Skybound Announced as New Home of Artist’s Editions from Act 4 Publishing

Simon Johnson
Feb 7
3 min read

Skybound and Image Comics are teaming up with Scott Dunbier’s Act 4 Publishing in a major multi-year distribution deal, bringing some of the most innovative and beautifully crafted comic collections to fans worldwide. Starting in Fall 2025, Skybound will serve as Act 4’s official publishing partner, rolling out an impressive slate of books that highlight the artistry and storytelling excellence of comics.

If you’re a fan of high-quality comic art, you likely already know Scott Dunbier’s impact on the industry. He revolutionized the way we experience comics with his groundbreaking Artist’s Edition format—oversized collections that present original comic art in its truest form. These books showcase every pencil stroke, ink gradient, and blue-line sketch, allowing fans to see the work exactly as it was drawn, all at the original size. It’s as close as you can get to standing behind an artist’s desk while they work.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Skybound and to announce my first two books with them,” said Dunbier. “We have some very exciting news in the coming months, and I can’t wait to share it. Looking forward to a bright future!”

This partnership goes beyond Artist’s Editions. Act 4 and Skybound will release single-issue comics, series collections, and an all-new deluxe hardcover format called the Connoisseur Edition. Designed to immerse readers in an oversized, beautifully crafted reading experience, these editions come with premium finishes and slipcases, making them essential for collectors.

The first wave of releases kicks off with Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition in September 2025, followed by Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition in October 2025. Fans can expect even more heavy hitters down the line, including J. Scott Campbell’s Danger Girl Artist’s 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 multiple EC Comics Artist’s Editions.

Sean Mackiewicz, Skybound’s SVP and Publisher, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: “Scott Dunbier has innovated and redefined the comics industry at every stage of his career, and Skybound is proud to partner with Act 4 to bring his most ambitious endeavor to life. This line of comics and books celebrates visionary creators, impeccable storytelling, and world-class original art, delivering them to a bigger audience than ever before.”

September 2025’s Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition will be a must-have for fans of Aparo’s legendary work on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Detective Comics, and The Spectre. This hardcover collection features over 175 pages of original art, including eight complete stories and a selection of iconic covers and pages.

October 2025 brings Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition, an oversized slipcased edition that compiles Cooke’s full run on The Spirit for the first time. Designed by Sean Phillips and featuring an introduction by J. Bone, this edition also includes a gallery of all covers, rare variant covers from Rocketeer/The Spirit, and never-before-seen sketches. The collection gathers The Spirit #1-6, #8-12, and the Batman/The Spirit one-shot.

For those eager to grab these editions, Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition ($150.00) will be available at comic shops on September 17, 2025, and in bookstores on September 30, 2025. Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition ($100.00) hits comic shops on October 8, 2025, and bookstores on October 21, 2025, with digital editions available via Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

More announcements are on the horizon, including additional publishing formats and collaborations with other creators. If you love comics as an art form, this partnership is about to make your collection even more exciting.

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