HUMAN CLOCK

“Papa, mama, please don’t be surprised. A year ago, my organs were replaced with gears and springs…” Tadashi is the lone son of a watchmaker. Clocks are his only friends. Ever since a nightmarish bicycle accident, he fears going to school. So, his parents hire him a special tutor-not a man, but a mustachioed pocket watch. He, too, fails to improve Tadashi’s grades, though he gifts him a magical wristwatch capable of transporting its wearer to a frighteningly surreal land of clock people. As the automatons begin to turn on their makers, Tadashi decides that it’s best to abandon his uneasy humanity and bestow his soul to the ticktocks. Originally published in 1962, Tokunami Seiichiro’s HUMAN CLOCK has no peer or parallel in manga history. Years before it was acceptable to be abstract and oneiric in Japanese comics, years before it was common to cartoon in an artistic manner that privileged form over function, Tokunami was expressionistically slashing through panels in a Kafka-esque fever dream of jagged and melting imagery. Including an equally weird second story, THE CAT’S MOURNING CLOTHES, and an essay by subculturalist Udagawa Takeo, HUMAN CLOCK is the ninth volume of SMUDGE, a line of vintage horror, occult, and dark fantasy manga curated and translated by award-winning historian Ryan Holmberg and published by Living the Line

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