Marvel Comics is set to adopt one of DC’s most popular concepts.

One of the standout achievements in the comic world lately has been the Compact Comics line. Launched in 2023, this series compiles beloved comic runs into smaller, more affordable paperbacks compared to traditional trade paperbacks. Marvel has been working hard to match this innovative approach, and it seems they might finally be on the right track.

The Marvel Comics X account recently announced new collected editions for the first year of Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimate universe. Each paperback will gather the first 12 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, Ultimate X-Men, and Ultimates. While these series already have trade paperbacks, the new format is what really stands out.

In the announcement for these year one paperbacks, Marvel has labeled them as being in the “compact comic” format. Each volume will retail for $9.99, aligning it with the pricing of the Compact Comics line. Although the exact dimensions of these new editions haven’t been revealed yet, it’s likely they will match the digest size of DC’s offerings. This move indicates that Marvel is finally providing something comparable to its audience, even if it means following in DC’s footsteps.

Marvel has previously attempted to create its own version of the Compact Comics line. In 2024, the Marvel Premier Collection was introduced. While the concept is similar, these editions are slightly larger than DC’s and priced at $14.99 each. However, readers have voiced concerns about the unattractive covers, which feature prominent Premier Collection branding that lacks the sleekness of the Compact Comics design. Despite these issues, the line has found success.

Several previously announced Premier Collection editions are still set to release through the end of 2026 and into 2027. The introduction of these new Ultimate universe collections raises questions about the future of both formats at Marvel. Given the popularity of the Compact Comics line, Marvel may need to embrace that branding as the way forward. The Marvel compact comics editions are scheduled to hit shelves in April and June 2027.

Finally!