Penguin Classics' new Marvel collections are decidedly ...

Even the snootiest hardcover collection can't possibly capture the entirety of a Marvel hero's story, but it would be nice. TheA.V.ClubDeadspinGizmodoJalopnikJezebelKotakuLifehackerQuartzTheRootTheTakeoutTheOnionTheInventoryPopcultureobsessiveswritingforthepopcultureobsessed.ShopSubscribeHomeLatestNewsTVFilmMusicGamesAUXPopcultureobsessiveswritingforthepopcultureobsessed.HomeLatestNewsTVFilmMusicGamesAUXAboutTheA.V.ClubStoreExploreourothersitesHomeLatestNewsTVFilmMusicGamesAUXForOurConsiderationEventhesnootiesthardcovercollectioncan'tpossiblycapturetheentiretyofaMarvelhero'sstory,butitwouldbeniceBySamBarsanti6/30/228:00AMComments(13)AlertsCaptainAmerica,BlackPanther,TheAmazingSpider-Man(PenguinClassics)Image:TheA.V.ClubPrestigiousreprintsofcomicbookshavebeenaroundforalongtime,thankstothesurgeofvalueforthefirstissueofActionComicsorwhateverandthegradualevolutionofcultureasthekidswhoreadcomicbookshavebecomegrown-upswhospendmoneyonticketstocomicbookmoviesandcomicbookvideogamesandcomicbooktoys.Thoseprestigiousreprintsareusuallyhandledbytheoriginalpublisher,though,makingthemtoolsforthecompaniestopromotetheircharactersorstoriesinthewaythatmakesthemostsensefromabusinessstandpoint(likeifamovieiscomingoutoriftheyneedtomakesurethattherightsneverreverttotheoriginalauthorandgutsareliablerevenuestream).Watch What'sonthisweek02:39Nowplaying MoviesthatMatter:"HarlanCounty,USA"5/04/221:05PM02:05Nowplaying How"HonkForJesus"filmeditssatirical"Mockumentary"styleFriday5:52PMPenguinClassics’newlineofMarvelcollections,atleastintheory,aredifferent.RatherthanMarvelitselfsaying“theseSpider-Mancomicsareimportant,”it’sPenguinClassics,whichcreatesafascinatingnewlayertowhatmakesthesenewbooks“prestigious.”Thisisthecompanywiththeuniformcoverdesignsandthatmakeeverythinglookniceontheshelf,thecompanythatostensiblyhasveryhighstandardsaboutwhatisworthyofbeinglabeledaPenguinClassic.ThesebooksareaBigDealandnowSpider-Man,BlackPanther,andCaptainAmericaareamongthem.Thebooks,availableinstandardPenguinClassicspaperbackformatandstylishcolor-codedhardcoverswithgolddetails(forthetruesnootynerd),containahandfulofclassiccomicsstarringSpider-Man,BlackPanther,orCaptainAmerica,startingwiththeirdebutandthenmostlystayinginthattimeperiod—meaningtheSpideybook,forexample,isentirelyStanLeeandSteveDitkostories.Youwon’tsee“Kraven’sLastHunt”oranythingwithVenomorevenMaryJaneWatson.AdvertisementTheAmazingSpider-ManImage:PenguinClassicsTherearealsovaryingamountsofsupplementarymaterialsineachbook,withthehighlightoftheSpider-Mancollectionarguably(andincongruously,giventhefactthatit’sabookaboutSpider-Man)beingthefullreprintofAmazingFantasy#15—includingthenon-Spider-Manstories—andaLee/Ditkoshortcalled“GoodbyeToLindaBrown”aboutanorphanedteenagerwithamysterioussecretbeingraisedbyherAuntMayandUncleBen(thestoryhasnothingtodowithSpider-Manbeyondthenames).G/OMediamaygetacommissionMagneticallyDockingModeElectricToothbrushLuxurybrushingModeisthefirstmagneticallychargingtoothbrush,androtatestodockinanyoutlet.Thebrushingexperienceisasluxuriousasitlooks—withsoft,taperedbristlesandatwo-minutetimertobeconfidentyoureachedallthecrevicesofyourmolars.Subscribefor$150orbuyfor$165atModeAdvertisementButyoucanreadoldcomicsanywhere,bothinMarvel’sownprestigereprintsandonthemanydigitalcomicsapps,soPenguinClassicswiselysettheirbooksapartwithinterestingmaterialthatsetsupcontextforthecharactersandwhythey’reimportantandworthshowcasinginthesebooks.Eachvolumehasaforewordwrittenbyafamousfanofthecharacter(orformerwriterononeoftheirbooks),withGeneLuenYangwritingaboutconnectingtoCaptainAmericaasthestoryofachildofimmigrantsandJasonReynoldswritingalovelyessayabouthisbrother(capturingthetime-honoredtraditionofpassingoncomicbookknowledgeasifit’samodernmythologycarriedthroughgenerations).OnefascinatingthingabouttheseforewordsisthattheysometimestouchonsubjectmatterthatMarvelprobablywouldn’tbeascomfortableshowcasing.NnediOkorafor’sintrototheBlackPantherbook,forexample,talksaboutherbeingdrawntocomicbooksasakidbutneverfeelingcomfortableactuallywalkingintoacomicstoreduetothefactthatshewasalwaystreatedasanoutsiderbytheoverwhelminglywhitepatronsandowners—nottomentionthedistinctlackofwomenorBlackpeopleonthecoversofsuperherobooks.AdvertisementBlackPantherImage:PenguinClassicsThoseessaysaddemotionalcontexttothestories,explainingwhythey’reimportanttopeopleandwhythey’velastedforgenerations,butthebooksalsohaveageneralprimeronthehistoryofMarvelcomics(thesameoneisprintedineachbook)andaspecificintroductiontothatbook’scharacter,allwrittenbycomicbookacademicBenSaunders.Thoseofferimportanthistoricalcontextforthecharactersandwhythesestoriesinparticularareimportant,buttheyalsoexposeone(arguable)flawwiththesecollectionsandanycollectionslikethem:Theysimplycannotbecomprehensive.AdvertisementThisinparticularmakestheCaptainAmericabookanoddduck.Theold’40scomicsusedasWorldWarIIpropagandaaresignificantforawholedifferentreasonthanhissubsequentAvengersstories,withonlythelatterreallyfallinginlinewithThePointofthesecollections.ThebookhasCaptainAmericaComics#1byJackKirbyandJoeSimon,theonewithCapsockingHitlerinthejawonthecover(longbeforetheattackonPearlHarbor),butafterthatitjumpsfromthe‘’40stothe’60swhenKirbyandStanLeebroughtCaptainAmericabackfornewstoriesalongsidetheAvengersandforflashbackstoriesthatretconwhatCaptainAmericawasdoingduringthewar.Soyou’renotgettingthefirstCaptainAmericastories,you’regettingthefirstCaptainAmericastoriesthatmatter,atleastinregardstothecharacterasweknowhimtoday.Saunders,inhisintro,dancesaroundtheproblemwiththisandintroducesanewonebypointingoutthatCaptainAmericahasalwaysbeenusedtoreflectchangeinsociety,fillingwhateverroleaguydressedlikethestarsandstripesmightneedtofill,whichcarriesthroughtomorerecenticonicCapstorieslikethe“WinterSoldier”arc.Naturally,thiscollectiondoesnotincludeanyofthe“WinterSoldier”stories,despiteSaunderspointingouthowimportantandEarth-shatteringtheywereforthecharacter,whichmakesitfeellikethebookitselfisacknowledginghowincompleteitis.AdvertisementCaptainAmericaPhoto:PenguinClassicsBut,again,beingcompletewouldbeimpossible,andeachvolumedoeshelpfullyincludealistofbooksforfurtherreading.It’snotreallyaproblemthatVenomisn’tintheSpideybookorthatwedon’tseeBuckyBarnesgethismetalarmintheCapbook(oranyofChristopherPriest’siconicBlackPantherstoriesinthatbook),butitdoesreflectthatthepurposeofthesebooksisalittlemuddy.Aretheyforhardcorefanswhowantsomethingniceonashelf?Aretheyforpeoplewholikeprestigebooksandwanttoseewhatmakesthesesuperheroesabigdeal?AdvertisementTheanswerdoesn’tseemtobe“yes”foreitherone,butsomethingcloserto“sure,whynot?”Noneofthesebooksaretheultimatecompilationoftheirheroes’storiesoreventheultimatecompilationoftheirfirststories,butfromthecoverstothehigh-mindedintroductoryessaystothesimplewhitetitlepagesthatjustsayCaptainAmericaorTheAmazingSpider-ManorBlackPantherinaplainfont,theyareatleastveryclearlyhigh-qualityandprestigiouscompilationsofsomestories.Theylookgoodonashelf,whichisthepointofPenguinClassicsanyway.BooksForOurConsiderationWatch What'sonthisweek02:39Nowplaying MoviesthatMatter:"HarlanCounty,USA"5/04/221:05PM02:05Nowplaying How"HonkForJesus"filmeditssatirical"Mockumentary"styleFriday5:52PM