In 1994, a former U.S. Army Ranger and fashion designer decided to try his hand at comics. At first, he wanted to showcase his talent just to get a job at Marvel Comics, but John Romita, Sr. advised him to try doing his own thing. With the backing of some friends, Billy Tucci rolled the dice and debuted Shi: The Way of the Warrior #1. The rest is indy comics history – a history he’s not done writing.

Now, with millions of comics sold in multiple languages behind him, Gemstone Publishing helps Tucci celebrate his best-known creation by putting Shi on the cover of The Big, Big Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #49, the oversized, limited edition version of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.

This version of the Bible of serious comic book collectors, dealers and historians features just the pricing from the standard editions of the book, but none of the articles. Exclusive to the comic book specialty market, it is due in stores on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 and will retail for $49.50.

Since its return in 2012, the Big, Big edition has sold out faster each year. Produced as a limited edition, it has become a favorite tool of dealers and serious collectors alike.

“It’s great to have Billy Tucci back on our cover, even though it seems almost impossible that he’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of his best-known creation, Shi,” said J.C. Vaughn, Vice-President of Publishing for Gemstone Publishing.

“I’ve had a long association with Overstreet and Gemstone. They were some of my earliest supporters, and I’m honored to have been asked to do this 25th anniversary piece. It’s an exciting time for me as a creator, and I can’t wait for fans to be able to get this edition in July,” Billy Tucci said.

Tucci previously covered The Big, Big Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #47 when he spotlighted Ben Edlund’s character, The Tick, in an homage to the great Norman Rockwell. That cover proved to be one of the most popular editions in the book’s history. Over the course of his career, he’s also provided covers for Overstreet’s FAN, Comic Book Marketplace, and most recently The Overstreet Guide To Collecting, Gemstone’s Free Comic Book Day offerings in 2017 and 2019.

He joins Lewis LaRosa (X-O Manowar), Will Conrad (Shadowman), Francesco Francavilla (Afterlife with Archie), Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Joe Corroney (Star Trek) on the roster of cover artists for the Big, Big edition since its return in 2012.

The Big, Big Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #49 and the standard editions of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #49 will be featured in the April 2019 PREVIEWS from Diamond Comic Distributors, which goes on sale on Wednesday, March 27. They will be online at PreviewsWorld.com on Friday, March 22. The on-sale date for all versions of the Guide will be Wednesday, July 17.

This is the fourth cover of the Guide that Gemsdtone has announced, having previously unveiled the Firefly cover by Diego Galindo on Monday, March 18, the Hall of Fame cover, Zorro by Michael Wm. Kaluta, on Tuesday, March 19, and the Batman’s Rogues Gallery cover by Tony Daniel on Wednesday, March 20.