The Official Marvel Graphic Novel Collection

As well as the comic strip, each book features an introduction to the book, information on the character, writer and artist plus some of the artist's draft board sketches. 60 books are required to build up a panoramic picture on the spine[1] by artist Gabriele Dell'Otto. In April 2014, a flyer accompanying Issue 62 revealed the artwork by Dell'Otto had been extended to cover 120 volumes rather than the original 60.[2]

Each issue number of the collection is not the same as the books volume number (e.g. issue 1 is volume 21) as the volume number is the chronological release order of the original publication, whereas the issue number is the order in which they were released within this collection. Issue 1 was launched twice in the UK. Early subscribers to issue 1 (volume 21) may have received an edition with a different spine from those that subscribed to the subsequent launch. The panoramic artwork on the spine of this edition does not align with the volumes 20 or 22.

Below is a list of the books from each issue in published date order.[3] Only the first six issues were officially announced, but each issue features a further reading section which advertised future books and their volume number, though not release number.[4] Early into the run, customer support provided a list of books to be published from issue seven onwards which was unverified, but proved to be accurate for sometime.[5] The full list of issues was confirmed on the Hachette Partworks website but later removed as the order for some issues altered slightly.[6] Subsequently, it was announced via the collections official website that the set would continue for a further 60 issues. The release order for Issues 73–120 was later verified via BookDepository.com[7] In April 2016, the May catalogue for PreviewsUK confirmed that an Issue 121 would be released as part of the original collection.[8] Subsequently, via the official Facebook page, it was confirmed that the original collection would now continue for a further 20 issues; therefore extending the set to 140 issues.[9] On May 9, 2017, in reply to a comment on the collection's facebook page, confirmation was made that the collection will now expand to 170 titles.[10] On Dec 20th 2017, In reply to an email, a Facebook user was told that this has now been expanded, yet again with no prewarning to subscribers, to 200.[11]

The collection has been confirmed as being extended again to 220 issues, with zero notification, in reply to a query as to the end number on one of Hatchetts Facebook posts in July 2019. The exact phrasing was it is 'set' to run to 220, not that it will end at 220. In April 2020, in response to a Facebook comment, the collection has been extended to 250 issues, at the moment. No notification on that front as always.

The table below contains the full list of issues as per the original printing of the collection beginning in December 2011. So far, the original collection listed is still in publication.

In Poland, the collection was titled Wielka Kolekcja Komiksów Marvela (The Great Marvel Comics Collection) and was published in 170 issues from August 2012 to May 2019.

The same collection is being published in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from January 2013 as Ultimátní komiksový komplet (The Ultimate Comics Collection), with 199 KČ / 9.99 EUR per book from issue 3 onwards. The price increased to 219 KČ / 9.99 EUR per book from issue 38 onwards and then to 249 KČ / 9.99 EUR per book from issue 56 onwards. The books (at least according to first 4 books) come in slightly different order than the one in table above. The books are sold in Czech republic first and after 4 months the unsold books are distributed in Slovakia. The collection continues with issues 61–120, none of the books is marked as Classic. In November 2015, test run of Nejmocnější hrdinové Marvelu (Marvel's Mightiest Heroes) was launched.

In January 2013, the collection debuted in Germany under the title Die offizielle Marvel-Comic-Sammlung (The Official Marvel Comic Collection).

In September 2013, after an initial test run, the collection was made available in Brazil by Editora Salvat as A Coleção Oficial de Graphic Novels Marvel (The Official Marvel Graphic Novel Collection), priced at R$29,90 from issue 3 onwards.

In Russia the series was launched in January 2014, under the title Marvel. Официальная коллекция комиксов (Marvel. Ofitsialnaya kollektsiya komiksov — Marvel. The Official Comics Collection). The collection is issued by the Russian branch of the Hachette in cooperation with the Panini Comics providing translation and page layout.

In March 2014 the collection started in France under the title Marvel Comics: La Collection de Référence[66]

In May 2014 the collection started in Argentina under the title Colección Definitiva de Novelas Gráficas de Marvel.[72] The same edition began to be sold in Peru beginning in September 2015.

In March 2016 a test run was launched in Romania under the title Colecţia Oficială de Romane Grafice Marvel. It is currently unknown if or when the collection will continue.

In January 2018 the collection started in Hungary under the title Nagy Marvel Képregénygyűjtemény.

In September 2019 the collection started in Greece under the title Η Επίσημη Συλλογή Graphic Novels της Marvel.

The second series from Hachette Partworks began in January 2013, with each issue focussing on a different heroic Marvel character.[73] This time the books built up a panoramic picture on the spine by artist Marko Djurdjević.[74] The format featured a relatively recent story as the volumes's main feature story (billed first on the front cover), preceded by the first appearance story and in some cases another early appearance (e.g. Hawkeye's first appearance as a solo character plus his first appearance with The Avengers). Although the first four titles were announced, only three were published and subscribers were told the series had been postponed. However, the series was relaunched in January 2014 beginning with the same four issues. However, this time the books built up a panoramic picture on the spine by artist Adi Granov. This means collectors who had purchased the original three volumes would have to purchase them again to complete the spine art.

In December 2015 the official Twitter account of the collection announced that the series has been extended for an additional forty issues.[75]

The series ended on 12 December 2018 after a total of 130 books.

The third series from Hachette Partworks began in August 2018.

Two further Marvel Collections were market trialed by Hachette, an Avengers series in 2018 and an X-Men series in 2019.[90] The Avengers series did not go to a full release and remaining market trial stock was added to the Hachette webstore in early 2019 including oversized variants of the 3 trial books. In late October 2019 remaining market trial stock from the X-Men trial and an Alien and Predator series that had been trialed in late 2018 were also added to the webstore indicating that they are unlikely to go to a full launch.

• Official website
• Lists of released issues at HachettePartworks.com
  • Original series
  • 2016 series
  • Marvel's Mightiest Heroes