Marvel cancels high-selling Essential Line!!!!

The solicit for Essential Human Torch

This will be the last classic Marvel super hero series to be reprinted in the Essential format.

Looks like they prefer to make fifty dollars for ten color issues (with new covers and things that make COLLECTORS happy instead of 25 issues in black and white that make READERS happy for such great entertainment value.

These books sold huge quantities. What do retailers feel about this policy to eliminate this line which was perfect for introducing new READERs to Marvel's vast quantity of quality stories? Weren't these books always selling in your stores? They seem to have trouble keeping them in stock at my local Borders and Barnes and Noble.

What if Human Torch Essential is top-selling trade this month - will Quemas still bull-headedly insist that we like and get only what they want us to - I thought Marvel READERS were the true editors.

The best format EVER for introducing new READERS to Marvel's characters and Marvel cut off the pipeline at its source. They are truly losing touch. Maybe the COLLECTORS and FANBOYS with lame review sites will celebrate the demise of cheesy old Marvel's Essential line, but the rest of us are left scratching our heads wondering what we have to do to enjoy Marvel characters anymore.

I guess those of you who haven't yet tried them, might care to hop over to Future Comics or Rocket Comics or even (shudder) DC??????

The last fun train in Marvel's Universe just rolled out of town.

The solicit for Essential Human Torch

This *is* (not 'will be' the last classic Marvel super hero series to be reprinted in the Essential format.

******************************* It can be read two ways: 1) this is the last of Marvel's classic series to get the Essentials treatment or 2) this is the last Essential reprinting classic Marvel series. I'm pretty sure it's meant to be 1), even though I think it overlooks Sub-Mariner (I think you can argue that Nick Fury isn't superhero stuff, and Captain Marvel isn't classic early Marvel).

But why be so vague about this, then? When Marvel says 'last,' I think it means 'last.' That this is the end of the Essential line, period. Otherwise, that line is open to ridiculous amounts of conjecture. I'd imagine Marvel's going to do limited Masterworks runs for $75 a pop or so and nothing else from now on. Brilliant move, guys.

Exactly!

I don't really think it's vague:

'This is the last remaining classic Marvel super-hero series to be reprinted in the Essential format.'

If it's the last Essential, I think it would state exactly that. It strongly infers that non-classic and/or non-superhero series are still potentials, and Kurt explained what Marvel probably considers 'classic'.

I think the blurb was a boast - with this edition, they've started an Essential series for every classic (first-wave) Marvel character! The Torch was the last one without at least one volume.

On various other boards, Marvel is still promoting an October Dracula Essential, and has said there will be more Essentials in 2004.

I have no doubt Marvel will continue the Masterworks series with new volumes by 2nd quarter 2004 (after the last of the 32 re-mastered books are out), and I expect they'll continue to be at a $39.95 or $49.95 cover price depending on the page count.

I'd suspect you're right. It's promotional copy. Maybe it was just a bad choice of words. I certainly wouldn't start jumping to conclusions about it being the last Essential

Or negative profit on the TPB of _Fight Club Bolts_. Puh-lease, all that kickass stuff from Busiek and Nicieza, and they're TPBing Fight Club

Or maybe you've just completely misinterpreted what's being said.

Tom Brevoort 'There's three things about fans that always come out. One, they think what was done ten years ago is better than today. Second, they express this with violent opinions. And third, they expect you to publish for them alone.' Jim Warren August 1, 1965

Come on, Kurt. That line isn't clear at all. What the hell does 'classic' mean, for instance? Ask a dozen comic geeks what 'classic Marvel super-hero series' means and you'll get a dozen different answers...although probably all of them would include the ASM early 100s run, FF in the lead-up to issue 100, Avengers before the Kree-Skrull War, and so. And seeing as those books would be included in the next Essential ASM, Essential FF, and Essential Avengers, how can you not wonder what Marvel means by that blurb? Maybe the line doesn't include the existing Essential series. Maybe it is intended to refer only to series that haven't been collected in this format, like Sub-Mariner. But that meaning is hardly obvious from the wording.

Personally, I don't think Marvel has a clue what's going on with the future of the Essential line, though this blurb makes it clear that no other books are even in the planning stages at the moment. I think a combo of modest sales plus a low profit margin has some execs thinking that it should be discontinued in favor of something that brings in more cash and is more prestigious. The series seems to be something of an annoyance to Marvel, because of the bother involved in readying the old books for reprint, and because of that low profit margin. There aren't really any other explanations for why the Essentials are so spread out, and why books like Tomb of Dracula have been cancelled.

If everything's so clear to you as a Marvel insider, Tom, why don't you clarify matters? You know, actually tell us what's going on with the Essential lineup instead of just injecting smartassed comments?

you are abslty right, i have read the same things and doubt that this is the end of the essential line. the quoted line the original poster gives also leaves wide open continued printings of already started series (daredevil 2, dr strange 2, etc. . .)