George R. R. Martin Presents Wild Cards: Marked Cards

An investigator teams up with an unexpected ally to expose a sinister organization in the gripping second book of a classic trilogy set in the Wild Cards universe created by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones.

Now featuring a stunning new cover!

An alien virus ravages the world, with effects as random as a hand of cards. Those infected either draw the black queen and die, draw an ace and receive superpowers, or draw the joker and are bizarrely mutated. The uninfected are known as nats.

Nat investigator Hannah Davis has discovered the shadowy group of powerful figures that has orchestrated countless attacks on jokers since the wild card virus was first discovered. The Card Sharks have one goal: to purge the world of everyone who holds the virus.

With the help of Gregg Hartmann—once a puppeteering ace politician but now a joker himself—Hannah and her ragtag crew of joker activists must work to expose the leaders of the conspiracy before their plans can come to fruition. But the Card Sharks have a few tricks up their sleeve—and if Hannah and Gregg don’t act quickly, every wild carder in the world could pay the price.

Book Two of the Card Shark Triad
CARD SHARKS • MARKED CARDS • SHOWDOWN

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