Ranking the Marvel Epic Collections: Part 1 (1960s)

The "sequel" to my Omnibus ranking thread. Background information on this whole ranking deal can be found there: ranking-the-marvel-omnibuses-part-1-1960s-t39361.html.

This time, it's the Epic Collections! As I started this project to act as a sort of "buyer's guide" for myself, the Epic Collections rankings will act on the assumption that the Omnibuses recommended in the other thread are already "owned" by the reader; this list will act as a supplement to that one and will also recommend additional material that is not collected in the recommended omnibuses. Mostly, this is because I like material from a certain period, but not enough to fill a whole omnibus. Other times, it may be because this material is not captured in omnibus form and only exists in epic format. I am also including "complete" collections and/or "ultimate" collections, where applicable.

Finally, I won't be including epics which contain <50% "original" material, which excludes things like the first volumes for Hulk, Silver Surfer, etc. I will say that the material collected in these epics is excellent, but most of it is already captured in other collected works, so I can't consciously recommend the Silver Surfer Epic 1 as the majority of the material is collected in the FF omnibuses and epic collections. If you are a big Surfer fan or a completist, then by all means get it.

Round 1 (Not Recommended / For Fans Only)

38. The Human Torch and the Thing: Strange Tales - The Complete Collection
(28 August 2018)

After the Fantastic Four's groundbreaking debut, readers couldn't get enough of Marvel's innovative new heroes - especially the Human Torch! So Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave the fiery teen sensation his own series in the pages of STRANGE TALES! After a hot streak of solo stories, the Torch was joined by the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing, and the two teammates tackled some of the wildest ne'er-do-wells of the Silver Age: the Wizard, the Sandman, the Rabble Rouser, Plantman and the one and only Paste-Pot Pete! Also featuring Marvel's first fire-and-ice battle between the Torch and the X-Men's Iceman - and guest stars Spider-Man, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman!
Collects Strange Tales Annual #2 and material From Strange Tales (1951) #101-134.

37. Ant-Man/Giant-Man, Volume 1: The Man in the Ant-Hill
(1 February 2023)

A man of action and a man of science, Dr. Henry Pym invented an amazing growth serum and a cybernetic helmet - and with them, he became the Astonishing Ant-Man! Pym soon teamed with Janet Van Dyne, the winsome Wasp, and the two tiny titans went on to battle an array of mini- and maxi-sized menaces from the Scarlet Beetle to the Black Knight! But adventures in the microscopic world weren't enough for one of the Marvel Age's first super heroes. Soon, Ant-Man became the biggest Avenger there ever was: Giant-Man! And his foundational adventures are all here in this debut Epic Collection!
Collecting material from TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) #27 and #35-59.

36. The X-Men, Volume 2: Lonely are the Hunted
(7 December 2016)

Join the original X-Men - Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel and Iceman - in adventures from the days when Marvel's merry mutants were the quirkiest quintet in comics, rather than the worldwide wunderkinds they are today! This Epic Collection presents early classics including the first appearance of Banshee; the brief tenure of the sixth X-Man, Mimic; the complete Factor Three saga; the "Origins of the X-Men" feature exploring Professor X's formation of the team; and the debut of new costumes! Then, the X-Men's lives take their most tragic turn - as their leader is killed! But before they can grieve, Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants hit the scene for a battle that culminates in a classic X-Men/Avengers crossover!
Collecting X-MEN (1963) #24-45 and AVENGERS (1963) #53.

 35. Daredevil, Volume 2: Mike Murdock Must Die!
(24 October 2023)

Stan Lee and Gene Colan unleash an identity crisis as Matt Murdock juggles his triple identity as Daredevil - and his own "twin brother," Mike Murdock! You might need your slide rule to track the trigonometry of the Man Without Fear's mixed-up life. And as if that weren't complex enough, Daredevil experiences a body swap with Doctor Doom in one of comics' first crossovers! Other highlights include guest appearances by Spider-Man, Thor and Ka-Zar; the introduction of fan-favorite villain Leap-Frog; and the debut of the Emissaries of Evil! It's a series of action-packed extravaganzas so hazardous that all of our cast won't make it out alive!
Collecting DAREDEVIL (1964) #22-41 and ANNUAL #1, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #73 and material from NOT BRAND ECHH #4.

34. Daredevil, Volume 3: Brother, Take My Hand
(22 February 2017)

Matt Murdock has done battle with Marvel's most maddening villains - but when the Jester enters the fray, the rules change forever! Framing DD for murder, the Jester sets all of New York against the Man Without Fear - and the stakes get even higher when Starr Saxon discovers DD's secret identity! Daredevil also faces off against two of Marvel's greatest heroes, Captain America and the Black Panther - all the while struggling to rebuild his relationship with the lovely Karen Page. Then comes Death's Head, a villain with deep connections to those closest to Daredevil. It's a classic battle that pushes Matt Murdock to reveal his identity to Karen - but will it bring them closer together, or force them apart?
Collecting DAREDEVIL (1964) #42-63.

33. Namor the Sub-Mariner, Volume 3: Who Strikes for Atlantis?
(21 February 2023)

There's no mariner like the Sub-Mariner - as you're about to see! First, our undersea hero must take on the bloodthirsty Tiger Shark, but the truly epic confrontation begins when the man called Destiny returns! His "Helmet of the Ancients" is revealed to be the powerful Serpent Crown, and its evil influence threatens the lives of Namor and everyone he loves! The drama ratchets up another notch when the alien Stalker robs Namor of his ability to fly and breathe underwater. Stranded on land, the Avenging Son of Atlantis becomes Public Enemy No. 1 - and even Doctor Doom is aiming for the target on his back! Also featuring a tooth-rattling fight against the Thing - and the touching return of a love from Namor's past!
Collecting SUB-MARINER (1968) #4-27.

32. Captain America, Volume 1: Captain America Lives Again
(17 March 2021)

Transformed by the Super-Soldier Serum from a 98-pound weakling into Captain America, Steve Rogers led the charge to liberate the world from the Axis powers! But before World War II's end, an accident left him frozen in suspended animation and his sidekick, Bucky, dead. The world turned on for decades - and when the Avengers finally resuscitated him, Steve Rogers was greeted by a world vastly changed. He was a man out of time, tormented by the death of his partner - but no less committed to the cause of fighting evil in all its forms! In this Epic Collection, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby bring you the rebirth of an American icon. The rebirth of Captain America!
Collects Avengers (1963) #4, And Material From Strange Tales (1951) #114 And Tales Of Suspense (1959) #58-96.

31. Iron Man, Volume 2: By Force of Arms
(25 January 2017)

Tony Stark is back as the Invincible Iron Man! Stan Lee and Gene Colan's complete run — a host of iconic Iron Man adventures, including one of Marvel's first crossovers — is proudly presented in this Epic Collection. Brought before the United States Senate to divulge the secrets of Stark Enterprises, Tony Stark has never faced higher stakes. But survival in the halls of government means risking the life of his friend, Happy Hogan! Then, the Mandarin tests Iron Man's mettle, executive privilege does nothing to save Tony from Whiplash and the Titanium Man, and the ideologues at A.I.M. attack — taking us to the debut of Iron Man's very own solo series!
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #73-99; Tales to Astonish (1959) #82; Iron Man & Sub-Mariner (1968) #1; Iron Man (1968) #1; material from Not Brand Echh (1967) #2.

30. Incredible Hulk, Volume 2: The Hulk Must Die
(25 October 2017)

Marvel's green goliath is pulling no punches! After the cancellation of his debut series, the incredible Hulk returns in Tales to Astonish...and he means business! Dr. Robert Bruce Banner's alter ego battles General "Thunderbolt" Ross, the Leader and his Humanoids, the Executioner, and more communists than you can shake a tank at. And if that's not enough, round two pits the Hulk against Hercules, introduces classic villain the Abomination, dives into the intrigue of the Secret Empire, and goes cosmic with the Silver Surfer and the High Evolutionary! Featuring stories by Stan Lee and art by a who's who of Marvel greats - Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Bill Everett and John Buscema - these are the tales that made the Incredible Hulk a global icon!
Collects Tales to Astonish (1959) #60-96, material from Not Brand Echh (1967) #3.

29. Incredible Hulk, Volume 3: The Leader Lives
(31 October 2018)

I smash, you smash, but nobody, nobody, smashes like Hulk smash! Leaping out of the pages of TALES TO ASTONISH and into his own ongoing title again, the Incredible Hulk has twice the space to shake the Earth with his mighty rage. And he'll need it! The Hulk travels far and wide — but doesn't make too many friends along the way! The jade giant's travelogue of destruction leaves the Mandarin, the Inhumans, the Sandman and the entire Savage Land rubbing sore jaws. And when Hulk's archnemesis the Leader returns, all bets are off — as writer Stan Lee joins with iconic Hulk artist Herb Trimpe (who makes his debut in this very volume!) to pull out all the stops!
Collects Incredible Hulk (1968) #102-117 and Annual #1, and material from Tales To Astonish (1959) #97-101 And Not Brand Echh #9.

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