Gotham City: Year One: Deluxe Edition

Gotham’s darkest truth doesn’t begin with Batman—it begins with a crime that rewrites the soul of a city.

Tom King (Mister Miracle) and Phil Hester (Green Arrow) deliver a razor-sharp noir that delivers the definitive origin of Gotham City!

Gotham City, 1961. Helen Wayne, the "princess of Gotham" and heir of Richard and Constance Wayne has been kidnapped, and P.I. Slam Bradley finds himself embroiled in the case. As his investigation deepens, Gotham’s history of police corruption and fragile race relations is revealed. And as the threat of a race riot grows with every new revelation, Slam begins to realize that the city he grew up in still has lots of secrets to hide.

This deluxe edition, written by Eisner Award–winning writer Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) and illustrated by Eisner-nominated artist Phil Hester (Swamp Thing), collects Gotham City: Year One #1-6 and features a brand-new cover and foreword by Phil Hester, a director’s cut of issue #1 showcasing the final lettering script and inks, behind-the scenes art by Hester, a variant cover gallery, and more!

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