From Virginia

A provocative historical, cultural, and personal reckoning with Virginia, the state at the heart of America’s foundation and its greatest contradictions—from an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author

Everyone is from somewhere, but some people are lucky enough to be from somewhere. A place they can announce and everyone who hears knows something about it. Growing up, Mychal Denzel Smith wished he was from somewhere that wasn’t Virginia. For Smith, it felt like a cultural void with a confounding history: Virginia is where slave ships first landed in America, and it’s the first state to have elected a Black governor in Douglas Wilder. Therein lies the tension at the heart of the American project, all tracing back to Virginia.

In From Virginia, Smith traverses several centuries of Virginia history, dealing with major historical figures, pop culture, sports, and present-day politics that define a state neglected by the larger world that it has helped to create. Virginia, for better and worse, has produced the artists and intellectuals that have defined American culture from inception—from the hypocrisy-laden ideas of democracy expressed by Thomas Jefferson, the violent search for liberation embodied by Nat Turner, the use of God as a means of oppression found in the ascent of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, the sonic innovation of artists as wide ranging from Patsy Cline to Missy Elliott and D’Angelo, and the literary exploration of America’s soul found in the work of William Styron, Tom Wolfe, and Willa Cather. From Virginia asks how we can fold all of those competing ideas into the understanding of ourselves and warns us that to ignore the lessons Virginia has taught us is at our peril.

A stirring, lyrical blend of history, cultural criticism, and memoir, From Virginia is a journey toward a sense of self that can only be found by going back to the source.

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