Reports from around the country indicate that book chains, including Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Waldens, have Marvel Encyclopedia-Hulk on sale; it's not due to reach comic stores until Wednesday, June 4th.  We asked Marvel spokesperson Michael Doran for any Marvel comment on the early bookstore release, and he said Marvel 'Won't have an answer today [Monday].'

The early release to bookstores is reminiscent of the situation on the previous volume, Marvel Encyclopedia-X-Men, which was also released to book chains before it reached comic stores.  Marvel then speeded up shipments to comic stores to cut the chain lead (see 'Marvel Speeds Up Shipments of X-Men Encyclopedia').  The X-Men Movie Adaptation was also released early by book chains around the same time (see 'More Marvel X-Books Hit Book Channel First').  We asked Marvel COO Bill Jemas why the chains had those books early in a Marvel press conference on March 26th, and he responded that it was due to '...miscommunication or a flat out mistake' (see 'Retailer Issues at the Marvel Press Conference').