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Foreign Reprints

 

In France, 2099 comics were reprinted by French publisher Semic then later by Panini. Instead of reprinting individual issues, the comics were reprinted in a 60+ page magazine or 'album' format collecting usually three full issues. The magazine, simply titled "2099" alternated which 2099 titles were collected. The magazine debuted in August of 1993 just as 2099 comics stateside were halfway through their first year. Of the first wave of 2099 titles, the 2099 magazine only reprinted issues of Spider-Man, Ravage, and Doom. The exclusion of Punisher 2099 is curious. The only issue of Punisher 2099 to be reprinted was #13 which was the fifth and final part of the Fall of the Hammer crossover. Spider-Man 2099 was reprinted almost completely; they stopped at #44. Doom 2099 #s1 - 39 were reprinted, minus the two Gene Colan issues. If only they had stopped at #38, it would have been a self-contained run. As is, I'm sure more than one reader was left hanging as #39 is the beginning of Rage Against Time. X-Men 2099 likewise got a nearly complete run, #s1 - 32 were reprinted. That was another cliffhanger ending. Ravage 2099 was reprinted from #1 - 16. X-Nation (1-3) and Fantastic Four 2099 (1-5) also got a some issues reprinted. The only title to be completely reprinted was Ghost Rider 2099. With the exception of Ravage, the cut off for all the titles reprinted coincides with  Joey Cavalieri's exit as editor. I wonder what role, if any, that may have had in ending the reprinting of what remained of the 2099 titles. A complete list of what was reprinted and where can be found on the excellent French comic book database, Comics VF.com. Click here to view the list. The list includes covers for all the issues.

 

Of note are the covers. The majority featured the cover of one of the corresponding issues collected within. Owning one of these most be a real treat. Since the "2099" logo is fairly small compared to the title specific logos and the covers were reprinted sans any of the usual hyperbole that would adorn our version (see picture comparison below), in many cases you get to see a little more of the cover art which is nice.  There were also some exceptions where instead of using one of the recognized covers, they opted to use a page from within the issue. One notable exception is 2099 #39 which featured the original poster artwork by Bob Larkin.

An interior page from Spider-Man 2099 #9 is used as the cover to Semic's 2099 #8

The smaller logo and lack of any cover hyperbole results in more cover art being visible. Pictured is Ravage 2099 #5 and 2099 #5 Interior page from Doom 2099 # 10 is used as the cover to 2099 # 10 Original poster art by Bob Larkin is used as the cover to 2099 #39
     

 

Meanwhile, in Italy, Marvel Italia reprinted 2099 comics under various titles. Spider-Man 2099 was translated as L'Uomo Ragno 2099, X-Men 2099 remained X-Men 2099, while other characters (Ghost Rider, Fantastic Four, X-Nation) were reprinted under the title 2099 Special. The 2099 A.D. one shot was reprinted as 2099 A.D. #0 (pictured left) and included material from 2099 Unlimited and the World of Doom Special. Its also a prime example of a foreign reprint getting an all new cover. Marvel Italia, to my knowledge, created a total of four original covers for their reprints. The covers were for Spider-Man 2099 (or  L'Uomo Ragno 2099 to be precise) # 14 - 15, 2099 Special #1, and 2099 A.D. #0.

Below, Onofrio Catacchio (cover artist to 2099 Special #1) recalls a bit about his work and how Spider-Man 2099 was featured in advertising by the Phillips electronics company.
 

2099 Special #1, cover art by Onofrio Catacchio.
Click here to see a larger version of this cover.

How many 2099 covers did you draw?

OC: Only that of December 1994. The title was 2099.

What do you remember about creating them?

OC: Marvel Italy was born a few months before and entrusted to some Italian authors.

Were new covers often drawn for American reprints?

OC: The one I drew was a "tribute." Spider-Man appeared in a 2099 anthology dedicated to the world of 2099. I do not know if they drew other "replacements" of US covers.

You also drew two ads for Phillps which featured Spider-Man 2099. What was the connection between Phillips and the 2099 (or Marvel Italy)? I noticed that Spider-Man wearing equipment leading in both advertising. Was this significant?

OC: Philips had decided to use the character Spider-Man 2099's image in their advertising campaign of its "black" technology (walkman, mobile phones etc.). The technology designed on Spider-Man 2099 is all invented and futuristic.

What were they advertising?

OC: Technological gizmos: games consoles, cameras. Technology "black" in color as opposed to the "white goods" produced at the time by Philips. I think Spider-Man was chosen due to the affinity of the costume and the context of futuristic stories.

One of two ads for Phillips featuring Spider-Man 2099. Art by Onofrio Catacchio. Click here to see a larger version.

 

In Brazil, publisher Abril Joven reprinted Spider-Man 2099 as Homem-Aranha 2099. These were more straight forward reprints, meaning one issue of their Homem-Aranha 2099 equaled one issue of our Spider-Man 2099. One interesting note is that the Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man special was reprinted within the title as #35 of their run.

Spanish Publisher, Comics Forum, also did straight reprints of various 2099 titles. Spider-Man 2099, Punisher 2099, Ravage 2099, Ghost Rider 2099 and Doom 2099 were all released as limited series'. Each series got two volumes, 12 issues each. The first volume collected the first 12 issues and second reprinted the last 12. Issues in between the two volumes were reprinted in a separate anthology book simply called "Marvel 2099." This series is notable for featuring an original cover for its 1st issue (pictured below). Also of note is that the crossover, Fall of the Hammer, was reprinted as a separate limited series, La Caida Del Martillo.

With the exception of Doom 2099, they opted to not translate the cover titles. During the first volume Doom 2099 was reprinted as Doctor Muerte (Doctor Death). They switched to Doom 2099  for volume 2. Stories from 2099 Unlimited were reprinted under their "Superheroes Marvel" title. Apart from reprints of individual issues, Comics Forum also reprinted them in trade paperback-like volumes (though they might have been hardcover, I have yet to confirm this). Doctor Muerte, X-Men 2099, Ghost Rider 2099, and Ravage 2099 were all collected in large volumes containing 12 issues each. 

2099 A.D. # 0, cover art by Carlos Puerta. Click here to see a larger version of this cover.

   
L'Uomo Ragno 2099 #14, cover art by Luca Poli L'Uomo Ragno 2099 #15, cover art by Luca Poli Marvel 2099 #1 published by Comics Forum, featuring original cover art. Artist unknown.

A special thanks to Travesty from the 2099 UGR board for providing me with all of the information and images of 2099 comics reprinted in Finland and Sweden. Thanks Travesty!
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Semic also handled reprints in Finland which saw only a small selection of 2099 issues reprinted. Spider-Man 2099 was reprinted in Hämähäkkimies (Finnish for Spider-Man) which reprinted various Spider-Man books. Hämähäkkimies (1994) #1 reprinted Spider-Man 2099 #1 and #2. Hämähäkkimies (1994) #2 reprinted Spider-Man 2099 #3. Hämähäkkimies (1994) #3 reprinted Spider-Man 2099 #4 and was the first time that Spider-Man 2099 was featured on the cover. Further stories were reprinted in the Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (Spider-Man Special). Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1994) #1 reprinted Spider-Man 2099 #5 - 8. Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1994) #2 reprinted Spider-Man 2099 #10 - 14.

Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1995) #1 reprinted a heavily edited version of the Fall of the Hammer crossover issues. A list of exactly what was reprinted can be found here. Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1996) #1 reprinted Spider-Man 2099 #18 - 20 and #22 - 24. Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1996) #3 featured the last issues of Spider-Man 2099 to be reprinted in Finland, Spider-Man 2099 #25 - 30. The Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man graphic novel was reprinted in 1997 as Mega Marvel #9.

Curious is that the only other 2099 character to receive significant reprints (and by that I mean more than one issue) is Ghost Rider 2099. With his name translated as Aaveajaja 2099, Ghost Rider 2099 was reprinted in three issues of Marvel. Marvel (1995) #2 reprinted Ghost Rider 2099 #1 - 4. Marvel (1995) #7 reprinted Ghost Rider 2099 #5 - 8. Finally, Marvel (1996) #6 reprinted Ghost Rider 2099 #9 - 12. Punisher 2099, translated as Tuomari 2099, was also reprinted. Marvel (1996) #3 reprinted Punisher 2099 #20 - 25, making these the only issues of Punisher 2099 to be reprinted in Finland. X-men 2099 was reprinted as Ryhmä-X 2099, but only the first issue was made available and in black and white (perhaps a subscription exclusive).

Reprints of Spider-Man 2099 in Denmark and Poland, also by Semic, would appear to have followed a similar pattern as in Finland. In Denmark Spider-Man 2099 was translated as Edderkoppen 2099.

Cover to Mega Marvel #9
Click Here for a large version of the cover

Cover to Marvel (1996) #3
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Cover to Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1994) #1

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Cover to Marvel (1996) #6
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Cover to Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1995) #1
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Cover to Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1996) #1
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Cover to Hämähäkkimies Spesiaali (1996) #3
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Marvel UK reprinted Spider-Man 2099 in their monthly Spider-Man title, The Exploits of Spider-Man. Reprints began with Spider-Man 2099 #1 - 8 being reprinted in The Exploits of Spider-Man #6 - 13. Spider-Man 2099 #9 - 16 in The Exploits of Spider-Man #15 - 22. As you can see below, Spider-Man often shared the cover with his 2099 counter-part, resulting in some unique original art. I'm still researching, but it also seems that other 2099 titles may have also been reprinted here.

   
 

The Exploits of Spider-Man #6. Cover artist unknown.

The Exploits of Spider-Man #7. Cover artist unknown. The Exploits of Spider-Man #15. Cover artist unknown. The Exploits of Spider-Man #23. Cover artist unknown.

 

 

 

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