DARK SHADOWS NOIR CLASSIC B&W PHOTOGRAPHY

Hermes Press continues its long association with the original Gothic suspense television series "Dark Shadows" with the publication of the first-ever photographic art book devoted to the cult favorite which made sympathetic vampire Barnabas Collins a household name. Dark Shadows debuted June 27, 1966 on ABC-TV as the first daytime drama styled in the tradition of a Gothic novel. The show was the dream of producer Dan Curtis, who brought an exciting new format to the weekday schedule of standard fare soap operas. The pages in the volume feature images shot in black-and-white, spanning the series’ earliest days – before ghosts and vampires, when Dark Shadows most closely resembled a 1940s noir film – through its final episodes. As the series took a more fanciful direction, many of the plots retained an underlying tension and tone faithful to its origins, serving up a special hybrid... Dark Shadows NOIR. Featuring 256 pages, DARK SHADOWS NOIR features stunning full-page mono-chromatic images from the legendary television program, including dozens of previously unseen images from the archive of "Dark Shadows" creator Dan Curtis Productions. For 1,225 episodes, "Dark Shadows" thrilled over 20 million viewers during its five-year run with imaginative stories devoted to hidden mysteries, lost loves, time travel and supernatural characters. Late creator-executive producer Dan Curtis drew upon classic mystery, horror and romance tales ranging from "Jane Eyre" and "The Crucible" to "Wuthering Heights" to "Turn of the Screw" to enthrall captivated audiences. The ground-break sets, elaborate costumes and atmospheric lighting depicted on the series will be on stunning display in DARK SHADOWS NOIR with all images scanned in high resolution from original 35mm negatives and vintage fiber prints for rich CMYK reproduction of superior quality. DARK SHADOWS NOIR will serve as the ultimate souvenir for the 60th anniversary of "Dark Shadows" which continues to remain extremely popular via streaming services,televised reruns, DVD and BluRay releases, new merchandising and fan conventions.

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