The inaugural volume of Marvel and TASCHEN’s new line of over-sized, premium classic comic collections will be The Marvel Comics Library: Spider-Man. Vol. 1. 1962–1964, featuring the first 21 stories of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s run.
The new extra-large format series will offer “pedigreed comics” that have once again “…been cracked open for reproduction in close collaboration with Marvel and the Certified Guaranty Company. Rather than recolor the original production artwork (as has been done in previous decades’ reprints of classic comics), TASCHEN has attempted to create an ideal representation of these books as they were produced at the time of publication. Beginning with high grade, top-quality comics sourced with the assistance of the CGC, super-high-resolution photographs of each page were made as printed more than half a century ago, using modern retouching techniques to correct problems with the era’s inexpensive, imperfect printing.”
The Marvel Comics Library: Spider-Man. Vol. 1. 1962–1964 includes “…an in-depth historical essay by Marvel editor Ralph Macchio, an introduction by uber-collector David Mandel, original art boards, rare photographs, and other never-before-seen gems make this book the ultimate tribute to the teen who redefined what it meant to be a hero, right ahead of Spider-Man’s 60th birthday.”
With collectors in mind, the first 5,000 copies of Spider-Man. Vol. 1 will be numbered and released as a Famous First Editions. Those looking for an even more limited edition can purchase the Collector’s Edition, which will be limited to 1,000 copies and feature an aluminum print cover tipped into a leatherette-bound spine, foil embossing, and slipcase. Each Collector’s Edition volume will also be individually numbered, with the added opportunity to collect future editions with the same identical edition number for all future Collector’s Edition titles in The Marvel Comic Library series.
Subsequent volumes will focus on The Avengers (1963-1965), Fantastic Four (1961-1963), and a volume on Captain America. The books use three different paper stocks, including an uncoated and woodfree paper exclusively developed for this series that simulates the feel of the original comics.
No specific release dates have been announced as of yet, but all three volumes are expected in 2022 and 2023. No price points have been revealed at this point either. Check out the high quality images below and start saving now!
