Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’s marketing has given new definition to the word “ubiquitous,” with its logo and key art adorning everything from buses to billboards to breakfast cereals for over a year’s worth of run-up to a release that the reportedly nervous Warner Bros. is banking on to make or break its chance to launch a cohesive challenger to the box-office domination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Now, the hype machine prepares to hit the realm from whence the iconic superheroes of the title originally came, with a slew of variant covers set to hit various DC Comics series throughout the month of March.
CBR scored a look at six of the planned run of variants in the form of full-colored and partially-colored offerings from artists Stephen Platt and Massimo Carnevale, which will adorn specially-polybagged March copies of Grayson and Wonder Woman, respectively. Both depict Batman and Superman locked in violent combat, though in entirely different poses and contexts:
In addition, CBR has also published a full list of other series which will feature special Batman V Superman variants and the artists who will provide them, listed as follows:
The covers mark the latest round of heavy promotion for the film, which is currently fighting to correct perceptions that its projected box-office may come up short compared to more recent, less expensive films in the same genre. Other efforts have included comic-book prequels, adding The Batmobile to the popular car-sports video game Rocket League, and a new charitable venture announced via a viral clip of Henry Cavill (Superman) attempting to convince skeptical children that his character is, in fact, cooler than Batman. While Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot has not been as visible as her co-stars in terms of promotion, she is appearing in theaters this weekend as part of the ultra-violent cop thriller Triple 9.
3/2: Detective Comics #50 (variant by Rafael Grampa)
3/9: Action Comics #50 (variant by Martin Ansin)
3/9: Batman/Superman #30 (variant by Kevin Maguire)
3/16: Robin Son of Batman #10 (variant by Ryan Ottley)
3/16: Superman #50 (variant by Kaare Andrews)
3/23: Batman #50 (variant by Chris Daughtry and Jim Lee)
3/23: Grayson #18 (variant by Stephen Platt)
3/23: Superman/Wonder Woman #27 (variant by Charlie Adlard)
3/23: Wonder Woman #50 (variant by Massimo Carnevale)
3/30: Batgirl #50 (variant by Kevin Nowlan)
While it’s unlikely that the film will actually be a financial loss for Warner Bros., this level of promotion can only help; saturation marketing like this was widely credited for the massive recent success of Fox’s Deadpool, after all. Moreover, the film’s U.S. release is happening over the Easter holiday weekend, which in recent years has been a major moviegoing day that bodes very well for its initial box-office prospects.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25, 2016, which is followed by Suicide Squad on August 5, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017; The Flash on March 16, 2018; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps. on June 19, 2020.
Source: Comic Book Resources
