MARVEL Formally Announces FACSIMILE EDITION Treasury-Size Collections

THE RUMORS ARE TRUE: The Black Suit Spidey saga — now called The Black Costume Year One — kicks off the new line…

It’s been floating around for months now, but Marvel on Thursday made official a new line of Gallery Editions that will collect runs of Facsimile Editions, complete with all the ads and whatnot.

Kicking it off will be the very-long-titled Marvel Masterpieces: The Amazing Spider-Man — The Black Costume Year One Gallery Edition.

Tis a mouthful, but here’s the official solicitation:

MARVEL MASTERPIECES: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN — THE BLACK COSTUME YEAR ONE GALLERY EDITION HC RON FRENZ ORIGINAL FIRST ISSUE COVER

Written by TOM DEFALCO, ROGER STERN & BOB LAYTON
Penciled by RON FRENZ, RICK LEONARDI & BOB LAYTON
Covers by CHARLES VESS & RON FRENZ

The classic saga of Peter Parker and his symbiote suit, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all!

When Spider-Man makes his homecoming from the super-hero Secret Wars, he returns with a miraculous new outfit: a striking black-and-white costume that morphs and responds to his very thoughts, allowing him to change back to Peter Parker at will! It also makes him stronger than ever, with an unlimited supply of webbing — ideal for taking on new threats like the Rose and the Puma! But could this miraculous article of alien clothing have a mind of its own? As the days pass, Spidey soon discovers there’s more to his new costume than he at first realized: It’s actually an alien symbiote, out to bond with him permanently! Featuring the Black Cat, the Fantastic Four, the Hobgoblin and a shocking revelation from Mary Jane Watson! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #252-263 FACSIMILE EDITIONS.

464 PGS./Rated T… $100.00

Trim size: 9-1/4 x 13

A few thoughts:

— Gallery Editions are hardcovers that are just a bit smaller than the classic Bronze Age treasury edition, so you get 12 complete issues all big-like. It’s a very cool concept and, while not solicited yet, there will be one for Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars in the summer. It’s already appeared in some online retail listings.

— The book is due out June 11, 2025, and will have three covers: the main one by Ron Frenz, and two direct-market-only variants — a Charles Vess “Hidden Gem” cover, and a second Frenz cover that was used for the storyline’s original collection. (That third one was not released Thursday.)

— Given the size and page count, the $100 list price makes sense. But I do think a lot of these will be for diehards only. Then again, 2026 should bring you Lee and Kirby’s Fantastic Four #1-12 and X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga.

MORE

— First 12 Issues of LEE and KIRBY’s FANTASTIC FOUR to Be Re-Released as FACSIMILE EDITIONS. Click here.

— X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX SAGA to Be Reprinted as FACSIMILE EDITIONS Through 2025. Click here.

Author: Dan Greenfield

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1 Comment

  1. Hmmm….not sure I’ll need these. I definitely won’t be buying black suit or Secret Wars but the first year of the Fantastic Four is another thing. Like I am doing with Crisis, I buy 4 copies each of the facsimile issues. So, with an average per issue cost of $4 that makes a complete series like FF at $50. This way the grandsons all have their own run to enjoy in the original issue format. Would these be better? Last longer or hold up better? Does tradition beat style? I’m certainly not paying $100/per. I suspect the price will settle down closer to the $60-70 range. At least I have time to think on this. I wish Marvel didn’t only seem to publish based on their movie schedule.

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