In the same way that the DC Archive Editions are DC Comics' equivalent of Marvel Masterworks, Showcase Presents is their equivalent of the Essential line of reprints.
The (second) cover design launched in 2001—all the older volumes (excluding Essential Conan vol. 1) have been reprinted since then with the new design as well as to correct printing mistakes from previous volumes (such as the fact that both Essential X-Men vol. 1 and vol. 2 both have missing pages from their earlier printings) and to reshuffle content to put volume breaks in more logical places, continuity-wise.
From May 2005, many of the volumes have been reprinted for a third time—this time with the same cover design as the second reprint, but with different cover artwork. Initially, the Essential line used newly produced artwork. For the current printing, artwork from the reprinted material is used, with the legal indicia in these new editions saying 'Second Edition, First Printing'.
In 2008, a new (third) cover design launched, again starting with reprinting older volumes that were going back to press for new printings, and is now the look for new volumes.
Marvel has come under criticism for censoring some of the Essential books, specifically the third and fourth volumes of Essential Tomb of Dracula, in which digital editing was used to remove or obscure nudity. Both volumes contain reprints of Dracula stories originally published by Marvel in magazine format, which allowed for them to include nudity in the artwork.
| Volume Name | Years Covered | Issues Collected | Pages | ISBN | Date Published (First Edition) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962-1965 | Amazing Fantasy #15, The Amazing Spider-Man #1-20, Annual #1 | 552 | ISBN 0-7851-2192-7 | ||
| 1965-1966 | The Amazing Spider-Man #21-43, Annual #2-3 | 536 | ISBN 0-7851-1863-2 | ||
| 1967-1968 | The Amazing Spider-Man #44-65, Annual #4. | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-1864-0 | ||
| 1968-1970 | The Amazing Spider-Man #66-89, Annual #5 | 552 | ISBN 0-7851-1865-9 | ||
| 1970-1972 | The Amazing Spider-Man #90-113 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-2379-2 | ||
| 1972-1974 | The Amazing Spider-Man #114-137, Giant-Size Superheroes #1, Giant-Size Spider-Man #1-2 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-1365-7 | ||
| 1974-1976 | The Amazing Spider-Man #138-160, Annual #10, Giant-Size Spider-Man #3-5 | 560 | ISBN 0-7851-1879-9 | ||
| 1976-1978 | The Amazing Spider-Man #161-185, Annual #11, Giant-Size Spider-Man #6, Nova #12. | 512 | ISBN 978-0785125006 | ||
| 1978-1980 | The Amazing Spider-Man #186-214 & Annual #12 | ISBN 978-07851 | not yet released | ||
| Astonishing Ant-Man vol. 1 | 1962-1965 | Tales to Astonish #27, 35-69 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-0822-X | |
| Avengers vol. 1 | 1963-1966 | The Avengers #1-24 | 536 | ISBN 0-7851-1862-4 | |
| Avengers vol. 2 | 1966-1967 | The Avengers #25-46, Annual #1 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0741-X | |
| Avengers vol. 3 | 1967-1969 | The Avengers #47-68, Annual #2 | 520 | ISBN 0-7851-0787-8 | |
| Avengers vol. 4 | 1969-1972 | The Avengers #69-97, The Incredible Hulk #140 | 640 | ISBN 0-7851-1485-8 | |
| Avengers vol. 5 | 1972-1974 | The Avengers #98-119, Daredevil #99, The Defenders #8-11, | 552 | ISBN 0-7851-2087-4 | |
| Avengers vol. 6 | 1974-1975 | Avengers #120-140, Giant-Size Avengers #1-4, Captain Marvel #33, Fantastic Four #150 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-2087-4 | |
| Captain America vol. 1 | 1964-1968 | Captain America Comics #5, Tales of Suspense #59-99, Captain America #100-102 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0740-1 | |
| Captain America vol. 2 | 1968-1970 | Captain America #103-126 | 512 | ISBN 0-7851-0827-0 | |
| Captain America vol. 3 | 1970-1972 | Captain America #127-156 | 608 | ISBN 0-7851-2166-8 | |
| Captain America vol. 4 | 1972-1974 | Captain America #157-186 | 600 | ISBN 978-0785127703 | |
| Captain Marvel vol. 1 | 1967-1970 | Marvel Super-Heroes #12-13, Captain Marvel #1-21 | 528 | ISBN 978-0-785130598 | |
| Conan the Barbarian vol. 1 | 1970-1973 | Conan the Barbarian #1-25 | 530 | ISBN 0-7851-0751-7 | |
| Daredevil vol. 1 | 1964-1967 | Daredevil #1-25 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-1861-6 | |
| Daredevil vol. 2 | 1967-1969 | Daredevil #26-48, Annual #1, The Fantastic Four #73 | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-1462-9 | |
| Daredevil vol. 3 | 1969-1971 | Daredevil #49-74, Iron Man #35-36 | 584 | ISBN 0-7851-1724-5 | |
| Daredevil vol. 4 | 1971-1973 | Daredevil #75-101, The Avengers #111. | 600 | ISBN 978-0-785127628 | |
| Dazzler vol. 1 | 1980-1982 | Dazzler #1-21, Uncanny X-Men #130-131, The Amazing Spider-Man #203 | 552 | ISBN 978-0785126959 | |
| 1969-1974 | Doctor Strange #183, Sub-Mariner #22, 34-35, The Incredible Hulk #126, Marvel Feature #1-3, The Defenders #1-14, The Avengers #115-118 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-1547-1 | ||
| 1974-1976 | The Defenders #15-30, Giant-Size Defenders #1-5, Marvel Two-in-one #6,7, Marvel Team-up #33-35, Marvel Treasury edition #12 | 616 | ISBN 0-7851-2150-1 | ||
| 1976-1979 | The Defenders #31-60, Annual #1 | 592 | ISBN 978-0-785126966 | ||
| 1979-1980 | The Defenders #61-91 | 584 | ISBN 978-0-785130611 | ||
| Doctor Strange vol. 1 | 1963-1968 | Strange Tales #110-111, 114-168 | 608 | ISBN 0-7851-2316-4 | |
| Doctor Strange vol. 2 | 1968-1974 | Doctor Strange #169-178, 180-183, The Avengers #61, The Sub-Mariner #22, The Incredible Hulk #126, Marvel Feature #1, Marvel Premiere #3-10, 12-14 | 608 | ISBN 0-7851-1668-0 | |
| Doctor Strange vol. 3 | 1974-1978 | Doctor Strange #1-29, Annual #1, Tomb of Dracula #44-45 | 616 | ISBN 978-0785127338 | |
| Doctor Strange vol. 4 | 1978-1981 | Doctor Strange #30-56, Chamber of Chills #4, Man-Thing #4 | 564 | ISBN 978-0785130628 | |
| 1961-1963 | The Fantastic Four #1-20, Annual #1 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-1828-4 | ||
| 1963-1965 | The Fantastic Four #21-40, Annual #2, Strange Tales Annual #2 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0731-2 | ||
| 1965-1967 | The Fantastic Four #41-63, Annual #3-4 | 536 | ISBN 0-7851-2625-2 | ||
| 1967-1968 | The Fantastic Four #64-83, Annual #5-6 | 536 | ISBN 0-7851-1484-X | ||
| 1969-1971 | The Fantastic Four #84-110, Annual #7-8 | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-2162-5 | ||
| 1971-1973 | The Fantastic Four #111-137 | 592 | ISBN 978-0785126973 | ||
| 1973-1975 | The Fantastic Four #138-159, Giant-Size Super-Stars #1, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #2-4, Avengers #127 | 560 | ISBN 978-0785130635 | ||
| Ghost Rider vol. 1 | 1972-1976 | Marvel Spotlight #5-12, Ghost Rider #1-20, Daredevil #138 | 560 | ISBN 0-7851-1838-1 | |
| Ghost Rider vol. 2 | 1976-1980 | Ghost Rider #21-50 | 568 | ISBN 978-0785121640 | |
| Ghost Rider vol. 3 | 1980- | Ghost Rider #51-81 | 416 | ISBN 978-0785121640 | |
| Godzilla vol. 1 | 1977-1979 | Godzilla #1-24 | 440 | ISBN 0-7851-2153-6 | |
| Howard the Duck vol. 1 | 1973, 1975-1978 | Adventure into Fear #19, Giant-Size Man-Thing #4-5, Howard the Duck #1-27, Annual #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #12 | 592 | ISBN 0-7851-0831-9 | |
| 1962-1965 | Strange Tales #101-134, Annual #2 | 504 | ISBN 0-7851-1309-6 | ||
| 1962-1967 | The Incredible Hulk #1-6, Tales to Astonish #60-91 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-2374-1 | ||
| 1967-1969 | Tales to Astonish #92-101, The Incredible Hulk #102-117, Annual #1 | 520 | ISBN 0-7851-0795-9 | ||
| 1969-1971 | The Incredible Hulk #118-142, Captain Marvel #20-21, The Avengers #88 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-1689-3 | ||
| 1971-1973 | The Incredible Hulk #143-170 | 608 | ISBN 0-7851-2193-5 | ||
| 1973-1975 | The Incredible Hulk #171-200, Annual #5 | 619 | ISBN 0-7851-3065-9 | ||
| Iron Fist vol. 1 | 1974-1978 | Marvel Premiere #15-25, Iron Fist #1-15, Marvel Team-Up #63-64, Power Man #48-49, Power Man and Iron Fist #50 | 584 | ISBN 0-7851-1546-3 | |
| Iron Man vol. 1 | 1963-1965 | Tales of Suspense #39-72 | 512 | ISBN 0-7851-1860-8 | |
| Iron Man vol. 2 | 1966-1968 | Tales of Suspense #73-99, Tales to Astonish #82, Iron Man & Sub-Mariner #1, Iron Man #1-11 | 608 | ISBN 0-7851-1487-4 | |
| Iron Man vol. 3 | 1969-1971 | Iron Man #12-38, Daredevil #73 | 592 | ISBN 978-0785127642 | |
| Killraven vol. 1 | 1973-1976, 1983, 2001 | Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #18-39, Marvel Team-Up #45, Marvel Graphic Novel #7, Killraven #1 (Marvel Knights) | 504 | ISBN 0-7851-1777-6 | |
| Luke Cage, Power Man vol. 1 | 1972-1975 | Hero For Hire #1-16, Power Man #17-27 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-1685-0 | |
| Luke Cage, Power Man vol. 2 | 1975-1978 | Power Man #28-49, Annual #1 | 424 | ISBN 0-7851-2147-1 | |
| Man-Thing vol. 1 | 1971-1975 | Savage Tales #1, Astonishing Tales #12-13, Adventure into Fear #1-19, Man-Thing #1-14, Giant-Size Man-Thing #1-2, Monsters Unleashed #5, 8-9 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-2135-8 | |
| Man-Thing vol. 2 | 1975-19781 | Man-Thing (1974) #15-22 and (1979) #1-11, Giant-Size Man-Thing #3-5, Marvel Team-Up #68, Marvel Two-in-One #43, and Doctor Strange #41 | 536 | ISBN 0785130667 | |
| Marvel Horror vol. 1 | 1973-1977, 1979 | Son of Satan stories from:
Satana stories from:
| 608 | ISBN 0-7851-2196-X | |
| Marvel Horror vol. 2 | 1973-1977 | Living Mummy stories from:
Gabriel the Devil Hunter stories from:
Brother Voodoo stories from:
Golem stories from:
Scarecrow stories from:
Modred the Mystic stories from:
| 616 | ISBN 0-7851-3067-3 | |
| Marvel Saga vol. 1 | 1985-1986 | Marvel Saga #1-12 | 448 | ISBN 978-0-7851-2727-7 | |
| Marvel Saga vol. 2 | 1986-1987 | Marvel Saga #13-25 | 480 | ISBN 978-0-7851-2728-4 | |
| Marvel Team-Up vol. 1 | 1972-1974 | Marvel Team-Up #1-24 | 496 | ISBN 0-7851-2373-3 | |
| Marvel Team-Up vol. 2 | 1974-1976 | Marvel Team-Up #25-51, Marvel Two-In-One #17 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-2163-3 | |
| Marvel Team-Up vol. 3 | 1976 | Marvel Team-Up #52-80 & Annual #1-2 | ISBN 978-0785130680 | not yet released | |
| Marvel Two-In-One vol. 1 | 1973-1977 | Marvel Feature #11-12, Marvel Two-In-One #1-20, 22-25, Annual #1, Marvel Team-Up #47, The Fantastic Four Annual #11 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-1729-6 | |
| Marvel Two-In-One vol. 2 | 1977-1979 | Marvel Two-In-One #26-52, Annual #2-3 | 568 | ISBN 978-0785126980 | |
| Monster of Frankenstein vol. 1 | 1972-1975 | Monster of Frankenstein #1-5, Frankenstein's Monster #6-18, Giant-Size Werewolf #2, Monsters Unleashed #2, 4-10, Legion of Monsters #1 | 496 | ISBN 0-7851-1634-6 | |
| Moon Knight vol. 1 | 1975-1976, 1978-1981 | Werewolf By Night #32-33, Marvel Spotlight #28-29, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #22-23, Marvel Two-In-One #52, Hulk Magazine #11-15, 17-18, 20, Marvel Preview #21, Moon Knight #1-12, Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 | 560 | ISBN 0-7851-2092-0 | |
| Moon Knight vol. 2 | 1981-1983 | Moon Knight #11-30 | 608 | ISBN 978-0785127291 | |
| Ms. Marvel vol. 1 | 1977-1979 | Ms. Marvel #1-23, Marvel Super-Heroes Magazine #10-11, Avengers Annual #10 | 512 | ISBN 978-0785124993 | |
| Nova vol. 1 | 1976-1979 | Nova #1-25, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #3, The Amazing Spider-Man #171 | 512 | ISBN 0-7851-2093-9 | |
| Nick Fury vol. 1 | 1965-1969 | Strange Tales #135-168, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D #1-15 | 790 | ISBN 0-7861-1963-1 | not yet released |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe vol. 1 | 1983-1984 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1-15 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-1933-7 | |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition vol. 1 | 1985-1986 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #1-7 | 480 | ISBN 0-7851-1934-5 | |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition vol. 2 | 1986-1987 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #8-14 | 480 | ISBN 0-7851-1935-3 | |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition vol. 3 | 1987-1988 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #15-20 | 424 | ISBN 0-7851-1936-1 | |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 vol. 1 | 1989 | Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #1-8 | 496 | ISBN 0-7851-1937-X | |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition vol. 1 | 1990-1993 | "A-G" Entries from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition #1-36 | 592 | ISBN 978-0785127314 | |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition vol. 2 | 1990-1993 | "H-N" Entries from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition #1-36 | 592 | ISBN 978-0-7851-2731-4 | |
| Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 | 1976-1979 | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #1-31 | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-1682-6 | |
| Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 2 | 1979-1981 | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #32-53, Annual #1-2, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #13, Fantastic Four #218 | 592 | ISBN 0-7851-2042-4 | |
| Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 3 | 1981-1983 | Spectacular Spider-Man #54-74, Annual #3. | 536 | ISBN 978-0785125013 | |
| Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 1 | 1978-1980 | Power Man and Iron Fist #50-72, 74-75 | 520 | ISBN 978-0785127260 | |
| 1974-1986 | The Amazing Spider-Man #129, 134-135, 162-163, 174-175, 201-202, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15, Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, Marvel Preview #2, Marvel Super-Action #1, Captain America #241, Daredevil #182-184, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83, The Punisher #1-5 | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-2375-X | ||
| 1987-1989 | The Punisher #1-20, Annual #1, Daredevil #257 | 536 | ISBN 978-0785127345 | ||
| 1989-1991 | The Punisher #21-40, Annual #2-3 | 584 | ISBN 978-0785127345 | ||
| 1977-1978 | Rampaging Hulk #1-9, The Hulk! #10-15, The Incredible Hulk #269 | ISBN 978-0-7851-2699-7 | |||
| Savage She-Hulk vol. 1 | 1979-1981 | Savage She-Hulk #1-25 | 552 | ISBN 0-7851-2335-0 | |
| Silver Surfer vol. 1 | 1968-1970 | Silver Surfer #1-18, Fantastic Four Annual #5 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-2008-4 | |
| Silver Surfer vol. 2 | 1982, 1987-1988 | Silver Surfer (1982) #1, Silver Surfer (1987) #1-18, Annual #1, Marvel Fanfare #51 | 600 | ISBN 978-0785127000 | |
| Spider-Woman vol. 1 | 1977-1979 | Marvel Spotlight #32, Marvel Two-In-One #29-33, Spider-Woman #1-25 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-1793-8 | |
| Spider-Woman vol. 2 | 1980-1983 | Spider-Woman #26-50, Marvel Team-Up #97, Uncanny X-Men #148 | 608 | ISBN 978-0785127017 | |
| Sub-Mariner vol. 1 | 1965-1968 | Tales to Astonish #70-101, Iron Man & The Sub-Mariner #1, The Sub-Mariner #1-12 | ISBN 0-7851- | ||
| Super-Villain Team-Up vol. 1 | 1970-1971, 1975-1980 | Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1-2, Super-Villain Team-Up #1-14, #16-17, The Avengers #154-156, The Champions #16, Astonishing Tales #1-8 | 552 | ISBN 0-7851-1545-5 | |
| Tales of the Zombie vol. 1 | 1973-1974 | Tales of the Zombie #1-10, Dracula Lives #1-2 | 592 | ISBN 0-7851-1916-7 | |
| 1962-1964 | Journey Into Mystery #83-112 | 536 | ISBN 0-7851-1866-7 | ||
| 1965-1966 | Journey Into Mystery #113-124, The Mighty Thor #125-136, Annual #1-2 | 584 | ISBN 0-7851-1591-9 | ||
| 1967-1969 | The Mighty Thor #137-166 | 616 | ISBN 0-7851-2149-8 | ||
| Tomb of Dracula vol. 1 | 1972-1974 | The Tomb of Dracula #1-25, Werewolf By Night #15, Giant-Size Chillers #1 | 560 | ISBN 0-7851-0920-X | |
| Tomb of Dracula vol. 2 | 1974-1976 | Tomb of Dracula #26-49, Dr. Strange #14, Giant-Size Dracula #2-5 | 592 | ISBN 0-7851-1461-0 | |
| Tomb of Dracula vol. 3 | 1976-1979 | Tomb of Dracula #50-70, Tomb of Dracula Magazine #1-4 | 584 | ISBN 0-7851-1558-7 | |
| Tomb of Dracula vol. 4 | 1973-1975, 1980 | Tomb of Dracula Magazine #2, 4-6, Dracula Lives! #1-13, Frankenstein Monster #7-9 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-1709-1 | |
| Uncanny X-Men vol. 1 | 1963-1966 | X-Men #1-24 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0991-9 | |
| Classic X-Men vol. 2 | 1966-1968 | X-Men #25-53, The Avengers #53 | 640 | ISBN 0-7851-2116-1 | |
| Classic X-Men vol. 3 | 1968-1974 | X-Men #54-66, #67-80 (covers only); Marvel Team-Up #4, Amazing Adventures #11-17, Incredible Hulk #150, 161 | 560 | ISBN 0-7851-3060-4 | to be released: |
| Werewolf By Night vol. 1 | 1972-1974 | Marvel Spotlight #2-4, Werewolf By Night #1-21, Marvel Team-Up #12, Giant-Size Creatures #1, Tomb of Dracula #18 | 576 | ISBN 0-7851-1839-X | |
| Werewolf By Night vol. 2 | 1974-1976 | Werewolf By Night #22-43, Giant-Size Werewolf by Night #2-5, Marvel Premiere #28 | 576 | ISBN 978-0785127253 | |
| Wolverine vol. 1 | 1988-1990 | Wolverine #1-23 | 552 | ISBN 0-7851-1867-5 | |
| Wolverine vol. 2 | 1990-1992 | Wolverine #24-47 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0550-6 | |
| Wolverine vol. 3 | 1992-1993 | Wolverine #48-69 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0595-6 | |
| Wolverine vol. 4 | 1993-1994 | Wolverine #70-90 | 544 | ISBN 0-7851-2059-9 | |
| Wolverine vol. 5 | 1994-1996 | Wolverine #91-110, 1996 Annual, Uncanny X-Men #332 | 562 | ISBN 978-0785130772 | |
| X-Factor vol. 1 | 1986-1987 | The Avengers #262, The Fantastic Four #286, X-Factor #1-16, Annual #1, The Mighty Thor #373-374, Power Pack #27 | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-1886-1 | |
| X-Factor vol. 2 | 1987-1988 | X-Factor #17-35, Annual #2, The Mighty Thor #378 | 544 | ISBN 978-0785120995 | |
| X-Men vol. 1 | 1975-1979 | Giant-Size X-Men #1, X-Men #94-119 | 520 | ISBN 0-7851-2376-8 | |
| X-Men vol. 2 | 1979-1981 | X-Men #120-144, Annual #3-4 | 584 | ISBN 0-7851-2007-6 | |
| X-Men vol. 3 | 1981-1982 | X-Men #145-161, Annual #3-5 | 528 | ISBN 0-7851-0661-8 | |
| X-Men vol. 4 | 1982-1984 | X-Men #162-179, Annual #6, Marvel Graphic Novel #5: "God Loves, Man Kills" | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-2295-8 | |
| X-Men vol. 5 | 1984-1985 | X-Men #180-198, Annual #7-8, X-Men/Alpha Flight #1-2 | 632 | ISBN 0-7851-2692-9 | |
| X-Men vol. 6 | 1985-1987 | X-Men #199-213, New Mutants Special Edition #1, X-Men Annual #9, X-Factor #9-11, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374, Power Pack #27 | 656 | ISBN 0-7851-1727-X | |
| X-Men vol. 7 | 1987-1988 | X-Men #214-228, Annual #10-11, Fantastic Four vs. The X-Men #1-4 | 568 | ISBN 0-7851-2055-6 | |
| X-Men vol. 8 | 1988-1989 | X-Men #229-243, Annual #12, X-Factor #36-39 | 544 | ISBN 978-0785127635 | |