Monti and Leo: A Mystery in Pocketville

A mania for collecting—and a mysterious thief—have Pocketville abuzz in Monti and Leo’s endearing second graphic adventure. Will their friendship pass the test of loyalty?

Mrs. Sheep has loaned her storied collection of figurines to the library, and Pocketville is all aflutter. When Monti and Leo attend the exhibit and discuss their favorites with the crowd, Monti’s turns out to be the same as Mrs. Sheep’s. Later, while Leo shows Monti his treasured rock collection, the town enters a frenzy of collecting—everything from old bottles and red yo-yos to feathers and pine cones. Monti wants a collection, too, but can’t decide what to collect. The mood turns dire when one of Mrs. Sheep’s figurines mysteriously goes missing—her favorite! All eyes turn to Monti as, one by one, other prize objects vanish, setting off a storm of suspicion and accusation. Will Monti take the fall? Not if Detective Leo can help it. With clean, simple panel design and appealing art, this reassuring early reader in graphic form mines classic themes of friendship, trust, and loyalty.

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