Witsec

The “fascinating” (The Washington Post) true story behind the foundation of the Federal Witness Protection Program and the mob informants, killers, white-collar con men, and ordinary people caught up in a life-and-death game of deception in the name of justice

“By turns hilarious and horrifying . . . a lively and unusual glimpse inside an operation obsessed with secrecy.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

IN DEVELOPMENT AS AN HBO STREAMING SERIES

For decades no law enforcement program has been as cloaked in controversy and mystery as the Federal Witness Protection Program. Now, Gerald Shur, the man credited with the creation of WITSEC, teams with acclaimed investigative journalist Pete Earley to share the explosive inside story.

When the government was losing the war on organized crime in the early 1960s, Shur, then a young attorney in the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, urged the department to entice mobsters into breaking their code of silence with promises of protection and relocation. But as high-ranking mob figures came into the program, Shur discovered that keeping his witnesses alive in the face of death threats involved far more than eradicating old identities and creating new ones. And he also discovered that all too often a protected witness would fall back into a life of crime.

A powerful true story of the inner workings of one of the most effective and controversial weapons in the war against organized crime—and the inner workings of organized crime itself—Witsec is a you-are-there account of infamous witnesses, from “Sammy the Bull” Gravano to Joseph Valachi to “Fat Vinnie” Teresa, that takes us into a tense, dangerous twilight world carefully hidden in plain sight: where the family living next door might not be who they say they are. . . .

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