Byrne Robotics: ’Missing’ Omnibuses

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Topic: ’Missing’ Omnibuses

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Craig Earl
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 13 July 2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1518

Posted: 30 June 2025 at 3:50pm \| IP Logged \| 1	post reply

I've gradually been filling a large bookcase with Omnibuses in recent years. In short, I'm pretty much covered for the classic Marvel 60's output (plus the various JB volumes of Alpha Flight, FF etc and Miller's DD, among others).

It's only in trying to revisit the beloved titles of my youth that I'm finding 'gaps' in what is currently available.

We have two volumes of the 90's GHOST RIDER (Danny Ketch) but none of GR's first foray.

What's up with that?

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Petter Myhr Ness
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 02 July 2009
Location: Norway
Posts: 4057

Posted: 30 June 2025 at 6:15pm \| IP Logged \| 2	post reply

I've given up trying to make sense of how they decide on which volumes to collect in omnibus format. Sales alone can't be a deciding factor, because a JB Superman omnibus is so sought after it would sell out in a heartbeat, yet it's nowhere to be seen.

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James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8211

Posted: 30 June 2025 at 9:04pm \| IP Logged \| 3	post reply

I don’t think you could do a JB single volume omnibus. There are too many
issues. There are 4 omnibuses that were published in the past couple of
years though.

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Peter Hicks
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 30 April 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 2043

Posted: 01 July 2025 at 12:44am \| IP Logged \| 4	post reply

We are long overdue for a collected edition of FOOM.

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Houston Mitchell
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 03 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 212

Posted: 01 July 2025 at 5:10am \| IP Logged \| 5	post reply

Forgive me for the thread drift, but is there an easy reference list out there of all the Marvel Omnibuses? Does DC do something similar? I am making my way through the Avengers Omnibuses (which apparently has ended at 5) and really enjoying it.

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Petter Myhr Ness
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 02 July 2009
Location: Norway
Posts: 4057

Posted: 01 July 2025 at 7:12am \| IP Logged \| 6	post reply

I don’t think you could do a JB single volume omnibus.

No, but a Volume 1 would be a start. What annoys me is that they've done an EXILES omnibus, which picks up directly after JB left the Superman books! Now they're doing the "Triangle years".

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James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8211

Posted: 01 July 2025 at 8:58am \| IP Logged \| 7	post reply

Doesn’t this count?

Superman omnibus vol 1

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Trevor Smith
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 21 September 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3598

Posted: 01 July 2025 at 10:14am \| IP Logged \| 8	post reply

I don't know what defines "omnibus", but those Superman
volumes (which are wonderful) are *much* smaller than, say,
JB's collected FF and AF editions, or Walt's Thor.

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James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8211

Posted: 01 July 2025 at 2:07pm \| IP Logged \| 9	post reply

True, an issue count shows they are about half the size.

I wonder why DC does not issue its omnibus editions in digital format like
Marvel does. Frustrating.

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Eric Jansen
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 27 October 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 2450

Posted: 02 July 2025 at 9:06am \| IP Logged \| 10	post reply

I'm on the other side of the matter. I prefer the softcover format of Marvel's Epic Collections or DC's recent DC Finest collections, but there are a lot of things available ONLY in Omnibus format!

I too am trying to collect the classic 60's and 70's (and early 80's) material from my youth.

I gave in and bought some Omnibuses (they're so heavy!) for material that I couldn't get in softcover--
NOVA: RICHARD RIDER
ADAM STRANGE: SILVER AGE OMNIBUS
and there are others available that I haven't bought--
SHE-HULK: THE SAVAGE SHE-HULK

WARLORD BY MIKE GRELL (upcoming)

DOOM PATROL: THE BRONZE AGE

or later volumes (they stopped the softcovers but continue with Omnibuses) of--
MASTER OF KUNG FU
CONAN THE BARBARIAN

and things where the original material is available in neither (color) softcover or Omnibus--

JONAH HEX
SPIDER-WOMAN

I'm not sure why, if the material is worthwhile to collect in an expensive format, why not print it in an inexpensive format as well? Or vice versa? Isn't the hard work of scanning, digital reproduction, or other pre-press work already done?

Edited by Eric Jansen on 02 July 2025 at 9:07am

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Trevor Smith
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 21 September 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3598

Posted: 02 July 2025 at 9:27am \| IP Logged \| 11	post reply

"I'm not sure why, if the material is worthwhile to collect
in an expensive format, why not print it in an inexpensive
format as well?"

**

If I may invoke crass capitalism, I'd say because anyone
that could afford to buy the more expensive format would
not do so if a cheaper option was available.

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Eric Jansen
Byrne Robotics Member

Joined: 27 October 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 2450

Posted: 02 July 2025 at 9:33am \| IP Logged \| 12	post reply

I'd think "crass capitalism" would encourage them to sell the same material in every format possible!

But let me re-phrase my question: Why sell some books ONLY in soft cover and other books ONLY in hard cover?

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