Did you catch Walt’s tease in the last newsletter about something big happening in September?
Folks, let me tell you… well, let me tell you nothing, because I have no idea what’s happening and Walt won’t spill a word. But I’m already looking at hotels in Berlin, just in case.
Anyway, let’s all exercise a little patience and hope everything works out (unless Walt wants to tell me. In that case, screw patience, right?)
In the meantime, let’s dive into what’s on FOC this week in collected editions, shall we?
Batman by Tom King Omnibus Vol.1
This was the most wanted omnibus by DC fans in last year’s Near Mint Condition poll, and they heard us loud and clear. It’s a very recent run, but we want it in omnibus form, and we want it now.
We’re talking about the Rebirth era, following Scott Snyder’s acclaimed run. Like a lot of folks who were too young when New 52 was rolling out - or should I say, too young to have any money to buy comics - this was the first Batman run I read monthly as it was coming out. And I adored it with all of my heart.
As with everything Tom King writes, expect big swings, deep dives into character study, and yes, a very divided public opinion. Also, like a third of what King does, expect lots of buff men, and I’ll admit, my love for this run might partially come from that shirtless exercising scene in the first issue here. (It’s Pride Month. Let me be!)
This is probably the first in what should become a three-volume collection, and I fully expect it to be as popular as the Snyder omnibuses. It's not quite Court of Owls level iconic, but it includes some really strong arcs.
You get Night of the Monster Men, which brings the whole Bat-family into the fold and sets my boy Tim Drake on a very different (what other way to say it without spoiling you?) path. There’s a big Bane story, and Rooftops, a beautiful two-parter that focuses on the emotional core of this run: Batman and Catwoman’s relationship. That arc pays off big time by the end of the series.
We also get The War of Jokes and Riddles, which pits Gotham’s greatest villains against each other in a psychological and emotional chess match and The Button, a crossover with The Flash, where Bruce and Barry investigate that mysterious smiley face button from the Rebirth one-shot. (Yes, that button, from Watchmen, that eventually leads into Doomsday Clock.)
Batman By Tom King Omnibus Vol 1 HC
€89,99
€125,00
Step into the definitive modern saga of the Dark Knight—bold, emotional, and unrelenting, from superstar writer Tom King and visionary artists including David Finch and Mikel Janín.Dive into the first volume of Tom King’s groundbreaking run on Batman, now collected… read more
Marvel Team-Up Omnibus Vol. 1
If I was too young for New 52 Batman, you can imagine how young I was for this. That’s right—there were no comics in the pre-life. (But I sure hope the afterlife has some, and I’m not even asking for omnibuses. An OHC would suffice. I’m not greedy.)
This is yet another Spider-Man spinoff, and lately Marvel’s been doing a great job collecting these side titles that I’m only now starting to tell apart. (Marvel Two-in-One, Marvel Fanfare, all that good stuff.) But this one is special because it features Spidey meeting other characters from across the Marvel Universe and that’s always the best version of Spidey. Full-on banter, misunderstandings, and the inevitable pre-team-up fight before they realize it was probably Stilt-Man’s fault all along.
And let me tell you, love me some Peter Parker and Johnny Storm. This omnibus has tons of that. It’s not exactly the relationship I imagine for them (again, it’s Pride Month so let’s be honest), but it is hands down the best friendship in comics. They fit like… water and, uh… fire? (Look, I’m not the best at metaphors and I just came off of not only one but two Harley Quinn articles, so cut me a break okay?).
We also get Vision, X-Men, Iceman (boy do I miss the Spidey, Johnny, Iceman gang in the original Ultimate Spider-Man), Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Namor, Hulk, Black Panther, Daredevil, Hawkeye and even Inhumans, Hercules and Werewolf By Night. So If you want to dip into older comics to figure out what may be your thing, this is a perfect tasting menu of everyone with a title at the time.
Marvel Team-Up Omnibus Vol. 1 HC *PRE-ORDER*
€75,99
€100,00
At last, the beloved Marvel Team-Up series gets the omnibus treatment, featuring the Amazing Spider-Man and a cast of colorful co-stars from across the Marvel Universe!Get ready for all of Marvel’s most-famous characters all piled into one amazing title—Marvel Team-Up! In… read more
JLA: Earth 2 Deluxe Edition (2025 Edition)
Speaking of tasting menus, this is a perfect little dip into both JLA and Grant Morrison, thanks to the reprint of this graphic novel that pits our trinity against a truly deranged version of themselves. We're talking about a genocidal Superman and a Lois Lane version of Wonder Woman who does bondage fantasy with Jimmy Olsen. (It was the late ’90s, they were being dark, okay?)
The whole “heroes are actually bad” angle isn’t usually my thing, but Morrison brings so much complexity to the table that this feels more like a sincere exploration than an edgy cash grab. There’s actual character work and development here, stuff that says something about the trinity and their place in the comic book iconography. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always interesting. And with Morrison, you’re guaranteed at least that.
So If you dig The Boys, Invincible and that sort of stuff (and by the amount of Invincible Compendiums restocks this shop gets, you really do), check this one out.
Frank Quitely’s art is also extraordinary. Just like in his other collaboration with Morrison on All-Star Superman, this is a great book to understand why Quitely was such a phenomenon in the comics scene at the time. His style is weird and elegant, perfect for Morrison’s brand of super-weird humanity.
JLA Earth 2 Deluxe Edition HC (2025 Edition) *PRE-ORDER*
€23,99
€29,99
From Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely--the New York Times bestselling creative team behind All-Star Superman, WE3, Batman and Robin, Flex Mentallo, and New X-Men--comes a graphic novel that pits Earth's greatest heroes against themselves! This special deluxe edition of JLA:… read more
That’s it for this week!
See you around in the newsletters! Or, if you can’t get enough of me (I wish I was that hot), check out the articles from myself, Daniel, and Petar over on Beyond the Panels. June’s been such a fun content month with all the Pride and X-Men love. (But that’s basically the same thing, right?)
Bye bye,
Math
