Marvel and DC comic archive

[euchre0]

Does any body have any idea about the archives of old comics that DC and Marvel use for their reprints such as the Omnibuses (?), Essentials and Showcases? We know that up until the last part of the 20th century, comics were cheaply produced and not intended to keep forever. So, does Marvel have a warehouse somewhere where have Amazing Spider-Man #1-550 next to Avengers #1-current? Does DC have Action Comics 1-861 or whatever? Nowadays, I am sure most of it has been scanned into digital form for safe keeping, but in 1982, when Marvel would reprint the original Spider-Man stories in "Marvel Tales," did they have to knock on Stan Lee's door and ask if he had kept any?

In the back of Essential Captain America Vol.1, there is a reprint of Captain America #10 from 1941. Was this just laying around Marvel's office since 1941 or what?

Just curious.

[animalvader1]

Not sure. I know that some editors have (had) a library or comics for reference. I know this only because CGC has certified a few books as “File Copies” for specific people. For instance, I’ve seen some graded books on E-Bay labeled as “Stan Lee File Copy” in the same fashion as CGC would authenticate a particular book being part of, say “The Mile High Collection”.

[esophagus]

I know at Marvel at least there are actually people who are there solely for archiving issues. They've got an entire room full of binders full of all the old comics, there for promotion, research, whateevr else. I'm assuming DC is the same way.

[the-sword-is-drawn]

Really not totally sure how this works. I believe Marvel employ guys to maintain an archive, not so sure about DC.

Although, not all of Marvel was based in the US, of course. I know that the Marvel UK imprint, Frontier and Epic comics were put together in the UK,. And sadly, when the US offices pulled the plug the British offices had to close up and ship out incredibly quickly. The larger proportion of original artwork and printed material ended up being thrown out by mistake, by an over-zealous cleaning team.

[euchre0]

So when did these companies start saving all their issues? The 1930s? 1960s?

Perhaps all magazines, like Time, Life, etc have always done this, so maybe Marvel and DC always did, too.

[esophagus]

So when did these companies start saving all their issues? The 1930s? 1960s?

Perhaps all magazines, like Time, Life, etc have always done this, so maybe Marvel and DC always did, too.
I'm guessing they've basically always done it, and have people out there looking for the issues to fill in their blanks.