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.

 

[Captain Comics]

I'll look again.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Every store is different, I'm sure. But if you can find the Magic or Yu-Gi-Oh cards, that's where I'd expect them to be. And those might be easier to ask employees about, since they've been stocking them longer.

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

I got the Halloween issue, and I really enjoyed the Swawp Thing story by Azzarello and Capullo. I thought it was a perfect stand-alone story.

Honestly, I haven't read anything else yet, but I thought this was a great issue for that alone. It's very creepy, and well told in terms of story and art.

[Emerkeith Davyjack]

...I think I said some of this before, but, I found them with the cards too, near self-checkout machines also. They also had these shrink-wrapped 4-packs?? (maybe 3-packs) of what I guess we're old issues. one with a SUPERGIRL issue from early in Rebirth sticks in my memory.

  Unlike the Whitman pre-packs of the Seventies, these were tightly packed, I think with some cardboard to fill it out. give it structure.

  These pre-packes were selling themselves on the " You never know what you'll get " selling line. playing up the trading card -style element of chance. I know there are manufactured collectible action figures that use the same concept. having a mystery item inside the package.

[Emerkeith Davyjack]

...More - I don't entirely understand how DC would have gotten an early Rebirth issue, etc., to put in these pre-packs. Returns? Comic shop copies, of course. are non-returnable. Newsstand returns? Aside from how few there. likely, are - DC has never traditionally dealt in back issues! Intentional overruns? Would they have been planning this fat enough in advance to have overprinted early Rebirth issues, and kept them in stock for this long? That seems unlikely.

  BTW. as far as Archie digests went. that Walmart carried 'em at the checkout - with branded racks for them which, also, indicated that the same racks would carry the rather adult-aimed James Patterson Bookshots! Also BTW, I noted that Reader's Digest - once the bighest-sellimg magazine in the world. IIRC, and whose offices were in my home town - likewise shared it's rack with a " Food Digest " of some sort, IIRC. From another publisher?

[Richard Willis]

Maybe DC chose to buy back selected issues that never left Diamond's warehouses. These wouldn't technically be "returns" because the retailers never bought them. They may have had these 4-packs in mind for a while. I made another attempt to find the DC 100-pagers at my closest Walmart. They don't even seem to have the gaming cards anymore, let alone the comics, and I've never seen the multipacks anywhere.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

As I've picked these 100-pagers up, I find myself really enjoying them -- not just the new material (which has all been good to great), but the reprints, too. Some of which I hadn't read -- Nightwing, early Harley Quinn, Sideways, Super-Sons -- and some of which I had. They're just a great excuse to revisit recent comics that I can now read without the encumbrance of continuity. When the Johns/Lee Justice League comic was first coming out, we were all reading it to scan for signs of what the New 52 would be like, and what the continuity would be. Seven years later, we have our answers... and unburdened by those questions, it's a breezy, fun comic, if not exactly what I want from the JLA. Same with Flash and Aquaman from the same era. Honestly, as good as the current Flash series has been, it's a nice reminder that for two years, we had Francis Manapul pulling out all the stops to make Flash the most visually dynamic book of the New 52. 

[Lee Houston, Junior]

As much as the parent corporation wishes otherwise, no 2 Walmarts are exactly alike.

The one closest to me is lousy keeping things in stock. I've yet to have a shopping trip where at least one item I was hoping to acquire isn't unavailable. For some reason I do better at the next closest, but that's 20 miles further away from me. Although the closest is also near an Aldi's, they're both in relatively rural settings, so the reason why escapes me.

As for the 100 page giant's initial press release promise of including "Classic Tales from DC’s Deep History", the Swamp Thing Halloween Special finally lived up to that by having the original Swamp Thing short story from House of Mystery #92 and the O'Neil-Adams Batman story from Batman #252. I would love to see more Silver and Bronze Age material, if not Golden Age as well, in future issues of the 100 page line. 

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

One thing I'm realizing I really like about the Swamp Thing 100-pager, as opposed to DC's Halloween specials that they've released for the last 10 years or so, including last week's Cursed Comics Cavalcade -- a variety or story lengths. With the Swamp Thing book, we get the opening 12-pager, some quick 6- and 8-pagers, and then two full-length tales before wrapping up with the classic Swamp Thing origin 8-pager. With the all-new anthologies, the short length lets a lot of creators participate, but it also means the stories tend to have a similar rhythm -- compact and tight and eager to get to the twist. The longer stories have more room to breathe, and the set a mood. It's nice to break up the rat-a-tat-tat  rhythm of the short stories. 

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Since I finally read it (well, almost all of it), let me wholeheartedly recommend the Swamp Thing 100-Page Halloween Horror special. The new 12-pager is good, I like most of the shorts, too, and you never go wrong with Neal Adams on Batman -- but the Aquaman/Demon team-up, "Night Gods," by JMS and Jesus Saiz from their run on Brave & the Bold, is one of DC's all-time horror classics. If you missed it when it first appeared, run out and get this book. It's worth the price of admission by itself. 

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Is it just me, or did DC skip the regular quartet this month in favor of the Swamp Thing Halloween Special, because I've been unable to locate the fourth issue of any title yet.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

They were all pushed back -- until tomorrow, was the last date we were given. No idea if that had anything to do with the Swamp Thing book; my suspicion* is that it has an oblique connection to the fracas surrounding the Bat-Penis, and Walmart wanted to be assured of no "surprises." Which is ridiculous, but I find the whole thing ridiculous. 

I heard someone speculate that it might be the ad for the Black Label "Batman: White Knight" on the back of the book that's the problem, post-Bat-penis, and the books were pulped and reprinted with a new ad. I guess we'll see when they come out.