iVerse’s “ComicsPlus: Library Edition” app just got a big boost. They’ve added Viz to their roster.
Manga isn’t the primary mover in the Direct Market and it certainly has suffered with the closing of Borders, but manga is still a very popular item in libraries. Stick your head into the young adult section of your local library and the odds are very high you’ll see some Viz titles. iVerse is definitely trying to run with the big dogs with this. Taking on Overdrive in the digital library space is a lot like taking on Diamond in the comics distribution space. This “Library Edition” looks like it’s going to have the content to slip in and fill a niche.
It will be interesting to see who else turns up by the time the app launches on April 1.
Official announcement:
Waco, TX (Feb 25, 2013) Digital comics provider iVerse Media LLC announced today they will begin distributing manga titles from VIZ Media on the ComicsPlus: Library Edition platform. VIZ Media, the largest publisher, distributor, and licensor of manga and anime in North America, will be offering popular and award-winning titles such as Cross Game, Dawn of the Arcana, Kekkaishi, Maoh: Juvenile Remix, Not Simple, Sand Chronicles, and Saturn Apartments. The ComicsPlus Library Edition App will be available on iOS and Android devices through Brodart Company starting April 1st at libraries nationwide.
“Libraries were the incubators for the manga boom here in the U.S., with VIZ Media being one of the key publishers,” says iVerse Account Director Josh Elder. “Now we’re working with VIZ Media to make their manga more accessible and more affordable to libraries than ever before. Get ready because the second manga boom is on its way!”
Michael Murphey, CEO of iVerse Media adds “We are thrilled to now include the power of VIZ Media to our already strong stable of publishers here at iVerse. We have always viewed VIZ as a leader in the comics market, and having them as our partner really rounds out our offerings of digital content to the marketplace.” ComicsPlus: Library Edition will make thousands of popular and award-winning comics and graphic novels accessible to school and public library patrons on an affordable cost-per-checkout
basis. As with all powered-by-iVerse applications, ComicsPlus: Library Edition will be available on any device, anywhere and at any time. ComicsPlus: Library Edition is set to launch on April 1st, with library wholesaler Brodart Company representing iVerse in the library market. To learn more, visit us at www.iversemedia.com/libraries.
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