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Cal here - thought some may be interested in this upcoming book from Scott Dunbier's Act 4:
First Look: Dive Into the Crime-Ridden World of Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition from Skybound & Act 4 Publishing
The Master of Noir’s Complete Run on The Spirit Is Collected in Full for the First Time
LOS ANGELES 04/24/2025 — Today Skybound and Image Comics, in partnership with Scott Dunbier’s Act 4 Publishing, revealed an extended preview of art from Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition. Now collected in one place for the first time ever in an oversized collectible format, this edition will be available everywhere books are sold in October 2025.
This release marks the first Connoisseur Edition, a new deluxe hardcover format, being printed in Skybound and Act 4’s publishing partnership. The brand-new format developed by Act 4 features a slipcase and premium finishing, collecting a complete comics series in an oversized, readable format.
Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition collects Cooke’s complete critically acclaimed run on The Spirit, originally published by DC, including the thrilling crossover with Batman, and a gallery selection of covers, in one place for the first time ever into a unique, stunning oversized hardcover standing at a massive 9” x 13.5.”
“This volume showcases one of Darwyn Cooke’s seminal works, and presented in the format it so richly deserves,” said Scott 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 savour and revisit for years to come. I know I will.”
With his masterful storytelling and flair for noir style, Darwyn Cooke was uniquely suited to reintroduce Will Eisner’s beloved comics creation, The Spirit, to modern audiences.
Now, readers can leap into the crime-ridden, two-fisted tales of Darwyn Cooke’s The Spirit. This edition is designed by Sean Phillips, who also oversaw the Eisner-winning Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition - Last Call, to which this book is a companion in size and scope. J. Bone, Cooke’s long-time collaborator, provides an introduction.
Also included in this definitive version of Cooke’s The Spirit is a gallery featuring all the DC covers, two variant covers from a Rocketeer/The Spirit crossover, and several never-before-seen drawings. Collects DC’s The Spirit #1-6, #8-12, with J. Bone inking and Dave Stewart colouring, and DC’s Batman/The Spirit one-shot, written by Jeph Loeb, collaborating again with J. Bone and Stewart.
"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 quickly follows the release of Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition, the first book in the publishing partnership between Skybound and Act 4 Publishing, coming in September 2025.
Future releases within the publishing partnership 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. Publishing details for these books will be announced in the coming months.
Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition (978-1-5343-3409-0 | SRP $100.00) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday October 8, 2025, and at booksellers, along with digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Tuesday October 21, 2025.
For updates and to join the mailing list, please visit https://www.skybound.com/act-4-skybound-entertainment.
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.
