Marvel oversized hardcover


The Marvel Comics oversized hardcover format launched in 2002, reproducing full-colour comics in books approximately 11in x 7.5in in size. This was roughly an inch taller and wider than the original comic book.

Launch

The first two releases were Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 and The Complete Frank Miller Spider-Man in late-March and early-April 2002, with then Marvel President, Bill Jemas, saying that the company had “never done hardcovers but every time we’ve done one, it’s been spectacularly successful.” Twelve oversized hardcovers were released in 2002.
A smaller ‘premiere’ hardcover size, plus the thicker ‘omnibus’ format, both launched in the mid-2000s - however the oversized hardcover continued to be Marvel's preferred choice of premium release for recent content. The much-heralded return of the Star Wars licence to Marvel in 2015 saw the publisher use the format to release three remasters of comics from the original trilogy.

Format overlap and shift

With the omnibus and oversized hardcover line running side-by-side while sharing the same print size, there was often confusion in regards to how Marvel classified books. In 2015, a Spider-Verse ‘oversized hardcover’ was released at 648 pages; yet, months later, a Superior Foes Of Spider-Man ‘omnibus’ came out, with only 376 pages. Both collected full runs of a Spider-Man miniseries that had been released within the prior two years. In February 2019, the Hulk: Dogs Of War ‘oversized hardcover’ was 832 pages; while, four months later, Hulk by Loeb and McGuinness was a 912-page ‘omnibus’.
Meanwhile, the 2011 ‘oversized hardcover’ of X-Men: Fall Of The Mutants was re-released with the exact same page count and cover in 2022, but using ‘omnibus’ branding; while 2025's X-Men: Fatal Attractions ‘omnibus’ has identical content to the 2012 ‘oversized hardcover’.
The shortest omnibus was 2007's Devil Dinosaur at 184 pages, while the largest oversized hardcover was 2013's Avengers vs. X-Men Companion at 1,112 pages.
By 2022, even though the overall comics market “was a success on the surface”, the generally thinner oversized hardcover format was struggling. Costs had increased for both retailers and consumers, especially in regards to shipping. This led to a priority shift towards the softcover trade paperback format, and manga-style digests. This was borne out by Marvel's 2025 launch of the 9in x 6in Premier Collection, in response to DC’s Compact Comics, which had been a big hit for retailers.
As a result, just 18 oversized hardcovers came out in 2022, with eight in 2023 - a far cry from the 49 of 2011 and 45 of 2010. Only four books were released in 2024, each rounding off a creator's run that had already started in the format. Those numbers compared to 2024's record 89 omnibuses and 87 Epic Collections, including reprints, signalling the priority change.
Only three oversized hardcovers are scheduled for 2025: Rob Liefeld's Deadpool Badbadder Blood one-shot; the fourth volume of X-Force by Benjamin Percy, and a Red Band edition of the Blood Hunt event.

Marvel Universe OHCs

These books contain stories that take place in the primary Marvel Universe. This fictional continuity is often referred to as Earth-616, with a legacy that stretches back to 1939.

Daredevil

Hawkeye

Luke Cage

Spider-Gwen

X-Men

Anthologies

These books feature comics previously published within the Earth-616 universe, but grouped outside of a single character, or team.
#TitleYears coveredMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Marvel Legacy2017Marvel Legacy one-shot; Marvel Legacy primer pages; FOOM Magazine512Joe Quesada cover:
The A-Z of Marvel Monsters1959-1960Tales To Astonish #15–16, 22; Tales Of Suspense #13, 18, 23; Journey Into Mystery #57, 62; Kirby Monster Variant Cover collection128Mike Del Mundo cover:
Marvel Monsters1960sMaterial from Tales To Astonish #1, 10; Journey Into Mystery #62; Strange Tales #89; Marvel Monsters: From The Monster Files Of Ulysses Bloodstone And The Monster Hunters200Eric Powell cover:
Legion Of Monsters1970sMaterial from Marvel Premiere #28; Marvel Spotlight #26; Marvel Two-in-One #18; Dead Of Night #11280Greg Land cover:
Marvel Visionaries: Chris Claremont1970s-1980sAvengers Annual #10; Daredevil #102; Excalibur #16; Iron Fist #14; New Mutants #21; X-Men #137; Uncanny X-Men #153, 205, 268; Uncanny X-Men Annual #12; Wolverine #3; material from Classic X-Men #12; Marvel Preview #11; X-Men Unlimited #36376John Byrne cover:
1Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby Vol. 11940s-1960sAvengers #4; Captain America #200; Eternals #7; Fantastic Four #48–51; Incredible Hulk #3; Sgt. Fury #6; Thor #134–136; What If? #11; Yellow Claw #3; material from Amazing Adventures #1; Amazing Adventures #1–2; Amazing Spider-Man #8; Captain America Comics #1; Fantastic Four Annual #5; Rawhide Kid #17; Red Raven Comics #1; Strange Tales #94336Jack Kirby cover:
2Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby Vol. 21940s-1960sDevil Dinosaur #1; Fantastic Four #57–60; Sgt. Fury #13; Thor #154–157; X-Men #9; Yellow Claw #4; material from Captain America Comics #1; Love Romances #103; Marvel Mystery Comics #23; Not Brand Echh #1; Strange Tales #89, 114; Tales of Suspense #59; Two-Gun Kid #60344Jack Kirby cover:
Marvel Visionaries: John Buscema1960s-1970sAvengers #41–42, 75–76, 277; Fantastic Four #111–112; Marvel Spotlight #30; Silver Surfer #4; Thor #200; Wolverine #10; material from Dracula Lives #3; My Love #2; Strange Tales #22, 150; Tales to Astonish #85–87368John Buscema cover:
Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Jr.1980s-2000sAmazing Spider-Man #229–230; Annual #11; Amazing Spider-Man #36; Daredevil #253; Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #1–2; Incredible Hulk #25, 34; Iron Man #128, 256; Punisher War Zone #1; Star Brand #1; Uncanny X-Men #183, 309360John Romita Jr. cover:
Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Sr.1950s-1960sAmazing Spider-Man #39–40, 42, 50, 108–109, 365; Captain America And The Falcon #138; Daredevil #16–17; Fantastic Four #105–106; Untold Tales of Spider-Man #-1; material from Menace #11; Strange Tales #4; Tales of Suspense #77; Tales to Astonish #77; Vampire Tales #2; Young Men #24336John Romita Sr. cover:
Marvel Visionaries: Roy Thomas1960sAvengers #35, 57–58, 100; Captain Marvel #19; Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #9; Fantastic Four #119, 176; Giant-Size Invaders #1; Incredible Hulk #147; Sub-Mariner #8, 14; X-Men #64; material from Amazing Adventures #8; Chamber of Darkness #8; Dracula Lives #1; Modeling With Millie #44; Not Brand Echh #12; Tales of Suspense #73352Roy Thomas cover:
Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee1940s-1960sAmazing Spider-Man #33, 96–98; Annual #1; Captain America #110; Daredevil #7, 47; Fantastic Four #11; Annual #3; Marvel Premiere #3; Silver Surfer #5; Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special #1; Thor #179–181; material from Captain America Comics #3, 16336John Romita Sr. cover:
Marvel Visionaries: Steve Ditko1950s-1960sAmazing Spider-Man #1, 31–33; Annual #1; Daredevil #162; Incredible Hulk #6; Incredible Hulk #249; Speedball #1; material from Amazing Adult Fantasy #7, 10, 12, 13; Marvel Super-Heroes #8; Strange Tales #97, 110, 115, 126–127, 146; Tales of Suspense #48; Tales to Astonish #26, 42344Steve Ditko cover:
The World Outside Your WindowAmazing Spider-Man #97; Howard The Duck #8; Iron Man #128; New Mutants #45; Alpha Flight #106; Uncanny X-Men #303; Incredible Hulk #420; Amazing Spider-Man #36; Captain America #1; Astonishing X-Men #51; Ms. Marvel #13; Champions #24; Material From Captain America Comics #2; Amazing Spider-Man #583320Stephane Roux cover:
Yellow, Blue & Gray by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale2001-2004Daredevil: Yellow #1–6; Spider-Man: Blue #1–6; Hulk: Gray #1–6540Tim Sale cover:

Miniseries

These books feature characters or teams that rarely have an ongoing series; or other content from the primary Earth-616 universe that doesn't neatly fit into another category.
#TitleYears coveredMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Annihilation Classic1959-1997Bug #1; Nova #1; Quasar #1; Rocket Raccoon #1–4; Marvel Spotlight #6 ; Marvel Premiere #1 ; material from Logan's Run #6 ; Tales To Astonish #13 240Derec Aucoin cover:
Annihilators2011Annihilators #1-4184Alex Garner cover:
Annihilators2011Annihilators #1-4184Skottie Young DM cover:
Beyond!2006Beyond! #1–6144
Dark Reign: The List2009Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil; Avengers; X-Men; Hulk; Secret Warriors; Wolverine; Punisher; Amazing Spider-Man232Brandon Peterson cover:
Doomwar2010Doomwar #1–6144John Romita Jr. cover:
Fury MAX: My War Gone By2012Fury MAX #1–13312Dave Johnson cover:
Generations2017328Alex Ross cover:
Giant-Size Little Marvel: AvX2015Giant-Size Little Marvel: AVX #1–4; A-Babies vs. X-Babies120Skottie Young cover:
Girl Comics2010Girl Comics #1-3120Amanda Conner & Laura Martin cover:
Heralds2010Heralds #1-5120Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic cover:
1Lockjaw And The Pet Avengers2009Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #1–4; Tails of the Pet Avengers; Marvel Pets Handbook176Karl Kerschl cover:
2Lockjaw And The Pet Avengers Unleashed2010Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers Unleashed #1–4; Tails of the Pet Avengers: The Dogs of Summer120Chris Sotomayor cover:
Marvel Comics: #10002019Marvel Comics #1000–1001144Alex Ross cover:
Mystic Arcana2007Mystic Arcana: Magik; Mystic Arcana: Scarlet Witch; Mystic Arcana: Black Knight; Mystic Arcana: Sister Grimm; The Official Tarot of the Marvel Universe264Marko Djurdjevic cover:
Mythos2008Mythos: Captain America; Mythos: X-Men; Mythos: Ghost Rider; Mythos: Hulk; Mythos: Spider-Man; Mythos: Fantastic Four152Paolo Rivera cover:
Power Pack: The Kids Are All Right2005-2006Power Pack #1–4; Avengers And Power Pack Assemble! #1–4; X-Men And Power Pack #1–4280Gurihiru cover
Shattered Heroes2012Fear Itself #7.1; Captain America, Fear Itself #7.2; Thor, Fear Itself #7.3; Iron Man, Point One128
Stan Lee Meets The Marvel Universe2006-2007Stan Lee Meets: Dr. Strange; Stan Lee Meets: Spider-Man; Stan Lee Meets: Silver Surfer; Stan Lee Meets: Thing; Stan Lee Meets: Dr. Doom240
1Strange Tales Vol. 12009Strange Tales #1–3; The Megalomaniacal Spider-Man; material from All Select Comics 70th Anniversary Special200Chip Kidd cover:
2Strange Tales Vol. 22010Strange Tales II #1–3152Rafael Gramp cover:
Timestorm 2009-20992009Timestorm 2009–2099 #1–4; Timestorm 2009–2099: X-Men; Timestorm 2009–2099: Spider-Man144Paul Renaud cover:
The Twelve2008-2009The Twelve #1–12; The Twelve: Spearhead328Kaare Andrews cover:
Vengeance2010-2011Vengeance #1-6144Gabriele Dell'Otto cover:
Vision2015-2016Vision #1–12; material from Vision Director's Cut #1-6488Mike Del Mundo cover:
NYX/X-23: Innocence Lost2003-2005NYX #1–7, X-23 #1–6352Billy Tan cover:

Event OHCs

Marvel's first major line-wide event was Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars in 1984. The event “capitalized on the success of previous crossovers to make an epic storyline involving most of the Marvel Universe”. By the mid-2000s, large comics events had become an annual tradition for Marvel, with Avengers Disassembled, House of M, Civil War, and Secret Invasion providing enormous sales success. After initial trade paperback reprints, these all had premium oversized hardcover releases.

Civil War II

Secret Empire

Secret War

The Secret War hardcover was reprinted in 2025. It contains four extra issues from The Pulse and has the Marvel Omnibus branding.
TitleYears coveredMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Secret War2004-2005Secret War #1–5; From The Files Of Nick Fury256Leinil Yu cover:

Alternate universe OHCs

As part of the Marvel multiverse, other fictional continuities exist. Books in this section still contain Marvel characters; however, they are alternate versions who don't, or rarely, interact with characters from the mainstream Earth-616 section.

1602 Universe (Earth-311)

Written by Neil Gaiman, with art from Andy Kubert, Marvel's 1602 universe reimagines the superheroes as if they existed in the Elizabethan era.
TitleYears collectedMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Marvel 16022003Marvel 1602 #1–8248
Marvel 1602 10th Anniversary2003Marvel 1602 #1–8264

Earth X (Earth-9997)

The Earth X universe was created by Dave Kreuger and Alex Ross, and “showed a possible near future for the Marvel Universe”. The project came from “an article for Wizard Magazine and their reaction to the amazing work Alex had done in reimagining and designing the DCU for Kingdom Come.” The Earth X universe is designated as Earth-9997.
A year before Marvel officially launched the oversized hardcover format, June 2001 saw Earth X released as a limited ‘clamshell’ edition. This featured the “hardcover book, sculpted translucent, outer-skin box, 36" x 24" poster and two compact disc containing a wealth of digital audio/visual material”. It was limited to 6,000 copies and slightly wider than what became ‘oversized’.
TitleYears collectedMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Earth X1999Earth X #0–12, ½592Alex Ross cover:

Marvel Zombies (Earth-2149)

The first appearance of Marvel Zombies was in Ultimate Fantastic Four #21, written by Mark Millar. He said: “I had this idea on the plane from Scotland about a superhero arriving from another dimension with a zombie plague and biting the Avengers when they showed up to contain the problem. Everyone hated it. It was so universally loathed and everyone thought I was kidding when I suggested it.”
Despite that, after the first appearance, the concept grew to launch its own series, with Marvel Zombies and Marvel Zombies 2 written by The Walking Dead creator, Robert Kirkman. The initial Zombies universe is designated Earth-2149.
#TitleYears coveredMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
1Marvel Zombies2006Marvel Zombies #1–5136Arthur Suydam Secret Wars #1 cover:
1Marvel Zombies2006Marvel Zombies #1–5136Arthur Suydam Amazing Spider-Man #316 cover:
1Marvel Zombies2006Marvel Zombies #1–5136Arthur Suydam Fantastic Four #49 cover:
1Marvel Zombies2006Marvel Zombies #1–5136Arthur Suydam Avengers #1 cover:
1Marvel Zombies2006Marvel Zombies #1–5136Arthur Suydam Mary Jane #2 cover:
1Marvel Zombies2006Marvel Zombies #1–5136Arthur Suydam Iron Man #128 cover:
2Marvel Zombies 22007Marvel Zombies 2 #1–5120Arthur Suydam Civil War #1 cover:
Marvel Zombies/Army Of Darkness2007Marvel Zombies/Army Of Darkness #1–5128Arthur Suydam Uncanny X-Men 268 cover:
Marvel Zombies/Army Of Darkness2007Marvel Zombies/Army Of Darkness #1–5128Arthur Suydam Captain America DM cover:
3Marvel Zombies 32008Marvel Zombies 3 #1–4112Arthur Suydam Machine Man #1 cover:
Marvel Zombies: Dead Days2008Marvel Zombies: Dead Days #1; Ultimate Fantastic Four #21–23, 30–32; Black Panther #28–30272Arthur Suydam X-Men #1 cover:
4Marvel Zombies 42009Marvel Zombies 4 #1–4112Arthur Suydam Marvel Premiere #28 cover:
Marvel Zombies Return2009Marvel Zombies Return #1–5160Arthur Suydam Hulk cover:
5Marvel Zombies 52010Marvel Zombies 5 #1–5120Arthur Suydam Howard The Duck cover:
Marvel Zombies Supreme2011Marvel Zombies Supreme #1–5120Michael Komarck cover:
Marvel Zombies Christmas Carol2011Marvel Zombies Christmas Carol #1–5136William Kaluta cover:
Marvel Zombies Christmas Carol2011Marvel Zombies Christmas Carol #1–5136Janet Lee DM cover:
Marvel Zombies Destroy2012Marvel Zombies Destroy #1–5112Michael Del Mundo cover:
Marvel Zombies: The Covers2006-2007Covers from the Marvel Zombies books104Arthur Suydam cover:

Marvel Apes (Earth-8101)

The idea for Marvel Apes originated at the 2007 New York Comic Convention. Series artist Ramon Bachs said: “...it all came from a joke at a convention between Joe Quesada and a fan, talking about Marvel Zombies. Something like, "What's next? Marvel Apes!”.
The series was green-lit and launched in 2008, with Karl Kesel writing, and Bachs on pencils. Kesel said the series involved “...a monkeyverse where everyone’s some sort of ape or monkey. Most of the major Marvel characters have counterparts.”
TitleYears collectedMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Marvel Apes2008Marvel Apes #0–4; Amazing Spider-Man #110–111176John Watson Wolverine cover:

Ronin Universe (Earth-11542)

Writer Peter Milligan used the 5 Ronin series to re-imagine Marvel heroes as samurais in ancient Japan. The hardcover includes all five issues, featuring Hulk, Wolverine, Psyclocke, Punisher, and Deadpool.
TitleYears collectedMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
2011120John Cassady Wolverine cover:
2011120David Aja Ronin cover:

Spider-Man Loves Mary-Jane (Earth-602636)

Sean McKeever's “shojo romance manga” interpretation launched in 2004, with the Mary Jane series. The all-ages title focused more on the relationship between a teenage Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson than Spider-Man's superhero antics. It was first collected in a series of digests, before being reprinted as a pair of oversized hardcovers.
#TitleYears coveredMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
1Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Vol. 12004-2006Mary Jane #1–4, Mary Jane: Homecoming #1–4, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1–5320Takeshi Miyazawa cover:
2Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Vol. 22006-2007Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #6–20368Takeshi Miyazawa cover:

Squadron Supreme (Earth-31916)

Marvel's Squadron Supreme was created by Roy Thomas in 1971 as the company's version of DC's Justice League. The series was reinvented by J. Michael Straczynski as Supreme Power in 2003, part of the company's MAX imprint.
The adult-orientated comics allowed for a much darker interpretation of the characters where: “All the heroes' actions bring to mind the question of how far superheroes should go. The result was a book that took a somewhat overlooked classic and kicked its themes into overdrive.”
#TitleYears coveredMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
1Supreme Power Vol. 12003-2004Supreme Power #1–12; Avengers #85–86352Gary Frank cover:
2Supreme Power Vol. 22004-2006Supreme Power #13–18; Supreme Power: Hyperion #1–6264Gary Frank cover:

Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610)

Ultimate Marvel launched in 2000 as a response to "so much backstory that the stories were almost incomprehensible."
Bill Jemas, President of Marvel Enterprises from 2000 to 2004, wrote: “Joe Quesada and I started the Ultimate books because we wanted Marvel to get back in touch with kids. We wanted Marvel's great teen heroes - Spidey and the X-Men - to star in comics for 2001 kids.” The first Ultimate universe is designated as Earth-1610.
TitleYears collectedMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
Ultimate Galactus Trilogy2004-2006Ultimate Nightmare #1–5; Ultimate Secret #1–4; Ultimate Extinction #1–5344Brandon Peterson cover:
Ultimate Power2006-2007Ultimate Power #1–9232Greg Land cover:
Ultimatum Companion2008488David Finch cover:
Ultimate Comics Doomsday2010-2011Ultimate Comics Enemy #1–4; Ultimate Comics Mystery #1–4; Ultimate Comics Doom #1–4288Ed McGuinness cover:
Ultimate Comics Divided We Fall, United We Stand2011-2012Ultimate Comics X-Men #13–18; Ultimate Comics Ultimates #13–18; Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #13–18376Michael Komarck cover:
Cataclysm: The Ultimates' Last Stand2013440Mark Bagley cover:

Licensed OHCs

As well as publishing omnibuses featuring the company's own characters, Marvel also releases books from other franchises. Some of these – like Star Wars – are owned by Marvel's parent company, Disney; others are licensed for certain periods of time, which includes creator-owned content.

Criminal, Incognito (Ed Brubaker)

After Ed Brubaker launched Sleeper for DC comics alongside Sean Phillips in 2003, the duo moved to Marvel. Criminal #1 debuted in 2006, as part of the company's Icon imprint. Between that and Incognito, the pair released more than three-dozen creator-owned comics, reprinted in a trio of deluxe oversized hardcovers. They switched to Image Comics in 2014.
#TitleMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
1Criminal: The Deluxe Edition Vol. 1Criminal #1–10; Criminal #1–3432Sean Phillips cover:
2Criminal: The Deluxe Edition Vol. 2Criminal #4-7; Criminal: The Sinners #1-5; Criminal: The Last Of The Innocent #1-4432Sean Phillips cover:
Incognito: The Classified EditionIncognito #1-6; Incognito: Bad Influences #1-5368Sean Phillips cover:

Powers (Brian Michael Bendis)

The Powers series was published by Image Comics between 2000 and 2004, before moving to Marvel's Icon label in 2004.
Seven ‘definitive’ oversized hardcovers were published between then and 2017, before writer Brian Michael Bendis signed a deal to republish the books with Dark Horse Comics in 2021.
#TitleMaterial collectedPagesReleasedISBN
1Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 1Powers #1–11464Michael Avon Oeming cover:
2Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 2Powers #12–24; Powers Annual #1480Michael Avon Oeming cover:
3Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 3Powers #25-37496Michael Avon Oeming cover:
4Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 4Powers #1-18600Michael Avon Oeming cover:
5Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 5Powers #19-30, Powers Annual 2008464Michael Avon Oeming cover:
6Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 6Powers #1-11424Michael Avon Oeming cover:
7Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Vol. 7Powers: The Bureau #1–12368Michael Avon Oeming cover:

Star Wars

Following the October 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, it was announced that the Star Wars comics license would return to Marvel Comics in 2015.
The company used the oversized hardcover format to re-release remastered comic book versions of the original Star Wars trilogy. It also launched a new canon continuity, with Star Wars #1. This issue "exceeded one million copies sold on the direct market... the top-selling single issue of the past 20 years." The first 12 issues of the book was collected in an oversized hardcover a little over a year after launch.