Unbagging Marvel Paragon Collection: Chris Claremont

Marvel Paragon Collection: Chris Claremont

Release: Jul 13, 2021

Cover: Sep 2021

Creators

Writer	Chris Claremont
Artist	Salvador Larroca
Cover Artist	Dave Cockrum
Penciller	Dave Cockrum, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, John Byrne
Inker	Scott Williams, Bob McLeod, Terry Austin, Joe Rubinstein
Plotter	John Byrne
Editor in Chief	C.B. Cebulski

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I’m the best there is at what I do.

This one isn’t going to be a typical Unbagging, but it’s not exactly a Short Box either.

Over on Bluesky, I posted my contribution for Top Shelf Friday, and while I did share a few images, I thought I’d make a post here to provide some more shots and some background.

The book in question is collection reprinting Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #94, 129-137, 141-142, Wolverine Vol. 1 #1-4, Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #268, X-Men Vol. 2 #1 , and Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #140.5. It also includes some script pages and commentary from Claremont.

The main features are basically what you would expect – The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past, with a smattering of other significant issues, such as the Jim Lee-penciled issue featuring Wolverine, Captain America, and Black Widow teaming up in the past and the present. (Well, it was the present at the time it was published.)

So what makes it special is the format and that it’s a limited run of 2,180. (Mine is #960)

In terms of format, it’s has a faux leather cover with gilded pages, and it’s contained in a case that’s like a larger version of the book itself.

The large case makes it seem like it’s some kind of ancient grimoire.

It strives for the feeling of being a premium handmade product, and for the most part – the feel of the faux leather is a weak point – it accomplishes that.

It’s also signed and hand-numbered and includes a certificate of authenticity.

The package also includes three comics:

And finally, it includes several lithographs designed to look as if they are on original comic pages:

Actual comic pages are considerably larger; the lithographs are at the reduced size of standard comic.

The limited print run was produced via a crowdfunding campaign, and I would note that as part of the campaig I actually bought two, one for me and another for my friend Scott – I think his was #959 – which ended up being a gift that covered two birthdays and two Christmases.

As a book, it’s not really an ideal format for reading, most of the content is reprinted elsewhere – including in some volumes that I already own – and it lacks some of the features of an Absolute Edition or an Artist’s Edition, but as a piece of art that has interesting features and serves as a showcase for the work of the creators involved it’s definitely top shelf material, and I thought it was worth taking a closer look at.

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