Game On

Being an all-american boy means a few things: hanging out with the cool kids, looking the part, and of course, staying up to date on all the newest video games. Too bad life has other plans in book one of this hilarious and poignant middle grade series debut about friends, family, culture.

"Delightful and heartfelt.” — Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese

Sasan has middle school figured out: cool friends, decent grades, and enough of an allowance to hang out on the weekends. The only thing that seems to trip him up is balancing his mom's culture with his goal to be just like everyone else. When all the other boys start playing the latest video game, Sasan realizes his hold on fitting in is slipping right through his fingers. Determined to not stand out for the wrong reasons, Sasan goes to his mom. She's happy to help but she wants something in return: Sasan has to do the one thing he's been avoiding for years--learn Farsi.

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