DC Entertainment has made Batman #50 (four covers) and Catwoman #1 (three covers) returnable, the company announced at the Diamond Comic Distributors Retailer Appreciation Lunch at San Diego Comic-Con, and through Diamond last week.  DC leaked plot information that spoiled the surprise content of the issues through the New York Times several days before release of the issues (our columnist Steve Bennett ran down the sequence of events and explanations, see "Confessions of a Comic Book Guy – Between the Spoilers and the Spoiled)."

"DC Entertainment is proud of its reputation as the prime supporter of the Direct Market, and its commitment to these retailers is unparalleled," the company said in a statement released through Diamond.  "In that tradition, and due to the expressed concerns from its partners in the Direct Market, DC will be making the following items returnable at a later date… DC stands by the amazing work of the creative teams involved on Batman #50 and Catwoman #1.  DC also stands by its publication of Batman #50 and Catwoman #1, and invites retailers to buckle up for the next 50 issues."

DC Vice President – Sales Jim Sokolowski did not offer any explanation for the early release of plot information at the retailer lunch; he simply announced the returnability and moved on.