{"id":1565,"date":"2024-08-02T18:32:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T22:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/?p=1565"},"modified":"2025-10-16T08:45:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T12:45:56","slug":"unbagging-marvel-paragon-collection-chris-claremont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/2024\/08\/02\/unbagging-marvel-paragon-collection-chris-claremont\/","title":{"rendered":"Unbagging Marvel Paragon Collection: Chris Claremont"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marvel Paragon Collection: Chris Claremont<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Release: Jul 13, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cover: Sep 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Creators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Writer<\/td>Chris Claremont<\/td><\/tr>
Artist<\/td>Salvador Larroca<\/td><\/tr>
Cover Artist<\/td>Dave Cockrum<\/td><\/tr>
Penciller<\/td>Dave Cockrum, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, John Byrne<\/td><\/tr>
Inker<\/td>Scott Williams, Bob McLeod, Terry Austin, Joe Rubinstein<\/td><\/tr>
Plotter<\/td>John Byrne<\/td><\/tr>
Editor in Chief<\/td>C.B. Cebulski<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I’m the best there is at what I do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This one isn’t going to be a typical Unbagging, but it’s not exactly a Short Box either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The large case makes it seem like it’s some kind of ancient grimoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also signed and hand-numbered and includes a certificate of authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The package also includes three comics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Wolverine story was made for this collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And finally, it includes several lithographs designed to look as if they are on original comic pages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wolverine by Joe Quesada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Goblin Queen by Philip Tan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Storm and the New Mutants in Asgard by Arthur Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Phoenix by Phil Noto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Storm and Callisto by Marcos Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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An assortment of X-Men and their friends and Enemies by Salvador Larroca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Actual comic pages are considerably larger; the lithographs are at the reduced size of standard comic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The limited print run was produced via a crowdfunding campaign, and I would note that as part of the campaig I actually bought two<\/em>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Born and raised in the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Jon Maki developed an enduring love for comics at an early age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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