Comic retailers ordered around 900,000 copies each of the four first issues from Red Giant Entertainment, the company announced.  The free ad-supported comics are being distributed in December by Diamond Comic Distributors (see “Diamond to Distribute Red Giant Comics”), and via Toys R Us, with different covers for each channel.

The company kicked off its print releases on Free Comic Book Day with 400,000 orders  for its four-pack of four #0 issues.  Two of the properties from that group, Amped and Monster Isle, are in the December launch of free comics, while two others, Darchon and Shadow Children, will be launched as paid comic book titles in early 2015.  Red Giant is also shipping several paid book titles to both the comic shop and book channels, including the Mike Deodato Jr. Sketchbook.

Will the company be able to sell enough advertising to support those massive print runs?  That will be up to Red Giant Advertising Director Kris Longo, formerly Manager of Advertising and Custom Publishing at DC.  He’s also Vice President-Business Development at Bonfire Agency, and President of Geek Riot Media (see “Bonfire Spins Off Ad Network”).    

The four titles being shipped in December are:

Giant-Size Action, with “Tesla,” written by Terry Keefe & David Lawrence with art by Bong Dazo; and “Wayward Sons,” written by Benny Powell and illustrated by Nigel Raynor.

Giant-Size Fantasy, with “Duel Identity,” written by Elaine Lee with art by Jon Lam & Candice Han; and “The First Daughter,” written by Chris Crosby & Mike Rosenzweig with art by Tina Francisco.

Giant-Size Adventure, with ”Amped,” written by Brian Augustyn with art by Pasquale Qualano; and “Magika,” written by Kevin Juaire & David Lawrence with art by Wilson Tortosa & Sebastian Cheng.

Giant-Size Thrills, with “Monster Isle,” written by Larry Hama with art by Aurelio Massara; and “Pandora’s Blogs,” by David Campiti, Jinky Coronado & Larry Tuazon.