Kat's Cradle

She's a hard-boiled Sacramento P.I. with a soft  spot for the unlucky, the unloved, and one special  cop named Hank. Her name is Kat Colorado and in  her line of business curiosity can be mre than an  occupational hazard -- it can be  murder.



She said her name was Paige Morrell and she  came to Kat Colorado hoping to untangle the twisted  mystery of her past. She was a  twenty-one-year-old "orphan," a poor little rich girl on  the verge of inheriting a weathy old river estate --  and some very nasty surprises. But when Kat set  out to solve the case, she found herself following  a thread of lies, greed and deceit that led  straight to the corpse of a key source to Paige's past.  Now the Sacramento private eye was about to learn  that in the California Delta some family secrets  were better left buried . . .because uncovering  them could be murder.

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