The Swallowtail Legacy 3: Search for the Sunken Statue

The third installment of this Edgar Award-nominated series is another engrossing two-pronged adventure.

Following the Swallowtales writers' conference, there are two visitors to the island. Chase Kannen, a dashing, 30ish explorer/adventurer arrives on a huge expedition yacht in search of a bronze statue of Cassandra (from Greek mythology) lost off the deck of a cargo ship in a storm on the lake in the 60's. He has a film crew with him, making a documentary about the search. They find the statue, but shortly thereafter, while it is displayed on the deck of the yacht, it disappears. If it's not found, Kannen will be able to collect the insurance money, which is in the millions.

Meanwhile, Lark and Pip's Aunt Abigail, their mom's estranged sister, arrives by ferry. The sisters haven't seen their aunt since they were 5 and 3, and they're not sure why she has decided to come now. Of course, it turns out Aunt Abigail has heard about the deed of land on Swallowtail that might leave Lark and Pip very rich. Turns out Aunt Abigail has a scheme to get the girls to sell their rights to the land . . . with her help, and "for a small percentage."

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