Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness: Retro Covers For Essential Marvel Collection

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Retro Covers For Essential Marvel Collection

7 comments:

Erik Johnson Illustrator said...: This isn't your father's Essential Marvel! (Even though it reprints Marvel Comics that were around when your father was reading comics)

I've mentioned many times over my mad love for the Essential Marvel books that helped get me into comics. I like the uniformity of these new volumes, with each series getting their own co-ordinated color for easy recognition, though the X-Men got the short end of the stick with pink. (Its a shame they don't have Jack Kirby's Classic X-Men as part of this set)

They are very much designed to look like TV Seasons which is neat and fitting given Marvel's gradual expanse into a larger media empire.

I'm a bit mixed on the new covers. I miss the original illustrations by today's masters that graced the Essentials covers that I grew up with and would love to see new original covers for this new set, but it does make sense sense to include artwork from the actual stories. However I think the Benday dots, while fittingly retro, feel a bit too on the nose.

All and all, these books are great and I'm pleased as punch that a entirely new generation will have fresh access to these amazing stories!; May 23, 2012 at 8:42 PM
Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...: I would love to see the set in some school's library.; May 23, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Mike D. said...: I'm with EJ all the way.; May 24, 2012 at 4:01 AM
DrGoat said...: Yeah. I agree with Erik about the covers. I grew up with the 60s illustrations, but those have a quality that fits beautifully. I like them.; May 24, 2012 at 7:40 AM
Erik Johnson Illustrator said...: I do think its unfortunate that none of the books in these new volumes have the original comics own logo in favor more consistent typography.

Also, with Spidey taking the color red, what color is the "Daredevil" series going to have? And for that matter, how is it that titles like Man-Thing and Howard the Duck are part of this set but not classic Thor or Captain America?

Maybe they'll release a second wave of books after this set has time to sell that'll include those missing titles plus Essential Sub Mariner, Silver Surfer and Classic X-Men.; May 24, 2012 at 8:11 AM
Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...: The Essential volume of all those great monster comics from the early 60s would be great too.; May 24, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Erik Johnson Illustrator said...: It appears DC saw these covers and has produced their own line of retro designs for their archive books.

http://calamityjon.tumblr.com/post/25376985962/several-weeks-back-designer-dylan-todd-mocked-up; June 18, 2012 at 7:55 PM

Calvin's Canadian Cave Of Cool Manifesto

I forever stand vigilant to protect this planet from the myriad of forces that are always against us. Be it the octopus, zombies, aliens or the robots my team of human agents, and our feline allies, circle the globe in a never ending struggle for human freedom.

I learn all I can on every subject that interests me. I especially enjoy ancient history because in the past there are valuable lessons to be found. Also, if I ever get my time machine to work properly, it would be good to know a bit about possible destinations and what to expect when I get there.

I greatly appreciate beautiful design. Be it manufactured or found naturally I am fascinated by the process of invention. I am attracted to the unique, the strange, the haunted. I like to share what I find on this blog.

And not let us forget the 'Cephalopod Menace' who, if allowed to, would wrap their tentacles around all that is good and pure in this life and crush it until it remained no more. They are creatures of pure spite. Hate is all they know. Death is all they do. They are our most ruthless and determined enemy.

So we fight. Selena has the celebrity contacts, the cat is ruthless and without pity, Roosevelt's ghost has the experience and I do the wetwork.

Fighting for the future of the planet doesn't have to be a chore, however. We can take the time to appreciate all that is cool in this world even as we cut the octopus into bite sized chunks.

This is the reason there has always been and must forever be, a Cave of Cool. Be sure to wipe your feet before you enter.