GameLad

Norm Grock (Choose Your Own Adventure’s Fairy House series illustrator) makes his middle-grade graphic novel debut in GameLad, a boredom-busting story about leveling up and facing your fears, perfect for fans of Trapped in a Video Game and The Last Kids on Earth!

When twelve-year-old Nessa moves to the town of Boring, Oregon, she expects everything to be, well, boring. If she can just hide away with her dad’s retro GameLad console and play her favorite video games, maybe things won’t be so bad. But Nessa’s plans take a sharp turn when the console screen is cracked and she has no idea how to get it fixed.

That’s not all—strange things start happening all over town. Power-ups, gold coins, and all sorts of 8-bit pixel critters are popping up all over the place. When Nessa discovers that her favorite video games have escaped through her broken GameLad screen and invaded the town, she’ll have to do whatever it takes to collect the broken pieces and send everything back where it came from before Boring gets turned into a real-life video game for good.

Joined by new friend Dani, a few lost video game characters, and her trusty gaming guide, Nessa will uncover the truth behind the GameLad console and its mysterious creator. When she faces the final boss, defeating him won’t be as easy IRL as it is in the game.

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