Marvel Comics Newsstand Editions (6/79 - 12/13)

Set Description

- Marvel Comics began publishing their comics with a UPC barcode on the front cover in 6/76.
- Marvel started distributing ‘Direct Market Editions’ to comic shops in 6/79. These Direct Editions showed a slash over the UPC barcode, with the issue number and price in a diamond shape, instead of a box.
- Starting in 3/80, a 'Spider-Man' face was used in place of the UPC barcode for Direct Editions, along with an 'M'-shaped price box (M stood for 'Marvel'). Later, the 'Spider-Man' face was followed by other Marvel character or logo designs in place of the UPC barcode box.
- By the 1990’s, Direct Editions showed a UPC barcode box with the designation 'Direct Edition' specifically stated within the box, typically located on the front cover (but can be located on the back cover of some ‘wraparound’ covers).
- Since early 2014, Marvel has distributed Direct Editions only. Recently, these Direct Editions show a regular UPC barcode box without a designation inside.

Along with the Direct Edition distribution to comic shops which started in 6/79, Marvel simultaneously distributed ‘Newsstand Editions’ (with a regular UPC barcode box) to U.S. newsstands and other shops, for most of their titles. Marvel Comics Newsstand Editions continued to be released this way until 12/13.

This Marvel Comics set contains exclusively Newsstand Editions released between 6/79-12/13, which are harder to find in higher grades than their Direct Edition counterparts, due to the fact that Newsstand Editions have been predominantly handled by non-collectors.

Many Bronze Age and Copper Age key issues are included here, some signed by creators. Titles are listed in alphabetical order. 1st and 2nd appearances, 1st cover appearances, and key storylines are noted in the slot name.

All in this set are CGC 9.8 White Pages - now over 840 unique issues (including 10 complete limited series sets, 1 complete crossover event set, 14 Signature Series books, 5 books with ‘Mark Jewelers’ insert), plus a single CGC 9.9 (duplicate copy of the key issue X-Men #137 - 'Death' of Phoenix)! 68 different titles are represented.

Excluded from this set are Marvel Comics that have a UPC barcode, but no Direct Edition counterpart: those released between 6/76-5/79 (before Direct editions were produced), and those that have an ISBN number (such as some Marvel Graphic Novels and Prestige Format books with wraparound covers).

Set Goals
Would like to complete a number of runs I collected as a kid, including some of my favorite issues of all-time, some favorite artists, some limited series, and many key issues. I prefer the look of the Newsstand Edition versions with UPC barcode, over their Direct Edition counterparts.

Although most in this set are from the 1980’s, would like to add issues that were released up to 12/13, which is when Marvel Newsstand Editions stopped being produced.