The Marvel Masterworks line is synonymous with quality and careful curation, bringing readers old and new collections of comics that exemplify iconic stories and creators over the 80+ years of the House of Ideas’ work. Now Clover Press is announcing that it will be the publisher of the Marvel Masterworks line, bringing the craftsmanship Masterworks fans expect and the care that Clover has become known for.
Just today, Clover Press launched a Kickstarter to bring the first wave of four new editions to life, throwing the spotlight on epic Marvel runs including:
- 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
I spoke with Clover Press publisher Hank Kanalz recently about the Kickstarter, selecting the stories and comic issues including in the collection, the volumes themselves, and the gratification of working on the project. Anyone who is a fan of Clover Press’ collections and Marvel’s epic library of stories needs to check out the campaign.
Also be sure to check out all the covers for the four volumes: each volume has three different covers!
FreakSugar: What can you tell us about the Marvel Masterworks volumes Clover is publishing?
Hank Kanalz: They are awesome. We recognize that there is a long history with these books – 389 volumes and counting! So we’re aware that many, many collectors and readers are expecting a lot of our editions. So we decided to maintain the legendary line, but add a brand new trade dress to freshen things up. We want to invite new readers to try the line, and this is that opportunity.
But the high level of quality will still be there. Remastered art and high resolution scans will provide the best reproductions readers have come to expect from the Masterworks line.
FS: What was the selection process like for which stories to include in the set?
HK: We wanted a good mix. It was important to us to provide a new series – a volume that didn’t rely on previous volumes. That’s Super-Villain Team-Up, with a new introduction by Steve Englehart. Roy Thomas and Bill Mantlo are also the featured writers, with art by some Marvel greats like Herb Trimpe and Bob Hall!
It was also important to finish off series that were so close to the end. We didn’t want to leave anyone who bought previous volumes of Tomb of Dracula hanging, so we added that. Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan’s historic run concludes with this volume.
And we wanted to continue the series that still have legs and some volumes to go. That added Uncanny X-Men and The Mighty Thor. You can’t go wrong with Chris Claremont & Jim Lee on X-Men, and we’re moving closer to the record breaking X-Men #1. Simonson’s Thor is hands down the defining era for that character. And we are lucky enough to use scans from Simonson’s original art!
FS: Clover has been producing a number of compilations and collections of late, focusing on seminal comic work. What has been the most gratifying part of that journey?
HK: Some of the creators I’ve known for a long time, and others I’ve had the pleasure of working with for the first time – getting to know them better through their work, and how they’ve evolved over time is amazing. It’s like you’re binging on their work in one quality hardcover. And there’s the preservation aspect of what we’re doing – high-end hardcovers will last and stand the test of time.
FS: Following up on that, what are some of the things you’ve learned in the course of making these compilations together?
HK: The lesson we’re still learning is it will always take longer to complete than you think it will. There are so many variables to these books, and while we may think we’ve figured it all out, the next book presents some challenges we weren’t expecting. But with each book we publish, we learn new things and apply those to the next project.
FS: What can you tell us about the Kickstarter itself and the backer rewards available?
HK: This one is all about choices. Backers will get to choose which version of Masterworks they want. Are they traditionalists? Dedicated to the numbered variant? Or do they want to start a fresh collection with our new trade dress? It’s backer’s choice!
And we have some amazing extras, including our first double-sided puzzle, some journals, some vintage posters, original art reproductions, and a few other surprises.
The Kickstarter for Clover Press’ Marvel Masterworks compilations is now live! Make sure to check out this campaign custom-made for Marvel fans old and new!
From the official press release for the Kickstarter:
Starting today, 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. Clover Press 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 Kickstarter campaign for Marvel Masterworks is now live.
The campaign will also feature a slew of the kind of collectible extras that Clover Press is known for, including a Premium Works collector box, Fact Files character cards, journals with Masterworks branding and comic art, buttons, character stickers, mini prints, large artist edition prints, 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 series editor Cory 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.”
To visit the campaign for Marvel Masterworks, head to Kickstarter.
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