Short Straw

In the second Ed Eagle novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Stuart Woods delivers a compulsively readable thriller full of crosses and double-crosses, featuring a shrewd criminal lawyer and his black widow of a wife...

Santa Fe lawyer Ed Eagle fell in love with the seductive Barbara Kennerly and married her—against his better judgment. Turns out that Ed should have listened to his intuition. On the morning of his fortieth birthday, he awakens to find that Barbara has vanished, and his money has been wired to the Cayman Islands. Barbara, it appears, drugged his birthday wine, neatly cleaned him out and then fled to Mexico, where she can’t be extradited.
 
And as if that weren’t bad enough, when Ed arrives at work that morning he discovers that he’s been assigned a new client: Joe Big Bear, a part-time mechanic charged with a triple homicide, who, Ed soon discovers, may also be embroiled in Barbara’s plot...
 

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