EXCLUSIVE: Month 2 of the yearlong reprint runs…
We already reported that Marvel in 2025 will be continuing its yearlong, monthly Facsimile Edition runs, with the first 12 issues of Lee and Kirby’s original Fantastic Four, and Claremont, Byrne and Austin’s Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future of Past, with The X-Men #131 to #142.
Well, the House of Ideas has set the dates for the February installments. (There’s also 1964’s Daredevil #1 — and you can click here for the details on that.)
Dig the solicitation info, which will be formally released by Marvel later this week:
FANTASTIC FOUR #2 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
FOIL VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
Re-presenting the second history-making issue of the World’s Greatest Comics Magazine! The Fantastic Four only just got their remarkable powers and defeated their first enemy – so how have they ended up being forced into hiding after being declared public enemies in their New York home? Could it have something to do with the sinister group of shape-changing aliens mounting their first secret invasion of Earth?! Yes, it’s the first appearance of the Skrulls, setting the stage for decades of cosmic Marvel storytelling! But with the surly Thing still bitter about the nature of his transformation, can the FF find a way to work together, prove their innocence and deal with the Skrulls? It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #2.
On Sale: 2/12/25
Price: $4.99
—
THE X-MEN #132 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT & JOHN BYRNE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
VARIANT COVER BY JUNGGEUN YOON
The X-Men target the Hellfire Club but get their fingers burned as the Phoenix Saga heats up! As their old friend Angel offers the team safe haven at his Aerie, Cyclops masterminds an infiltration of an exclusive party at the Hellfire Club. Dressed to the nines, the X-Men are ready for the dance floor – but when the dashing Jason Wyngarde cuts in on Scott Summers and Jean Grey, it sets the fuse for an explosive climax! Colossus and Storm face Sebastian Shaw, the powerhouse Black King! Nightcrawler tangles with the cyborg Donald Pierce! Wolverine is left for dead by the mass-manipulating Harry Leland! And the most shocking threat of all is the devastating Black Queen! But don’t count out Logan just yet – he’s ready to steal the show in an unforgettable final-page cliffhanger! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting X-MEN (1963) #132.
On Sale: 2/19/25
Price: $4.99
—
A few thoughts:
— Marvel is doing these 12-issue runs with an eye toward collecting them as Gallery Editions, which are hardcovers that are a little bit smaller than the classic Bronze Age treasury edition.
— Obligatory Price Comparison #1: An unslabbed, beater copy of FF #2 sold recently on eBay for $850.
— Obligatory Price Comparison #2: An unslabbed, high-grade X-Men #132 went for $100.
—
MORE
— DAREDEVIL #1 to Finally Get Facsimile Edition This Winter. Click here.
— MARVEL Formally Announces FACSIMILE EDITION Treasury-Size Collections. Click here.
November 19, 2024
Question on the Gallery Editions: Marvel is reprinting this year (Uncanny) X-men #131-142. But they’ve previously done facsimiles of #129 and #130 (which include the first appearance of Kitty, Emma, and Dazzler). Are #129-130 also getting included in the Gallery? It’d make sense for the complete story, but they’re outside the “year long” initiative.
(I’m also hoping Marvel reprints UXM #143 next December. One, it closes out the Byrne/Claremont run, so ending at #142–also previously reprinted!–would feel odd. Two, it’s a Christmas issue, so what better month to reprint it in?)
November 20, 2024
I find Marvel’s facsimiles a bit dull. One of the pleasures of DC is that they are willing to draw on Golden Age comics as they did in the 70’s 100 page specials. Marvel only goes back to The Sixties and their stories, as fun as they are, have been reprinted ad nauseum.