Omnibus/OHC Graphic Novel Collectors discussion
Comic Reading Discussion
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What have you added to your collection recently?
I believe Grand Design is basically sort of a new summary of all the big events in the history of the X-Men. I have heard that you should not read it if you care about spoilers for other X-Men stories.
To add to Ryan’s comment, Grand Design starts at the very beginning of X-Men history and runs until the end of the X-Tinction Agenda event, so right before X-Men vol. 2 #1 in the early 90’s, more or less. For me, buying it for the sake of nostalgia and a “cohesive narrative summary” take on the X-Men up to that point. Has good reviews, Piskor’s work from all accounts is a labor of love.
Wish I could say the same for the work that’s being done for the Fantastic Four Grand Design series (different author). In theory, these are nice options for people who don’t have the time or space to collect runs of other series and would like a concise retelling, but not if poorly executed.
Yes, just to add on, Grand Design is what is every single event (not like comic event, but like small "e" event) in X-Men history was told in chronological order. No flash back to Xavier meeting Storm as a child in Cairo, or how Xavier and Magneto knew each other. Just the first mutant event through about X-Tinction Agenda told sequentially in a beautiful summarized format. Besides being a complete history of major events, its a very cool exercise that picks and chooses the best recons but just tells the story in sequence like if it was a novel all by one author.
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Both the Wolverine and Black Widow Omnibus have the "flat spine".
I'm a little disappointed that the spine of the 3rd Batman Morrison omnibus wasn't black and grey instead of black and red. Just makes more sense to me to try and match the costume colors. My Batman shelf is now full.
Looking forward to reading Grell's Green Arrow stuff.
In reply to the Grand Design answers: Oh wow, that sounds pretty amazing, actually. I'm pretty familiar with the X-Men from the beginning to sometime after the Dark Phoenix saga, but sounds like it would go past that and help fill in things for me. I appreciate the summaries! Thanks so much!
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What cover (Miller or McNiven)
Spine shape (flat/squared or curved)
This forum suggested that only the McNiven covers would be flat, but I'm quite sure my Miller cover is flat.
I also wasn't aware that this reprint is physically thinner than the original (but same material).
One person has posted that their copy has pages out of order, but that seems to be a one-off and not the whole run.
Lastly, it seems the "flat/squared" spines are made by Leo Paper Group or Tien Wah Press.
The Miller cover edition of the Wolverine omnibus is flat if you got the print from the spring batch (that was mostly available in the non-direct market, but not exclusively). The fall/late summer batch with the Miller cover are not flat but the McNiven cover editions are.
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So that means just bad luck for me and I got some of the "old" (spring) stock? Ugh.
Blindzider wrote: "My largest (in both quantity and cost) order from IST arrived today. Both the Wolverine and Black Widow Omnibus have the "flat spine".
I'm a little disappointed that the spine of the 3rd Batman M..."
Hate when tbat happes
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I did order the Lemire Royal City hardcover, Hell's Paradise TPB vol 4, No Guns Life TPB vol 7, Spy X Family TPB vol 2, and the Old Man Hawkeye Complete Collection TPB.
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I now have three books that are the flat spine: Black Widow and She-Hulk Byrne Omnibus and the Immortal Hulk V2 OHC.
I’ll tell you what Blind: after I got my ASM JMS Vol. 2 omni with the flat spine, and the more I looked at it, the more I started looking at other omnis and questioning the curvature of their spines. Definitely plants a seed of doubt! Just opened up my IST box with the Wolverine vol. 1 omni, Miller cover, and mine is indeed curved. I was a little baffled by how the McNiven DM variant sold out before the Miller edition, I almost always go with the classic covers, but to each his own who wanted the variant.
Again if it makes anyone feel better: I think my ASM JMS vol. 2 omni with the flat spine is solid, just have to deal with the ascetic difference.
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I haven’t opened one yet but I’ve read they just don’t open up quite as much and maybe some gutter loss. This seems to be the way the omnibus are headed though.
I got the Miller cover of Wolverine and it’s a curved spine.
Blindzider wrote: "My OCD likes the look of the squared spine but it also hates that it’s different than the rest of the books. I haven’t opened one yet but I’ve read they just don’t open up quite as much and maybe..."
Yeah, I can’t remember how detailed I got when I posted about my copy of JMS vol. 2 back in the spring, but did notice that, especially the gutter loss. Here’s a comparison photo I just took JMS vol. 2 vs my Spider-Man volume from the Civil War slipcase, both from ASM #534: https://imgur.com/a/4bI5yel
I still need to condition JMS2 more, but it’s an issue.
Ryan, glad you went team Miller! Didn’t you end up buying 2 copies? Hold onto the 2nd and make some money on it when the time is right!
Nightwing, Vol. 1: The Gray Son Legacy arrived today. Grayson, Volume 4: A Ghost in the Tomb yesterday.
Yes Noel, I ordered two copies basically because the one from cheap graphic novels is on Covid delay and I was afraid of missing out, so I bought from IST also. The one from IST came quickly, but the other one is still in limbo, so I’m glad I did that. Assuming it does come, I will probably just wait for it to go OOP and hopefully sell it for a nice profit, or maybe trade for another OOP omni that I want.
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Few years ago when I got a copy of Taschen’s 75 Years of Marvel, I thought I’d never get another book as big: 16” tall about about 15 lbs. Recently picked up a copy of Taschen’s The Stan Lee Story, and while its about the same weight, it’s 17.5” tall! Taschen makes incredible quality books, can’t wait to read this definitive bio on Stan, just have to figure out where to put both books...
Erik, my copy came in today and I agree they do look a bit off white. Paper is different as well.
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Black Hammer Library Edition vol 2
Elfen Lied Omnibus TPB vol 4
Transformers: Change in Their Nature HC vol 2
Absolute Carnage Omnibus (not on IST until 14 Oct 20?)
Conan Original Marvel Years Omnibus vol 4 (2 covers)
Golden Age Marvel Comics Omnibus vol 2 (2 covers)
Marvel Masterworks The Incredible Hulk vol 14 (2 covers)
Spider-Man Ben Reilly Omnibus vol 2
Collected Toppi HC vol 4
Essential Judge Dredd America TPB
Sideshow Collectibles Fine Art Prints HC
IST shows these additional books for release tomorrow:
Absolute Dark Knight new printing
Legion of Superheroes Five Years Later Omnibus
Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus
Batman The Demon Trilogy HC
Irredeemable Omnibus TPB
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For me (when it is out in the non-direct market):Absolute Carnage Omnibus
Spider-Man Ben Reilly Omnibus vol 2
Also I already have this, was it released in the non-direct market before the direct market?:
Essential Judge Dredd America TPB
Looking for input: I love The Dark Knight Returns and could see myself buying Absolute Dark Knight. I have a TPB copy of The Dark Knight Strikes Again but never read. I’ve flipped through it, though, and Miller’s artwork is...well, I’m not a fan. How’s the story? There’s also a standalone slipcase set for Returns, maybe I should just grab one of those.
Batman and the Justice League vol 1 &2 by Shiori TeshirogiShazam! (aka the REAL Captain Marvel) by Geoff Johns & Gary Frank
Redhood and the Outlaws vol 1 Redemption by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort
Batman Vol 2 The city of Owls by Scott Snyder + others
Batman Vol 3 Death of the Family (aka fucking creepy cover!) By Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion.
Batman the Caped Crusader vol 3 The Pengun Affair by Marv Wolfman, Jim Aparp, & Norm Breyfogle.
Batman & Robin Eternal vol 1 by James Tynion IV & Scott Syder
The Golden Age of Batman vol 1
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I'm buying it only for DKR, although reluctantly. I hated TDKSA when it came out. The art (both pencils and coloring) are terrible. Completely different in tone and style from the original He has a different take on some of the other DC Heroes that weren't well received. I haven't read it since then and maybe I'll give it one more chance, but I wouldn't get excited about it. My dislike for it has kept me from purchasing this Absolute in the past.
Alicia, more excellent Batman pickups! Are you planning on getting all of the Golden Age Batman?
Thanks Blind, I’ll see tomorrow how much it’s listed for on IST, maybe let price decide for me. If that Absolute Carnage drops tomorrow as well, bigger purchase day than I originally anticipated. Did anyone buy the Heroes Reborn: The Return omni from 2 weeks ago? Anyone have their copy ship out yet? I got a UPS ship notification from IST this morning that my X-Men Grand Design omni from last week is on its way, but my copy of The Return, UPS upgrade, is still just sitting there. Odd.
I collect absolutes so I got the last printing a while back. I liked DKR. I disliked DKSA. I still felt since it’s the best format available for the first story it was worth it. I also got the DK3 absolute. I hated DK3. But it is what it is.
Blindzider wrote: "noelbeast wrote: "Looking for input: I love The Dark Knight Returns and could see myself buying Absolute Dark Knight. I have a TPB copy of The Dark Knight Strikes Again but never read. I’ve flipped..."I think so.
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Essential Judge Dredd America TPB..."
The book store market (Amazon included) are on a different schedule that the comic book store market because the distribution is handled by different companies that many handle regular book distribution. With the disruption to the local comic store book market (Diamond distributors), IST isn't quite on schedule with Diamond as exactly as they were prior to the pandemic disruption. So it's more up in the air when things get released. IST has even listed things as coming one week on their site only to have them drop the following week so their drop list is only mostly dependable.
My copy of Heroes Reborn The Return omnibus has not yet shipped. That order is waiting for the Clover hardcover to be picked up.
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Some copies of Absolute Carnage Omnibus will be available with an expectation that a restock will happen down the line.
Also available:
Blackhand & Ironhead HC vol 1 (Image)
Incorruptible Omnibus TPB
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Anyone know if this new edition has anything that isn’t in the past editions?
Very disappointed to see on Omar’s overview that the Absolute Carnage omni is out of order. Its very strange that this happens. I might wait to get this one, but it does look like a beautiful book.
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Black Hammer LE V2
Absolute Dark Knight
Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus
IST's site is really getting slow these days.
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Black Hammer LE V2
Absolute Dark Knight
Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus
IST's site is really getting slow these days."
Nice.
It was pretty slow. I ordered Batman by Dini, Black Hammer LE v2 and Absolute Carnage. Just realized the Joker Killer Smile HC is in stock now too.
Blindzider wrote: "OrderedBlack Hammer LE V2
Absolute Dark Knight
Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus
IST's site is really getting slow these days."
Absolute Carnage
Ben Reilly vol. 2
Absolute Dark Knight
Agree about the slowness, today it took 7-8 minutes to purchase, which is still pretty quick all things considered, but a couple of weeks ago it only took a few. These days you gotta be fast! Anyone try to preorder a PS5 recently? Haha...tears...
Thanks all for the input on ADK. Only $10 more than a DKR slipcase I was eyeing, which is practically negligible for me. Also, thanks for the heads up about Absolute Carnage, Ryan. Wasn’t aware about the comic order issue. It is what it is, but exploring the topic last night took me down a rabbit hole about another omni I just started and it being out of order.
Right when they post their new pages. :)Big chunk this week:
Absolute Carnage Omni
Batman by Dini Omni
Ben Reilly 2 Omni
Golden Age Marvel 2 Omni
Conan 4 Omni
Interestingly I thought we were going to get the Marvel Classical Comics Omni (their take on the old Classics Illustrated) too, but doesn't appear so.
On IST got the Legion 5YL Omni, and saw that the Green Lantern/Green Arrow Space Traveling Heroes collection was back in stock, so grabbed that and the current Hawkman series trade vol 3.I also picked a couple trades at CGN that have been out of stock at IST, the first Wally West Flash book, Savage Velocity and the 11th volume of the New Teen Titans series from the 80s.
Didn't particularly notice IST being slow but then I was ordering about 30 mins after they updated the new releases section.
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I did pick up quite a few books though and am sure Absolute Carnage will be back up in a few weeks. 😉
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I have omnibus volume 1, which I thumbed through but didn't read. I started right in on volume 2 which is leading into Civil War and it's pretty interesting. Anyone else doing something similar?
The lone other book in the same box was the Green Arrow Longbow Hunters omnibus vol 1. I was concerned it was going to be too big but it's manageable though still a larger omnibus. It appears the chose to NOT recolor the Green Arrow material which I am fine with. =)
Erik wrote: "Missed out on Absolute Carnage. I wasn’t able to sign on until 5pm because I was entertaining a 95 year old client. So as all if you sit down and read your absolute carnage, you can think about THA..."Eric, that made me laugh. Hopefully your noble act will provide you enough karma for a copy soon enough!
Rel, I don’t really notice the difference between my 2 volumes all too often, but they’re also in a closet so I don’t see them everyday. I didn’t read anything from mine, but I did enjoy the Civil War issues when I read from another collection.
Relstuart wrote: "I received my copy of the Garny cover JMS Spider-Man Omnibus volume 2 last night. It does have a square bound spine instead of the rounded option. I don't love it but put it next to volume 1 and it..."I read all of JMS back before the Omnis came out, and absolutely loved the run. You're missing an exceptionally poignant 9/11 remembrance issue if you skip out on volume 1. It's fairly early in his run if I remember, so you shouldn't have to dig too far.
I haven’t posted in a bit but excited about a few IST purchases:20th century boys 7,8,9; x-men grand design omni; xo manowar DLX HC 2 (Kindt); absolute dark knight; and black hammer LE 2
Also, on eBay for over cover price but no where near the usual going rate I finally got X-Men Phalanx Covenant HC
Updated list of omnis I have on preorder:Uncanny X-Men Volumes 2, 3, and 4, all DM variants
Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 DM variant
The Flash Vol 2 by Geoff Johns
Captain America Vol 1 by Ed Brubaker DM variant
Moon Knight DM variant
X-Men by Claremont and Lee Volumes 1 and 2 DM variants
I think I’m going to pick up the two volumes of Absolute Swamp Thing in October from IST as well. I have never read it, and they would be my first Absolutes.
Heroes Reborn Return omni arrived today from IST for those who were asking about it, order placed 9/8. FWIW, USPS tracking has gotten pretty sketchy; went from label created by IST to next stop at my post office, nothing in between including usual acceptance.
John wrote: "Heroes Reborn Return omni arrived today from IST for those who were asking about it, order placed 9/8. FWIW, USPS tracking has gotten pretty sketchy; went from label created by IST to next stop a..."
Thanks John, pretty sure that was me that asked originally. Of course the day after I posted the question, my copy ships out...
Should be here tomorrow, but to tide me over, my copy of Grand Design arrives today!
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FWIW, USPS tracking has gotten pretty sketchy; went from label created by IST to next stop a..."
Yeah, USPS tracking is a joke. They don't update it often enough for one thing. Also, I suspect the mail carriers are tracked on performance because lately I've been getting notifications that packages were delivered when they weren't, then they just show up the next day. I feel it is completely unreliable.
Ryan wrote: "Updated list of omnis I have on preorder....."Ryan, all cool pickups - where do you do your pre-ordering from?
Nick, I preorder from Tales of Wonder or DCBS generally. Once an item is released, I generally place orders on Instocktrades.
Omnibus/OHC Graphic Novel Collectors
Books mentioned in this topic
Superman: The Coming of the Supermen (other topics)Batman: The War Years 1939-1945: Presenting over 20 classic full length Batman tales from the DC comics vault! (Volume 1) (other topics)
Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder (other topics)
Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight (other topics)
Nightwing: Mobbed Up (other topics)
More...
What's it about, or is there someplace you can point me to for a rundown?