What Do We Know About Dragons?

The What Do We Know About? series explores the mysterious, the unknown, and the unexplained. Are dragons fact or legend? Find out everything we know about the history of these magical and mythical creatures.

Are dragons winged, fire-breathing beasts or water gods who promise good luck? Across the globe, legends of dragons have varied greatly. Stories and images of dragons can be traced back to the ancient worlds of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In many East and Southeast Asian cultures, dragons were considered friendly, serpent-like creatures, but in Western cultures, they were ferocious, feared, and monstrous. Were dragons slayed by knights in medieval Europe? Or did they bring promises of plentiful rain in Japanese folklore? Both! These are just two examples of historic dragon lore.

Today, dragons are in their golden age. They are featured in literature, games, movies, and television and have never been more popular. How to Train Your Dragon shows them as peaceful companions to humans. The Hobbit uses a dragon as a clever and cruel villain. From Norway to Korea, send your curiosity into flight and learn all we know about these mysterious creatures in this exciting book for young readers!

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