Penguin Classics Marvel Collection launches in June

By John Freeman on April 8, 2022

The Penguin Classics Marvel Collection arrives in bookshops this Summer, on 14th June 2022, offering stories featuring The Amazing Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Captain America.

For the first time, classic stories of some of the most iconic Super Heroes in the history of American comics are Penguin Classics, carefully curated comic book anthologies presenting the original stories and seminal tales of key Marvel characters, that serve, says the comics publisher, “as a testament to Marvel’s transformative impact on the fantasy genre and across popular culture”.

Both the iconic black spine paperback and collectible hardcover formats are available for pre-order now, everywhere books are sold.

“It is impossible to imagine American popular culture without Marvel Comics,” says Marvel. “For decades, Marvel has published groundbreaking visual narratives that sustain attention on multiple levels: as metaphors for the experience of difference and otherness; as meditations on the fluid nature of identity; and as high-water marks in the artistic tradition of American cartooning, to name a few.”

The Amazing Spider-Man — Penguin Classics Marvel Collection Edition

The Amazing Spider-Man — Penguin Classics Marvel Collection Edition contains twelve key stories from the first two years of Spider-Man’s publication history (from 1962 to 1964). These influential adventures not only transformed the super hero fantasy into an allegory for the pain of adolescence but also brought a new ethical complexity to the genre—by insisting that with great power there must also come great responsibility.

This anthology collects: “Spider-Man!” from Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962); The Amazing Spider-Man #1-4, #9, #10, #13, #14, #17-19 (1963-1964); “Goodbye to Linda Brown” from Strange Tales #97 (1962); and “How Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Create Spider-Man!” from The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (1964).

The book features a foreword by Jason Reynolds and scholarly introductions and apparatus by Ben Saunders offer further insight into the enduring significance of The Amazing Spider-Man and classic Marvel comics.

The Deluxe Hardcover edition features gold foil stamping, gold top stain edges, special endpapers with artwork spotlighting series villains, and full-color art throughout.

Black Panther — Penguin Classics Marvel Collection Edition

The Black Panther is not just a super hero; as King T’Challa, he is also the monarch of the hidden African nation of Wakanda. Combining the strength and stealth of his namesake with a creative scientific intelligence, the Black Panther is an icon of Afro-futurist fantasy.

The Black Panther — Penguin Classics Marvel Collection Edition includes the Black Panther’s 1966 origin tale and the entirety of the critically acclaimed “Panther’s Rage” storyline from his 1970s solo series.

This anthology collects Fantastic Four #52-53 (1966); and Jungle Action #6-21 (1973-1976). Also included is a foreword by Nnedi Okorafor, a scholarly introduction and apparatus by Qiana J. Whitted, and a general series introduction by Ben Saunders that offer further insight into the enduring significance of Black Panther.

The Deluxe Hardcover edition features gold foil stamping, gold top stain edges, special endpapers with artwork spotlighting series villains, and full-color art throughout.

The Captain America — Penguin Classics Marvel Collection Edition

The Captain America — Penguin Classics Marvel Collection Edition draws upon multiple comic book series, including Captain America’s very first appearances from 1941 alongside key examples of his first solo stories of the 1960s, in which Steve Rogers, the newly resurrected hero of World War II, searches to find his place in a new and unfamiliar world. As the contents reveal, the transformations of this American icon thus mark parallel transformations in the nation itself.

This anthology collects Captain America Comics #1 (1941); the Captain America stories from Tales of Suspense #59, #63-68, #75-81, #92-95, #110-113 (1964-1969); and “Captain America…Commie Smasher” from Captain America #78 (1954).

It also includes a foreword by Gene Luen Yang and scholarly introductions and apparatus by Ben Saunders offer further insight into the enduring significance of Captain America.

The Deluxe Hardcover edition features gold foil stamping, gold top stain edges, special endpapers with artwork spotlighting series villains, and full-color art throughout.

• The Black Panther, Captain America, and The Amazing Spider-Man — Penguin Classics Marvel Collections are all available on 14th June 2022, everywhere books are sold

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.