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DC Giants are Keeping the Same Amount of Content, Just Over Fewer Issues

Published Tue, 22 Oct 2019 18:00:11 -0500

So last week, Bleeding Cool looked at the DC Giant line and wondered if, as the DC Previews solicits showed, the line was going from a monthly shipping schedule, when exclusive to Walmart, to a bi-monthly release schedule? Now that the DC Giants are just shipping early to Walmart, with exclusive "reprint covers", but still order-able in comic book stores with all-new covers, is DC taking the books and reducing their output?

Well the DC Giant Wave 2 books all have 24 pages of new content, vs just 12 pages of new content when they were Walmart exclusives. The books will still have the same amount of new content, just spread over fewer issues as the latest arrivals at Walmart verify the DC Giant books are now bi-monthly.

On Friday, Walmarts around the United States received four new books sporting their Walmart exclusive reprint covers (as shown below):

AQUAMAN GIANT #1
Reprint cover by Josh Middleton
This issue includes two new stories:
o "Aquaman Vs. Black Manta," a 16-page story written by Steve Orlando with art by Daniel Sampere
o "Attacked by Scorpio," an eight-page story written by Marv Wolfman with art by Pop Mhan
Plus, these reprint tales:
o "Throne of Atlantic: Prologue," from Aquaman #14
o "A Queen in Exile," from Mera: Queen of Atlantis #1
o "The Rise of Aqualad Part One," from Teen Titans #6

In Walmarts: Oct 19, 2019 (a week and half early before comic shops) SRP: $4.99

TEEN TITANS GO GIANT #1
Reprint cover by Dan Hipp
This issue includes two new stories:
o "The Hic You Say," a 16-page story written by Sholly Fisch with art by Marcelo DiChiara in which Kory gets the hiccups
o "Fan Favorites," an eight-page story written by Ivan Cohen with art by Sarah Leuver, in which Beast Boy is elected most popular hero.
Plus reprint tales from Teen Titans Go! #1 – #3

In Walmarts: Oct 19, 2019 (two and and half weeks before comic shops) SRP: $4.99

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS GIANT #1
Promotional artwork cover by TBD

This issue includes two new stories:
o "Panic at the Disco," a 16-page story written by Amanda Deibert with art by Erich Owen
It's time for the greatest teenage tradition of them all: the school formal! But when Livewire attacks and sets everyone's toes a-tapping, the girls will have to put their dancing shoes to make it through the night!
o "Harvest Festival," an eight-page story written by Amy Wolfram with art by Agnes Garbowska
The girls are excited about this year's Fall Festival, but Harley Quinn has other plans! Will Bumblebee be able to stop her and keep the pumpkins from flying?
Plus reprint chapters from DC Super Hero Girls: Hits and Myths, DC Super Hero Girls: Summer Olympus, and DC Super Hero Girls: Past Times at Super Hero High

In Walmarts: Oct 19, 2019 (three and half weeks before comic shops) SRP: $4.99

And the final issue of Superman Giant (Volume 1) #16

This issue includes one new story:
o "Superman: Up In The Sky, Part 12. Questions and Answers" a 12-page story written by Tom King with art by Andy Kubert

The epic 12 part concludes as Superman and Alice head back to Earth.
Plus, these reprint tales:
o "The Fathers," from Superman/Batman #50
o "Bad Moon Rising," from Superman 80-Page Giant 2011 #1
o "Origin of the Specious and The Message," from The Terrifics Annual #1

In Walmarts: Oct 19, 2019 (not in comic book shops in this format) SRP: $4.99

With the promise that Superman Giant will return "next month"…

Which is pretty unlikely with a solicited in comic book shops date of 1/1/2020. Might be in Walmart in December, but not next month as the next month's books should be five:

BATMAN GIANT #2

Includes 24 pages of new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 11.27.19
$4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

SWAMP THING GIANT #2

Includes 24 pages of new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 11.27.19
$4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

DC WAR GIANT #1

Includes 32 pages of new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 12.11.19
$4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

WONDER WOMAN GIANT #2

Includes 24 pages of new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 12.11.19
$4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS GIANT #1

Includes 24 pages of new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 12.18.19
$4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

However, looking at solicits for books to arrive in January:

BATMAN GIANT #3

Includes new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 01.29.20 $4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS GIANT #2

Includes new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 01.22.20 | $4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES | DC

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS GIANT #2

Includes new stories plus classic reprints!
RESOLICIT | ON SALE 01.22.20 | $4.99 US | FC
96 PAGES | DC | Resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.

TEEN TITANS GO! GIANT #2

Includes new stories plus classic reprints!
RESOLICIT | ON SALE 01.15.20 | $4.99 US | FC
96 PAGES | DC| Resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.

There is a reduction of new books, as DC Super Hero Girls Giant #2 and Teen Titans Go! Giant #2 are resolicited (though both books are still scheduled to be on sale the same date in comic book shops as they were in December's solicits). They reduce December's books from six to four now, showing that going forward the DC Giant line will be four to five books at most a month.

Also our main title list now grows by one title as Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant gets a #2.

The main titles nine titles now being:

Batman Giant(Volume 2)
Wonder Woman Giant(Volume 2)
The Flash Giant(Volume 2)
Swamp Thing Giant(Volume 2)
Teen Titans Go! Giant
Aquaman Giant
DC Super Hero Girls Giant
Superman Giant(Volume 2)
Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant

Though will Swamp Thing Giant get a #3 next month? We'll find out.

The reduction in titles and the bi-monthly schedule doesn't indicate that DC is having reduced faith in the line now that they are no longer Walmart exclusive, however, the consistent "new material by the every popular TBD" (as Jude Terror popularized) instead of top tier creators leading the books (as they did when launched at Walmart) does suggest where the line is going is uncertain for DC. Even solicits with any creators clearly listed would be a good thing. TBD content reduces numbers that comic book stores will order, as books with unclear creative teams and content are not heavily ordered by comic book retailers who can't return the book.

We'll see where the line goes as we enter 2020.

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