Press Release

Just one day before its release date of October 23, BATMAN #608, the number one issue in copies for October instore books as announced by Diamond Comic Distributors, is sold out at DC.

The issue, on sale at comic book stores everywhere tomorrow, features the debut of Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee and Scott Williams as the series' new creative team, and kicks off the 12-part storyline "Hush."

"This is really exciting! I've never experienced anything like it before," says Lee. "I think it's a positive sign of the industry's continuing rebound, and it puts Batman in his rightful place."

"Wow. This is the perfect news after a lot of hard work on the part of Jim and Scott, as well as Alex Sinclair, Richard Starkings, Morgan Dontanville, and Bob Schreck," says Loeb. "Special thanks to Mark Chiarello who set this whole thing in motion and to everybody in marketing at DC who got the word out. We hope that everyone who is looking for a copy can find one - and if not, share yours with a friend!"

"As the issue goes on sale, we'll monitor retailer feedback to gauge

sell-through with an eye toward whether we'll go back to press on the

issue," says Bob Wayne, DC's VP - Sales & Marketing. "Since we talk to the retailers every day, that shouldn't be a problem."

"Every time we showed more parts of this issue in the press, at conventions or anywhere else, retailer interest has soared," says Vince Letterio, DC's Manager - Direct Sales. "When the Sneak Peek copies reached stores last Wednesday, reorder activity increased dramatically. For the past few days, we've been taking reorders with both hands - and we're ready to take more on subsequent issues."

Upcoming issues of BATMAN are available as follows:

* BATMAN #609 (SEP020160) is solicited in the September issue of

Previews (Volume XII #9) and is scheduled to be in stores on November 27.

* BATMAN #610 (OCT020739) is solicited in the October issue of Previews

(Volume XII #10) and is scheduled to be in stores on December 26.

* BATMAN #611 is solicited in the November issue of Previews (Volume

XII, #11) and is scheduled to reach comic book stores on January 22.