Philadelphia - The company behind Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica is expanding its reach by making its comic-book titles available for digital download the same day their printed counterparts go on sale.
Archie Comics said last week that starting in April, several of its titles featuring the gang from Riverdale will be released simultaneously in print and digital versions, including Archie & Friends, Jughead and Betty & Veronica.
That decision makes the privately held Archie Comics Publications one of the first major comic book publishers to do that and reflects what co-chief executive Jon Goldwater called the goal of making Archie stories available to everyone everywhere.
“Digital provides us with the tools to reach out to a whole new readership,” Goldwater said.
Like other publishers, including Marvel and DC, Archie has made several of its titles available through apps for the iPhone and iPad, but often after the print editions had been on the stands.
Earlier this month, the first issue of DC Comics’ Batman Beyond was made available digitally on Comixology, the PlayStation Network and DC’s website the same day it went on sale.
“Batman Beyond was a critically acclaimed, fan-favourite, animated series that still has a large number of fans to this day,” said Hank Kanalz, senior vice president for digital at DC Entertainment.
“By releasing the ongoing comic series digitally, we’re hoping we reach that audience and bring back any fans of the show who may be lapsed comic readers.”
And Marvel has done the same thing with Ultimate Comics Thor and Ultimate Comics Captain America.
Archie’s iVerse Media apps have proven popular for the company. By the end of last year, it had sold more than 1.7 million copies of new, recent and classic issues and collections.
Plans are also in the works to bring a similar app to users of Android-powered tablets and cellphones, too, by March. – Sapa-AP