DC announces 100-Page Giant comics exclusive to Walmart

[Captain Comics]

Available July 1, Monthly Anthology Titles Combine All-New Stories by Top DC Writers with Classic Tales from DC’s Deep History

Original Stories Featuring Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Dan Jurgens and Tim Seeley

12-Part Superman Story by Tom King and 12-Part Batman Story by Brian Michael Bendis to Follow in September

 (June 22, 2018 – Burbank, CA, and Bentonville, AR) – This summer, Walmart shoppers will receive a personal invitation to discover the lore behind their favorite DC experiences as DC Entertainment announced today that a series of “giant” monthly comics will be sold exclusively in more than 3,000 participating Walmart stores around the country.

Available for $4.99, each 100-page anthology features all-new stories written exclusively for these books by some of DC’s top creative talents, including Tom King (BATMAN, MISTER MIRACLE, HEROES IN CRISIS), Dan Jurgens (ACTION COMICS, BATMAN BEYOND), Brian Michael Bendis (SUPERMAN, ACTION COMICS, THE MAN OF STEEL), Andy Kubert (NEW CHALLENGERS) and others. Each title will also include additional story arcs drawn from fan-favorite DC eras such as the New 52, Rebirth and the New Age of DC Heroes.

Each of the four titles – SUPERMAN GIANT, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA GIANT, BATMAN GIANT and TEEN TITANS GIANT – will arrive in stores by July 1. Beginning in August, the Superman and Justice League of America titles will arrive in week one of each month, with the second pair, Batman and Teen Titans, arriving approximately two weeks later.

 “We are extraordinarily excited about working with Walmart to expand the reach of our books,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio.  “These new monthly books combine new and accessible stories with reprints of classic comic series. It’s a great way for new readers to get into comics and follow the characters they’ve grown to love in TV and film.”

The debut title lineup includes:

SUPERMAN GIANT #1

SUPERMAN GIANT #1 features chapter one of the two-part “Endurance,” an original story written by Jimmy Palmiotti (HARLEY QUINN, ACTION COMICS) with art by Tom Derenick (HARLEY QUINN, CYBORG, BATMAN/SUPERMAN). The Daily Planet sends Clark Kent to Tornado Alley to do a story on the area, but when the storm hits, it turns out that this mild-mannered reporter is more helpful as Superman.

The issue also includes:

THE TERRIFICS #1­ (2018) – From this year’s New Age of Heroes and born of the events of DC’s hit series DARK NIGHTS: METAL. Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl are a team of heroes bound together by fate and united by the spirit of exploration and discovery. Together these heroes plumb the depths of the fantastic to learn what it means to become family.

GREEN LANTERN #1 (2005) – Written by best-selling writer Geoff Johns with art by Ethan Van Sciver and Carlos Pacheco, this first chapter launches the fan-favorite three-part story “No Fear,” in which Hal Jordan makes his return to the DC Universe as the Green Lantern, casting the light of justice on the darkest corners of Space Sector 2814.

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 (2003) – The iconic fan-favorite story arc, “Public Enemies,” returns, courtesy of writer Jeph Loeb, with artists Ed McGuinness and Tim Sale. Batman and Superman unite when President Lex Luthor accuses the Man of Steel of a crime against humanity and assembles a top-secret team of powerhouse heroes to bring Superman in by any means necessary.

September’s SUPERMAN GIANT #3 features Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King’s first return to the Man of Steel since his poignant and heartfelt tribute story, “For Tomorrow,” in the pages of ACTION COMICS #1000. Together with DC Master Class artist Andy Kubert, this powerhouse team will take readers on a new 12-part adventure titled “Up in the Sky!” When a little girl is kidnapped and taken from Earth, Superman embarks on a galaxy-spanning mission to find the perpetrators…but has to decide what lengths he will go to in order to save one life!

TEEN TITANS GIANT #1

In this original six-part Teen Titans story by Dan Jurgens with art by Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Jim Charalampidis, the Teen Titans’ pizza dinner is interrupted by the introduction of a new villain, the Disruptor. Teaming up with the Fearsome Five and working as an agent of H.I.V.E., he had one mission: kill the Teen Titans! The battle spills onto the streets of San Francisco, putting its citizens at risk, while H.I.V.E. uses this distraction to begin their plan for world conquest!

Additional issue #1 stories include:

SUPER SONS #1 (2017) – From DC’s smash-hit Rebirth event, writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Jorge Jimenez reintroduce the sons of Superman and Batman, Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, in part one of “When I Grow Up.” As Robin, Damian’s more than ready to take his place at the heroes’ table and has zero plans to wait his turn. And he’s dragging Superman’s son along for the trip, whether Jon likes it or not!

SIDEWAYS #1 (2018) – Also from the New Age of Heroes, this story written by Dan DiDio with art by Kenneth Rocafort introduces fans to high schooler Derek James who, during the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, has acquired powers from the Dark Multiverse and stepped into the role of superhero! But when cracks begin to appear in the space-time continuum, he soon learns that with that much power comes even greater liability!

TEEN TITANS #1 (2003) – Written by best-selling author Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone. Cyborg, Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy welcome in a new roster of young heroes to train to defend humanity—Wonder Girl, Impulse and a Superboy who’s been cloned from Superman’s DNA!

BATMAN GIANT #1

Batman is on the case of a missing girl in “One More Chance,” an all-new story by writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Patrick “Patch” Zircher. Batman is the world’s greatest detective, but what happens when the trail in his newest case leads him back to a place from his past that he never expected to revisit?

BATMAN GIANT #1 also includes:

BATMAN #608 (2002) – Written by Jeph Loeb with art by comics icon Jim Lee, issue #608 kicks off “Batman: Hush,” one of the most popular storylines in the Dark Knight’s fabled history. When Batman sets out to unmask the mystery character wreaking havoc in his life, he teams up with an unexpected ally (Catwoman) and finds himself facing off against not only his deadliest foes, but some of the toughest characters in the DC Universe, including Poison Ivy, Killer Croc and even Superman!

NIGHTWING #1 (2011) – From DC’s New 52, this story by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Eddy Barrows debuted a new look for Dick Grayson as he dives into a tale of murder, mystery and superhuman evil against the backdrop of Haley’s Circus, the place that started him on his path from acrobat to orphan to sidekick and ultimately superhero!

HARLEY QUINN #1 (2011) – Also from the New 52, writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Amanda Conner break Harley Quinn out of The Joker’s shadow with all the force of a giant mallet!

Beginning with BATMAN GIANT #3 in September, superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis makes his DC debut on the Dark Knight with a 12-part story, “Universe.” Batman’s run-in with the Riddler leads the Caped Crusader into a mystery that spans the globe!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA GIANT #1

Justice League member Wonder Woman is spotlighted in “The Conversion,” an all-new story from NIGHTWING writer Tim Seeley and artists Rick Leonardi and Steve Buccellato. In this single-issue story, Wonder Woman comes face to face with Ares, god of war—who sees her as a promising new recruit!

JUSTICE LEAGUE GIANT #1 also includes:

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 (2011) – From the incomparable team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee comes this version of the League from the New 52. In this alternative spin on the union of Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, superheroes are a strange and new phenomenon. The mysterious Batman discovers a dark evil that requires him to unite these reluctant heroes to protect Earth from a cosmic-level threat!

THE FLASH #1 (2011) – In this New 52 version of the Fastest Man Alive, writer Brian Buccellato and artist Francis Manapul introduce Barry Allen to a villain who not only can be everywhere at once, but is also a close friend of the Scarlet Speedster!

AQUAMAN #1 (2011) – Award-winning writer Geoff Johns and dynamic artist Ivan Reis team up on this story from the New 52! Aquaman has given up the throne of Atlantis, but the sea still has plans for Arthur Curry as a broken race of undersea creatures, the Trench, emerges from the ocean depths, bent on destroying the surface world!

In issue #2, Seeley teams up with artists Felipe Watanabe and Chris Sotomayor on “Mother’s Day,” a stand-alone story where Wonder Woman returns to Paradise Island for the first time since her exile, only to find that the Amazons – and Queen Hippolyta – have been abducted by Echidna, the mythological Mother of Monsters, with a brood of unstoppable beasts as children!

Issue #3 begins another original 12-part Wonder Woman story by HARLEY QUINN co-writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti called “Come Back to Me.” When Steve Trevor’s plane crashes on an island outside of time itself, it’s up to Wonder Woman to rescue him from this mysterious land, full of monsters, dinosaurs and some very surprising citizens.

 

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

I haven't been to Walmart yet to see them... and it's possible I won't be there for months. The packages don't appeal to me (other than a little bit of nostalgia), and the Giants were truly the only things bringing me to Walmart in the first place. 

It's interesting to see how quickly  the Giants were discontinued and removed... but on that shelf, space is a premium, so I totally understand.

If you go back and have a chance to, take some pictures of the new display! 

[Lee Houston, Junior]

I'll try, but it will be around this time next week at the earliest, so if anyone can fulfill this request before then...

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Okay. Took a photo as requested when I went grocery shopping today, but have absolutely no idea how to download it from my old flip phone.

Meanwhile, found a similar image online.

The new DC blue tray is akin to the Marvel box pictured, but the four sides are much smaller. The front is no taller than a business card with just the letters DC in white. The other three sides are in proportion with the front. No more than an inch or two tall.

The current Marvel box is all black, instead of someone just taking a Marvel sticker and putting it over the front of an old DC box from back when they were doing 10 for $10 packs. Otherwise, it's the same size as the one pictured.

Not sure what the Marvels are currently selling for, so I can't say whether or not the price sticker in the picture is accurate.

Contents for the DC tray this week was 3 Superman packages with a stray Aquaman. No sign of any of last week's present.

Hope this helps.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Thanks, Lee! I think the DCs are selling for $8.98, or thereabouts...

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Maybe I didn't make myself as clear as I should have, but the point was I don't know what the Marvel packs are going for, let alone their contents.

If I can ever figure out how to get the photo off my phone, you'd see that the current Marvel box is all black, and that the lone pack that was within it had a Star Wars comic visible in the front. Have no idea how many and which comics were behind the featured one.

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Not knowing where else to post this...

I'm sure by now everyone is aware of DC's 99 cent digital issues reprinting the original material from the most recent batch of 100 page giants.

One issue would reprint the main 16 page story while another represents the two 8 page tales.

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, and Swamp Thing all have their own titles.

Material from other specials is being reprinted where possible.

The two Bat related stories from Our Fighting Forces was actually the first issue of Batman: Gotham Nights. Ghosts, From Beyond the Unknown, and World's Finest each got two issues to reprint their stories.

Titans has just started, but when/where the rest (like Crisis, Birds of Prey, etc) will appear remains to be seen.

The reason I'm posting this is because SHAZAM just got its first digital issue!

Shazam: Lightning Strikes features a 16 page story written by Dan Jurgens.

My question is: did this tale already appear somewhere else and I just missed it somehow? Or is DC starting to issue new digital titles as well?

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

The Shazam story hasn't appeared in print yet, as far as I know. 

Birds of Prey actually already reprinted some stories in Birds of Prey: Sirens of Justice. There'll be a new issue of that coming next week, maybe with an all-new story? Harley Quinn also has her own DC First title, Make 'Em Laugh, with stories that haven't appeared anywhere else. (She also has Harley Quinn: Black, White, and Red coming out digitally each week.)

I talk about these over at the thread, DC's New Digital Firsts! I've been mostly tracking the content, but I'd love to also talk about the stories themselves. 

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Thanks Rob!

Will pick them up as I can from Amazon to either read the ones I missed from the original giants or continue where the giants ended.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Cool... I've subscribed to the Flash one on Comixology, and I pick up others when the creative team or stories interest me.

[Lee Houston, Junior]

For those interested...

I have been keeping an eye on the 4 pack display box that replaced the 100 page Giants, and the packs are moving like the proverbial Edsel.

Unless whatever vendor handles that section of the store has been refilling them with the exact same assortment, nothing's sold from there since their debut.

The fact that I've also yet to hear anything about another forthcoming selection of 4 packs makes me wonder if this was just a temporary move so DC could keep the retail shelf space until whatever they really want to do is ready to roll out (and given my years of previous retail experience, such stunts have been done before by others), or if the company has realized their mistake and doesn't know what to do next?

On a related note, has anybody heard anything about DC changing their mind and trying to go back to Diamond, at least for the regular comics.

That's what my local comic book store owner is claiming now, since they (allegedly) tried contacting who does have the DC distribution contract and was told that company isn't taking on any new clients at the moment.

Truth? Fiction? Somewhere in the middle? What is the correct answer(s)?

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Oh, man, I'd completely forgotten about those 4-packs! Yeah, they seem pretty obviously a stopgap measure.

As for DC's distribution, I haven't heard that they're leaving either company. Your guess is as good as mine. Has your store stopped carrying new DC books altogether?

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Rob:

As I've mentioned elsewhere, the owners of the store I visit/frequent are well past retirement age and are seriously considering calling it quits to live out their "golden years". The pandemic and DC switching distributors hasn't helped them any.

They plan to stay in business at least the rest of 2020 because of outstanding orders that they can count on from Diamond, but beyond that...

It's not that they don't want to carry DC products, but between the above and my previous post in this thread, whether or not they carry anything or even stay in business remains to be seen.

As to DC and Walmart, personally I'm hoping for a return of the Giants, but only time will tell...