PATTON OSWALT AND JORDAN BLUM PRESENT MARVEL UNFORGETTABLE STORIES

For 85 years, Marvel has built an unparalleled library of characters and stories that have shaped pop culture. What makes a Marvel story unforgettable? Is it the classic characters, the dynamic dialogue, or the action and adventure? Is it a perfect panel, a stunning splash page, or a shocking page turn reveal? It is all of these things―and more. 

Now The Folio Society, the independent publisher of beautifully illustrated hardback books, is paying tribute to Marvel’s epic storytelling tradition with Marvel Unforgettable Stories, a handsome, collectible 280-page hardcover that collects ten seminal Marvel stories selected by acclaimed writer and actor Patton Oswalt and acclaimed writer Jordan Blum. The story selections by Oswalt and Blum range from the classic ― including The Amazing Spider-Man #33 from the heart of the Silver Age ― to the contemporary ― including Hawkeye #11. Marvel Unforgettable Stories features an all-new stunning cover and slipcase design by Marvel artist Marcos Martín (Daredevil), an introduction by Patton Oswalt, and 280 pages of super hero adventures featuring Spider-Man, Wolverine, Daredevil and Captain America. 

 “Unlike so many ‘best-of’ collections, here Patton and Jordan have carefully provided a favorite selection of the comics that have defined their love of Marvel,” James Rose, Head of Editorial at the Folio Society communicated to ageekdaddy.com. “It's a personal journey through some of Marvel's most unforgettable stories. Housed in a hardback volume featuring artwork by Marvel artist Marcos Martín, the selection also includes one or two surprises.”

 “Jordan Blum and I—both lifelong comics readers and ‘make mine Marvel’ fanatics—had a hard time picking only ten stories for this collection,” writes Patton Oswalt in the book’s introduction. “I can hear the bleats and rumblings of, ‘But you didn’t include . . .’ and ‘How could you forget . . .’ Lemme save your vocal cords the stress—you’re right. Any objections you have to any stories being passed over? You’re right. There’s simply too many to print under one cover. Hey, maybe buy this edition, and get all of your friends to buy one, and they’ll let us pick ten more! Capitalism!”

Marvel Unforgettable Stories includes: 

• The Amazing Spider-Man #33 "If This Be My Destiny - The Final Chapter" (1966)
•  Daredevil #191 "Roulette" (1983) 
• Uncanny X-Men #205 "Wounded Wolf" (1986) 
• Captain America #367 "Magnetic Repulsion" (1990) 
• X-Factor #87 "X-aminations" (1993) 
• Untold Tales of Spider-Man #20 "Wings of Hatred" (1997) 
• Spider Man's Tangled Web #4  "Severance Package" (2001) 
• The Runaways #1 "Pride and Joy, Chapter One" (2003)
• Fantastic Four #587 "Three, Part 5: The Last Stand" (2011)
• Hawkeye #11 "Pizza Is My Business"  (2013)

Marvel Unforgettable Stories is the latest collaboration between the Folio Society and Marvel, joining Marvel: The Golden Age 1939-1949, Marvel: The Silver Age 1960–1970, Marvel: The Bronze Age 1970-1980, The Avengers, Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Hulk, and Spider-Man.

THE FOLIO SOCIETY DC: BATMAN COLLECTION

Who says reading comic books isn't classy?! The Folio Society, based in London, which publishes beautifully produced, illustrated hardback books is reprinting some of Batman's greatest stories in a format that would make these comic book stories look right at home on the shelves of the world's most prestigious libraries. Folio Society's DC: Batman edition available now for purchase celebrates the 85th anniversary of the first comic book appearance of the Dark Knight Detective reprinting twelve previously released stories.

Scanned from original copies held in the DC archives, the comics have been reproduced in 10” x 7” treasury format. An anti-scratch laminated hardcover features Batman’s signature silhouette, with titles foil-embossed in yellow and midnight blue, the book itself cowled in a pitch-black slipcase bearing the famous Bat-Signal. A compendium of gothic artwork and Batarang-sharp storytelling, DC: Batman is an unmissable investigation into the adventures and pathology of one of the world’s most famous – and most troubled – DC Super Heroes. Available exclusively at foliosociety.com for $100.

Created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, Batman first appeared in 1939’s Detective Comics #27 and since then the Dark Knight has stood as a symbol of determination, courage and justice to generations of fans. This collectible compilation includes twelve seminal comics, by a host of iconic writers and artists— including Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland and Kelley Jones—all selected and introduced by former DC President, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of DC, Jennette Kahn. Along with the 320-page one-of-a-kind deluxe book, DC: Batman also comes with a stand-alone replica copy of Batman #1. Scanned in its entirety from an original 1940 copy, the replica copy of the Batman #1 comic book, which includes the original back-up strips and vintage ads and introduces DC’s Clown Prince of Crime, aka The Joker, and The Cat, who would come to be known as Catwoman.

“Created towards the end of the Great Depression by artist Bob Kane with writer Bill Finger, Batman is an icon as familiar as James Bond or Tarzan, one who has evolved to reflect the changing attitudes of the twentieth century,” Folio Society Head of Editorial, James Rose, communicated to ageekdaddy.com. “The stories selected for DC: Batman reveal how the character and his billionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne gradually evolved from the dutiful crimefighter of the 1940s to a man who becomes as crazed as the criminals he puts away. The Caped Crusader faces a rogue’s gallery steeped in gothic horror, from the Weimar cinema-inspired The Joker to the Jekyll/Hyde figure of Two-Face and the Moriarty-like Ra's al Ghul.”

The stories included in The Folio Society DC: Batman compilation are:

Facsimile: Batman #1 (Spring 1940) 

• Writer: Bill Finger 
•  Cover artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson 
•  Artists: Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff 
•  Editor: Whitney Ellsworth 

The Bat-Man Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)  

• Writer: Bill Finger 
•  Artist: Bob Kane 
• Editor: Vincent Sullivan 

 Robin—the Boy Wonder Detective Comics #38 (April 1940)

•  Writer: Bill Finger 
•  Artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson 
• Editor: Whitney Ellsworth 

The Crimes of Two-Face! Detective Comics #66 (August 1942) 

•  Writer: Bill Finger 
•  Artists: Jerry Robinson, George Roussos 
•  Letterers: Ira Schnapp 
• Editor: Whitney Ellsworth 

Batman and Green Arrow: The Senator’s Been Shot! The Brave and the Bold #85 (September 1969)

•  Writer: Bob Haney 
• Cover artist: Neal Adams 
•  Penciler: Neal Adams
•  Inker: Dick Giordano 
•  Letterer: Ben Oda 
•  Editor: Murray Boltinoff 

Daughter of the Demon Batman #232 (June 1971) 

•  Writer: Dennis O'Neil 
•  Cover artist: Neal Adams 
•  Penciler: Neal Adams 
•  Inker: Dick Giordano 
•  Letterer: John Costanza 
•  Editor: Julius Schwartz 

The Dead Yet Live Detective Comics #471 (August 1977) 

•  Writer: Steve Englehart
•  Cover artists: Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Tatjana Wood, Gaspar Saladino 
•  Penciler: Marshall Rogers
•  Inker: Terry Austin 
•  Colorists: Marshall Rogers
•  Letterer: John Workman 
•  Editors: Julius Schwartz, E. Nelson Bridwell 

The Dark Knight Returns Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (June 1986) 

•  Writer: Frank Miller 
•  Cover artists: Frank Miller, Lynn Varley 
•  Penciler: Frank Miller 
•  Inker: Klaus Janson 
•  Colorist: Lynn Varley
•  Letterer: John Costanza 
•  Editors: Dick Giordano, Dennis O'Neil 

Batman: Year One—Chapter One: Who I Am—How I Come to Be Batman #404 (February 1987)

•  Writer: Frank Miller 
•  Artist: Dave Mazzucchelli 
•  Colorist: Richmond Lewis
•  Letterer: Todd Klein 
•  Editor: Dennis O'Neil 

Batman: The Killing Joke (July 1988) 

•  Writer: Alan Moore 
•  Cover artists: Brian Bolland, Richard Bruning 
•  Artist: Brian Bolland Colorist: John Higgins
•  Letterer: Richard Starkings 
•  Editors: Dennis O'Neil, Dan Raspler 

The Last Arkham (Part One) Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 (June 1992) 

•  Writer: Alan Grant 
•  Cover artist: Brian Stelfreeze 
•  Penciler: Norm Breyfogle
•  Inker: Norm Breyfogle 
•  Colorist: Adrienne Roy 
•  Letterer: Todd Klein 
•  Editors: Scott Peterson, Dennis O'Neil 

Knightfall Part 1: Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas Batman #492 (May 1993) 

•  Writer: Doug Moench 
•  Cover artists: Kelley Jones, Bob LeRose 
•  Penciler: Norm Breyfogle 
•  Inker: Norm Breyfogle 
•  Colorist Adrienne Roy
•  Letterer: Richard Starkings 
•  Editors: Scott Peterson, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Dennis O'Neil