We are just having fun reviewing and discussing comic books, graphic novels, manga, anime/animation, music and movies that we have recently read, listened to or watched.
Dark Horse Comics has announced that as of December 14, all of their titles will released as print and digital on the same date. They are joining a growing number of publishers that are going to this business model which include Marvel, DC, and Image to name just a few.
Batman Beyond and Justice League Beyond will be DC Comic’s first titles that will be distributed digitally first, starting in early February. Short segments, approximately 10 pages, of the story will be released weekly for $.99, then it will be published in a print edition at the end of the month for $3.99. DC is still testing the waters and making a few waves.
Viz Media has announced that it is joining forces with Animate, Ltd. and Libre Publishing Co., Ltd. to begin publishing a Yaoi (Boys Love) line called SuBLime. The line will have titles in print and in digital format. The print line will launch in the Spring of 2012 with Three Wolves Mountain by Naono Bohra and Hachimitsu Darlin by Norikazu Akira with additional titles launching in the Summer. The digital line will actually start this December with Love Pistols by Tarako Kotobuki and Dannasama To Mitsugetsuchu by Haruka Minami with more titles coming in 2012. Viz is taking the leap to digital because of the observance of their consumer readership downloading more digital content.
Viz Media has announced that it will have a new digital subscription for it’s Shonen Jump magazine in the U.S. called Shonen Jump Alpha. With this new digital subscription the print version of Shonen Jump will discontinue with it’s April 2012 issue. Libraries and individuals will need to get ready for this shift and make adjustments.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-18/shonen-jump-alpha-to-be-available-only-in-u.s-canada
Yen Press announced at the New York Comic Con that it will have two manga adaptations from authors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Cassandra Clare. Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Chronicles of Nick will be adapted into a two volume set entitled Dark Hunters: Infinity. Cassandra Clare’s trilogy The Infernal Devices will be adapted with art work by HeyKyung Baek. Both titles will first be released in Yen Press’s online anthology Yen Plus and then in print in the Fall of 2012.
According to ICv2, Barnes & Noble are retaliating against DC Comics for giving Amazon exclusive digital content on some of DC’s graphic novel backlist. It is being reported that Barnes & Noble is pulling 100 of DC’s backlist titles from their brick and mortar stores. This is in effort to show DC and other publishers in the future that stores do not appreciate a publisher giving exclusive deals to specific competitors. After the last quarter is report for DC sales, we will see if this hurts their sales numbers or not.
Archie Publications is making part of their titles available in digital format. The titles will be primarily from old superhero titles to newer superhero titles. The content will be available on a monthly subscription basis. So let your patrons, that love their readers, know that these will be coming available to them.
Today is new comic book day for all who are into buying comic books. Every Wednesday, unless a holiday causes a hiccup, is when that weeks new comic books come to the local comic book store for fans to purchase. Today is a little special though. This is the launch of DC Comics new 52 #1’s. What makes this day special is the way you can purchase the new 52 #1’s. You can purchase the print copy, which is still my method, or you can also purchase the titles digitally today as well. DC Comics is the first company to go to a print/digital same day release for all of it’s titles. The digital format can be downloaded on a computer, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, WP7, or PSP with DC stating that it is working on additional platforms for the titles to be downloaded to. Head on over to DC’s site for the article linked below.
Dark Horse’s site reports that the company will be unveiling their digital app. This unveiling will be done at C2E2 this weekend, so if you happen to be in the Chicago area check Dark Horse’s booth out. Link below to the article on their site.
http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/305/dark-horse-unveil-digital-comics-app-chicago-comic