DC Coming Attractions #85, Dec. 1983

Long before the Internet and social media existed comic book publishers had to find way to promote their product.

DC Comics distributed for free at local comic book shops its DC Coming Attractions newsletter.

While this may not seem like a big deal with all the social networking and over abundance of promotion online nowadays, it was a big deal back in the 1980s.

Very few publications existed that promoted comic books.  Oh sure, you had the ‘official’ price guide, a couple of magazines like The Comics Reader, The Comics Journal and the like, and that was it.

But, usually when the periodicals were published they were out of date.

DC Direct actually notified comic book collectors and readers what to expect in stores on a specific date.  Diamond Previews did not exist yet, so comic book publishers put out their own promotional material.

DC had Coming Attractions, Marvel had Marvel Age, a few of the smaller publishers had newsletters and occasionally companies would release press releases to comic book shops.

In fact, my local comic book shop gave away copies of DC Direct to its customers.

It really comes a no surprise with today’s hunger for first appearances in obscure publications that early issues of DC coming attractions have now become sought after collector items.

DC Coming Attractions #85 had first looks at Infinity Inc. and a new George Perez New Teen Titans poster.  There was not a lot to talk about that issue but follow-up issues offered some real winners.
 
For example issue #85 now sells for a whooping $25 on E-bay.  Not bad for a giveaway!