I just finished reading the New Avengers latest "Annual." Outside of my disappointment in the story (we won't go there), it made me think of Annuals that DC and Marvel did awhile back (for me, it's the 60s and 70s that I'm thinking of). 

With Marvel, there was an oversize story that couldn't run in the regular books, along with poster pages, inside info (e.g. powers, diagrams), and other fun features.  Amazing Spiderman Annual 1 was a classic in this regard, as were the first three FF annuals and the first 2 Avenger annuals.

DC in the 60's did the reprint route, but these often had pinups and other fun text features.  I think they went into new material in the 70's.

Anyone else bemoaning the lost art of the annual?

I miss Annuals, too. Some of my favorites include:

1. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 - Spider-Man + Dr. Strange + Steve Ditko = mucho goodness!

2. Captain America Annual #4 - A Kirby Klassic, as Captain America battles Magneto and his Mutates.

3. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20 - Spider-Man's wedding to Mary Jane. Even if you thought the wedding was a bad idea (and I did), this still was a nice issue.

4. The Avengers Annual #16/West Coast Avengers Annual #2 - The Grandmaster and Death made a wager on the outcome of a battle between the two teams. The ending, where Hawkeye uses one of his old carny scams to trick the Grandmaster, is just priceless. Captain America: "You mean...you cheated?!?"

I've gone through both.  My initial thought when I hear annual is still "cool", then my brain kicks in and I have to take a look at it before I buy it.

Speaking of annuals though, Nova(the man called) is getting his first ever annual.  I don't know if "respect" is the right word to describe how the character's recently been handled but it's certainly a lot better than in the past.  Now, if Marvel decides to put him on the subscription list, I'll be a happy camper.  It's hard to completely enjoy a character when the threat of cancellation is always lingering.

I've always felt bad for Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, etc. fans that keep getting books and then getting cancelled.  I think each time it happens it makes it that much harder to consider the character for their own book the next time.

As a kid in the late 60's, the first two annuals I ever bought still represent (to me) all that was amazing and fantastic about Marvel:

I still remember exactly where I was when I read these for the first time.

Annuals New & Old !

New: I liked New Avengers Annual #1 with the wedding of Luke Cage & Jessica Jones.  The fight between the Sentry and the modified [blonde] "Black Widow" was spectacular!

Old: Fantastic Four Annuals #5 & #6 !  Classics!  Hope that Annual 6 and Annihilus are incorporated into the FF3 movie!

I've always felt bad for Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, etc. fans that keep getting books and then getting cancelled.  I think each time it happens it makes it that much harder to consider the character for their own book the next time.

Agreed !

And this annual remains one of my favorite comic books of all-time: