The Mermaid of Warsaw

The Little Mermaid meets Where the Dark Stands Still in a sweeping WWII historical fantasy, merging the real history of the Warsaw Uprising with Polish folklore.
First edition will feature gorgeously designed case art, patterned endpapers, and an illustrated interior map!

August 1944.

Unable to fight the German occupation of Warsaw in her current form, a mermaid living in the Vistula River bargains with Baba Jaga for a pair of legs. But the witch’s magic comes with a price. If the mermaid fails to liberate Warsaw, she will return to what she was: ashes on the river she was born in.

What the mermaid doesn’t remember is that before the Vistula, she was a girl, Basha Rosenfeld, and her childhood friend Shimon Steinberg—who she saved from a train bound for the Treblinka extermination camp—is surviving in Warsaw under falsified papers. As the mermaid exacts vengeance on the Nazis, Shimon lives undercover. But their paths collide when the mermaid hunts a monstrous corvid, the Valravn, masquerading as SS officer Bruno Falkenwrath, to Shimon’s apartment, and Shimon recognizes his lost childhood friend.

Now on the run from the Valravn, Shimon and Basha join forces with Polish resistance as they’re preparing to launch an uprising against the Germans. But as the city is consumed in violence and help promised by the Allies doesn’t arrive, Shimon realizes that the uprising may be doomed to fail—and that he, Basha, and Falkenwrath have a much more sinister connection than he ever imagined. A connection that will take him to the ruins of Treblinka and force him to confront the horror of what happened there.

A gut-wrenching and ultimately empowering tale of resistance and the magic of storytelling. Award-winning author R.M. Romero’s timely and necessary story rises to meet the present moment where history often feels on the precipice of repeating itself.

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