It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s a… Kindle? To the chagrin of tech-savvy comic book fans—and the dismay of traditionalists—DC Comics just announced it will make its full comic book lineup available through digital distribution. Yes, that’s right, Batman, Superman and the entire Justice League will be coming to Amazon’s Kindle Store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store and, of course, the iBookstore for Apple devices.

“As e-readers and tablets continue to explode in popularity, it’s important for us to offer consumers convenience and choice in how they download digital comics and graphic novels and these new distribution deals with the top three e-bookstores do just that,” said Jim Lee, co-publisher at DC Entertainment.

Previously, a comic book fan was required to download DC’s app in order to purchase digital copies of comic issues. And although graphic novels have been available to purchase on digital devices for some time, DC will be the first company to sell single comic book issues through any of the three major online book stores.

Although the Wednesday launch in online book stores is an industry first, DC has actually sold digital copies of comics through a line called New 52 since last September. Digital comic book sales are up 197 percent in 2012. The surge has also helped uplift print comic sales for DC, which are up 12 percent this year. The successful move to digital bookstores is vital for DC, as well as competitors including Marvel, as the sales of print comic books have been declining for quite some time.

“It’s not a move [away from Comixology], it’s an expansion,” said DC Entertainment Senior Vice President of Digital, Hank Kanalz. “My charter is to go as wide as possible, and to expand to as many readers as possible. That’s what this is.”

[Image via Pop Culture Geek/ Flickr]

Samantha Lile

Samantha Lile is a 2002 Missouri State University graduate of journalism and mass media. She has served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers throughout her journalism career. She made the leap into writing full-time after working for a major financial institution since 2000.

Because of her banking background, Samantha is knowledgeable in finance reporting, but is also strong in commentaries, personal profiles, youth studies, horticulture, history and entertainment-related works.

Samantha lives in Ozark, Mo. with her husband of nine years, four dogs and two cats.

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