Dark Knights of Steel: The Deluxe Edition

Welcome to Elseworlds, heroes you know, worlds you don’t! This special line of comics reinvasions classic DC heroes in wildly different universes and contexts. In Dark Knights of Steel, readers get a chance to meet the familiar heroes of the Justice League in a medieval fantasy setting!

From Eisner Award-winning writer Tom Taylor (Nightwing, DCeased) and rising artist Yasmine Putri comes an Elseworlds epic about a hero from a distant world, a dark knight crusader, and an Amazon warrior set in a world of steel and magic. Peace between the kingdoms of El, the Kingdom of Storms, and the Amazons has always been uneasy. But when a member of the royal family of El is assassinated to prevent a dark prophecy from coming true, the only remaining course is all-out war. But was the prophecy itself accurate, or is a far greater evil responsible for setting the three realms against each other? Swords will clash, spells will be cast, and blood will be spilled as the war of the three kingdoms begins! This deluxe edition collects Dark Knights of Steel #1-12 and Dark Knights of Steel: Tales from the Three Kingdoms #1 and features an introduction by Mark Waid and a new cover by Yasmine Putri.

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