Manhattan Country Doctor

“A wonderful picture of a doctor’s life in (an almost vanished) New York.”—Oliver Sacks

In the middle of the Depression, when the West Side of Manhattan was a small town of its own, the young Milton Slocum, MD, and his wife, Belle, set up general practice in New York City’s notorious Hell’s Kitchen.
 
Available around the clock for every medical emergency, Dr. Slocum tended to a vivid cast of real-life characters—mobsters, theater people, Old World families, boxers, and others—who became his good friends as well as his patients. Dr. Slocum’s tales of his thiry-year Manhattan practice—many heartwarming or hilarious, others poignant reminders of the difficulties of the Depression and the dearth of medical advances—recall life “way back when,” when corner drugstores sold leeches, the local candy store doubled as a telephone message center, the shoeshine stand was a bookie joint, and where the neighborhood women cushioned their elbows with brightly colored pillows as they leaned out of the windows to chat with passersby.
 
Manhattan Country Doctor is a moving, nostalgic account of medicine as science and art, of a colorful neighborhood in turbulent times, and of a man who exemplified the traditional image of the country doctor amid the teeming brownstones of New York City.
 
“Slocum won me over. The doctor has a deadpan humanism that allows the story to tell itself. . . . Tough, clear-eyed, idiosyncratic and fiercely honest, an original who animadverts on miserly patients, egocentric doctors, psychoanalysis and lucky Luciano with evenhanded fervor.”—The New York Times Books Review

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