Ross Andru

The Flash: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 3 closes the classic Barry Allen Silver Age shelf with The Flash #164-199, a run that pushes the character into bigger guest-stars, stranger science and a more crowded DC universe. The appeal is momentum: Kid Flash, Reverse-Flash, Gorilla Grodd, Green Lantern, Superman and the Golden Age Flash all show how central Barry had become to DC continuity.

The series that cemented Spider-Man's position at the centre of the Marvel Universe. Each issue of Marvel Team-Up pairs the wall-crawler with a different hero — Thor, the X-Men, Human Torch, Daredevil, Iron Fist — in self-contained adventures that explore every corner of the 1970s Marvel world. A perfect entry point into Bronze Age Marvel and a love letter to the interconnected universe storytelling that made Marvel different from DC. 840 pages of classic 1970s action in USA omnibus edition.

Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 5 continues Peter Parker's Bronze Age stretch after the first Clone Saga, with Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas and Ross Andru shaping a Spider-Man who is older, more socially rooted and increasingly defined by his relationships. Mary Jane, Aunt May, the Daily Bugle and a changing Marvel New York give the run its texture. The value is chronological and emotional: Peter moving through adulthood while the classic Spider-Man machine keeps expanding.

The Conway era begins: Gerry Conway takes over Amazing Spider-Man and immediately marks his territory with the first Clone Saga, the Punisher's first appearance, and the Jackal as a terrifying new nemesis. Peter Parker tries to rebuild his life after Gwen Stacy's death while facing increasingly dark, complex threats. 976 pages from the Bronze Age, showing how Spider-Man evolved from Silver Age optimism into a more mature, morally complex hero.