Kraken Mare 1

This gritty space opera manga pits morally gray heroes against both each other—and a leviathan beyond human imagination, lurking on the other side of a tear in space.

Kraken Mare is a unique collaboration between Japan's top publisher, an acclaimed French science fiction author, and an Italian manga artist that blends the gritty solar system sci-fi of The Expanse, the magitech of Battle Angel Alita and AKIRA, and the sweeping scale and massive monsters of Dune.

In a universe overrun by the dark primordial beasts known as Krakens, the remnants of humanity contend for black ether, a fearsome energy source harvested from black holes. Amid the wreckage of war, a spy named Oriale ends up on a critical mission…

“Robust both in its worldbuilding and sci-fi storytelling. This is science fiction befitting Monthly Afternoon [the magazine that serialized BLAME! and Knights of Sidonia].” –legendary manga artist Tsutomu Nihei

In the distant, far-flung future, humanity's pursuit of a vital energy source know as "Black Ether" has awakened monsters called Krakens, which lay dormant within black holes. These horrors brought humanity to the brink of extinction. A thousand years later, the Krakens are worshiped as gods by a church that exploits them to spread fear and control the remnants of humanity.

Brave smugglers known as scavengers defy the iron fist of the clergy, risking their lives to mine black ether in secret for profit. The crew of the space ship Pulsar, led by Captain Paze, is tasked with extracting black ether from an extremely dangerous black hole at the request of the Mars-based pirate group Red Sand.

Oriale, a church agent and skilled Atomancer, lurks amongst the crew, pretending to be the innocent cook "Eden." But when the Pulsar is discovered by a terrifying Abyssal Kraken, she must reveal herself in order to save the crew.

A full-fledged science fiction story in which a heroine with wild power and cunning spycraft collides with a world swirling with revolution and conspiracy.

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