5 Strangest DC & Marvel Comics Sales Tactics

5. Buy A Comic And Get A Plastic Ring

Some time ago, a short while before the big reboot into a, "New 52," DC had a big event called, "Blackest Night." Originally a story that sprouted in, "Green Lantern" and grew into a mega-event that encapsulated almost the entire line, with DC having many of their comics tie-in with the event. They even wnet so far as to, "resurrect," titles that had ended years ago and gave them an, "Extra," issue. 

It featured various Corps of Lantern-groups coming together to fight a whole bunch of heroes who were brought back as evil zombies by a black ring, and the rings are the key element here. In order to promote all the tie-in comics and extra comics, DC created an offer where if you bought a specific comic you could get a plastic ring that represented one of the competing Lantern Corps, from the Rage-filled red to the Hopeful blue. Some retailers let folk pick any ring if they bought a tie-in, and others just handed the rings out for fun, but plenty of rings and comics were bought.

It was by no means a crazy promotion, but definitely was a bit strange, because when you think, "Comic-books," you usually don't think, "Jewelry," right after.