Dollar Tree Is Your New Comics Plug
Back Issues of DC Comics Head to the Retailer for $1.25
I didn’t grow up with the Dollar Tree. But let me tell you, when I discovered this magical land where you could buy practically anything you needed for the home, auto or job for a buck, I was hooked. Inflation has made the place a Dollar Tree in name only these days, but I still head into the shop every once in a while to see what’s up.
So imagine the joy that splashed across my face when DC Universe Creative Director James Gunn mentioned on his Instagram account that DC Comics will be available at Dollar Tree locations at the base price of $1.25.
This is awesome in a bunch of ways, but the main source of joy comes from the reach the stores have nationwide. There’s going to be more kids picking up their first comic, or relatives throwing in a quick present when they are out shopping and that’s pretty cool. There are some caveats of course. For one, the issues available at Dollar Tree stores will be back issues. And I can only imagine DC Comics would focus more on their major titles (so you’re not going to get Aztek The Ultimate Man, or something similar.) Here’s a picture of the display from BleedingCool:
But here’s the other reasons why I dig it.
Comic Shops Suck: The very idea of going to a specialty store for a specific kind of magazine is just wild to me. If you find a good community, it can be like heading to a ‘dry’ bar. If your local shop is run by a weirdo, it ultimately becomes a gatekeeping house. A comic book shop can be intimidating if you don’t really know what to check out, or if you feel you’re part of a group that’s marginalized from comics. The last comic book shop I went to, I was a frequent customer. They changed staff, and overnight I felt it became “silly” to go.
Money Is Tight: Think about how you became a fan of comic books. With Saturday Morning Cartoons drying up, and the cost of streaming services climbing, pop culture more and more involves a “buy-in” that impacts the poorest members of our community. And let’s say you are lucky enough to set aside money for comics AND you live near a cool comic book shop, a single 20-page issue can clock in anywhere between $3.99-$7.99 PER ISSUE. Imagine paying that much for a single episode of a TV show on Netflix. Most would walk away. Those who play that game will be less likely to try their money on new titles and heroes.
Instant Access to Nostalgia: A childhood tutor kept my love of reading alive by introducing me to Archie Comics. And ever so often, when I’m at the grocery store, I may throw a Jughead’s Double Digest on the conveyor belt. If I’m at Dollar Tree, I can assure you buying a three-year-old Batman book isn’t on my agenda, but if I get the urge to see “what ol’ Superman is up to?” I am more likely to throw a book into the basket at a buck twenty-five.
And best believe I’m gonna read those swashbuckling adventures of B’Wana Beast with some movie-theater box-sized Cookie Dough Bites! Where else, but the muhfuggin’ Dollar Tree!
Anyway, I recently co-created a Comic Book myself. It’s called “First Place Losers” and it takes place in a world where there’s a lucrative sport called Mech Sport One, where people race mechs for glory.
It’s not going to be at the Dollar Tree, but if you want to catch a sneak peak, check this out.