Curtis

A landmark career retrospective celebrating Ray Billingsley, the cartooning powerhouse behind Curtis, America’s longest-running syndicated comic strip about middle-class Black life.

This is a must-have collector's item with never-before-seen art and ephemera

For almost 40 years, Ray Billingsley has written about the life of Curtis Wilkins and his family in the longest running Black-created comic strip. Beginning his professional career at age 12, Billingsley was determined to write about a life he knew growing up in Harlem and bring that to Black Americans everywhere.

Always funny but willing to tackle real subjects like bullying, gentrification, and the dangers of smoking, Curtis centers on Black middle-class city life and Ray’s stand-in Curtis as he chases his love Michelle, runs from superfan Chutney, and spars with his little brother Barry. As a peer of Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), Billingsley was the first Black cartoonist to win the prestigious Reuben Award.

This volume includes an extensive biography from new interviews, a large selection of great Curtis strips from the first 20 years of the syndicated run, as well as art and ephemera from the years leading up to Billingsley launching this classic strip.

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