The heroes of Marvel Comics will be joining the likes of The Odyssey and The Time Machine in a new series of Penguin Classics collections.
Penguin Random House announced the Penguin Classics Marvel Collection will celebrate seminal runs in Marvel history with prestigious new editions, spotlighting the works of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and more. The paperback releases will feature a black spine and the collectible hardcover editions will have gold foil stamping, gold top stain edges and bonus illustrations from the comics themselves. Additionally, Each story will be prefaced with unique forewords by modern young adult authors and scholarly introductions that contextualize the value of the characters within the literary canon.
The Penguin Classic Marvel Collection will launch with three titles on June 14, 2022. The first of these is The Amazing Spider-Man, with a foreword by Miles Morales: Spider-Man novelist Jason Reynolds and an introduction by Ben Saunders, who is also the editor of this new line. Next is Black Panther, which features a foreword by Wakanda Forever and Shuri writer Nnedi Okorafor, with an introduction by Qiana J. Whitted. Then, Captain America will include a foreword by Shang-Chi writer Gene Luen Yang, with an introduction by Saunders.
On the heels of a renewed push for original digital content, this new line of graphic novels reinforces Marvel's physical presence while ensuring that the legacy of past creators will be honored. Speaking on the value of Marvel's library of books, Saunders said "The comics produced at Marvel in the 1960s can be compared to the most enduring popular music of that same tumultuous decade... It is not hyperbole but simply a fact: these classic Marvel Comics are foundational documents of our culture."
Marvel previously announced that Penguin Random House would be the primary distributor for its comics and graphic novels. Unfortunately, despite plans to prevent damaged product and create a smooth purchasing experience for retailers, the transition came with a fair amount of issues. During the first week of this new deal, many shops reported that they had missing books and that the product they did receive experienced substantial damages.
Moving forward, the Penguin Marvel Classics Collection is set to include other heroes from Marvel's stable of superheroes. Supported by an industry-wide trend of strong graphic novel sales, this new line is well-positioned to grow Marvel's bookstore presence. Vice President of Licensed Publishing at Marvel Entertainment Sven Larsen said, "It's a remarkable honor to have these important chapters in Marvel history join this esteemed series from Penguin Random House."
Source: Penguin Random House