One of the biggest complaints of new and casual comic book readers is that there is too much canon to consider. Comic book character storylines and events can reach back decades and still have connections to modern storylines. One way to get new and casual readers into comic books is to encourage them to buy and read superhero omnibus collections.
An omnibus is a large, sometimes massive collection of comic books and tie-in issues for one character or team title. An omnibus is like a narrative capsule of storylines and pivotal events of a character. It can get new and casual readers up to speed about the importance of a character.
So, here are nine superhero omnibus collections that are suitable for new and casual comic book readers.
1. The Immortal Hulk Omnibus
Superhero omnibus collections like The Immortal Hulk are great for persuading casual readers to get into comics. Most casuals know about the Hulk through the MCU and see the character as a one-dimensional Jekyll-and-Hyde-type beast. However, the Hulk’s narrative motivations as a character in the comics change occasionally with the creative team.
In 2018, writer Al Ewing would turn the Hulk into a smart psychological, action, and horror comic. Bruce Banner discovers that he cannot die; every time he is killed, he will be resurrected through the Hulk persona. Worse, his mind is fracturing into different personas. The Devil Hulk is a self-hating Hulk persona that wants to become the dominant persona and destroy the world.
It is considered one of the greatest creative runs of Hulk comics ever. This omnibus is a 1,616-page hardcover. It collects all 50 issues of the series as well as numerous tie-in issues. Get it now on Amazon for $91.
2. Daredevil By Chip Zdarsky Omnibus Vol. 1
In the 2019 Daredevil run by writer Chip Zdarsky, Matt Murdock renews his vow to clean up Hell’s Kitchen after a major brush with death. Murdock accidentally kills a criminal, which causes a crisis of faith. Meanwhile, the Kingpin makes new alliances with dangerous forces to help him eradicate Daredevil.
This is a fan-favorite of the series that also features the hyper-detailed artwork of Marco Checchetto. Buy the 703-page hardcover now at Amazon.
3. Hawkeye By Fraction & Aja Omnibus
Hawkeye is not a new character, even though he is a household name because of the MCU. The character made his debut in Tales of Suspense #57 in 1964. A martial artist and master archer, Hawkeye had no powers but was a cult favorite comic character by the 1980s. I highly recommend superhero omnibus collections like this 2014 Hawkeye run because it hyper-focuses on character.
Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, and Pizza Dog team up to protect the residents of a housing complex from local gangsters. Hawkeye has been hearing disabled since the 1980s in the comics, but his series reimagines the cause. This series was the inspiration for the Disney+ show of the same name.
This 552-page hardcover collects all 22 issues of the series and several tie-in issues. Get it for $59 now on Amazon.
4. X-Men Epic Collection: God Loves, Man Kills
This omnibus collects some of the best X-Men comics of the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1982 graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills. In the aftermath of Jean Grey’s death, Cyclops marries Madeline Pryor, a woman who looks just like Jean. Rogue joins the X-Men and the X-Men meet the Morlocks, a group of subterranean mutants living under New York City.
This collection features the 1982 four-issue Wolverine miniseries. The main highlight is the graphic novel, about a televangelist who uses his influence to raise a paramilitary to exterminate the X-Men. Superhero omnibus collections like this give you an exact feeling of X-Men comics from that pivotal era.
Buy the 496-page paperback now on Amazon for $26.
5. Invincible Compendium Vol. 1,2, and 3
Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead, is also the creator of Invincible. Mark Grayson is a Superboy analog. Grayson slowly learns his father is an alien who came to Earth for very nefarious reasons. While the 2021 Invincible animated series became a hit, the Invincible comic series made its debut back in 2003.
These three compendium paperback volumes collect all 3,120 pages of the 144-issue series. Buy it now for $175 on Amazon.
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin Box Set
Almost everyone is familiar with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, whether you have read the comics or not. There are decades of TMNT canon in the comic books across a few publishers. However, a 2020 alternate continuity version of the TMNT is now a cult fan favorite.
In The Last Ronin, a future dystopian New York City is under the control of Shredder’s grandson, Oruko Hiroto. One masked turtle, haunted by the deaths of three of his brothers and Master Splinter, vows to avenge their deaths and stop Hiroto.
Pre-order this 664-page box set for its November 25, 2025, release date now for $88 on Amazon.
7. Gotham Central Omnibus
Superhero omnibus collections like Gotham Central are very interesting reads because they don’t even focus on superheroes. Batman and major supporting characters like James Gordon and Harvey Bullock are not even central figures in this series. Gotham Central focuses on lower-rank officers like Crispus Allen, Rene Montoya, Marcus Driver, and others.
This series is about how the lower-rank officers in the Gotham P.D. operate and do their jobs in a city obsessed with Batman. Gotham Central is a 2002 series that did not get the appreciation it rightly deserved.
This 968-page hardcover collects all 40 issues of the series. Buy it now for $55 on Amazon.
8. The Animal Man Omnibus
Animal Man is an obscure but fan-favorite DC Comics character. Animal Man made his debut in Strange Adventures #180 in 1965. After being caught in the blast radius of an exploding UFO, Buddy Baker would gain the ability to borrow the traits of animals. Animal Man would make less than a dozen appearances in DC Comics before 1988.
Legendary creator Grant Morrison would relaunch the character for a four-issue series that became an ongoing. Animal Man became a surreal horror and superhero series about animal rights, saving the environment, and veganism years before such ideas became general public terms. The series was meta before the term “meta” was widespread, as Animal Man met his creator, Morrison, in the series.
This 712-page hardcover collects the series. Buy it now on Amazon for $62.
9. Thor By Cates & Klein Omnibus
Thor is now King of Asgard. Galactus crashes into Asgard and reveals a celestial threat that could destroy Asgard. Thor gains a massive power up and begins to prepare for this threat, The Black Winter. This run of Thor is a fan-favorite due to the celestial battles, action scenes, and escalations of power between gods and celestial entities.
This 1,048-page hardcover collects all 35 issues of the run and several tie-in issues. Buy it now on Amazon for $66.
Superhero Omnibus Collections
It can be very intimidating for new and casual comic book fans to try to navigate decades of canon on their own. A good omnibus can act as a great starting point for new and casual readers to get an introduction to certain characters and storylines.
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