Gorilla Black

“Seven is the new urban mercenary stealing hearts. You gotta love her!”
–Chunichi, the Urban Diva, author of the Gangster’s Girl series

Bilal Cunningham has grown up in Richmond, Virginia’s meanest projects. His mother offers him little love but takes whatever cash Bilal can make to feed her alcohol-fueled life and the men she shares her bed with. Instead of drugs and drink, Bilal devours Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, and the works of other poets, which he can recite verbatim. But when his beloved little brother, Keon, is killed in a shoot-out, Bilal’s straitlaced life goes awry.

Vengeance lands Bilal in jail for seven years, and when he comes out he’s drawn to the streets. By becoming Richmond’s top cocaine kingpin, Bilal has all the money he could ever want, though he knows to steer clear of the powder himself. But sexy Starr, the girl he’s loved since childhood, can’t quite keep clean. Their tumultuous relationship gets even rockier when Starr involves herself with the men who may have been responsible for Keon’s death. As friends and foes alike drop dead in the fallout, a shocking truth is revealed, and Bilal’s last shred of innocence may be lost forever.

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