The Hundred Brothers

Ninety-nine brothers assemble in their family home in a surreal, comic novel from the award-winning author of The Verificationist and My Eliot.

“The Hundred Brothers is a perfect instance of the work of art that seduces you with its beauty and power and then maddens you with its craziness.”—Jonathan Franzen

Rob’s there, as are Bob, Tom, Paul, Noah, William, and Nick; Chuck, the prosecutor; Porter, the diarist; Andrew, the civil rights activist; Jason, Joshua, and Jeremiah, each vaguely gloomy; Eli, who spends evenings on the tower; Raymond, who flies his own plane; Hiram, the eldest; and eighty-one more. And Doug, of course, our narrator. In fact, everyone is accounted for except for George, who has disappeared with a woman, to everyone’s amazement.

On a colorless day, ninety-nine brothers crowd into their family’s library, knocking over lamps and filling the space with male energy, to deal with a problem of a missing urn—an urn filled with their father’s ashes.

In turns caustic and funny, The Hundred Brothers is an unruly, dreamlike foray into the agonies of kinship and the inevitable march of decay.

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