Last month, Clover Press launched a Kickstarter to bring the first wave of four new editions of the Marvel Masterworks compilations to life. 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. Clover has made its name for itself of late for producing high quality collections of comic book stories and art, and its attention the Marvel Masterworks is sure to meet that same level of excellence
Included in the collection is work by Marvel legendary writer Steve Engelhart. I spoke with Steve Engelhart recently about his memories with Marvel, his time with the Super-Villain Team-Up comic series, how it feels to see his work in the Marvel Masterworks collections, and what he hopes readers will takeaway from his work. Steve Engelhart is one of Marvel’s titan creators and the inclusion of his work in Clover Press’ Marvel Masterworks is well-deserved and wonderful to see.
FreakSugar: Before we get into the Clover Press Kickstarter, what can you tell us about your history with Marvel, particularly Super-Villain Team-Up? Your work is incredibly impressive, both in being so good and in sheer size of the number of books you’ve written.
Steve Englehart: I went to work at Marvel as the lowest level editorial assistant, and fell into writing. SVTU was pretty late in terms of the work I did at Marvel in the 1970s.
FS: When you look back on your work with Marvel and Super-Villain Team-Up, what do you remember fondly?
SE: With SVTU, I got to work with Herb Trimpe for the second time, after our run on The Hulk. When I was the editorial assistant, my cubicle was next to Herb’s and Johnny Romita Sr.’s, so they were my oldest friends in the Bullpen.
FS: Following up on that, what was one of your favorite parts of working on the book?
SE: I created The Shroud to give Doom and Subby someone who’d mess with both of them, and he went on to become a major character in his own right. In my mind, he was a max of the Shadow and the Batman, because I never thought I’d get to write the real versions of those guys.
FS: How does it feel to have your work included in the Marvel Masterworks collections by Clover?
SE: I’m continually amazed at the longevity of my stories.
FS: What are you reading right now?
SE: Lots of Michael Connelly.
FS: What do you hope new readers take away from your work in these collections?
SE: I hope people feel how much fun we were having doing those stories. Helping guide the Marvel Universe was a dream come true for a fan turned pro.
The Kickstarter for Clover Press’ Marvel Masterworks collections ends TODAY, Thursday, October 15, 2026! Fans old and new of Marvel Comics need to check out this campaign to experience the breadth and depth of creators the House of Ideas has had over the years, all compiled in a beautiful prestige format!
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.
