Bugsy and Flamingo

Drawing on FBI reports, court files, and exclusive interviews, this is the first-ever, definitive dual biography of legendary mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel—the real-life inspiration for The Godfather’s Moe Greene—and his fiery mistress Virginia Hill, tracing their star-crossed pursuit of the American Dream from New York to Hollywood and ultimately to the creation of Las Vegas.

New York during the height of Prohibition was fertile ground for bootlegger Bugsy Siegel, who found an enterprising way out of an impoverished immigrant ghetto. With mobster Meyer Lansky, who’d be Bugsy’s lifelong best friend, Siegel looked west for the next big haul: California and a gold mine called the Nevada desert. Shrewd and movie-star handsome, Bugsy would rise to the top echelons of Hollywood and the Mob.

Like Siegel, Alabama-born Virginia Hill was no stranger to a hardscrabble childhood. It also gave her a wily, independent edge. An avid reader of fan magazines, she had dreams, too. At 17, she followed them. Ben and Virginia were meant for each other. Their hot-wired connection would eventually lead to the construction of the Flamingo hotel and casino, the establishment of Las Vegas as a gambling empire, and an inevitable end to lives lived in the violent world of organized crime.

Bugsy and Flamingo dispels the myths about a couple who reached an unmatched level of celebrity and, through firsthand accounts from the Siegel and Lansky families, delivers the truth with stories never before revealed publicly: Virginia Hill's orders from the Mob to spy on Siegel and the warnings she instead gave the man she loved; Siegel's decades of Hollywood connections from Jean Harlow and George Raft to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack; the FBI's unprecedented 10-agent, 24-hour surveillance of Siegel; the Nuremberg trials that exposed Virginia's brother-in-law as a Nazi soldier; and the true identity of the man behind Siegel's murder in Virginia's Beverly Hills mansion—it wasn't the Mafia.

A panoramic history of organized crime in America and its influence—from the turn of the 20th century to today—this is the stuff of legend. But as told by Siegel and Lansky’s last surviving friends and family, it’s finally time to shed light on the real story before it’s lost forever.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs