Another way to celebrate a 40th anniversary…
Marvel is having fun with the 40th anniversary of Spider-Man’s black symbiote costume in 2024, with 12 Facsimile Editions covering the saga’s first year. The Amazing Spider-Man #253 Facsimile Edition, as it happens, came out this week. (Secret Wars, also at 40 and which helped introduce the costume, is getting similar treatment.)
But if you’re looking for a more comprehensive collection of the storyline, Marvel in September has you set up with Spider-Man: The Complete Black Costume Saga Omnibus.
Dig the official solicitation, released Thursday by the House of Ideas:
SPIDER-MAN: THE COMPLETE BLACK COSTUME SAGA OMNIBUS
Written by TOM DEFALCO, BOB LAYTON, DAVID MICHELINIE, CARY BURKETT, TONY ISABELLA, LOUISE SIMONSON, BOB DENATALE, AL MILGROM, BILL MANTLO & MORE
Penciled by RON FRENZ, RICK LEONARDI, BOB LAYTON, GREG LAROCQUE, BRET BLEVINS, PAUL NEARY, AL MILGROM, HERB TRIMPE, KERRY GAMMILL & MORE
The entire shocking saga of the symbiotic suit that became the iconic villain Venom! When Spider-Man returns from the Secret Wars with a snazzy new black costume, he’s faster and stronger – and has an unending, built-in supply of webbing! All the better for tussling with foes like the Rose, Black Fox, Red Ghost, Jack O’Lantern, Puma and the Blob! But something’s not quite right. Curse that ol’ Parker luck, the black costume is a hungry alien symbiote…and it’s grown very attached to him! With help from the Fantastic Four, Spidey gets free – but the sinister symbiote isn’t finished with him yet, and Spidey soon faces the fight of his life to avoid a permanent bond! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #252-263 and ANNUAL #18; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #141-150 and ANNUAL #7; PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #90-100 and ANNUAL #4; and WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #1.
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A few thoughts:
— The saga has been collected before but I do believe this is the first time as a single-edition omnibus.
— There will be two covers: One by Ron Frenz and Klaus Janson, and one by Charles Vess.
— The 992-page hardcover is due Sept. 25, 2024. It lists for $125.
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MORE
— AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50: Bask in the Glory of This New JOHN ROMITA SR. Cover. Click here.
— MARVEL to Release Complete SECRET WARS as Monthly Facsimile Editions — Plus a Year’s Worth of 1984 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Click here.
February 22, 2024
Surprised they didn’t include Secret Wars #8….
With that said, am I the only one getting really sick of companies publishing these huge, unwieldy, heavy, pricey Omnibuses? They’re hard to read (not to mention gutter loss of pages), and they could just as easily break them down into much easier to “handle” trade paperbacks even if it takes 2 volumes. I understand the “one and done” concept and they make loads of profit doing it this way, but far from “reader friendly”.
Is it just me that hates these and won’t buy them?
February 22, 2024
I won’t pay over $50. So, I watch for the occasional sale on Amazon or, find the deal on eBay. It’s frustrating how stupid expensive some get. Who’s paying $300 or more?! I’ve got the core titles I’d like to have complete runs of up through end of the Bronze Age. Then Im done. To be honest, I’ve not really tried to sit down and read an omnibus edition. Im mostly doing it for the grandkids.
February 22, 2024
I do understand the gutter loss argument for sure. However, I love sitting at a table and reading an omnibus of a great run. I have to choose wisely because I don’t have a lot of book shelf space, but the oversize art is appealing to me. I also like the sewn bindings which I hope will last longer than the glued bindings of trades. To each their own!
February 22, 2024
That Charles Vess cover is an ALL-TIMER.
February 23, 2024
Hmmm, not sure how you can have a black costume saga without including ASM #300 somewhere in there…