100-PAGE GIANT COMICS FROM DC AT WALMART STORES

[The Dirt Gang]

https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/06/2 ... his-summer

I know this is a few days old but I've not seen it posted on the forum. What are folks thoughts on this and the news that Gamestop will start carrying direct market comics on a spinner rack?

I really discovered comics through those Marvel 3 or 4 packs that were sold at Walmart back in the '90s. There wasn't a comic book store in my town at the time. Once a comic shop opened in my town, it became my go to place. I do think comics need to be out in more places where people can stumble on them. So I hope this is a positive thing and brings more people into comic shops.

[WrathOfArmstrong]

I think it's good for DC. I'm conflicted on whether or not I would support this with my wallet, but I could see picking up one for my kids on a whim. Hopefully, it is chock full of ads to support LCBS, but I also wouldn't mind it doing so well that Walmart expanded their offerings to trades.

I'm hoping for Bendis' Batman tale to receive its own trade...if they said that wasn't the plan...then I'd add it to my monthly Walmart trip...

[The Dirt Gang]

I do wonder about the price point. If some one discovered comics through this 100 page giant at $4.99, would they then be turned off by the price of a monthly floppy in a comic store?

Ultimately, I think any way to introduce new readers to comics will ultimately benefit comics and comic shops in the long run.

Prior to the '90s boom, spinner racks at drug stores and Wal-mart were the only way for many people to get comics. They primed a lot of kids for the comic shop explosion in the '90s.

Of course, now there are digital comics which adds another wrinkle to this.

[Chiclo]

I do wonder about the price point. If some one discovered comics through this 100 page giant at $4.99, would they then be turned off by the price of a monthly floppy in a comic store?

Ultimately, I think any way to introduce new readers to comics will ultimately benefit comics and comic shops in the long run.

Prior to the '90s boom, spinner racks at drug stores and Wal-mart were the only way for many people to get comics. They primed a lot of kids for the comic shop explosion in the '90s.

Of course, now there are digital comics which adds another wrinkle to this.

I bought my first real-deal non-Archie superhero comic from Wal-Mart, Uncanny X-Men 309.

I remember buying a lot of comics at Wal-Mart. Secret Defenders 12 was an early one.

[Ramses818]

Also a rumor for speculators, Teen Titans. May be a new villain. Just passing along a rumor..

[The Dirt Gang]

I checked out 2 Wal-marts yesterday looking for copies. I don't think either of my local Wal-marts are carrying the 100 page giant. They both had a stack of the DC 3 packs, so I wonder if they do much sales with comics.

However, looking online it looks like they are mostly being scooped up by speculators and sold on eBay at an inflated rate. This is sort of what frustrates me with comics. I'm not a speculator and was looking for them to give to my kids who I've not been able to get into comics in the way I was as a kid. In order to attract new readers, they need to be available to new readers. The 100-page giants are great because it's a lot of comic at a low price and from what I've read has several different stories within each issue.

When I first read about this, I thought it was a great idea to possible attract new readers, now I don't think that is the case. Especially, if they introduced a new villain, then it seems like this was somewhat aimed at the speculative market.

[Ramses818]

I would expect you will start to see copies as the speculators get theirs and they sit. Not all will be mint, just because of the nature of who is selling them. And Gamestop will be a good place to get comics because they will be on spinner racks, I think many speculators will stay away from damaged or MI's handled comics and they will get into kids hands., like they are supposed to.

[The Dirt Gang]

I would expect you will start to see copies as the speculators get theirs and they sit. Not all will be mint, just because of the nature of who is selling them. And Gamestop will be a good place to get comics because they will be on spinner racks, I think many speculators will stay away from damaged or MI's handled comics and they will get into kids hands., like they are supposed to.

Thanks for that point of view. It will be interesting to see how long the interest will last in these Walmart exclusives.

[The Dirt Gang]

Thought this was an interesting piece on the Walmart DC 100-page giant and how DC is screwing it up.

http://www.comicsbeat.com/i-tried-to-bu ... and-crazy/

[tarheelmarine]

I'll come out and defend DC on this initiative. I was able to pick up three of the issues at the Wal-Mart near my in-laws. Very nice packaging (almost a prestige format).

I've read the Batman issue, and was very pleased. Before each story there is a nice recap of the characters. The new story was entertaining and I had not read the Nightwing or Harley Quinn issues contained within the comic. The only ads are for TPBS about the featured character. I even saw an ad recommending LCSs.

I will post how I enjoyed the other comics, and when/if I find the Teen Titans issue.



If we hope to attract new readers to a medium we all enjoy then this is one way to try and get new readers.

[The Dirt Gang]

If we hope to attract new readers to a medium we all enjoy then this is one way to try and get new readers.

Glad to hear you were able to find some of them.

I agree with you. I just think DC should have only included previously published content as it would then truly be really for new readers or casual readers. I think by including new material and perhaps a new villain then they are looking to the speculator and current comic reader. There also seems to be a low print run and like I said I don't think my 2 Walmarts got any.

[Aport]

F*** Walmart.
I will never buy from Walmart.
They are anti-union.
My union money will never be spent at Walmart.

[tarheelmarine]

The Teen Titans issue was excellent.

[The Dirt Gang]

Finally found some at my local Walmart. My kids have really enjoyed them. I've not had time to read them yet myself but look forward to doing so. I think they are pretty nicely put together and the price point is great.

F*** Walmart.
I will never buy from Walmart.
They are anti-union.
My union money will never be spent at Walmart.

I hear ya. I rarely shop at Walmart and I worked there one summer. It was the only place that would hire me and I tried a lot of other places first. Most places would hire you in my home town if you were a college kid returned for the summer. The weird thing is they had a huge Canadian flag hanging in the rafters in the employees only storage area but no American flag.

Anyhow, I do think for comics to survive they've got to get them in more places where people can stumble on them. As a kid, I remember buying them at Walmart, drug stores and even in convenience stores on car trips. Now, you pretty much only see them at a comic shop.

[dornwolf]

Anyone know if these made it to Canada?

[The Dirt Gang]

Anyone know if these made it to Canada?

I've not read anything about that but it does seem like they are being put out on the shelves at different times in different places, so if you've not seen them yet at your local store they could still pop up.

[dornwolf]

Anyone know if these made it to Canada?

I've not read anything about that but it does seem like they are being put out on the shelves at different times in different places, so if you've not seen them yet at your local store they could still pop up.

Well if they don't here's hoping they put these upcoming exclusive stories in trade at least.

[tarheelmarine]

Anyone know if #2 is out for these issues?

[The Dirt Gang]

Anyone know if #2 is out for these issues?

My understanding is that two of the issues will be out in the first couple of weeks in August and then two more will follow those. It seems like basically every 2 weeks there will be 2 new issues out. But like it happened this first time around, I think it will be somewhat up to your stores as to when they'll be put on the shelves. I went by there this weekend and they had restocked all 4 issue 1s.

[tarheelmarine]

Superman #2 was excellent. Nice conclusion to the tornado story. Getting ready to read Justice League #2.

[IMJ]

The Ultimate Fallout newsstand discussion got me thinking about these. They are in full steam now, several issues in and whenever I glance at the blue organizer at Wal-mart, it seems that there is a new title there - a Christmas special, or obscure Swamp Thing book. These nag at me like someday a handful or all of them are going to be huge market movers for some reason.


It's like... all of the ingredients in the recipe are there for this, but that's all I've got. Maybe, if anything these will have a niche group of collectors the way that people like to put together sets of the Silver Age 100-Page Giants, no matter what the title.

What are some other opinions on these Wal-Mart Giants now that publication on them is in full swing?

[nycjadie]

Store books go back to the 1950s, maybe earlier. I can't think of any that are super valuable. There are also toy figure exclusives, or other variants. I don't think any of them have become super valuable, even where they possibly should. For example, the Doomsday/Death of Superman action figure exclusive is probably in a much, much lower print than any of the other issues. Maybe something will pop. More than likely it would be one that has an original story that has a key character or element that arises from it.

[IMJ]

than likely it would be one that has an original story that has a key character or element that arises from it.

Ya, this is sort of where I was going with this. But your other points are solid - I suppose unless we find that one or another of these have some kind of error or freakishly low print run these are most likely collecting oddities.

Are these Wal-mart giants all reprint books, then?

[jeremycoe]

Are these Wal-mart giants all reprint books, then?

No, they have original stories in them.

[Chiclo]

Are these Wal-mart giants all reprint books, then?

No, they have original stories in them.

They are a mixture. There are both reprints and original stories.