The Flock

Six elite ballet students come together, fall apart, and find each other again as adults in this mesmerizing debut with rich psychological insights into the nature of friendship and ambition—from a former New York City Ballet soloist.

For the six best friends who affectionately refer to themselves as The Flock, the elite American Ballet School (ABS) is a new beginning. In their hometowns, they were ugly ducklings; at ABS they are the chosen ones. And yet getting into the Company is the easy part. Ballet might require physical and mental agility, but life is a dance as well—and offstage, there is no choreography to guide them.

Twenty-five years after they arrived as sixteen-year-old students, the members of The Flock have been driven apart by success, failure, and an appalling but unproven accusation. Some have left ballet completely: Maria is a struggling new mom. Nadine is a mental health influencer peddling “ballet survivor” wisdom who would like nothing more than to burn it all down. Anthony and Emmie have made it to the top as Principal dancers, but for all his success, Anthony can’t seem to find the love he yearns for. Blake is the newly appointed Head of ABS with a serious case of impostor syndrome, while the once beloved Jesse is now a pariah.

When Emmie, after surviving a harrowing health ordeal, invites them all to her retirement performance, everyone wants an excuse to avoid it—until a shocking event the day before causes all of them to gather not for a celebration, but to reexamine their lives and the choices they’ve made.

Told in two timelines, The Flock follows the group as they revisit their memories, reconnect with each other in a changed moral landscape, and reconsider everything they thought they knew about friendship, love, and forgiveness.

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