COMIC BOOK CREATOR #33

CBC #33 gets trapped in the world Steve Gerber made, as we devote the spotlight to the late, great creator of Howard the Duck in a comprehensive look at his life and creative achievements, from Man Thing to Kiss, Crazy to Thundarr, from Destroyer Duck to an Elf with a Gun! One of Gerber’s most preeminent friends and collaborators was Mary Skrenes, who shares a rare, wildly entertaining, and extensive interview about her Las Vegas upbringing, 1970s comic book writing career (in part as “Virgil North”!), co-creation of Omega the Unknown, and help developing much of the Howard the Duck series, including her invention of Beverly Switzler! Our cover artist, Val Mayerik, talks about his life with certain foul-mouthed fowl! In addition, with the help of Roy Thomas, we take a good look at the never-realized Excelsior! Comics line created by Stan Lee in the ’90s. Plus Greg Biga continues his comprehensive chat with artist Mike Deodato, and we bring back the features we had to skip last ish. All this and Hembeck, too!

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