The Marvel Comics Omnibus Library by TASCHEN

When I first caught the Marvel Comics bug, and subsequently fell completely in love with comics, it was enabled almost entirely by Marvel Comics Essentials. Back when Marvel Unlimited was still but a fanciful flying car of the distant future, the most affordable way to dive headfirst into Marvel binges came through the Essentials, black and white editions of 500 pages of comics. I ripped through the Dark Phoenix Saga, Stan and Steve’s Spidey, and countless other Marvel beginnings this way. I would quite literally divide my college paychecks into chunks of how many Essentials I could purchase with them (never enough!). And here I am today, taking the stand as an expert!

While the Essentials line went the way of Uncle Ben circa 2013 (too soon?), and Marvel’s Epic Collections have taken their place with slightly fewer comics, but all in color, there’s actually an underrated, even more prestigious way to start with the original Marvel Comics the founders created: The TASCHEN Marvel Comics Library.

If you’re not familiar, TASCHEN actually began as a single comic-book shop in Cologne, Germany, before progressing into a renowned publisher of large-format, illustrated art books. TASCHEN’s Marvel Comics Library kicked off with Spider-Man, 1962-1964 in 2021, and since then they’ve released similar giant collections for the first stories from Fantastic Four, Avengers, X-Men, Hulk and Silver Surfer (not to mention Marvel’s 1970s Star Wars comics!).

— Note that if you purchase comics through links to TASCHEN in this article, I may earn a qualifying affiliate commission. —

Apart from the loving reproduction that treats the first 20ish issues of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and Stan Lee’s creations like honest-to-Odin art, I particularly love how the collections include all the ads and letters pages that came with the original issues. There’s just something about a muscle man promising to transform my wimpy body, or an out-and-out Ponzi scheme involving child-labor and Christmas cards that makes me feel like I’m right there in the 60s reading alongside Stan, Jack and Steve’s latest. Truly, I cannot quite overstate how lovingly these comics are reproduced; it’s the closest feeling I’ve found next to discovering your Uncle’s basement longbox from 60 years ago! Except without the flood damage and smell no one can place!

My Marvelous Year

Best Marvel Comics of the 1960s

Now, if you’re wondering about the value of the actual Silver Age stories at play, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and Silver Surfer (shouts to John Buscema!) are stone-cold 60s Marvel classics. FF and Spidey ranked among my two favorites when I read the Silver Age for the first time as part of the My Marvelous Year reading club (and Silver Surfer was close!). No notes!

On the other hand, there are some curious exceptions. No Kirby Thor? No Ditko Doctor Strange?! When will the indignities cease! I definitely rank those two Silver Age runs well above the selections, although purely based on total impact, I can’t argue against Avengers, X-Men and Hulk all occupying more pop culture real estate. Weirdly, when the Marvel Comics Library was announced, Marvel listed Captain America among the first editions, and that hasn’t yet come to pass. So perhaps more Silver Age runs are in the pipeline!

So yes, I am very much in favor of the quality of 1960s Marvel Comics, even though there will always be readers who don’t connect with the stylings and trappings of Stanly the Manly. Honestly, I would have guessed these Marvel originals would be harder sells for the younger generation, but I put my XXL copy of X-Men in front of my 10 year old, and he’s read all 21 issues of 1963 X-Men at least twice. Once in a single sitting. I’m not crying tears of joy, YOU’RE CRYING TEARS OF JOY, SHUT UP!

In terms of the sizing options (as displayed above via TASCHEN’s website guidance), the 11.4 lb (yes, I weighed mine) XXL monsters are best for 1) Showing off 2) Impressing romantic partners 3) Bludgeoning away threats as you attempt to show off for new romantic partners. They are art-book powerhouses, with the might of a million suns. Here’s mine compared to my Marvel Books of Doom omnibus, hardcover Waid/Wieringo Fantastic Four, DC Compact edition, and TASCEN Avengers compact edition.

If it was just the XXL behemoths like my beloved X-Men version, I’d be the first to admit it’s a wonderful package, but really only for the comics fans among us who really want a coffee table showcase (if I tried to read this book in bed, I would break my spine). No, what’s got me most fascinated is the Compact editions, originally popping off at $25 for 5.5″ x 7.7″ hardcover comic collections of around 700 pages of comics and history. You can barely buy a burrito for $25 these days (Thanks, Obama!), so obviously that’s a DEAL. Seriously, I know DC’s Compact Classics get all the hype these days – and for good reason! – but even if it’s $15 more, I find TASCHEN Marvel Compacts way more interesting as stealth Compact Classics than Marvel’s largely botched ‘Premiere Collection‘ line. Speak of the devil, here’s a TASCEN compact vs. a DC compact vs. a single floppy issue of Absolute Batman.

Now, naturally, the $25 compacts are printed on notably flimsier paper than the $200 XXLs, but it’s still a very high quality product, and in what universe would they be printed exactly the same? You still get all the comics and ads, as well as the in-depth essays. From what I can tell, the Compacts don’t reprint the forewards included in the XXL editions, so I guess if you’re in it for the Kevin Feige 2-page forward… actually I can’t even finish that, who’s in it for that! Plus, these compacts are adorable. Look at those cute lil Kirby comics in a tiny hardcover! If you want to gift someone the ability to read 20-ish issues of the origins of Marvel Comics, I’m convinced there’s no better value (at least in print!).

I’ve listed out all the various Marvel Comics Library formats from TASCHEN below, ordered from my favorite to my least favorite! I’ve deliberately left off the Collector’s Limited Editions as these are limited to the first 1,000 purchases, and cost at least 300% more than the standard XXL! Snatch up those Compact Omnibabies while you can!

Taschen Fantastic Four Editions

Fantastic Four, 1961-1963 – XXL

Fantastic Four, 1961-1963 – Compact

Issues: Fantastic Four #1 to #19, Fantastic Four Annual #1

Extras: In-depth essay by Mark Waid, foreword by former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino

Taschen Spider-Man Editions

Spider-Man, 1962-1964 – XXL

Spider-Man, 1962-1964 – XL

Spider-Man, 1962-1964 – Compact

Issues: Amazing Fantasy #15, The Amazing Spider-Man #1 to #19, The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

Extras: In-depth essay from Marvel editor Ralph Macchio

Spider-Man Vol. 2, 1965-1966 – XXL

Issues: The Amazing Spider-Man #20 to #38, Annual #2

As I publish this, Spidey and the Avengers are the only franchises with Volume Two collections, and in both cases at publication, both Volume Twos are only available in the ~$200 XXL format. In the case of the Spider-Man Volume Two edition, the comics are very much worthwhile, as it completely finishes the Ditko/Lee era of Spidey before the title famously moves into the masterful hands of John Romita.

Taschen Silver Surfer Editions

Silver Surfer, 1968-1970 – XXL

Silver Surfer, 1968-1970 – Compact

Issues: Silver Surfer #1 to #18

Extras: In-depth essay by Douglas Wolk

Taschen X-Men Editions

X-Men, 1963-1966 – XXL

X-Men, 1963-1966 – Compact

Issues: X-Men #1 to #21

Extras: Foreword by Chris Claremont, in-depth essay by Fabian Nicieza

Since I own the XXL X-Men edition (#BigDaddy), here’s a little accounting to help you understand what’s in these glorious monsters:

2 page forward from long-time Head of X Chris Claremont
Deadpool co-creator Fabian Nicieza’s “Underdogs with a view from the top” essay spans pages 16 to 50, including image references, scripts and original art scans
The next ~500 pages are X-Men issues #1 to #21 inclusive of covers, ads and letters
Pages 652 to 664 include comics credits and creator biographies

Taschen Avengers Editions

Avengers, 1963-1965 – XXL

Avengers, 1963-1965 – XL

Avengers, 1963-1965 – Compact

Issues: Avengers #1 to #20

Extras: Foreword by Kevin Feige, in-depth essay by Kurt Busiek

I don’t even want to be reading Silver Age Avengers but the compact edition I got at my local comic shop is so delightful I’ve been pouring over these issues all afternoon. My kids are going to devour these comics.