BATMAN #608 GIVEAWAY IN MONDAY'S NY POST

[MattBrady]

On Monday, Gotham won’t be the only city Batman calls his own.

DC’s Dark Knight (who also has a movie coming out, as you might have heard) will get major exposure, thanks to the inclusion of a special edition Batman comic being given away in The New York Post. As you can probably guess from the cover illustration, DC Comics has confirmed for Newsarama that the special issue is a reprint of Batman #608 by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee and Scott Williams, the first part of the “Hush” storyline.

This isn’t the first time the Post has included such a “comics section” in conjunction with a film’s release. In May of 2003, the Post distributed a reported 500,000 copies of a reprint of Ultimate X-Men #2 timed to the release of X2.

DC has confirmed for Newsarama that the issue will contain the Comic Shop Locator Service toll-free number, as well as in-house ads for the Batman: Hush trades, which collect the 12-part story which begins in the giveaway issue. The publisher has also confirmed that 750,000 copies of the issue will be inserted into papers.

updated 5:54pm with the number of copies

[BlueThunderArmy]

Wow, that's pretty incredible. "Hush" would be a good introduction to Batman, I'd imagine, though it's a shame they couldn't use a more recent story. I'd wager most Post readers aren't going to get very excited about Jason Todd's return...

[Bakema NL]

Awesome ! If this doesn't generate at least a little attention to the actual comics then I don't know what will.................they should have included a more recent issue though, but that's nitpicking really.

[spyflip]

okay I'm may not be a huge DC reader but I recall a few stories here and their that captures the magic that is Batman mytho. They could have pick a better story or a one-shot that shows why he is the dark night instead of a small part of a larger story line.

[MR2525]

THATS AWESOME!
comics need this kind of advertising. Sometimes it feels like comics are stuck where they are because they market only their "own kind." To make the audience expand don't you think they should expand their market? Only Marvel and DC have the resources to do this. I wish comics could get more out there without it involving a movie.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Anybody know a Chicago newstand that carries the Post? We get the Times delivered to work (and can find it anywhere you need it), but the Post doesn't have the same interstate cache...

[Kevin T. Brown]

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Anybody know a Chicago newstand that carries the Post? We get the Times delivered to work (and can find it anywhere you need it), but the Post doesn't have the same interstate cache...

Try Borders at 150 N State St., they MAY have copies.....

[PUCK]

Originally posted by Bakema NL
Awesome ! If this doesn't generate at least a little attention to the actual comics then I don't know what will.................they should have included a more recent issue though, but that's nitpicking really.

"hush" was a recent enough story. and it's an excellent jump-on point. the current story would be rather difficult for new readers to follow.

[BriGuy]

Reason why they picked Hush over a more recent story: new readers can run right out (or order it online) and get the trades of Hush right now. Rather than have to go to at least one local comic shopto try and track down the single issues that contain the rest of the story.

The fact that it deals with Jason Todd probably isn't that much of a deterrent considering how many more people read comics when he died then do now. That actually may get old readers to come back and check it out.

[Spider-Bob]

A comic book inside a comic book masquerading as a newspaper – there must be an irony in there somewhere.

I would be more excited if this deal was with USA Today, then at least every person checked into a hotel in America would see it - instead of those few right-wingers that can or do read.

[thefellowship12]

I personally thought that Hush was an amazing story, ok the end was a bit lousy and LOeb could've thought of a better reason to why Hush would want to ruin Batman's life.

The first issue is very good and the art is amazing and is a good jumping on point as it requires no prior knowledge of the Dark knight to understand what is going on. Maybe it will convince people that comics aren't just for kids.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Originally posted by Spider-Bob
A comic book inside a comic book masquerading as a newspaper – there must be an irony in there somewhere.

I would be more excited if this deal was with USA Today, then at least every person checked into a hotel in America would see it - instead of those few right-wingers that can or do read.

Congrats. I had bets on it only taking three posts before some lunatic tried to hijack the thread with this kind of incoherent babble. It took longer than expected.

But to decry the New York Post's literary merits by comparing it to USA TODAY? Weak, man. Weak.

But, then, this is all in a post written by a guy (?) who chooses to identify himself as "Spider-Bob." Take it from where it comes.

-Augie

[Stalzer2002]

This is awesome. It is a perfect selection. Considering the major companies past FCBD offerings, you would think that they'd go with something like Batman Strikes #1. They actually do the smart thing and offer the first part of one of the best selling comics in years. It has the advantages of being drawn by one of the most popular artists around and being the first part of a major storyline. This should get a few more people in the shops.

Great move DC!

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by Spider-Bob
instead of those few right-wingers that can or do read.

knock it off.

MattB

[razorwing77]

I think this is a great idea. It's a costly, but effective way to advertise. It's this kind of promotion that could get comics back into people's hands.

However, I do have one gripe. I don't know if the picture with the article is an ad running in the NY Post or not, and I don't know if the general public is seeing this ad, but I think it sends a bad message by calling the NY Post Edition a "Special Collector's Edition."

The industry needs people that READ comics, not just COLLECT them. We had enough collector-only comic buyers in the speculator boom and look where that got us. If people are reading comics, they'll probably come back for more. If people are investing in them, and then find out that new comics generally don't re-sell for more than cover price these days, then they aren't coming back for more.

Luckily, it doesn't appear to say "Collector" anywhere on the cover of the actual book. Just in this ad.

[Spider-Bob]

[i]But to decry the New York Post's literary merits by comparing it to USA TODAY? Weak, man. Weak.

But, then, this is all in a post written by a guy (?) who chooses to identify himself as "Spider-Bob." Take it from where it comes.

-Augie [/b]

Who's making literary comparisons? There both rags - one is just more widely read (or at least circulated) than the other. My complaint is that the New York Post has a narrow focus readership and is poorly circulated compared to “America’s Newspaper” – although the Post does get its fair share of quotes read on FOX News, but that isn’t going to get Batman comics in the hands of readers.

What's wrong with Spider-Bob? My name's Bob (definitely a masculine name) and I like Spider-Man. Not much of a leap for an internet alias - given some of the other choices I have seen.

[Charlie Hustle]

Originally posted by thefellowship12
I personally thought that Hush was an amazing story, ok the end was a bit lousy and LOeb could've thought of a better reason to why Hush would want to ruin Batman's life.

The first issue is very good and the art is amazing and is a good jumping on point as it requires no prior knowledge of the Dark knight to understand what is going on. Maybe it will convince people that comics aren't just for kids.

i've said for a long time that comics could expand their audience by putting preview issues in newspapers, PARADE magazine style. this is great. i'd like to see

a) it done for different ocassions, not just tie-ins to superhero events. for example when tuskegee experiments were actively being talked about the black capt. america story line would've been interesting to get into the public's attention. during certain groups' history months try to release non stereotypical books that deal with those groups. Strangers in paradise during woman's history month etc.

b)release better stories. Hush is a terribly written arc. I couldn't even bring myself to finish it. All it did was make the 'gallery' of bat villains look as bad as spiderman's tend to. I was waiting for a guest appearance from the vulture, only to have him defeated by batman's poisonous bird seed a la Leonard part 6.

to the other post, yes the Post is a horrid tabloid magazine but as a comic ssite i think there are more interesting things to talk about in this story.

[Charlie Hustle]

Originally posted by Spider-Bob
Who's making literary comparisons? There both rags - one is just more widely read (or at least circulated) than the other. My complaint is that the New York Post has a narrow focus readership and is poorly circulated compared to “America’s Newspaper” – although the Post does get its fair share of quotes read on FOX News, but that isn’t going to get Batman comics in the hands of readers.

What's wrong with Spider-Bob? My name's Bob (definitely a masculine name) and I like Spider-Man. Not much of a leap for an internet alias - given some of the other choices I have seen.

so is your complaint that this is a way to increase readership but not (a) the readers you want or (b) enough to satisfy you? As much as comics need exposure outside of their existing marketplace I don't understand your train of thought on this. I mean...

"that isn’t going to get Batman comics in the hands of readers."

no but... putting comics in a newspaper will. i don't understand how this point isn't enough for you just cause there's a bigger paper out there.

[Supreme Convoy]

Not the best Bat story around, Hush is still a pretty good story to get people interested in Batman. Mostly because a good chunk of the rogue gallery pops up.

[Comic-Reader]

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Anybody know a Chicago newstand that carries the Post? We get the Times delivered to work (and can find it anywhere you need it), but the Post doesn't have the same interstate cache...

Dude, the Post doesn't even have intra-state cache.

And, Spider-Bob, of course the Post gets quoted on Fox News. They are both owned by Rupert Murdoch.

[Heroic Images]

DC Comics' offices are in New York City, and so they struck a deal with a NYC newspaper. I'm among those saying, "what's the problem?"

But I'll answer my own question: anything DC does, whether for their own good or for the good of the comics industry in general, is not going to be good enough for some people. Ever.

Apparently Marvel has already done the exact same thing in conjunction with the Post. And good for them. Holy cow, people! Get a life!

[Spider-Bob]

Originally posted by Charlie Hustle
so is your complaint that this is a way to increase readership but not (a) the readers you want or (b) enough to satisfy you? As much as comics need exposure outside of their existing marketplace I don't understand your train of thought on this. I mean...

"that isn’t going to get Batman comics in the hands of readers."

no but... putting comics in a newspaper will. i don't understand how this point isn't enough for you just cause there's a bigger paper out there.

I don’t care who reads comics, the more the merrier. My website links to all sorts of sites which encourage comics readership (Friends of Lulu, Prism, Museum of Black Superheroes, etc...) in hopes that people who run across my site will feel like they are invited into the larger community, but no, I don’t think the Post's readership will be clamoring for comics. I am related to a large number of people who are in the Post's demographic and many of them would not read it if it was sent to them for free, because they are not readers - much less comics readers. In addition to that point I Post apparently has a very poor circulation – unless you count New York City or politicians in the Beltway. Maybe W and DeLay will become a Batman fan, but I doubt it.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally posted by Spider-Bob
Maybe W and DeLay will become a Batman fan, but I doubt it.

More likely they'd put Batman on a terror(TM) watch list...

[samnoir]

Originally posted by Bakema NL
Awesome ! If this doesn't generate at least a little attention to the actual comics then I don't know what will.................they should have included a more recent issue though, but that's nitpicking really.

That doesn't make much sense given the fact that HUSH is the start of a storyline filled with all the classic villians that everyone knows. It's got lots of exposition to help readers get up to speed as well IIRC.

Plus the fact that HUSH is available in bookstores and Virgin Records. If they don't want to bother finding a comic shop or the hassle of tracking down monthly singles, then it makes much more sense to hook new readers than dropping them into the middle of the Red Hood storyline... which is pretty dependent on the Jason Todd knowledge.

I think the perfect give-away to tie into the Batman Begins release would be a reprint of Batman Year 1. Although i can see why they didn't go that route either... I can just imagine the parents complaining about the scenes with the hookers.

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[samnoir]

Actually, what I'm really suprised about is that there was never a Batman comic strip within the last decade or so based on the Batman animated series look and continuity (as far as I can remember). You would think that this would be the perfect venue for DC to get Batman into the newspapers on a daily basis. The semi-humorous tone and style that Paul Dini and Bruce Timm had in the Ivy and Harley comic book miniseries would have been perfect for a three panel gag/adventure comic strip.

Is the Spiderman comic strip written by Stan Lee still continuing?

I have fond memories of the World's Greatest Superheros comic strip back when I was growing up in the seventies and eighties.

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