DC continues its expansion into the world of digital comics today with the official announcement of DC Universe Infinite, a premium digital comic book service that is evolving out of the DC Universe streaming channel. The service launches on January 21, 2021, with global expansion planned for summer 2021. Subs will cost $7.99 a month or $74.99 a year ($6.25 a month).
Media content on DC Universe, as long suspected, is being folded into HBO Max, with a third season of the popular animated Harley Quinn series announced as a Max Original going forward. All three Harley Quinn seasons, Young Justice Seasons 1-4, Titans Seasons 1-3, Doom Patrol Seasons 1-3, and DC’s Stargirl Season 1 will all be available on HBO Max.
DC Universe Infinite will be the home for more than 24,000 comics, including a growing slate of digital originals, all available for both iOS and Android. Published comics will hit the service six months after print is available. It will also be a home base for DC fans with exclusive access to fan events.
It also has a snappy animated logo, complete with the kind of horn sting that announces big things.
“Our fans love the platform’s robust library of comic books and, with the transformation, we will not disappoint,” said DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee in a statement. “I’m excited to share that not only will DC UNIVERSE INFINITE members still be able to read all of the great comics that they’ve enjoyed but new issues are debuting on the platform quicker than before, digital first exclusives are being created, and the members-only events will begin as soon as possible. There has never been a better time to be a DC fan!”
DC UNIVERSE INFINITE subscribers will have early access to DC’s growing line of digital original comics, including Aquaman: Deep Dives, Batman: Gotham Nights, DCeased: Hope at World’s End, Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red, Injustice: Year Zero, Shazam!: Lightning Strikes, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing: New Roots and Wonder Woman 84, and many more.
The service will also include DC Universe Infinite Originals, a new line of digital originals featuring well-known characters.
Subscribers will be able to download all of these comics for unlimited offline reading. A community area will be free to all registered and premium subscribers with a full calendar of events planned for 2021.
As to how existing DC Universe subscribers will convert to the new platform, log-ins for DC Universe will transfer over. A previous offer to gain access to HBO Max will be extended: Eligible subscribers can upgrade their service to include HBO Max for an additional $4.99 per month through October 30, 2020.
But wait, there’s more! On February 1, 2021, every DC UNIVERSE INFINITE subscriber will get a special “thank you” voucher redeemable at the DC Shop. Annual subscribers will receive a $25 voucher, while monthly subscribers will receive a $10 voucher.
DCUI, as folks will almost surely begin calling it, is reminiscent of Marvel Unlimited, a similar comics streaming service which has been around since 2007 and offers a similar embargo on print titles, a similarly sized catalog (27,000 titles) and a similar price point.
When DC Universe launched back in 2018, it included a limited slate of digital comics, but many have long predicted that it would become a more robust service along the lines of Marvel Unlimited, which has proven a long-term success for Marvel.
And as we’ve pointed out here before, it’s a great way to present a huge chunk of comics IP to readers worldwide as DC continues to build its brand 21st century style.
I’ve been a DC Universe subscriber since Day One, so I’ll see how I feel if/when there’s a change over. I’ve cut down on my DC comics and had been keeping DCU for the original live-action series and animation. I’ll have a better idea when I see how the new service works.
Is it still only for American subscribers?
The march to digital continues. I can now read all recent release comic books from Marvel and DC (~2/3rds of the top 300 DM comics titles) for less than 20 bucks per month, so long as I can wait 6 months from release. Considering I’m always behind on some series, this is a tempting arrangement. Then add the bonus of the large back catalogs from both companies. I might still get Batman or something else I’d keep physically for long term (also select back issues and collected editions for proven classic series), but the cost benefit leans heavily to digital at this point.
Comment on the current DC from a review of the new issue of Hawkman, on the Captain Comics site:
“Just look at the ads in this issue (or any DC comic book this month). ‘Dark Nights.’ ‘Death Metal.’ ‘Multiverse’s End.’ ‘Black Label.’ ‘DCeased.’ Yuck. Not for me. The DCU has become a dark and dystopian place. … Sad to say, but if DC were to stop publishing periodicals in 2021, I would not miss them. It would be euthanasia.”
I assume DC’s target audience is guys in their teens and early 20s who think darkness and gloom is really “adult.” The same guys who call Zack Snyder a “visionary.”
I’ve got a sinking feeling that the conversion to the new service is not going to be kind to my Roku.
DC Universe was the reason why I invested in a Roku in the first place.
~
Coat
While I’m still more in the habit of visiting my local shops each week. I find myself cutting down on the monthly books, especially from the Big Two. I have been reading some digital books, but I may start going more that route, just for the savings.
Meh. I’ll pass. I don’t care for digital comics but if I do choose to read them I have a free service that provides the same content. Once it becomes this comics service I will be cancelling.
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