Fun note: Giant Reach does count squares when checking for melee adjacency.
This is particularly potent with multi-target close combat actions and Tellus. When you activate Giant Reach to count squares/range for adjacency Tellus will let you pick any and all characters within his range as potential counting points.

A good example of this is Slattern's Triple Tail Whip combined with his innate Giant Reach
Character 1 and 2 are friendly and within 4 of Tellus(T) and Slattern(S) uses Triple Tail Whip. All squares marked with an x are valid targets assuming Slattern can draw line of fire to them through their respective characters he is linked with. Also note that the direction of knockback is still always away from Slattern, not the squares he is drawing his attacks though.