posted April 24, 2003 11:11 PM               

The Essential Hulk vol. 1 just came out in the new trade dress also, so at least all of the ones containing Silver Age material are all now available with the new covers.

posted April 25, 2003 09:13 AM               

Well, I've know for a little while about Torch & Drac but I was under the oath of secrecy, someone I can't mention sent me the info about it.
Just to add my comments. I hope that Marvel does continue the essentials. Marvel is good but Dc is excellent. Now, like I always screamed, Dc is a prestige line. Having them in color and hardcover is cool. The other day, I was rereading a Supes archive and - it was the same. The book was like brand new. I think I simply love archives. Now, I'd never shell out the same price for a Marvel "archive". Marvel simply doesn't have the little something more that dc does... I don't know how to say it.
So, I'll conclude by saying that, the price is right for Marvel. They're less expensive since they don't have color but the material is in great quantity. Hope they don't drop their essentials but, as they are now.

Friend.

posted April 25, 2003 12:39 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Aewulf:
Marvel's tpb person recently confirmed that Human Torch [is] still on the way.

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Is this the Golden Age Human Torch series or the Silver Age one?

posted April 25, 2003 12:45 PM               

This is from Cory over on the Collected Editions forum at the Joe Quesada site:

"Our current Essentials plans include the Essential Human Torch (from Strange Tales #101-134, Annual #2) and the Essential Tomb of Dracula (TOD #1-28, Giant-Size Chillers #1)."

Chris

posted April 26, 2003 10:52 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by dylanfan:
Essentials is one of those to take a back seat. I think the Torch and Dracula books will be it for this year, though perhaps one more will squeak out before the end of the year.

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posted April 26, 2003 11:08 AM               

I still think there is a schism between Masterworks and Essentials production, and Marvel may want to guage the Masterworks program before tossing an Essential out there that they may want to put in Masterworks. Sgt. Fury is a good example of this. If the Masterworks program is a bona fide hit, maybe they'll want to put out a Sgt. Fury book in 2004. That, besides the fact that they only have so many bodies able to work on projects in collected editions, is why I am suggesting that Essentials is going to go very slow.

I hope. My own personal affections are for Masterworks, as you know.

posted April 27, 2003 01:54 PM               

On the other hand, I will buy Essentials to see the b&w linework and for reading copies needed.

I do hope the reprints of Masterworks are successful enough for them to get around to producing more volumes. Most notably:

1) FF, to finish up the Kirby era
2) Spidey, to finish up at least through 100 or 110
3) Dr. Strange, to get the rest of the early issues up through Gene Colan & Tom Palmer in his own book.

Essentialwise, I have always hoped they WOULD do something like GA Human Torch or Subby (doubt that will ever see Masterwork treatment). I really enjoyed the Golden Age of Marvel reprints (even if they were leftovers from Marvel Super Heroes in most cases) and really wish they would bring those back.