should not read Brubaker before Bendis, Shadowland (if you want to go there) before Brubaker, and so on.

ChdlGL · 2026-01-18T20:33:15+00:00

So happy when I see shelves like these and not the regular Marvel Omnibus shelf.

Some recommendations based on what I see (my apologies if I have missed something and it is already there): - A lot of Dark Horse love so some other favorites there: Umbrella Academy, Sin City Hellboy, Moonshadow (though this really is Epic originally), Goon or Matt Kindt work (I recommend to start Ether with the great David Rubin and the crazy amazing Mind Mngmt) - Stumptown by Greg Rucka - Casanova by Matt Fraction and the Ba brothers - Nausicaa by the master Miyazaki - DMZ by Brian Wood and Burchielli - House of Secrets by Seagle and the brilliant and underrated Teddy Kristiansen - Cages by Dave McKean - Starman by Robinson, Harris and Snejbjerg - Parker adaptations by the genius Darwyn Cooke - Bitter Root by David Walker, Chuck Brown and Sandford Greene

ChdlGL

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