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.

 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I've been to Wal-mart three times in the last ten years, each time to buy a CD not distributed to other retail outlets (The Eagles, Kiss, REO).

[ClarkKent_DC]

Thomas Lupo said:

This is horrible. I need to share this with as many places possible. If this wrong that I am posting this here please let me know.

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/07/05/comic-store-future-walmart-...

Maybe I'm feeling contrary, but that column rubbed me the wrong way. Mostly because the writer seems unaware that these 100-Page Wal-mart exclusives are aimed at new readers, not the people who go to comics shops every week. 

As such, it doesn't bother me that the covers speak of "Introducing" various characters, even if it isn't their first-ever appearance in print. 

Rod Lamberti wrote:

The Superman 100-Page Giant exclusive through Walmart at least looks like it is mostly about Superman. The cover looks like plenty of Superman. Though “Introducing the Terrifics” is misleading. I enjoy the Terrifics, though again they have nothing do to with Superman. In addition, the whole “introducing” line makes it sound like it’s their first appearance. This might make people who actually enjoy reading about the Terrifics in this one-shot a lot less likely to look for their series because they will think this is their first and only appearance. Unless, in the comic, it states, “check out the monthly Terrifics comic.”

That's thinking like someone who goes to the comic shop every week. Maybe the Wal-Mart customer will be content to read more Terrifics stories in the next 100-Page comic sold at Wal-Mart. 

Rod Lamberti wrote:

Using artwork from years past for covers is cheap. It also tells readers that our best talent was from years ago and we have none from our present whose artwork is worth being on this cover.

Using artwork from years past for covers is cheap. But "our best talent was from years ago and we have none from our present whose artwork is worth being on this cover"? Stuff and nonsense.

Plus, again, these 100-Page Wal-Mart specials are not targeted to the people who go to the comic shop every week, so many of those potential readers may not have seen these covers before -- and as the saying goes, if you haven't read it, it's new to you.

[Captain Comics]

Wait, there's actually some sort of negative reaction from the comic-shop perspective?

Please. There's no downside to creating customers at Walmart. Let's move on.

In fact, let's move on to my unanswered question: Where in Walmart have you folks found these books? I've looked all over, but the Walmarts in Memphis are huge.

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Captain:

I'm not sure about every Walmart, but mine are in the same section with the baseball cards.

[Captain Comics]

??!? Baseball cards? I don't see those at Walmart.

I've looked in Toys, Stationery, Periodicals and Checkout. I don't know where else to look.

[Richard Willis]

I haven't been back to Walmart since you asked the question, but the Walmart I go to was expanded to pretty much a Super Walmart. The baseball/football cards there are on the wall at the end of all the checkouts. Failing that, I would look where the magazines or the toys are.

[Lee Houston, Junior]

Every Walmart is somewhat different, despite being part of the same conglomerate.

Somewhere among the checkout registers at the front of the store is a display of cards and other collectibles that are watched over by the cashiers on duty.

If not there...???

[PowerBook Pete, the Mad Mod]

I've seen DC's new Showcase magazine on a rack along one checkout line at the local Walmart, but I haven't been there since these came out.

[John Dunbar]

I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that these DC Wal-Mart 100 page books are not available in Canada, which is a shame.  We have the Marvel digests published by Archie at the drug store I work at (Shoppers drug Mart, largest pharmacy chain here).  I think they're cool.  A few years ago, we got the "Archie Marries betty / Archie Marries Veronica" magazines too.  Wonder why these 100 pagers aren't available outside the US?

[Jeff of Earth-J]

"Maybe I'm feeling contrary, but that column rubbed me the wrong way."

Every once in a while someone here will post a link to something Rich Johnston has written.

It always rubs me the wrong way.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

One thing to note -- the column wasn't written by Rich Johnston, but by Rod Lamberti, a retailer who is one of Johnston's columnists. 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Ah. So noted.