Marvel is offering an incentive to retailers that involves destroying DC Comics, and not just on the balance sheets or at the box office. Basically, for every 50 copies of any of the ‘Flashpoint tie-in #1’s retailers rip the cover from, Marvel will send them a variant cover of ‘Fear Itself #6’ by artist Ed McGuinness. This isn’t the first time Marvel has offered to provide rewards for destroying the back issues from the Distinguished Competition. All the way back in January of 2010 they offered a similar deal to retailers for unsold copies of the ‘Green Lantern Blackest Night’ tie-ins to receive a variant cover to ‘Siege #3.’

Agree or disagree, this is a shrewd move on Marvel’s behalf, especially after the success of ‘Captain America,’ ‘X-Men: First Class’ and ‘Thor’ at the box office this summer, not to mention the DC Universe Reboot coming this September. Don’t be surprised to see Marvel pull this tactic out of the the bag again when the ‘DCnU 52 #1’s start hitting the spinner racks this fall.

Personally, I think it is good for the industry. If DC wants to get back to the top of the comics world, Marvel is sending a clear message… they won’t go down without a fight. Now if the on page stories for both companies could be as good as the drama unfolding behind the scenes. The clear winner, if they can translate this drama to the funny books, will be the fans; regardless of allegiance Marvel or DC.

Below is a list of the books Marvel is willing to accept in this exchange program:

FLASHPOINT ABIN SUR THE GREEN LANTERN #1
FLASHPOINT BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1
FLASHPOINT CITIZEN COLD #1
FLASHPOINT DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #1
FLASHPOINT DEATHSTROKE THE CURSE OF RAVAGER #1
FLASHPOINT EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1
FLASHPOINT FRANKENSTEIN CREATURES OF UNKNOWN #1
FLASHPOINT GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES #1
FLASHPOINT GRODD OF WAR #1
FLASHPOINT HAL JORDAN #1
FLASHPOINT KID FLASH LOST #1
FLASHPOINT LEGION OF DOOM #1
FLASHPOINT LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1
FLASHPOINT PROJECT SUPERMAN #1
FLASHPOINT SECRET SEVEN #1
FLASHPOINT THE OUTSIDER #1
FLASHPOINT THE REVERSE FLASH #1
FLASHPOINT THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #1
FLASHPOINT WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #1