Variant Issues

Variant Issues

We use variants to have separate records for closely related issues. Closely related mainly includes

1. variant issue due to changes in one or more of
   • distribution (newstand/direct/...)
   • price
   • brands
   • different printings
   • publication date (due to later printing/edition)

   Here *only* fields related to the Issue model are changed. This might be generalised to include change in series (and publisher via a change in series).

2. variant issue due to different artwork

   Here all of the above can change, but this mainly considers different cover artwork, so called variant covers. In this case the issue also has a full story record for the cover.

3. There are special rules for the series Marvel Premiere Classics and issues related to that series.

We use the name variant for all three situations. Some consider a variant only a comic with different cover artwork. If there are further interior changes than the current variant concept and its technical realisation cannot handle this. This might change at some point.

Technically this a realised by a pointer from the variant issue to its base issue. That way a variant issue has access to all the sequences of the base issue. In other words, a variant uses the sequences from the base issue. Only the cover sequence might be different, since the variant issue can have different artwork. In this case a cover sequence needs to be added (or moved from the base issue) to the variant issue. No other sequences, and not more than one cover sequence, can be added to the variant issue.

Each variant issue has its own cover scan. In case the variant has the same cover as the base issue, e.g. in case of later printing with only changes in publication date, price, ..., which are not on the front, currently an empty cover slot shows, this is for technical reasons and will be changed.

Adding Variant Issues

There are several ways to add a variant issue. One needs to give a name for the variant in any case.

• While uploading a cover scan one can click the 'Add variant issue with new cover' button.
  • If the variant has different artwork one ticks the box 'Variant artwork' and a cover sequence will be generated with question marks in the creator fields.
  • Once the cover upload is approved a new variant issue record will be generated. The issue data for this will be mostly left empty and not copied from the base issue since there can be changes in many situations.
  • Ideally you request a reservation for the new variant to later fill in the missing data.
• In case a scan of the variant exists you can create a new variant issue from the 'Edit Covers' page.
  • Select the cover for the variant and press 'Create variant for cover' and enter/change the issue level data on the next page.
  • If necessary you can add or move a cover sequence on the edit overview page.
  • This is described in more details and with screenshots under Add Variant Issues.
• You can create a new variant issue from the issue page by clicking 'Add variant issue'.
  • Enter/change the issue level data on the next page.
  • You can either directly send this variant add to the pending queue or edit this change further together with its base issue to move cover sequence or cover scans.
• While editing an issue you can add a variant from the editing overview page by clicking 'Add variant issue'. The above applies in the same way.

Further Information

Variant Name

If there is a description of the cover given, either on the cover or inside the issue, use that. Otherwise use a name that will identify the cover. Some examples (by no means a complete list) are:

• Cover A
• Newsstand Editon
• Direct Edition
• Mass Market Edition
• Standard Cover
• Regular Cover
• Virgin Cover
• <artist-name> Variant
• Second Printing
• 75 cent Variant