So now we know that Kindle exclusive is really OVER, as DC has officially announced that DC graphic novels will be available for B&N’s Nook. The comics, which include the 100 favorites such as WATCHMEN, as well as the new launch of New 52 collections, will be readable in a new “Zoom View” format—which is B&N’s version of comiXology’s guided view.
PR below:
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced a partnership with DC Entertainment to bring its bestselling line-up of graphic novels featuring iconic DC Comics and Vertigo characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Sandman to the award-winning NOOK Tablet™ and NOOK Color™, as well as Android tablets via the NOOK for Android™ app. The new partnership brings together DC Entertainment, the comic book industry’s most prolific digital trailblazer, and NOOK Comics, the leading provider of digital graphic novels and comics with more than 4,000 titles available.
With the addition of DC Entertainment content, Barnes & Noble is also introducing Zoom View, an all-new NOOK Comics feature designed for NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color. Zoom View allows readers to focus in on individual panels in graphic novels and comics, allowing them to fully enjoy the stunning artwork and compelling storytelling that brings this genre to life. Zoom View will be immediately available on all DC Entertainment titles.
“Our goal is to reach the broadest possible audience and this new partnership with Barnes & Noble brings Batman, Superman and many other iconic DC Comics and Vertigo characters to the millions of NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color readers,” said Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Entertainment. “The new Zoom View feature makes our comics even easier to read, and emphasizes the graphic and artistic storytelling that is paramount to our art form.”
“Barnes & Noble is committed to offering NOOK customers a wide selection of digital graphic novels, and we’re excited to offer DC Entertainment’s fan-favorite collections on NOOK,” said Jim Hilt, Vice President, eBooks for Barnes & Noble. “The new Zoom View feature makes the reading experience even more interactive, and takes these graphic novels to a whole new level of entertainment.”
With more than 100 DC Entertainment graphic novels now available, the world’s greatest superheroes, their most acclaimed stories and most powerful graphic novels are on NOOK. More titles will be added every month and can be purchased at www.nook.com/dccomics, or directly on NOOK Tablet, NOOK Color, and Android tablets via the NOOK for Android app. DC Entertainment’s graphic novels are also available in Barnes & Noble retail locations.
Key DC Entertainment titles that are available immediately include:
· Graphic novel titles from DC COMICS – THE NEW 52, including Justice League, Vol. 1: Origin, Animal Man Vol. 1: The Hunt, Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls, Justice League International Vol. 1: The Signal Masters, Catwoman Vol. 1: The Game, Green Lantern Vol. 1: Sinestro, Stormwatch Vol. 1: The Dark Side, Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Midas Touch, Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood, and Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Faces of Death.
· Other best-selling graphic novels including Watchmen, All Star Superman Vol. 1 and 2, Fables Vol. 1-15, The Sandman Vol. 1-10, Superman Earth One, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1-2, V for Vendetta, Batman: Hush, and Batman: Year One, among many others.
Zoom View requires an update to the current NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color software. The free software update, version 1.4.3, is available for download today at www.nook.com/support.A free over-the-air (OTA) update requiring no action from customers will begin rolling out to customers via Wi-Fi starting June 27.
With all NOOK products, customers can shop Barnes & Noble’s expansive NOOK Store™ of more than two million digital titles. In addition, Barnes & Noble offers always free in-store NOOK support for customers to set up and learn how to use their new device face-to-face with friendly neighborhood NOOKsellers™.
As a comics evangelist, I was wondering when DC would add more digital titles.
If the guided view technology is not patented, then I wonder if we will see an HTML5 open source version for everyone. ePub3 supposedly could do this, but it’s still a new standard.
Will B&N convert other, nonDC, titles to this tech? And how soon before other retailers offer DC titles? How soon before LIBRARIES can circulate eGNs?
How soon before we see all new DC graphic novels released in both digital and paper editions simultaneously?
Lots of titles cheaper than Comixology. Let the price war begin!
Problem though, on bn.com the paperback or hardcover of the trade is cheaper than the Nook Book. Wonder why?
Mark, the reason for the pricing is most likely a result of agency pricing. B&N sells the book at the publishers price, and keeps 30% of the money. (Since many are $9.99, DC probably offered a special price.)
On regular books, the discount varies. There’s the SRP printed on the cover, there’s the discount offered by the publisher, and then B&N (or anyone else) can offer a discount somewhere between the two prices.
So, an e-book (eGN?) and a print book could have the same cover price, but have different sales prices due to publisher discounts offered.
Where are you seeing examples where Barnes and Nobles’ hardcover or paperback selling price is higher than the eBook version?
When I go to that website mentioned http://www.nook.com/dccomics and start clicking around, most of the eBook prices are at $9.99, with a few priced a few dollars higher. That’s actually cheaper than the paperback or hardcover price of all the ones I looked at, though of course, I didn’t scan all of them.