The following is an interview with Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz regarding the recent Kickstarter campaign launch for for four brand-new Marvel Masterworks hardcovers, highlighting four iconic eras of Marvel history from some of the industry’s greatest creators. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Kanalz about revisiting the longest-running collected edition series, the exciting reward tiers that backers of the campaign will have in store, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Clover Press recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for four brand-new Marvel Masterworks hardcovers, highlighting four iconic eras of Marvel history from some of the industry’s greatest creators. How do you feel that the Masterworks titles honor the history of Marvel’s legacy, and why do you feel that they excel beyond standard omnibuses?
Hank Kanalz: Masterworks themselves are a legacy! The longest-running collected edition series – coming up on 40 years is already an honor. But these books are even more special for the amount of work that goes into each and every volume, remastering the quality of the artwork and the color to reproduce how these should be read. Each kind of format Marvel publishes appeals to a different audience, and reading the positive reaction to our continuing this series confirms there is a solid set of collectors out there who want to continue collecting these. We will continue to strive to make this series the gold standard.
BD: The Masterworks hardcovers have been synonymous with high-quality and impeccably presented collections of legendary Marvel works. As you prepare for the four upcoming releases, what can you tell readers about the production process for each of these amazing books?
HK: Where needed and available, every page is newly scanned from the original film or the original art, and remastered to match the original print as close as possible. The pages are not modernized, but rather remastered to be presented in its original and best form.
BD: In light of the Kickstarter campaign, what are some of the exciting reward tiers that will be available to backers?
HK: We have some terrific rewards that wouldn’t normally be available to collectors this round! We are offering 2 journals – one with Thor and the other Uncanny X-Men. They each have die-cut covers and feature cover art from the Masterworks within lined pages perfect for any kind note taking you’d like to do. And we are offering some original art reproductions – some key art from each series, presented at actual size! And there’s a DOUBLE-SIDED 1,000 piece puzzle featuring art from Uncanny X-Men #268. Some terrific surprises, I think.
BD: Following this initial wave of titles, are there any eras from specific Marvel series that you would like to highlight for future Masterworks collections?
HK: We are entering an era of books that I collected as a kid. Arcs and runs and new series that really set the standard for my generation. And sure, thanks to collected editions over the last few decades, new generations have discovered the stories, but I’m talking about the comics that had all of us buzzing on our new comic book day. (They were different days, depending on where you lived!) It’s exciting to be pulling those together and working with Cory Sedlmeieron adding them to our roadmap. I won’t say more than that, as the reveal for subsequent volumes is yet to come. It’s going to be an exciting year!
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – from Clover Press that you would like to highlight for our readers?
HK: We just wrapped a campaign for a brand new OGN from Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard – those two twisted minds who brought you Narco and Plastic at Image. It’s a fantastic new book, I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits, kind of a family roadtrip, but with zombie misfits. I hope folks check that out. It will be in stores this December!
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for readers to learn more about the Marvel Masterworks campaign and Clover Press?
HK: Really the best way is to sign up for the campaign here. You’ll be notified of all new updates! We’ll have some Early Bird specials, so we hope folks will stop by and check out all the rewards options!
