Decent People

Set on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border and spanning more than a century, this powerful multi-generational debut charts the fate of a gifted, young Mexican American woman and the corrupting consequences of misogyny, racism, and colonialism on her family, her community, and, ultimately, her life.

Omar has known Martha since they were kids running around the same East Dallas neighborhood. But when she unexpectedly returns home to finish high school after years away, he hardly recognizes her. Though she’s still the bookish, defiant, overachieving girl he knew, now it’s her body that everyone, including Omar, notices.

Martha is interested in only one thing: creating a life that matches her potential. So she refuses to let the unwanted attention, her devotion to her brother, or a growing relationship with Omar change that.

As Martha pursues a plan she hopes will let her chart her own course, the stories of the women who came before her unfold alongside her own. Mariana, her mother, a light-skinned beauty, leaves Mexico and heads north, into the arms of America. Imelda, her grandmother, falls silent as a new political order takes hold after the Mexican Revolution. And Ana, her great-grandmother, a fierce soldadera, rides with Pancho Villa only to meet a violent end. The more Martha learns about the forces that shaped these women, and the closer she grows to Omar, the more clearly she sees how someone like her was never going to be allowed to just live on her own terms. Only later will Omar grasp the full weight of that reality and the part he played.

A blistering debut set on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border, Decent People is at once an intimate coming-of-age tale and a powerful reckoning with history, an unforgettable window into the ways entitlement, inheritance, and quiet violence can shape a life—especially a woman’s. In showing us that confronting the past may reopen old wounds, Guel also demonstrates, with extraordinary intelligence and empathy, how owning that history offers our best hope of healing.

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