Strange Light

From award-winning poet Seán Hewitt, writer of the critically acclaimed All Down Darkness Wide and Open, Heaven, comes a remarkable collection of poems that illuminate the gaps between love and its loss, familiarity and estrangement, happiness and grief

In Strange Light, Seán Hewitt conjures a world on the border of the physical and the spiritual, a world where men meet in the woods at night, where nature is by turns regenerated and broken, and where the split self of the speaker is interrupted by a series of ghosts, memories, and encounters. In this world there is sex, grief, and loss, but also a committed dedication to life, hope and renewal. There are elegies for the poet’s father and paeans to the relationship between queer sexuality and the natural world, vespers and hymns, even a few works that attempt to propel themselves into transcendence.

By turns reverent and profane, beautiful and terrifying, to read Strange Light is to fall into its trance, a deep delirium of hypnotic rapture where everything is called into question, where fragility is allied with strength, and violence is both harnessed and unleashed. Hewitt has delivered a singular collection of poetry that leads us through the darkness—from the deep woods of forbidden love and illicit secrets—into a clearing of tenderness and reawakening.

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