Buy 5,000 Copies Of The Dark Knight III - Get A Sketch From Jim Lee

A custom Dark Knight III: The Master Race cover drawn by Jim Lee could be yours—if you're willing to pay for it.

In DC Comics' advance solicitations for Dark Knight III: The Master Race, the third installment in Frank Miller's infamous Dark Knight Returns saga, the publisher made a marketing move that would send the aging Batman straight to his grave. DC Comics will offer an original Jim Lee sketch variant cover to The Master Race for ever comic book shop that orders 5,000 or more copies of the book.

Let that number sink in. 5,000.

While comic superstores like New York City's Midtown Comics, Colorado's Mile High Comics, and Indianapolis' Discount Comic Book Services could reach that number with a little stretching, most retailers couldn't dream of ordering 5,000 copies of a single issue. But, DC clearly wants big returns on what will likely be their biggest title of the year. Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello will write, and Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson will illustrate the main 32-page story, but DC will then add a 16-page "mini comic" inside of the main comic by the same writers, but different artists. All told, each issue will rune for $5.99. Then, a Collector's Edition will shortly follow, with the mini comic presented at full size, for $12.99. You can read below for DC's full solicit information, which is quite the doozy.

So readers, do you think your local retailer will pony up for 5,000 copies of Dark Knight III? Let us know what they're saying in the comments below!

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 hits shelves on November 25, and its Collector's Edition arrives on December 9.

DC COMICS PRESENTS DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE
DC Comics is proud to present the debut issue of DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE, one of the most ambitious projects ever from a major American comics publisher. Here are the details…
Each issue of DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE will include:
• A 32-page standard format comic book that will measure 6.625" x 10.1875"
• A 16-page minicomic with no interior ads that will measure 5.5" x 8.375"
The minicomic will be tipped on to an insert and bound into the main comic.
After the release of each issue of DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE, DC Entertainment will release a volume of the DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE COLLECTOR'S EDITION that will collect the both the main story and mini-comic from latest issue of DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE as a single 7.0625" x 10.875" title, with both stories presented at the same trim size.
After the first seven DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE COLLECTOR'S EDITION have been published, DC Entertainment will ship a special slipcase designed to hold the entire set with the eighth COLLECTOR'S EDITION.
DKIII also will feature a dazzling array of variant covers by some of the biggest names in comics today. And, for the first time ever, DC will offer custom store variant editions to qualifying retailers. Watch for more information coming soon!

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #1
Written by FRANK MILLER and BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by ANDY KUBERT and KLAUS JANSON
Mini comic art by TBA
Cover by ANDY KUBERT and KLAUS JANSON
1:10 variant cover by KLAUS JANSON
1:25 variant cover by ANDY KUBERT and KLAUS JANSON
1:50 variant cover by TBA
1:100 variant cover by FRANK MILLER
1:500 variant cover by JIM LEE
1:5000 original sketch variant by JIM LEE
Blank variant cover
On sale NOVEMBER 25
32 pg comic: 6.375" x 10.1875"
16 page minicomic: 5.5" x 8.5"
FC, 1 of 8, $5.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with multiple covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The epic ending you never saw coming is here because you demanded it! The Dark Knight rises again to face the dawn of the master race!

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #1 COLLECTOR'S EDITION VOL. 1
Written by FRANK MILLER and BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by ANDY KUBERT and KLAUS JANSON
Cover by ANDY KUBERT and KLAUS JANSON
On sale DECEMBER 9 • 40 pg, FC, 7.0625" x 10.875", $12.99 US • RATED T+
This oversized paper-over-boards COLLECTOR'S EDITION features both stories from DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #1 at the same size!

Via ComicsAlliance