A first look at the iconic world of The Spirit in this breathtaking slipcase hardcover from Image/Skybound & Act 4 Publishing
LOS ANGELES 05/20/2025 —Image Comics/Skybound, in partnership with Scott Dunbier’s Act 4 Publishing, is pleased to reveal an extended preview of art from Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition. This oversized hardcover edition will collect Cooke’s The Spirit comic stories in their entirety, for the first time, this October.
This release marks the first "Connoisseur Edition," a new deluxe hardcover format printed in partnership with Skybound and Act 4 publishing. It features a slipcase and premium finishing and collects DC’s The Spirit #1-6, #8-12, with J. Bone inking and Dave Stewart coloring, and DC’s Batman/The Spirit one-shot, written by Jeph Loeb, collaborating again with J. Bone and Stewart, a gallery of cover art, and several never-before-seen drawings.
“This volume showcases one of Darwyn Cooke’s seminal works, and presented in the format it so richly deserves,” said Dunbier. “Like DC: The New Frontier Absolute Edition and the two Parker: Martini Editions, The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition is one of those books we savor and revisit for years to come. I know I will.”
With his masterful storytelling and flair for noir style, Cooke was uniquely suited to reintroduce Will Eisner’s beloved comics creation, The Spirit, to modern audiences and Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition honors his and Eisner’s long, illustrious careers.
"It’s always a delight to partner with Scott Dunbier, and I can’t wait for people to get their hands on the Connoisseur Edition of Darwyn’s work on The Spirit,” said Nachie Marsham, Senior Editor at Skybound. “Darwyn’s work is the gold standard for what comics storytelling can be, and his take on Will Eisner’s characters is truly a joy to see in this format."
Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition follows on the heels of September's release of Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition and the first project from the Skybound/Act 4 partnership.
Future releases within the line include J. Scott Campbell’s Danger Girl Artist Edition, Dave Stevens’ Covers and Stories’ Connoisseur Edition, Jason Pearson’s Body Bags Artist’s Edition, Paul Smith’s Leave It to Chance Artist’s Edition, and EC Comics Artist’s Editions.
Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition hardcover (ISBN: 9781534334090, Lunar Code 0425IM457) collects The Spirit #1-6, #8-12 and the Batman/The Spirit one-shot and will be a massive 9” x 13.5” trim size. Batman and related characters ©2025 DC Comics. All rights reserved. The Spirit is ©2025 Will Eisner Studios, Inc. Used with Permission.
It will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, October 8 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, October 21.
ABOUT ACT 4 PUBLISHING
Act 4 celebrates the art of storytelling and the seminal creators who have shaped the comics industry. Dedicated to producing exceptional collections and comics that honor the history, craft, and innovation of the sequential art form, Act 4 will bring together timeless classics and bold new projects that foster a connection between artists, stories, and readers. Scott Dunbier, the visionary behind the industry-changing Artist’s Edition format, has spent decades redefining what comics publishing can be. From his early days as an art dealer, to his role in shaping iconic publishers like WildStorm and DC Comics, to producing award-winning archival collections, Dunbier’s career is synonymous with innovation and excellence. With Act 4, he embarks on a new chapter, continuing to champion the creators and works that define and elevate the medium.
ABOUT SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT
We do things differently here. Skybound is the creator-driven, fan-focused company behind landmark global franchises like The Walking Dead, Invincible, Impact Winter and hundreds more IPs that are redefining entertainment through our Wheel of Awesome business model. Skybound unlocks the unique opportunity to cultivate all aspects of a franchise from development through distribution; our IP connects with audiences through groundbreaking stories told on a grand scale. We empower our creators to directly expand their IP and turn their ideas into movies, TV shows, tabletop games, comics, podcasts, collectibles, video games, or all of the above and then some.
Skybound publishes award-winning and bestselling comics series such as Invincible, The Walking Dead, Stillwater and Ultramega, among others. Skybound's commitment to partnering with top industry talent and giving an elevated platform to diverse and unique voices has resulted in a record-breaking run on Kickstarter, where we launched mega-successful campaigns for Ava’s Demon, Extra Fabulous, and G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero—the most funded comic book campaign in Kickstarter’s history. Skybound Comet, our young readers graphic novel imprint, released the Clementine (set in The Walking Dead universe) series to great critical and commercial success. Skybound is also a savvy and sought-after licensing partner, working with companies including LEGO, Universal Products & Experiences and Hasbro to publish comics for their most coveted properties. Skybound’s Energon Universe series is Hasbro’s biggest comics launch of all time, with TRANSFORMERS #1 becoming the bestselling comic of 2023. Skybound doesn’t just make global franchises, we change the way that global franchises can be made.
Follow Skybound on X (@Skybound), YouTube (Skybound), Facebook (@SkyboundEntertainment), Instagram (@skyboundent), Bluesky (@skybound.bsky.social), Discord (Skybound), Reddit (Skybound), and at www.skybound.com.
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