Classics Illustrated "Giants"

We will begin with the GIANTS. In 1949, Gilberton decided to expand its specialty items, even though the GIFT BOXES had sold very poorly. This time they decided to take coverless CI and put them into a giant volume based upon story theme, with a new wraparound Henry C. Kiefer cover. in October, 1949, they first advertised three GIANTS on HRNs of (64), and on (O)s of 68 & 69. The big problem was that they were 60c each. Each of these comics could be purchased individually for 10c. So you paid 20c extra and got three less covers, and you did not get to choose individual titles. So the GIANTS also sold poorly, and many years later there were stacks of them setting around in the CI warehouse. It makes me cringe to say that they were probably destroyed, because no large quantity ever turned up. ...................................

All the CI in the GIANTS were (R)s with HRNs of (60)-(64). All of them have reduced pages (except for the 64-pagers that were never reduced). The ADVENTURE GIANT was originally going to contain Cl#s 6-9, but #9 was replaced by #10. The illo for #9 on the fc was covered by a Robinson Crusoe illo glued down on top of it. You can still see the faint outline of it above the Crusoe illo. The ADVENTURE GIANT contained all 64-pagers, placing great stress on cover edges. You quite often see them with a cover missing. We often make color photocopy covers to improve the visual appearance of those copies for collectors.

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There is always a strong demand 'for GIANTS. They rarely do turn up. GIANTS are the one non-series item that increases in value steadily Like early CC(O)s. GIANTS were advertised from 10/49-2/52. There are also two hardback British GIANTS of the ADVENTURE and INDIAN, with slightly different contents, which .came out about Christmas, 1952. Their value is about the same

view the three Giants covers

INDIAN GIANT

ADVENTURE GIANT

MYSTERY GIANT