iVerse Media Gets $4Million Investment for Comic Book App

Comic books go digital with comic apps

Many comic book publishers who are still producing the traditional paper form of graphic novels have long been providing digital forms of their content directly, including formats designed for mobile devices.  However, the major publishers predominantly operate in an online only subscription format, require the use of their own online reader, and won’t necessarily work for every device.  So, a fork in the road opens up new opportunities that are lined with profits.

iVerse Media opes to score with latest comic book apps

What iVerse and its competitors are working to provide is a single source of multiple comic brands, and a reader platform for viewing each comic in the best possible way, ideally compatible with multiple devices.  Access is provided through a downloadable app, with a small fee for each comic accessed.  iVerse’s app, Comics+, also provides video capability.  They also have an app called Comics+Kids, which provides access only to family friendly comics.  Both apps are free through iTunes. Fans, you imagine, are taking advantage of this free app by the thousands.

While die-hard physical graphic novel loyalists remain, the consumer tide is rapidly shifting to the digital format, for a few reasons.  Overall, the cost for digital comics is less than physical prints. Yet, older or out of print issues are easier to find.  And this current generation of young readers has grown up consuming all other forms of media digitally.  They actually enjoy the digital reading experience more, as well as the collecting and cataloguing of issues in a format that goes everywhere with them. Good news too for comic book creators like iVerse who always benefit from bringing in new fans every generation. And with fans comes profits and with profits, comes new investment.

PS&J’s infusion of investment capital is expected to help iVerse expand their list of graphic novel publishers and available issues in order to more directly compete with other digital comic book providers such as comiXology Comics and Graphicly.  Wider marketing strategies and innovation to enhance the digital comic book experience will also be part of their plans.  Reaching out to both young and old makes sense as the appeal of a variety of comics seem inevitable in generating more and more fans.

Peanuts comic app - Charlie Brown and Snoopy are back

Perhaps as an early sign of what is to come with this recent investment, iVerse CEO Michael Murphey also announced the release of the Official Peanuts Comics app on the iOS platform.  Never before offered in the digital format, a small set of classics like “The Great Pumpkin” are now available for download, with more promised to come. Certainly, with the greater investment totaling $4 million, iVerse is ready to explode onto the scene with more creativity than we have seen. The demand of comics and its accessibility in the world of new applications seem to be destined as a future hit. No doubt, you can be sure that we will be waiting to see what develops over the next several months and years to come.