MEGATON ARCHIVES

The black-and-white anthology MEGATON was at the forefront of the independent comics revolution, and from 1981 to 1987, publisher and writer GARY CARLSON helped rewrite comics history! ERIK LARSEN's SAVAGE DRAGON and ROB LIEFELD's YOUNGBLOOD both debuted in MEGATON, prompting LIEFELD to later dub CARLSON 'the Grandfather of Image Comics,' and the series was notable for launching the careers of a veritable who's who of artists. Now, celebrating MEGATON's 40th anniversary, the original eight issues are collected for the first time ever-in their entirety, in chronological order, and in glorious black and white, scanned from the art and film negatives used to publish the original comics! Collects MEGATON #1-8 plus early ads for the series, unpublished art, preliminary character designs, commentary by CARLSON, and more!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