Famed comic book publisher DC Comics announced today that they are launching a roster of comic books in digital format for the first time, making super-heroic stories from the likes of Batman and Superman available on iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches and PlayStation Portable game devices.
DC Comics has partnered with both comiXology and the PlayStation Network and will begin distributing digital versions of their comic books on demand starting today.
Both PSP and Apple device owners will be able to pay for classic titles from DC Comics, Vertigo and WildStorm. Among them: “Batman: Hush,” “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” “Fables: Legends in Exiles” and “Planetary: All Over the World and Other Stories.” In both cases, the digital comics will be priced between 99 cents to $2.99 per issue.
Until today, DC had been an important holdout on the digital publication front, with comic book publishers like Marvel and Dark Horse already offering many of their series through the App Store and PlayStation network.
Apple device owners will need to download the free DC Comics/comiXology app via the App store. They will be able to access more than 100 issues from DC and its imprint publishers immediately, with 100 more being made available each month. According to the release, one issue of Neil Gaiman’s famed “Sandman” series will be made available each week exclusively through the comiXology program. (comiXology developed Marvel’s comic book reader app as well.)
DC’s partnership with comiXology includes an agreement that makes it so a portion of digital revenues will be invested in a program that supports traditional comic book retailers, which have long been the backbone of the comic book world.
“As both a comic book creator and co-publisher, it was incredibly important that our plan includes not only creator incentive payments, but also an innovative component that supports comic shop owners,” Jim Lee, co-publisher for DC Comics, said in a released statement.
Meanwhile, PSP owners will be able to access more than 80 issues from DC as of today, including the first 25 issues of both “Superman” and “Batman.” More than 50 new issues will then be made available each month.
For those without extra change in their pockets, DC also will offer several comics for free at launch to both PSP owners and Apple device owners, including the first installment of the ZUDA series “Bayou” and select stories from “Batman: Black & White.”
DC also is offering a free 10-page preview of the 700th issue of “Superman.” The pages are a prelude to writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Eddy Barrows’ “Grounded” storyline. “Grounded” will be available on both the PlayStation Network and App Store the same day the issue goes on sale in comic book stores.
According to Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC Comics, “Grounded” will examine how Superman sees America, and how America sees Superman and is “a major turning point in the history of Superman.”
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