{"id":290,"date":"2008-12-18T22:00:15","date_gmt":"2008-12-19T03:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goldenagecomics.org\/wordpress\/?p=290"},"modified":"2008-12-19T13:54:03","modified_gmt":"2008-12-19T18:54:03","slug":"gigantic_giant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/goldenagecomics.org\/wordpress\/2008\/12\/18\/gigantic_giant\/","title":{"rendered":"A Gigantic Giant!"},"content":{"rendered":"

After Dell began publishing its “Giant” series with Christmas Parade<\/em>#1<\/a> (Disney) in 1949, they followed with a whole host of “Giants” featuring many of the popular Disney characters, Bugs Bunny, western stars, Nancy & Sluggo, Little Lulu and others.\u00a0 These books were square bound (and therefore hard to find in high grade today) with cardboard covers.\u00a0They ranged from\u00a0132 to 84 pages.\u00a0 Eventually,\u00a0starting with #21 in 1959, they were given their own\u00a0sequential numbering until the series ended with #55 (Uncle Scrooge and Daisy Duck Showboat<\/em>) in September, 1961.<\/p>\n

But what was the biggest of the Dell Giants?<\/p>\n

When Disney decided to make an animated movie out of J.M. Barrie’s 1911 novel, Peter and Wendy<\/em>, the die was cast for the publication of the largest Dell Giant ever created.\u00a0 The Disney\u00a0movie, Peter Pan<\/em>,\u00a0was released on February 5, 1953, and at the same time Dell published\u00a0Walt Disney’s Peter Pan Treasure Chest<\/em> #1<\/strong>, with a cover date of January, 1953.\u00a0 This book, like the rest of the Dell Giants was square bound with a cardboard cover, but\u00a0was unique in that it had a whopping 212 pages<\/strong> and\u00a0a cover price of 50 cents.<\/p>\n

\"Peter

Peter Pan Treasure Chest #1 (January 1953)<\/p><\/div>\n

The book was a direct tie in to the movie, but also featured appearances by\u00a0Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in separate adventures with Peter Pan.\u00a0 Many other Disney characters appeared in this book along side the stars of the new movie.\u00a0 Notably, this\u00a0book also featured a\u00a0retelling of the classic Barks Donald Duck story, “Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold” (Four Color Comics<\/em> #9)\u00a0with Captain Hook.\u00a0 This story, “Captain Hook and the Buried Treasure” does not have a Donald Duck appearance, but it has the same story line\u00a0as the original tale starring Donald.<\/p>\n

The first 54 pages of this issue feature the movie adaptation, followed by the stories with Donald and Mickey and the Captain Hook story (32 pages long).\u00a0 Throughout the book are games and activities for children, in addition to short stories featuring appearances by various members of the cast of Peter Pan.\u00a0 The lyrics to the songs from the movie are even included at the end of the issue!\u00a0 Needless to say, this book was designed to keep a child engaged for a very long time!<\/p>\n

Not only is this the largest of the Dell Giants, but it\u00a0is assigned the highest value of any Dell Giant by the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide<\/em> (38th Ed.), $2,250 in NM-.\u00a0 As far as I know this book has never been reprinted in its entirety, but it’s worth a look if you are ever lucky enough to find one.<\/p>\n

By the way, Disney and Dell released two other Peter Pan comics to promote the movie.\u00a0 First, they released Four Color Comics<\/em> #442, Peter Pan<\/em>\u00a0(December 1952) and a month later issued Four Color Comics<\/em> #446 (January 1953), Captain Hook and Peter Pan<\/em>.\u00a0 That’s three books released within a month to promote the movie.<\/p>\n

\"Four

Four Color Comics #442 (December 1952)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Four

Four Color Comics #446 (January 1953)<\/p><\/div>\n