Micronauts: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2

Background. Micronauts was Marvel's toy-licensed book that Bill Mantlo turned into one of the era's most inventive cosmic sagas. This second volume covers the run's mid-to-late stretch, where Mantlo pushes past the toy origins into full space opera. It picks up directly from the first omnibus, deepening the mythology of the subatomic Microverse and its exiled freedom fighters. Long out of print, these issues are among the hardest Mantlo-era Marvel material to find in collected form.

What's inside. Collects Micronauts (1979) #30-54: the six-part origin of the Microverse, the quest for the three keys against mad King Argon, a chase through the X-Men's Danger Room pursued by the killer metamorph Huntarr, the debut of new members Devil and Fireflyte, and the return of arch-villain Baron Karza. Written by Bill Mantlo with art by Pat Broderick, Gil Kane and Butch Guice, plus Val Mayerik, Keith Giffen, Steve Ditko and others. Michael Golden cover.

Why it's worth it. This is the volume Vol. 1 owners need to complete the story, and it works as a self-contained cosmic epic. Marvel has never reprinted much of this material until now, so the omnibus is the only practical way to read this run in one place with restored color and art reconstruction.

Edition details. 888 pages. US edition published by Marvel Comics. ISBN 9781302956790.