What The--?! Omnibus

Collecting the complete parody classic!

Dive face-first into Marvel’s madhouse with the WHAT THE--?! OMNIBUS, cramming the entire anything-goes classic into one gloriously bonkers brick of a book. No hero escapes our satirical surgeons. The Fantastical Four, the Pulverizer, Doctor Deranged, the Mighty Sore, the Man-Thang and even poor Charlie America get roasted to crispy perfection. Comics’ biggest names cut loose with jokes they couldn’t get away with anywhere else. Artists from Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane to Steve Ditko and Marie Severin — backed by the all-star prank squad of Rurik Tyler, Aaron Lopresti, Hilary Barta and Bill Wray — let loose with wall-to-wall spoofs, sight gags and comic chaos. If you love to laugh at super heroes as much as you love super heroes, this volume is your new happy place.

COLLECTING: What The--?! (1988) #1-26

Written by: Scott Lobdell, Barry Dutter, Aaron Lopresti, Hilary Barta, Doug Rice, Sholly Fisch, Peter Gillis, Bill Wray, Kurt Busiek & Fred Hembeck with John Byrne, Peter David, Stan Lee, Don McGregor, Alan Kupperbeg, Dan Slott & more

Penciled by: Rurik Tyler, Aaron Lopresti, Hilary Barta, John Costanza, Marie Severin, John Byrne, Richard Howell with Jim Lee, Joe Quesada, Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Dale Keown, Mike Mignola, Todd McFarlane, Joe Staton, Fred Hembeck, Steve Ditko, John Severin, Alan Kupperberg & more

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs