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Superman Giant Volume 2 Launches, Plus What's to Come, DC Giants in Walmart for December

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2019 08:30:25 -0600

Once again, on Thursday, Bleeding Cool updated the solicit information for the last of the DC Giant titles to come to Walmart in December with DC Super Hero Girls #2. This weekend Walmarts around the United States put out for sale the four new DC Giant books for November with the Walmart exclusive covers. Among these new books, down one book from last month, were Aquaman Giant #2, DC Super Hero Girls Giant #2, Superman Giant Volume 2 #1, and the one most are now waiting for Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant #1 (which should really have Arrowverse or some other addition in the title, considering the content).

Continuing the trend of lack luster initial solicit information followed by last minute solicit information before the Final Order Cutoff, the DC Giant Line seems to be kind of getting some regularity. For the second month #2 issues are showing up on the new bi-monthly schedule indicating that during the odd months of the year for the foreseeable future we should be getting the following titles:

Batman Giant Volume 2
Wonder Woman Giant Volume 2
Swamp Thing Giant Volume 2
Flash Giant Volume 2
Teen Titans Go! Giant

Plus a special one shot of some sort. During the even months we'll get

Superman Giant Volume 2
Aquaman Giant Volume 1
DC Super Hero Girls Giant Volume 1

Plus a special one shot of some sort (though Teen Titans Go! Giant might shift to this month).

This seems to be publishing schedule for the books to be distributed together on the same week at Walmarts (usually the weekend leading into the third week of the month being the initial display date). Of course of Local Comic Book Shops the on sale date will be all over the place during the end of that month or at some point into the next month.

However, with numerous cancellations and re-solicitations at Diamond things may still change month to month, title to title, but hopefully things will stabilize in terms of solicitation and distribution as it seems to be with this month's books. Though considering the nature of the books and how far in advance the material seems to be generated (has to be generation in some cases) the fact that the solicits in the Diamond DC supplement month to month are not more detailed is just … odd. So far the only theory that makes sense is DC wants to grab more attention for the Giant line with announcements of the material to be included in each Giant issue shortly before their Final Order Cutoff. However, since this only affects the copies ordered by Local Comic Book Shops this seems very counterproductive as customers order predominantly off the Diamond solicits since they don't see the announcements often. And many Local Comic Book Shops also don't see the announcements, meaning their initial orders are very unlikely to change, no matter what DC announces.

This month's four books are a great mix of content and creators, but most have their continuity all over the place. (And a very odd Batman The Killing Joke Deluxe Edition advertisement on the back cover of all the books

Except DC Super Hero Girls Giant #2, which is promoting the new Black Canary Ignite Graphic Novel, now on Walmart.com.)

Aquaman's lead story fits fine in the current Rebirth era, and the Aqualad story also is Rebirth era, but set during his tenure with the Teen Titans, probably after Teen Titans (2017) #7, which is reprinted within, and not during his role in the current issues of Aquaman.

The Superman Giant #1 new story is great, in terms of art and story, but doesn't fit into the New 52 or Rebirth era, with Superman in the classic "trunks" suit and no mention of Superboy (Jonathan Kent). The story's continuity would seem to fit best right before the New 52 launch, serving as a continuation after the Grounded story line that ended the Post-Crisis era. (Don't let the New 52 Jim Lee cover fool you…

DC Super Hero Girls has its only continuity separate from the main DC comics line, and despite most of the issue's size being eaten up by reprints being tied to the older version of the IP, the new stories in this issue are tied to the current version of the show.

Same for the Arrowverse tie-in to their Crisis on Infinite Earth's five parter, with both stories … well not fitting well into the crossovers continuity. However, it has the most original content of any DC Giant so far with 32 pages of all new stories, but a truncated reprint of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7.

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

AQUAMAN GIANT #2
Reprint cover by Ivan Reis
This issue includes two new stories:
o "Sea Devils", a 16-page story written by Michael Gray with art by Aaron Lopresti
o "Worth", an eight-page story written by Dave Wielgosz with art by Jose Luis
Plus, these reprint tales:
o "Throne Of Atlantis Chapter One", from JUSTICE LEAGUE #16
o "The King And The Queen", from MERA QUEEN OF ATLANTIS #2
o "The Rise Of Aqualad: Part 2", from TEEN TITANS #7

In Walmarts: December 14, 2019 (three and half weeks early before comic shops on January 8th)

SRP: $4.99

SUPERMAN GIANT VOLUME 2 #1
Reprint cover by Jim Lee
This issue includes one new story:
o "Power Play", a 24-page story by Robert Venditti and Paul Pelletier.
Plus, these reprint tales:
o "Looking Glass", from SUPERGIRL #54
o "Brainiac Part 1", from ACTION COMICS #866

o "Escape from Dinosaur Island Part 1", from SUPERMAN #8

In Walmarts: December 14, 2019 (two and half weeks early before comic shops on January 1st)

SRP: $4.99

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS GIANT #2
Promotional art cover

This issue includes two new stories:
o "Gone to the Dogs", a 16-page story written by Amanda Deibert with art by Erich Owen

o "A Sticky Zit-uation", an 8-page story written by Derek Fridolfs with art by Agnes Garbowska

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: December 14, 2019 (a whole month and a half early before comic shops on January 29th) SRP: $4.99

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS GIANT #1

Reprint cover by George Perez

This issue includes two new stories:
o "Crisis on Infinite Earths", a 24-page story written by Marv Wolfman and Mark Guggenheim with art by Tom Derenick.

o "Infinite Luthor", an 8-page story written by Marv Wolfman and Mark Guggenheim with art by Tom Grummett.

Plus, these reprint tales:
o "The Summoning", from CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #1

o "Beyond the Silent Night", from CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #7

In Walmarts: December 14, 2019 (a month before comic shops on January 14th)

SRP: $4.99