by KC Carlson

Civil War Box Set Slipcase (Marvel Comics): Get all the sides to the story (and there are probably more than you actually remember!) of Marvel’s most incendiary epic crossover event in this new eleven-volume box set! When the New Warriors set off a deadly disaster in Stamford, Connecticut, where over 600 people are killed, the cry goes out for superhuman registration. With Iron Man heading up the pro-registration movement and Captain America leading the anti-registration camp, the Marvel Universe splits down the middle as friendships, teams, and even families are torn apart. (This 2006 event was so universe-shattering, some of its ramifications are still being felt today in current Marvel Universe stories.)

From the key stories that set the stage, to the main event, to its headline-making aftermath, the entire Civil War is fought inside one glorious slipcase. (Wow! That’s a strange image, even for you guys at Marvel! What’s next? “Slipcase vs. Slipcase — To The Death!”) Witness the dramatic impacts on the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Spider-Man, and everyone else on the Front Line! The box consists of these 10 hardcover books:

Civil War Prologue Premiere HC

Civil War Premiere HC (The main series by Mark Miller, Steve McNiven, and Dexter Vines)

Civil War: Avengers Premiere HC

Civil War: Fantastic Four Premiere HC

Civil War: Front Line Premiere HC

Civil War: Marvel Universe Premiere HC

Civil War: Spider-Man Premiere HC

Civil War: The Underside Premiere HC

Civil War: X-Men Premiere HC

Civil War Aftermath Premiere HC

Plus, there’s a special 11th volume: Civil War Files Premiere HC —an entire extra book of behind-the-scenes special features. And there’s a poster of one of issue #1’s covers by Michael Turner. There’s not a huge amount of detail about this set yet — like content specifics and page counts for the individual volumes — but, up until the current Secret Wars event, Civil War was one of Marvel’s most massive crossovers in terms of both impact and total number of individual comics that tied-in. (It was also one of the most delayed events! So now you can read the whole thing without waiting for months! However, it’s not recommended for a single-session reading. Give your eyes — and brain — some time to rest between volumes!)

There’s also a special Civil War Illustrated Prose Novel Hardcover being offered separately, which features author Stuart Moore’s novelization of the event (originally published in 2012) combined with illustrations pulled from the original comics’ artwork by Steve McNiven. It looks like a real deluxe offering, with a textured, foil-stamped cover with embossed artwork. It’s also oversized and 400 pages. It’s sure a lot more impressive-looking than my mass market paperback version (the heaviest small paperback I’ve ever owned). Good read, too!

Hardcore Marvelites have a tough ordering choice this month. It’s a lot of $$$ — but also a lot of books. Civil War Box Set Slipcase is 11 hardcover volumes in a big heavy box, hundreds and hundreds of color pages long, and both box and novel are available (separately) in March 2016. But, sadly, you must order now. So… Whose Side Are You On?

Hey, isn’t there supposed to be a Marvel movie about Civil War out near that time next year? Hmmm.

(MORE, NOT-AS-) BIG BOOKS

Captain America Omnibus Volume 2 (Marvel Comics): While the world believes that Steve Rogers is dead, Captain America lives on! — in this Omnibus collection of Marvel classics by Stan Lee, Gene Colan, and John Romita Sr.! Cap embarks upon some of his all-time greatest adventures. Body-swapping with the Red Skull and his Cosmic Cube! Discovering the secrets of the Falcon in his first appearance! Plus, M.O.D.O.K. returns with a vengeance — and a secret weapon! Also, Cap sets out on a road trip to explore his and his country’s souls. (Hey! It was the Sixties!) Plus, Bucky Barnes returns; Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. enlist Cap in their battle against Hydra; Spider-Man and the Hulk face off against the star-spangled Avenger; and so much more! Every story, every cover, and even every letters page is painstakingly restored for this oversized must-have volume. (Also, go check out Bob Greenberger’s review/preview of this volume!) Other creators include John and Sal Buscema, Gray Morrow, Gil Kane, and Gary Friedrich. Collects Captain America (1968) #114-148. Available with two different covers: a new one by Carlos Pacheco and a classic cover by John Romita Sr. (which is only available to the Direct Market and will probably sell out quickly). 816-page oversize remastered color hardcover. Available in March 2016 — just in time for the next Cap movie! What amazing timing!!!

Deadpool Classic Omnibus Volume 1 (Marvel Comics): It’s a heaping helping of the Merc with a Mouth, chock-full of the craziness that helped form a cult following! Deadpool crosses Loki, joins the Frightful Four, rubs shoulders with Black Panther, and goes into space — but who’ll throttle him first: his new roommates, his crazy ex Copycat, or his new sidekick, Pool Boy? Deadpool takes on the mob, battles the Punisher, rejoins Weapon X, faces his nemesis T-Ray…and dies — twice! As if four pretenders ushering in a Reign of the Deadpools isn’t enough, who the heck is Agent X and what’s his title-stealing deal? Is he Deadpool or ain’t he? Taskmaster and Outlaw join the fun…and so should you! Guest-starring Thor, Siryn and Fight-Man. All these folks got paid to work on this book (Can you believe that?!): Christopher Priest, Glenn Herdling, Jimmy Palmiotti, Buddy Scalera, Frank Tieri, Gail Simone, Evan Dorkin, Daniel Way, Paco Diaz, Andy Smith, Jim Calafiore, Paul Chadwick, Michael Lopez, Darick Robertson, Anthony Williams, Georges Jeanty, Karl Kerschl, Udon Studios, Sal Velluto, Mitch Breitweiser, Juan Bobillo, Kyle Hotz, and more. Collects Deadpool (1997) #34-69, Black Panther (1998) #23, Agent X #1-15, Fight-Man #1, and material from X-Men Unlimited (1993) #28. Cover by Arthur Adams. 1,304-page oversize color hardcover. Of Deadpool. Who’d-a thunk it?

(In case you’re wondering — like I was — about why this book is starting with Deadpool #34 instead of Deadpool #1 — like you’d think would normally be the case — it’s because Deadpool #34 is the first issue written by Christopher Priest, who, over the next four issues, transformed a character who was only semi-popular into the bonafide cult classic character he is today. And who realized by issue #37 “it was okay to make Deadpool look stupid.” And so he did that. And did it well! And that’s one to grow on!)

iZombie Omnibus (DC/Vertigo): Told from a female zombie’s perspective, iZombie is a smart horror comedy series mixing urban fantasy and romantic dramedy. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Dylan is a 20-something gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery. Once a month, she must eat a human brain to keep from losing her memories, but in the process she becomes consumed with the thoughts and personality of the dead person, until she eats her next brain. She sets out to fulfill the dead person’s last request, solve a crime, or right a wrong. If you’re a fan of the hit CW TV series and have never read the comics by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, you’re in for a major treat with this oversized omnibus edition! Find out why fans miss the were-terrier. Collects iZombie #1-28. 672-page 5.9” x 8.3” color hardcover with a new wraparound cover by Michael Allred! Available in December. MATURE READERS.

BIG & BACK IN PRINT

Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson Omnibus (New Printing) (Marvel Comics): Written by Roger McKenzie, Frank Miller, David Michelinie, and others. Classic material including the first appearances of Elektra, Stick, and the Hand — as well as significant reinventions of characters like The Kingpin, Gladiator, and Ben Urich. Collecting Daredevil (1964) #158-161 and #163-191 and material from What If? (1977) #28. 840-page oversized color remastered hardcover. Cover by Frank Miller. NOTE: Will not be first printings. Available in March 2016.

Elektra by Frank Miller Omnibus (New Printing) (Marvel Comics): Written by Frank Miller. Art by Bill Sienkiewicz, Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley. An excellent companion to the Daredevil volume (which introduces Elektra), as Miller ushers his awesome assassin through good, evil, life, death, rebirth, and more, in this definitive collection of the character’s most memorable solo adventures. Collecting Elektra: Assassin #1-8, Elektra Lives Again, and material from Bizarre Adventures #28 and What If? (1977) #35. 400-page oversized color remastered hardcover. NOTE: Will not be first printings. Cover by Frank Miller. Available in March 2016.

Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus is being resolicited. All previous orders have been cancelled. If you still want this collection, you must reorder it this month.

BOOKS ABOUT COMICS

The Little Book of Batman

The Little Book of Superman

The Little Book of Wonder Woman (Taschen): We don’t have a lot of information on these three separate books yet, but they all seem to be 198-page softcovers of iconic images of the characters with text by Paul Levitz (75 Years of DC Comics) presenting a capsule history of DC Comics’ most iconic heroes. And because they’re published by Taschen, they will be of very high quality. All three available in December.

Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel (Abrams ComicArts): Speaking of Paul Levitz, he also wrote this book! (Busy guy!) In case you’ve been asleep for the last several decades, Will Eisner is one of the most important creators ever to work in the comics field. His classic 1940s to early 50s comic strip The Spirit virtually rewrote most of the established “rules” of comic storytelling (and the ones he didn’t rewrite, he probably invented in the first place). If his 1978 work A Contract With God wasn’t (technically) the first graphic novel, it certainly defined the term for most of the planet. This seminal work ushered in a new era of personal stories in comics form that touched every adult topic from mortality to religion and sexuality, forever changing the way writers and artists approached comics storytelling.

In this new book, noted historian Paul Levitz celebrates Eisner by showcasing his most famous work alongside unpublished and rare materials from the Eisner family archives. Also included are original interviews with creators such as Jules Feiffer, Art Spiegelman, Scott McCloud, Jeff Smith, Denis Kitchen, and Neil Gaiman — all of whom knew Eisner and were inspired by his work to create their own graphic novels for a new generation of readers.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

“Eisner was not only ahead of his times; the present times are still catching up to him.”

—John Updike

“What Will did was and is timeless.”

—Neil Gaiman

“Will Eisner is, and remains, one of my precious idols.”

—Frank Miller

“He was the greatest.”

—Harvey Kurtzman

“Will Eisner is a national treasure.”

—Jules Feiffer

“Will Eisner is the heart and mind of American comics.”

—Scott McCloud

“Eisner is the single person most responsible for giving comics its brains.”

—Alan Moore

“Eisner was unique in feeling from the start that comic books were not necessarily this despised, bastard, crappy, lowbrow kind of art form, and that there was a potential for real art.”

—Michael Chabon

Sounds like a pretty cool book, eh? It’s a 224-page heavily illustrated hardcover book, available in November.

ZINES

Alter Ego #137 (TwoMorrows): Cover-features a really tall (er…long) interview with Jim Shooter (featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, which he had something to do with when he was 13). Hey, I read the Legion when I was 13, but nobody ever interviews me. Shooter also talks about writing Captain Action, which should be really interesting! 80 pages.

Comic Book Creator #11 (TwoMorrows): A magazine-length celebration of Gil Kane, from friends, associates, assistants, and aficionados, as well as collaborators and dedicated fans. Kane’s work represents over 50 years’ worth of comics history. 84 pages.

VERY SOON: PART THREE (!) of the November 2015 releases. (That’s where all the newspaper strip collections and Artist Editions went… because there were a lot of them! And box sets too!)

__________________________________

KC CARLSON: I created Fortress Lad. Really, I did. Ask Mark Waid. He might actually remember. (Like Mark forgets anything…) I know it’s no A Contract With God, but still… Wow. Delusional much? Great, now I’m talking to myself… Which really doesn’t work in print…

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. Like that last stupid thing…