Warner Bros. and Pantheon Books are teaming up with Amp’d Mobile to distribute the graphic novel version of A Scanner Darkly via mobile phones. Per the press release, “This marks the first time a graphic novel has been distributed through the mobile platform in the United States.”
Actually, the rights to call themselves “first” might have gone away when GoComics announced their line of cell phone comics, which include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Five Fists of Science, Godland and Guilstein. Call it a tie, I guess; meanwhile, comics on cell phones in Japan are already happening.
Also from the WB release:
“Pantheon is thrilled to be a part of this breakthrough promotion. As a long-time publisher of graphic novelists we see this medium as a wonderful way to reach comics fans who are so often on the cutting edge of new technology. A Scanner Darkly showcases the amazing ways in which book publishing can bring the excitement of these new technologies back to the printed page and we’re extremely proud of the result. The fact that this can be brought to so many viewers in so many formats makes us extremely positive about the future of comics,” said Farah Miller, Director of New Media, Pantheon Books.
And from the GoComics story:
GoComics subscribers agreeing to pay $3.99 monthly now have an option through Sprint to choose from several titles they can download through a mobile reader.
Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless and other carriers will also begin offering the GoComics service in August, said Jeff Webber, uclick mobile content director.
So now we’ll have something else to do while sitting in traffic.
