The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest

In the second book of this epic fantasy series, eleven year old Amy's malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world! Amy must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of the magic paintbrush before it loses its power.

“Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure…”  Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

Ever since she became the guardian of the magic paintbrush, Amy has been painting nonstop. But now the paintbrush is glitching, and Amy’s paintings disappear one by one. Things only get stranger when the brush paints a portal to a fantastical world filled with magical creatures and she discovers that the power of the magic paintbrush is dwindling.

Amy's new quest: to prove that she truly deserves to be the paintbrush’s guardian. If she doesn’t, the paintbrush will lose its abilities forever!

Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar movies and the chief creative officer of Baobab Studios, on this story about responsibility, the power of friendship, and what it means to be worthy.

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