We're all familiar with the classic American comic book, full of stories about superheroes and super- villains. But the traditional American comic book isn't really a book at all; generally it's a 32-page monthly periodical. The contemporary American comic book is going through profound changes.

We now live in the age of the graphic novel and of graphic nonfiction, which is just another way of saying that comics—whether they're literary comics, Japanese manga or superhero stories—are now quite literally books. And books that come in all shapes and sizes—from beautifully designed trade paperbacks to lavishly produced art books and slipjacketed hardcovers. But don't take our word for it, take a look at the following pages and see for yourself.

Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Absolute Edition by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and others ($99, DC Comics). An oversized deluxe hardcover edition collecting the famous 1980s DC Universe crossover series.

Acme Novelty Library#16 by Chris Ware ($15.95, Acme Novelty Library, dist. by Fantagraphics). A self-published hardcover edition of Ware's long-running comics series.

Watchmen:The Absolute Edition by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons ($75, DC Comics). Moore and Gibbons's superhero masterpiece in an oversized deluxe hardcover edition.

Marvel Romance ($19.99, Marvel). A trade paperback collecting Marvel romance comics from a variety of writers and authors published from 1960 to 1972.

Sexy Voice and Robo by Iou Kuroda ($19.99, Viz Media). An unusual and fun manga produced in an oversized trade paperback offering the story of teen girl who masquerades as a phone sex operator to investigate crimes.

Or Else: Glenn Ganges in the Wild Kingdom by Kevin Huizenga ($5.95, Drawn & Quarterly). Short and unusual stories by an acclaimed new artist in a pocket-size paperback.

Japan: As Viewed by 17 Creators ($25, Fanfare/Ponent Mon). In this example of "nouvelle manga"—a literary movement that combines European and Japanese comics traditions—17 creators (eight French and nine Japanese) talk about different places in Japan.

Justice N Mercy by Min-Woo Hyung ($39.99, Tokyopop). An oversized deluxe hardcover collecting drawings and color artwork by the iconoclastic Korean manhwa artist and creator of the Priest series.

Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies ($12.95, Abrams). A heartfelt memoir detailing how Fies and his siblings coped with his mother's illness.

Maximum Fantastic Four: A Visual Exegesis of Fantastic Four #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; conceived by Walter Mosley ($49.99, Marvel). Novelist Mosley had the notion to enlarge every panel from the first issue of the Fantastic Four in a deluxe hardcover edition that is both an elaborate tribute to a seminal superhero comic book and a visual deconstruction of Kirby's dynamic artwork.

Lady Snowblood: The Deep Seated GrudgeVol. 2 by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura ($14.95, Dark Horse). This 1972 story of a sexy but deadly female assassin bent on revenge inspired a classic 1973 film version that is said to have influenced Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky and Kent Williams ($39.99, DC/Vertigo). A lavish, oversized hardcover graphic novel based on Aronofsky's forthcoming film.

Process Recess: The Art of James Jean by James Jean ($25, AdHouse Books). A small hardcover collecting drawings, sketches and exquisite color art by the noted artist.

Ghost of Hoppers by Jaime Hernandez ($18.95, Fantagraphics). A hardcover collection of stories about Maggie and Hopey, Hernandez's unforgettable punk Chicana lovers, now grown older.

The Lost Colony Book One:The Snodgrass Conspiracy by Grady Klein ($14.95, First Second). The story of a mysterious and whimsical island colony during the days of American slavery, coming this spring in trade paper from Holt's new graphic novel imprint.