Huge announcement !

Hear ye, hear ye !

As of December 1st 2006, Essential Marvel evolved into an all new website called

Black and White Wonder!

Black and White Wonder will still offer the same coverage of the Essential line, but will also cover DC's Showcase Presents line ! Follow the link or go to blackandwhitewonder.blogspot.com for more phonebook-sized comics goodness !

Essential Defenders Vol.2 Content Update

Marvel recently updated the content of The Defenders' next volume :

The Essential Defenders Vol. 2 TP (OCT062228D, $16.99) will now contain Defenders #15-#30, Giant-Size Defenders #1-#5, Marvel Two-in-One #6-#7, Marvel Team-Up #33-#35 and Marvel Treasury Edition #12, instead of the solicited Defenders #15-#39 and Giant-Size Defenders #1-#5.

Page count and price remain unchanged.

Source : Thanks to Beast on the Marvel Masterworks Message Boards for the info !

February's Essentials

The new Previews Magazine will show up in comics-shops next wednesday. As usual, Marvel put out their solicitations on the web a week earlier so we already know which will be the new additions to the Essential line for february :

ESSENTIAL MS. MARVEL VOL. 1 TPB
Written by GERRY CONWAY, CARLA CONWAY, CHRIS CLAREMONT, ARCHIE GOODWIN, JIM SHOOTER & SIMON FURMAN
Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, JOE SINNOTT, JIM MOONEY, KEITH POLLARD, SAM GRAINGER,
SAL BUSCEMA, TOM PALMER, FRANK GIACOIA, CARMINE INFANTINO, TONY DEZUNIGA, DAVE COCKRUM, MIKE VOSBURG, MIKE ZECK & MIKE GUSTOVICH
Cover by JOHN ROMITA SR.
Ms. Marvel's current successes are only the latest in a line of earth-shaking adventures that began in her original series, reprinted here in its entirety! New nemeses like Steeplejack and the Doomsday Man vie for the female fury's attention alongside classic criminals like the Scorpion, Tiger Shark and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! Featuring Namorita and Vance Astro, later of the New Warriors! Alien intrigue with the Kree and Shi'ar! Supernatural thrills! And the first appearance of the marvelously malicious Mystique! Plus: X-Men alumni including Grotesk and the Lizard People! Guest-starring Captain Mar-Vell and the Avengers!
Collecting MS. MARVEL #1-23 and MARVEL SUPER-HEROES MAGAZINE #10-11.
512 PGS./Rated A ...$16.99
ISBN: 0-7851-2499-3

I'm not surprised to see this book considering Marvel has been pushing the current series A LOT in the past few months. Having not read the issues collected here, I have no idea if this is worth picking up. I've got to say the artists lineup is rather impressing though !

ESSENTIAL PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 TPB
Written by BILL MANTLO, TOM DEFALCO, ROGER STERN, STEVE LEIALOHA, MARV WOLFMAN, TONY ISABELLA, MARIE SEVERIN, RALPH MACCHIO & DAVID KRAFT
Penciled by JIM MOONEY, FRANK SPRINGER, LEE ELIAS, MIKE ESPOSITO, SAL BUSCEMA, CHIC STONE, JOHN ROMITA JR., MIKE ZECK, MARIE SEVERIN, STEVE LEIALOHA, AL GORDON, BRUCE PATTERSON, RICK LEONARDI, LUKE MCDONNELL, JIM SHOOTER, JOHN BYRNE, ED HANNIGAN, RICH BUCKLER, JIM SHERMAN& ALAN WEISS
Cover by FRANK MILLER
"Spectacular" isn't just the title as Spider-Man's college years are augmented by authorial and illustrative excellence! Enemies old and new, recurring and rare, line up to teach the web-slinger plenty - but will he become his own worst enemy as the sinister Spider-Lizard? Robots, killer bees, living hallucinations and more! Guest-starring the Human Torch and the White Tiger! Plus: the surprising first appearance of the hero-hater who'll happen into being the Hobgoblin! Collecting SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #32-61 and ANNUALS #1-3.
544 PGS./Rated A ...$16.99
ISBN: 0-7851-2501-9


I'm surprised to see a third volume of PPSM being published this early considering the Amazing Spider-Man collections are way behind. Still I'd rather see an Essential PPSM volume than no Spidey volume at all.

Published Essentials (November Update)

Astonishing Ant-Man Vol.1
Avengers Vol.1
Avengers Vol.2
Avengers Vol.3
Avengers Vol.4
Avengers Vol.5
Luke Cage Power Man Vol.1
Luke Cage Power Man Vol.2 *NEW*
Conan Vol.1
Daredevil Vol.1
Daredevil Vol.2
Daredevil Vol.3
Defenders Vol.1
Dr. Strange Vol.1
Dr. Strange Vol.2
Human Torch Vol.1
Tomb of Dracula Vol.1
Tomb of Dracula Vol.2
Tomb of Dracula Vol.3
Tomb of Dracula Vol.4
Fantastic Four Vol.1
Fantastic Four Vol.2
Fantastic Four Vol.3
Fantastic Four Vol.4
Fantastic Four Vol.5
Ghost Rider Vol.1
Godzilla Vol.1
Howard The Duck Vol.1
Incredible Hulk Vol.1
Incredible Hulk Vol.2
Incredible Hulk Vol.3
Incredible Hulk Vol.4 *NEW*
Iron Fist Vol.1
Iron Man Vol.1
Iron Man Vol.2
Killraven Vol.1
Marvel Horror Vol.1 *NEW*
Marvel Team-Up Vol.1
Marvel Team-Up Vol.2
Marvel Two-in-One Vol.1
Monster of Frankenstein Vol.1
Moon Knight Vol.1
Nova Vol.1
OHOTMU Vol.1
OHOTMU Deluxe Vol.1
OHOTMU Deluxe Vol.2
OHOTMU Deluxe Vol.3
Punisher Vol.1
Savage She-Hulk Vol.1
Silver Surfer Vol.1
Spider-Man Vol.1
Spider-Man Vol.2
Spider-Man Vol.3
Spider-Man Vol.4
Spider-Man Vol.5
Spider-Man Vol.6
Spider-Man Vol.7
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol.1
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol.2
Spider-Woman Vol.1
Super-Villain Team-Up Vol.1
Tales of the Zombie Vol.1 *NEW*
Thor Vol.1
Thor Vol.2
Thor Vol.3 *NEW*
Uncanny X-Men Vol.1
Classic X-Men Vol.2
X-Men Vol.1
X-Men Vol.2
X-Men Vol.3
X-Men Vol.4
X-Men Vol.5
X-Men Vol.6
X-Men Vol.7
Werewolf By Night Vol.1
Wolverine Vol.1
Wolverine Vol.2
Wolverine Vol.3
Wolverine Vol.4
X-Factor Vol.1

Essential reviews around the web

I always have a bit of trouble finding good reviews of Essential books. Sure, there's always Amazon.com, but other websites also offer very good reviews. You just have to search a bit harder to find them. Bookgasm is my most recent discovery. Mainly a book review blog, it also covers Essentials from time to time. With great writing and smart comments, it has quickly become one of my favorite stops for reviews. Here's a couple of some of the best reviews around the web. Enjoy !

Bookgasm's Essential Super-Villain Team-Up Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Savage She-Hulk Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Defenders Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Iron Fist Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Godzilla Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Nova Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Moon Knight Vol.1 review
Bookgasm's Essential Killraven Vol.1 review

P.S. If you know any other good sites for Essential reviews or if you write reviews yourself, let me know at essentialmarvel@hotmail.com

Quick Reminder

If you'd like to help in anyway (news, reviews or previews), just drop me a line at essentialmarvel@hotmail.com

Upcoming Essentials !

It's been a while since I've done a roundup of the upcoming publications in the Essential line and many have been announced in the past few weeks so... here it is !

Essential Defenders Vol.2
There's nothing the non-team can't handle when mutants, gods, demons and miscreants of the 1950s all get their crack at the sensational super heroes of the seventies! With Luke Cage! The Guardians of the Galaxy! The Son of Satan vs. the Sons of the Serpent! Brain transplants, foreign intrigue and the tumultuous terror of Tapping Tommy! Daredevil, Yellowjacket, Bambi! And introducing... an Elf!? Featuring the first appearance of the ever-reliable Wrecking Crew! Collects Defenders #15-39, Giant-Size Defenders #1-5.


Essential Man-Thing Vol.1
What's it like to be the son and the daughter of the Father of Lies? Find out as Daimon Hellstrom and his sister, Satana, face the worst of two worlds! Can they save their souls along with the world? Featuring Exorcists, Cyclists, Nihilists and Ice Demons! Secrets of Ancient Atlantis revealed! Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Thing and the Human Torch! Collects Savage Tales #1; Astonishing Tales #12-13; Adv Into Fear #10-19; Man-Thing #1-14; GS Man-Thing #1-2; Monsters Unleashed #5, 8-9.

Essential Captain America Vol.3
Cap's up against the usual army of orders in AIM, Hydra and the schemes of the Skull - but could the most familiar enemy face be... Bucky's?! The Falcon becomes Cap's full-time crimefighting partner in the wake of this shocker! Gangsters and gorillas! A mysterious Stranger! Nazis, robots and Nazi robots! Featuring the friends and foes of Spider-Man, and the web-slinger himself! Guest-starring Daredevil and the Avengers! Plus: the secret of the 1950s Captain America and Bucky, foreshadowing the first appearance of the man called Nomad! Collects Captain America #127-156.

Essential Marvel Horror Vol.1
What's it like to be the son and the daughter of the Father of Lies? Find out as Daimon Hellstrom and his sister, Satana, face the worst of two worlds! Can they save their souls along with the world? Featuring Exorcists, Cyclists, Nihilists and Ice Demons! Secrets of Ancient Atlantis revealed! Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Thing and the Human Torch! Collects Savage Tales #1; Astonishing Tales #12-13; Adv Into Fear #10-19; Man-Thing #1-14; GS Man-Thing #1-2; Monsters Unleashed #5, 8-9.

Essential X-Factor Vol.2
Iceman gets too frozen, the Beast gets too bestial and the Angel gets a really sharp new set of wings as the original X-Men face mutant-haters and hate-filled mutants who agree on one thing: They want X-Factor dead! Apocalypse first gathers his horrendous Horsemen, and Caliban makes the transition from tracker to Hellhound! Infectia, Orphan-Maker and the Alliance of Evil! Plus: For fans of the current X-Factor, witness Quicksilver's earlier descent into dementia and the first appearance of Rictor! Featuring Thor, Freedom Force and more! Collects X-Factor #17-35; Annual #2; Thor #378.

Essential Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe - Update 89 Vol.1
Origins and updates of the eighties' elite in one easy installment! Trace major revisions to major characters like Archangel and Vision, the Red Skull and S.H.I.E.L.D., the Hulk and Hobgoblin, and who knows who else! Featuring the debut stats of Apocalypse, Sinister, Venom and more! Plus: Marvel's first go-round of profiles for herodom's best supporting casts! Collects Offical Handbook of the Marvel Unvierse - Update '89 #1-8.

Essential Ghost Rider Vol.2
Demons, vampires, cults, actors - nothing's too intense for the Sizzling Cyclist of the Seventies! After mowing down a mob of motorcycling miscreants, the Ghost Rider faces what waits in the Wild West of the Phantom Rider and the Two-Gun Kid! Plus: See Johnny Blaze and Zarathos separated for the first time! Guest-starring Doctor Strange, Professor X and more! Collects Ghost Rider #21-50.

Essential Ms. Marvel Vol.1
Ms. Marvel's current successes are only the latest in a line of earth-shaking adventures that began in her original series, reprinted here in its entirety! New nemeses like Steeplejack and the Doomsday Man vie for the female fury's attention alongside classic criminals like the Scorpion, Tiger Shark and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! Featuring Namorita and Vance Astro, later of the New Warriors! Alien intrigue with the Kree and Shi'ar! Supernatural thrills! And the first appearance of the marvelously malicious Mystique! Plus: X-Men alumni including Grotesk and the Lizard People! Guest-starring Captain Mar-Vell and the Avengers! Collects Ms. Marvel #1-23, Marvel Super-Heroes Magazine #10-11.


Source : Amazon.com

Published Essentials List (Updated)

Astonishing Ant-Man Vol.1
Avengers Vol.1
Avengers Vol.2
Avengers Vol.3
Avengers Vol.4
Avengers Vol.5
Luke Cage Power Man Vol.1

Luke Cage Power Man Vol.2 *NEW*
Conan Vol.1
Daredevil Vol.1
Daredevil Vol.2
Daredevil Vol.3
Defenders Vol.1
Dr. Strange Vol.1
Dr. Strange Vol.2
Human Torch Vol.1
Tomb of Dracula Vol.1
Tomb of Dracula Vol.2
Tomb of Dracula Vol.3
Tomb of Dracula Vol.4
Fantastic Four Vol.1
Fantastic Four Vol.2
Fantastic Four Vol.3
Fantastic Four Vol.4
Fantastic Four Vol.5
Ghost Rider Vol.1
Godzilla Vol.1
Howard The Duck Vol.1
Incredible Hulk Vol.1
Incredible Hulk Vol.2
Incredible Hulk Vol.3
Incredible Hulk Vol.4 *NEW*
Iron Fist Vol.1
Iron Man Vol.1
Iron Man Vol.2
Killraven Vol.1
Marvel Horror Vol.1 *NEW*
Marvel Team-Up Vol.1
Marvel Team-Up Vol.2
Marvel Two-in-One Vol.1
Monster of Frankenstein Vol.1
Moon Knight Vol.1
Nova Vol.1
OHOTMU Vol.1
OHOTMU Deluxe Vol.1
OHOTMU Deluxe Vol.2
OHOTMU Deluxe Vol.3
Punisher Vol.1
Savage She-Hulk Vol.1
Silver Surfer Vol.1
Spider-Man Vol.1
Spider-Man Vol.2
Spider-Man Vol.3
Spider-Man Vol.4
Spider-Man Vol.5
Spider-Man Vol.6
Spider-Man Vol.7
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol.1
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol.2
Spider-Woman Vol.1
Super-Villain Team-Up Vol.1
Tales of the Zombie Vol.1 *NEW*
Thor Vol.1
Thor Vol.2
Thor Vol.3 *NEW*
Uncanny X-Men Vol.1
Classic X-Men Vol.2
X-Men Vol.1
X-Men Vol.2
X-Men Vol.3
X-Men Vol.4
X-Men Vol.5
X-Men Vol.6
X-Men Vol.7
Werewolf By Night Vol.1
Wolverine Vol.1
Wolverine Vol.2
Wolverine Vol.3
Wolverine Vol.4
X-Factor Vol.1

Sorry for the wait...

I'm moving for the summer. New posts soon. I hope... :)