TPBs, HCs, Absolutes, Omnibuses… discuss them all here!
Home » Forums » Comics talk » The Trades Thread: Collected Editions
Some stuff I probably wont get.
Absolute Red Son – May 27th
How does a 3 issue story warrant a very over-priced Absolute?
I think I’ll pass.
DC Universe by Steve Ditko Omnibus – June 10th
Maybe once upon a time, but it’s very pricey.
50 % off and then I’ll think about it.
Cosmic Odyssey Deluxe Edition – June 3rd
Okay, this one I’ll think about. Definite maybe.
Absolute Red Son – May 27th How does a 3 issue story warrant a very over-priced Absolute? I think I’ll pass.
In a world where even the 64-page Killing Joke got an Absolute, anything’s possible.
In that case, they bulked it up by including the story twice over (with both alternative colourings) and including a ton of extra material, so maybe they’ll be packing in the extras here too.
After enjoying Universal War One (recommended by Ronnie and some of you) I keep checking on the progress of Universal War Two, which seems to have stalled after 3 issues.
But then I found a Wiki page…
After releasing the first issue in Sept. 2013, the second in Sept. 2014, the third in Nov. 2016, they have the 4th issue coming January 2025.
Hopefully he’ll focus on the remaining 2 issues with no distractions, but going to figure it’ll be a while before we see a collected hardcover.
Seems Mike Grells The Warlord will get two omnibuses completing 133 issues.
From Mike Grell.com:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 09132024
It’s my 77th birthday and the 5oth Anniversary of THE WARLORD. I’m pleased to announce that DC Comics will be publishing MIKE GRELL’S THE WARLORD OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 in 2025, to be followed by VOLUME 2 which will complete my full run on my very first comic creation. Over the decades THE WARLORD has proven a perennial favorite among fans around the world in many languages.
THE WARLORD tells the story of a US spy pilot whose SR-71 is damaged while on a mission over Russia and plunges through an opening at the North pole into Skartaris, the world at the center on the earth, where creatures of from mythology and Earth’s ancient past co-exist amid fantastic cities and leftovers of the civilization of Atlantis. TRAVIS MORGAN’S struggle to survive in this savage world is the heroic saga of a modern man in pursuit of his destiny in a land beyond time.
–Mike Grell
Recent reads:
Gone
This is a great little with a good ambition and a good showcase for Jock skills as writer and artist. A story of a future sci-fi corporate dystopia,with less a gap and far more yawning chasm between rich and poor.
The opening sets this up very effectively, with kids running through a shanty town. A town revealed to be on another planet as oblivious starships pass overhead. The resulting tale from this is engaging, with a good set of characters. There’s a great sense of scale Abi’s on too.
In terms of production values. I hope DSTLRY keeps these as they are as this is a good, OHC edition that shows off the story.
Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley
This is a very clever story that starts off as a rather standard war tale for Ennis, with a side of time travel and very sharp humour. But in its finale Ennis does some very smart sequences, which Goddard’s art brings to life incredibly well. Those elevate the story massively.
What are they? That would be telling and you don’t want me to be.
The Helltrekkers
An early Judge Dredd spin-off, this sees a load of MC1 citizens try to leg it across the Cursed Earth to a better life. Of course, the clue is in the name: Cursed. Earth.
And so it proves, with much of the fun being who gets offed next and how. It follows that Wagner takes full advantage of the setting to get creative. Nor does everyone die, just a lot.
As usual with 2000AD, the art is excellent, with a high level of density to its mix of colour and mono visuals.
Beasts of Burden is getting an Omnibus TPB, 592 pages for $30:
https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3015-352/Beasts-of-Burden-Omnibus-TPB
I’ve missed a few of the later issues, so will definitely pick this up.
Superman Adventures Compendium One – June 17th 2025
886 pages
Collects: Superman Adventures #1-29; Superman Adventures Annual #1; Batman & Superman Adventures: World’s Finest #1; Superman Adventures Special: Superman/Lobo – Misery In Space #1
Recent reads.
All-Star Batman OHC
This is a good set of stories, with a good art roster. They may be boosted by being read in combination with Snyder’s Batman run.
On their own they work well, with an ongoing plot running across the 14 issues. It’s not an essential, must-read series, but it’s good.
Canary
An effective horror piece by Snyder and Panosian, this is another miniseries to join the others Snyder’s been doing over the last few years.
This one is set in the late 19th century, in Urah, concerning a mining town that delved too deep. Then it turns out the local geology is odd too.
As usual, it’s a good trade whose production values justify its price.
G.O.D.S.
After the mess that was his post-HoX-PoX X-Men work, there was some good stuff in there but overall it was a mess, it’s nice to see Hickman return to form here.
A stort of magical secret wars, politics and grudges and feuds, all played out across multiple dimensions and space and time. And, a first for Hickman, restrained use of diagrams.
I liked this a lot. It helped that the Panini trade was excellent too.
Recent reads:
The Midnight: Shadows
This is an OK story with OK art, though I’m not sure the mix of styles works. The flaw in it for me is the ambiguity of its central idea doesn’t work well for it, as it tries to suggest both realities are real.
The Me You Love In The Dark
This is a great little horror tale from Young, Corona and Beaulieu. It’s also an effective rendering of a toxic and domestically violent relationship through a horror lens.
Fall of the House of X / Rise of the Powers of X
They actually pulled it off. With everything I’d heard about Fall of X, it felt too vicious, too tipped to the negative for my liking. A too sharp mirror of the world? Also probably true.
Then there’s whole presentation of From The Ashes as a rebuild. That leaves a bad taste in the mouth because after reading this? The X-books do not need a rebuild, they’re not in a hole or scorched ash.
The 10 issues of the two minis collected here, along with the very important X-Men 35 / 700, concludes the Krakoan era very well. The only flaw is the missing pieces and references to other issues, but that, I suppose, is what the omnibus will be for.
I’m also far more disposed to reading the earlier Fall of X pieces, again, likely via a possible omnibus.
Will I continue or jump off the X-books? I don’t know. Marvel’s paperbacks are crappy, but they’re pricing their hardbacks upwards. If I decide I need a jump off point, Uncanny X-Men 700 is a perfect one.
Most likely preaching to the choir, but maybe someone hasn’t read…
A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance is a gift for any occasion, and will get you two thumbs up.
Really though, couldn’t continue to be friends with someone who gives a negative review.
A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance is a gift for any occasion
One of my favorite books of the past five years; I have the single issues, the two trades, and the oversize hardcover edition.
The classic Dead Space comics are being reprinted after being out of print for more than a decade – GamesRadar/Newsarama
Antony Johnston and Ben Templesmith are behind the series
Survival horror franchise Dead Space (which just saw a remake of the original game last year) has been a multimedia project right from the start with comics, novels, and animated movies all expanding the story of the games. The comics, written by Antony Johnston and drawn by Ben Templesmith, are particular fan favorites but have been unavailable for years.
Well, not for much longer. Dead Space, Dead Space: Liberation, and Dead Space: Salvage will be reissued as a series of collected editions from Titan Comics, beginning in March next year with the original 2008 limited series, which acts as a prequel to the first game and the Dead Space: Downfall film.
Vol. 1 details the nightmarish final five weeks of the colony on planet Aegis VII. Titan’s official blurb for the new book reads:
“When P-SEC Sgt. Abraham Neumann encounters a reanimated corpse, he fights off wave after wave with one goal in mind: Survival. After the discovery of an Alien artefact prompts mysterious incidents to occur, the colony is shaken through psychological and vicious threats that break down their security. With the Church of Unitology slowly moving to awaken the Marker and push humanity to extinction. The onslaught grows as a gruesome undertaking takes place.”
The Dead Space license has moved about between publishers over the years. While the first comics were published by Image, Salvage was released by IDW, and Liberation by Titan.
“I’m so thrilled to be bringing these nail-biting graphic novels back after so long in the black void,” says Titan Comics Group Editor, Jake Devine. “I remember when I first played the game, sitting alone in the dark, holding my breath as I waited for terrifying monsters to unleash their fury! Fans of the game and newcomers are going to love getting this same terrifying experience once again.”
Dead Space Vol. 1 is published by Titan Comics on March 11, 2025. Release dates have yet to be announced for Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.
Does the Fall of book include X Men Forever as that felt fairly important to me as I read it -plus more Gillen goodness?
Nope! It doesn’t.
There’s a good few missing bits, that mini being one of the big ones.
Very strange. Not sure where they would package that otherwise.
I’m trying to read Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters across 4 trades at the moment. I remember why I stopped reading the series given the tie ins.
It’ll be in the even more pricey Omnibus.
The Panini trade was far better priced than the Marvel one – RRP £29.99 vs £44.99.
Once Upon a Time at The End of The World – Deluxe Edition – August 26th 2025
544 pgs
In this epic post-apocalyptic fable, follow two star-crossed lovers across the wasteland of a planet ravaged by environmental catastrophe as their stories intertwine across decades.
A POST-APOCALYPTIC FABLE IN THREE PARTS
Uncover the mysteries of the wasteland in this decades-spanning epic from New York Times bestselling, and Eisner and Harvey Award-winning writer Jason Aaron and told through the lens of three industry heavyweights – Alexandre Tefenkgi (The Good Asian), Leila Del Duca (Sleepless) and Nick Dragotta (East of West, Absolute Batman).
The full saga is collected here for the first time, spanning three distinct chapters in the lives of two star-crossed lovers wandering a planet devastated by environmental catastrophe. Noxious poisons, plastic tornadoes, and roving gangs of Ravagers are just a few of the dangers that will test their relationship, and reveal the heart of the connections that bind us all.
After all, what is love at the end of the world?
Collects Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #1-15.
Thought it’d be a safe bet that it’d get collected in an OHC.
Anyone read all of it?
Yes. It’s good, if messy, and bittersweet, and confusing, and funny, and sad, and sexy, and scary, … I could go on, but you get the idea.
I enjoyed it. It’s got a great set of artists. Be forewarned though that it doesn’t give you much in the way of answers at the end. Which you may or may not find annoying.
Shade: The Changing Man Omnibus – no date listed
1104 pgs – issues 1 – 41
Man, I loved this back in the day. This is a definite maybe, but want that price to come down.
Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery Deluxe Edition – July 8th 2024
I think I will.
Shade: The Changing Man Omnibus – no date listed
1104 pgs – issues 1 – 41
Man, I loved this back in the day. This is a definite maybe, but want that price to come down.
I have all these in singles and I haven’t read them in decades. Would love this. Though it should run to issue 50.
The trade dress for the new DC Finest line looks nice. DC trades department doing a great job right now:
https://bsky.app/profile/yonatans.bsky.social/post/3l7eo7ye7ym2z
The 6th Astro City Metrobook is out in January, collecting the final three, very hard-to-find collections. I don’t think the last two were ever even in released in paperback.
Astro City Metrobook TP, Book 6
WRITER: Kurt Busiek
ARTIST: Mike Norton, Alex RossJANUARY 08 / 496 pages / FC/ T / $34.99
The Broken Man’s history, spanning over a century and a half, is revealed at last. Michael Tenicek, Astro City’s most tragic survivor, hosts a support group for others like himself. And in between, we meet or re-meet heroes and villains ranging from Jack-in-the-Box to Mister Manta to Kittyhawk, G-Dog and the Pet Patrol. Star creators KURT BUSIEK, BRENT ANDERSON, ALEX ROSS, and friends bring to live the heroes, villains, and others of comics’ most astonishing city.
Collects ASTRO CITY, VOL. 3 #35-52
Good to hear those stories have a new chance of getting to a wider audience.
So not that long ago i bumped into the fact that Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon’s Punisher Max Omnibus is getting a reprint.
It arrives Tuesday.
Collecting PUNISHERMAX (2009) #1-22 and PUNISHER MAX X-MAS SPECIAL #1.
Price is, I guess okay, and Steve Dillon smoothes that over and where was I in the first place?
Lazarus: The Fourth Collection – June 3rd 2025
416 pgs.
The fourth deluxe hardcover collects Lazarus #27-28 and Lazarus: Risen #1-7
Finally! Great spot Sean
Monstress Book 3: Deluxe Hardcover – August 5th 2025
528 pgs.
Collecting volumes 7-9 (issues #36-54) of the Eisner, Hugo, Harvey & British Fantasy Award-winning series by MARJORIE LIU and SANA TAKEDA, this deluxe, oversized hardcover brimming with more than 500 pages of art deco beauty and steampunk horror will make an elegant addition to any fan’s shelf.
Got a great pre-order price.
Either a Black Friday week special, or a mistake.
The Complete Harrow County slipcase is a thing of beauty.
Looks like a box with a quaint design, then you open and see the nasty.
The edge of the paper is black, which adds to the creepiness.
I did find a copy of the first Library Edition and was awaiting re-issues of the rest, but then this was announced.
Im glad.
Looking forward to this (admit my ‘to read’ pile is fricking massive).
Monstress Book 3: Deluxe Hardcover – August 5th 2025
Got a great pre-order price.
Either a Black Friday week special, or a mistake.
I had a good look but couldn’t see a great price – where were you looking?
Monstress Book 3: Deluxe Hardcover – August 5th 2025
Got a great pre-order price.
Either a Black Friday week special, or a mistake.I had a good look but couldn’t see a great price – where were you looking?
Amazon.ca (Canada)
Our dollar sucks right now compared to the U.S.
They list the base price as $69.99, so I jumped at two copies at $23.27 each (67% off).
Now it’s already gone up a bit to $40.77 (42% off)
Monstress Book Three: Deluxe Hardcover (Volume 3) https://a.co/d/eTdIcCh
I just received the second Green Lantern Corps Omnibus. Love having them on my bookshelf, but the mapping is so strange. Thankfully all the Tomasi written issues are included but there’s a seemingly random selection of issues by other writers too. Some but not all the crossover issues, for example. Literally one issue of Blackest Night. Guest written issues by Sterling Gates but not issues by regular writer Dave Gibbons. Bizarre. Just bizarre.
Omar has just announced for August 2025 a X-Men: Fall of the House of X / Rise of the Powers of X Omnibus.
Omar has just announced for August 2025 a X-Men: Fall of the House of X / Rise of the Powers of X Omnibus.
Does Marvel know about this?
Who do you think supplied him the info?
Marvel knows they get free marketing via him.
Who do you think supplied him the info?
Marvel knows they get free marketing via him.
I know. Just thought it’d be quite funny if he went rogue and announced something they didn’t know about. And then they were stuck going “well damn, now we have to make it”.
Heheheh – I suspect Marvel might despatch a bounty hun – ahem, freelance peace-keeping agent on him if he did.
The Cith Beneath Her Feet – May 6th 2025
152 pgs., Hardcover – DSTLRY
A bloody love letter to New York City, The City Beneath Her Feet is an action/thriller love story for a new generation by lauded creators James Tynion IV (Spectregraph, Something is Killing the Children) and Elsa Charretier (Room Service, Love Everlasting).
Jasper Jayne was the girl of Zara’s dreams, but their brief relationship came and went in such an intense blaze that Zara was left thinking Jasper was just that… a dream. Years later, Zara is thrust back into Jasper’s world — unknowingly listed as her emergency contact, Zara must piece together the mystery of Jasper’s life, all while being hunted by the assassins who once called Jasper one of their own.
Has anyone had any issues pre-ordering with Speedy Hen lately? I had two pre-orders for books released on 3rd Dec (one’s for me and one’s a Christmas present). There’s no sign of them being dispatched. I contacted SH and they say they’re both out of stock with their supplier and will take 1-2 weeks to come in. Which seems kind of not the point of pre-orders.
I ordered the Aquaman omnibus out on the 3rd and no sign of it being dispatched.
I can see the publication date of Aquaman was he 3rd of December. Unfortunately, our supplier is still waiting for stock to arrive from the publisher. We would expect this to be very soon.
Once your item has been dispatched, you will receive a dispatch confirmation email.
I’ve been getting a lot of that over here when I pre-order through Amazon.ca
With the pre-order lowest price guarantee I’m noticing the bigger the savings the longer the wait.
(Like with price fluctuations and when someone ordered, the higher priced ones go first and that’s more immediate money for Amazon.
Got yourself a great deal? Just wait for a while…).
They will honor their side, but any complaints and they say “supply chain issues”, and I can cancel my order without penalty, or send back when it arrives.
When my dollar sucks so bad compared to the U.S., it is nice to get the Harrow County Complete Omnibus for $123 as compared to $194 (and note for that both those numbers are approx $50 higher than in 2019 for similar items), but this is not the intention of pre-order which should be oldest order fulfilled first.
Has anyone had any issues pre-ordering with Speedy Hen lately? I had two pre-orders for books released on 3rd Dec (one’s for me and one’s a Christmas present). There’s no sign of them being dispatched. I contacted SH and they say they’re both out of stock with their supplier and will take 1-2 weeks to come in. Which seems kind of not the point of pre-orders.
Yeah I had pre-ordered the Extremity HC from them and it didn’t come through for a while so I switched to someone else. Unusual for them as they’re usually quick to despatch and sometimes even before release date.
SpeedyHen are a little odd at the moment.
Had the BZJRKR OHC cancelled.
They seem to be having problems with DC books, they don’t seem able to get the King WW Volume 2 in.
At the same time, there’s been other stuff they’ve sent early. There’s no pattern to it.
They got back to me again. The one for me is a DC trade and they can’t say when they’ll have it. The other book is “out of stock with the publisher” and they got in a small amount of stock to fulfil some pre-orders but they’re expecting it in 2-3 weeks. Which is a bit awkward for a Christmas present.
You could look at SciFier.
They take a little time to despatch but do also give a timetable. £2 postage flat rate but items are well packed. Yodel is their carrier.
Used them twice recently and they’ve been pretty good.
You could look at SciFier.
They take a little time to despatch but do also give a timetable. £2 postage flat rate but items are well packed. Yodel is their carrier.
Used them twice recently and they’ve been pretty good.
Never heard of them, but €5 per order flat postage to Ireland is pretty good.
They used to be Aphrohead Books. Bought a couple of books from them years ago.
SciFier.
Oh cool, I used them a couple of times when they were Aphrohead. I’m not too fussed about when the DC trade turns up really, it’s the (non-SF novel) that’s the real issue. It only seems to be in stock with Amazon now, which is annoying – I try to minimise how much money I send their way. I find it ironic that the publishing house has on their website fluff about being proudly independent and stuff, but seem to have prioritised sending stock to the big global megacorp rather than smaller independent book-sellers. I get the economics of it, but not a great look.