Marvel Masterworks

Marvel Masterworks is an American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics.

The collection started in 1987, with volumes reprinting the issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, and The Avengers. Approximately 10 issues are reprinted in each volume. In 2013 Masterworks published its 200th volume. The Masterworks line has expanded from such reprints of the 1960s period that fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books to include the 1930s–1940s Golden Age; comics of Marvel's 1950s Pre-Code forerunner, Atlas Comics; and even some reprints from the 1970s period called the Bronze Age of Comic Books.

There is also a black-and-white trade paperback line, Essential Marvel, with approximately 25 comics per volume; and the full-color, oversized, hardcover Omnibus line, each volume of which reprints the equivalent of three to four Masterworks.

Marvel rival DC Comics began publishing its similar DC Archive Editions two years later. Because DC has produced new volumes more consistently, the Archives were nearly twice the number of Masterworks, but with the apparent suspension of the DC program, the gap has begun to close quickly.

The first printing of Masterworks books from Marvel started in 1987 (3 in 1987, 4 per year after that) and continued until 1994 (27 volumes), most with a suggested retail price of US $29.95 (Hulk $24.95) for the first three years, $34.95 after that (Silver Surfer vol 19 $44.95). The first printings had a marble-look dust-jacket with either light gray, pastels or primary colors; the binding was a faux leather dyed in the color associated with the title (Marvel Masterworks, volume number, and title was embossed usually in gold (exceptions: The Silver Surfer, Iron Man) on the spine along with an embossed symbol representing the character(s) of the title on the front) and numbered in the order the volumes were released (e.g., The Amazing Spider-Man: Vol. 1 was #1, The Fantastic Four: Vol. 1 was #2). Volumes contained about 10 issues (plus 1 annual) and were about 220-260 pages each. Some volumes had fewer pages, such as The Invincible Iron Man: Vol. 1 (197 pages), The Incredible Hulk: Vol. 1 (150 pages), and The Uncanny X-Men: Vol. 1-3 (each under 200 pages). The end papers featured a 'gallery' of three sequential Masterworks covers along with a partial cover of the next volume in the series (except Volumes 1, 2 and 27). The volume in which the 'gallery' was printed would always 'hang' in the third position, preceded by the previous two volumes. Some volumes have had multiple printings, such as The Amazing Spider-Man: Vol. 1, with seven.

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