Best of Marvel #1995
Best of Marvel #1995 is Marvel's own editorial snapshot of what the House of Ideas considered its finest work from a pivotal year — one dominated by the Clone Saga, the debut of Generation X, Warren Ellis's politically charged Doom 2099, and the Age of Apocalypse. By packaging these stories under a single painted cover in late 1995, Marvel gave readers and retailers a curated gateway into an unusually fertile creative moment in the publisher's modern era. The inclusion of Amazing Spider-Man #400 — the issue that memorialized Aunt May's (then-permanent) death — lends the collection a genuine emotional anchor that still resonates with Spider-Man historians. As a deliberately assembled reprint volume rather than a random anthology, it also stands as a rare direct statement from Marvel about which creators and stories it believed defined the year.
In "Don't Touch That Dial!", the Genosha-born mutant team known as Gene Nation holds Emma captive, using the former Morlock Leech to suppress her abilities. With Artie leading Jubilee, Skin, and Synch into the underground lair, tensions rise as Leech’s influence begins to warp their powers—until Emma breaks free and turns the tide. The issue closes with quiet moments between Xavier and Emma, a rare conversation between Jubilee and a feral, adamantium-laced Wolverine, and a surprisingly awkward flirtation between Paige and Chamber that ends in a dramatic explosion. Written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Chris Bachalo, with inks by Mark Buckingham and colors by Steve Buccellato and Electric Crayon, the cover by Igor Kordey captures the chaos in bold, striking detail.
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The volume is the second entry in Marvel's three-issue Best of Marvel reprint series, which ran annually from November 1994 through November 1996. Released November 24, 1995, it was assembled during a period of enormous editorial flux at Marvel: Bob Harras became Editor-in-Chief mid-year, and the line was simultaneously juggling the sprawling Clone Saga, the Generation X launch, and the aftermath of Age of Apocalypse. The striking painted cover was provided by Igor Kordey, whose painted style was a deliberate contrast to the interior material's range of penciling and inking voices.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published November 24, 1995 (cover date: November 1995) as the second issue of Marvel's three-volume Best of Marvel reprint series (Vol. 1, 1994–1996).
- Cover art by Igor Kordey — painted, prestige-format presentation that visually distinguishes it from standard monthly packaging.
- Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #400, written by J.M. DeMatteis with art by Mark Bagley, Larry Mahlstedt, and Randy Emberlin — the issue in which Aunt May Parker dies, a landmark moment in Spider-Man publishing history.
- Reprints Generation X #5–6, featuring the early adventures of the new Xavier Institute class including Chamber (Jonothon Starsmore), Skin (Angelo Espinosa), Husk (Paige Guthrie), Synch (Everett Thomas), M (Monet St. Croix), and Jubilee under the guidance of Emma Frost and Banshee.
- Reprints Doom 2099 #29, part of Warren Ellis's run in which the future Victor Von Doom wages war against the mega-corporations ruling a dystopian United States.
- Reprints Avengers #384, co-written by Bob Harras and Terry Kavanagh with art by Mike Deodato and Tom Palmer, in which Zeus strips Hercules of his immortality after Hera's deception is exposed.
- Reprints Tales of the Marvels: Blockbuster (written by Mike Baron, art by Shawn Martinbrough), a prestige-format one-shot examining civilian casualties from a classic Fantastic Four-era Silver Surfer/Tyros battle — part of the short-lived Tales of the Marvels series inspired by the Marvels format.
- Also collects Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special #1, Incredible Hulk #426, and X-Man #45, making it a cross-line sampler touching the Clone Saga, the 2099 universe, and the post-Age of Apocalypse X-books in a single volume.
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Gene Nation members Hemingway and Marrow have captured Emma and are using the ex-Morlock Leech to keep her powers in check. Artie leads Jubilee, Skin and Synch to the underground lair where Emma is being held but Leech begins to effect their powers as well. Emma knocks Leech out and regains her powers and the Gen kids help her defeat her captors. Emma drops by to have a chat with Xavier and Jubilee has a conversation with the post-adamantium, bestial Wolverine. Paige comes on to Chamber and he accidentally blows up the girl's dorm.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).