Marvel Comics’ longest-running, premier archival hardcover collection series is coming back in style! Clover Press will now publish the iconic Marvel Masterworks line, starting with four brand new editions that highlight four iconic eras of Marvel history and some of the industry’s greatest creators of all time.
Sign up to be notified when the Kickstarter campaign for Marvel Masterworks is live here.
Clover will publish three different covers for each book in the Marvel Masterworks line: the legacy trade dress that collectors already know and love, a variant cover of the legacy trade dress, and a bold and poppy new trade dress, designed by Clover Press Co-Founder and Art Director Robbie Robbins.
The campaign will also feature a slew of collectible extras, and thanks to Clover, Monkeys Fighting Robots is proud to unveil the exclusive character stickers backers can receive below! Additional extras include a Premium Works collector box, Merry Marvel Masterworks Society membership cards, Fact Files character cards, journals with Masterworks branding and comic art, buttons, mini prints, large artist edition prints, facsimile Merry Marvel Marching Society-style items, postcards, stationery-inspired inserts, facsimile posters, dustjackets, die-cut slipcases, and more to be announced during the campaign.
The first wave of Clover Press’ Marvel Masterworks includes four titles:
In Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 18, Chris Claremont and Jim Lee begin their march towards X-Men #1, the Guiness Book of World Records top-selling comic book of all time—collecting THE UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) 256-268 & ANNUAL (1970) 14 and material from THE FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL (1963) 23, X-FACTOR ANNUAL (1986) 5 and THE NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL (1984) 6. Featuring an introduction by Chris Claremont.
In Marvel Masterworks: Super-Villain Team-Up, Vol. 1, Doctor Doom and his notorious accomplices Namor and the Red Skull take the stage in this classic Marvel series which gives the bad guys full rein—collecting GIANT-SIZE SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP (1975) 1-2, SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP (1975) 1-17, MARVEL SPOTLIGHT (1971) 27, THE AVENGERS (1963) 154-156, THE CHAMPIONS (1975) 16 and material from MARVEL PREVIEW (1975) 21. Featuring an introduction by Roy Thomas.
In Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor, Vol. 25, Walter Simonson and Sal Buscema’s original art is faithfully restored and looking better than ever as The God of Thunder leads an army into Hel itself in this fan-favorite classic every Marvel fan should have in their library—collecting THE MIGHTY THOR (1966) 360-369 and BALDER THE BRAVE (1985) 1-4. Featuring an introduction by Walter Simonson.
In Marvel Masterworks: The Tomb of Dracula, Vol. 6, high-stakes storytelling pulls long-running characters like Quincy Harker, Rachel van Helsing and Blade into a final reckoning that leaves no one untouched from collaborators Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan and Tom Palmer—collecting THE TOMB OF DRACULA (1972) 56-70. Featuring an introduction by Kelley Jones.
The publication of the first wave of books marks just the first stage of Clover Press’ publishing plan to continue the historic Marvel Masterworks program, with an ambitious, ongoing schedule that will bring dozens of new editions of Marvel Masterworks series to print. Longtime Marvel series editor Cory Sedlmeier will continue in his role as editor and series steward, continuing the role that he’s served at Marvel for more than two decades.
“Each Masterworks volume has a completely new restoration that outshines all past editions,” said Sedlmeier. “More than 40% of the final issue of Tomb of Dracula—an issue that suffered from poor reproduction in all past printings, including the original comic—has been restored from original art; dozens of pages of Jim Lee X-Men have been restored from the originals; and over 200 pages of Walter Simonson’s Thor have been restored from original art scans that Walter did just for this Masterworks. Coupled with the highest fidelity reproduction ever at 1200dpi and meticulous color restoration, the new line of Masterworks is going to knock the socks off readers old and new alike.”
Check out the exclusive stickers from the campaign right here:
Are you excited for the return of Marvel Masterworks from Clover Press? Sound off in the comments!
