Fool's Gold

From the legendary Greatest Western Writers of the 21st Century, this is the story of how gold fever turned one small mining camp into a bustling boomtown—with a highly explosive mix of dreamers, schemers, and gun-crazy killers. . .

Cord Bennett staked his claim in the gold-rich Rio Oro Canyon in 1849 at the dawn of the California Gold Rush. That’s when all hell broke loose. What started as a makeshift mining camp is now a full-blown boomtown—fueled by greed, plagued by grifters, and overrun by opportunists of every stripe. As town marshal, Cord has the unenviable job of keeping the peace. Which is easier said than done. Here in Rio Oro City, brawls can break out at any moment—whether it’s a ruthless rivalry between competing saloons or an all-out turf war between miners and timberjacks. And when money’s at stake, brawls can turn deadly real fast . . .

In other words, Cord Bennett has his work cut out for him. His new deputy, a massive Englishman named “Boom Boom” Blackstone, packs his punches with blasting powder. The new church pastor is as handy with his fists as he is with a Bible. And Kat Olmsted, the sister of Cord's sweetheart Glory, is fighting to save her saloon from a hostile takeover. But that’s nothing compared to Cord’s latest challenge. A mysterious cadre of gunmen have arrived in town—and they didn’t come for the gold. They came for vengeance. Cold, calculating, and cutthroat, they were hired for one reason and one reason only: To kill Cord Bennett . . .

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. THERE’S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS.

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