What Do We Know About the Ghost Ship Mary Celeste?

The What Do We Know About? series explores the mysterious, the unknown, and the unexplained. How did the captain, crew, and passengers of this ship disappear without a trace? Find out everything we know about the haunting, unanswered abandonment of the Mary Celeste.

In December 1872, a ship was spotted mysteriously drifting off the coast of a Portuguese island. Upon examination, it was determined to be the Mary Celeste, a ship that had been traveling from New York to Italy. The ship’s passengers were nowhere to be found. The Mary Celeste was intact, the cargo untouched, and in good enough condition to sail. So why did the passengers board the emergency life raft, and where did they go? The passengers and crew on the Mary Celeste were never seen again. For over a century, the world has wondered where they could have gone and why they abandoned their ship.

Could pirates have boarded the boat and forced the crew to leave? Did the captain believe that sinking was imminent? Was there foul play involved? Historians, writers, scientists, and investigators all have their own theories of why the captain and sailors may have left the phantom Mary Celeste to drift at sea. Find out everything we know about the ghost ship Mary Celeste in this 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