ROY KUHLMAN RELUCTANT MODERNIST

The legacy of Grove Press is well known within literary circles - how Barney Rosset bought a fledgling but failing publishing company in the early 1950s and changed the world of letters in America, and perhaps the very culture as well; Grove Press brought to national prominence the writers, art, and artists of the avant-garde. Such groundbreaking works as Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby and Naked Lunch by William Burroughs represented a literary vanguard. Equally innovative, and ultimately as influential, Grove Press book covers reflected not only the work inside, but also the prevailing zeitgeist. The iconoclastic writing was echoed in the packaging, a marriage of imagery and the written word that had not been seen before, or, perhaps, since. The covers, the work of a young artist named Roy Kuhlman, who arrived on Grove's doorstep in 1951, contributed invaluably to the company's image as a distinguished and innovative publishing house. Before long, the inventive, two-and-three color covers featuring Kuhlman’s abstract expressionist approach to design, set the tone for the next two decades, imitated but never equaled. His jazz-like improvisational paintings and graphics for Grove Press books in the ‘50s and ’60s introduced an Abstract Expressionist style to graphic design. Work from all of Kuhlman’s oeuvre is included in this handsome volume, over 300 in all, with an emphasis on the Grove covers.To date, the public has seen little of Kuhlmans’s total creative output. It is all assembled here for the first time, displaying depth, variety, and innovation. It is at once illustrative, abstract, conceptual, comical, serious and revolutionary. ROY KUHLMAN: Reluctant Modernist is a celebration of and a tribute to this important designer’s creative métier. It is the very definition of avant-garde.

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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