Update: Hi there, your Site Editor Lucas Siegel here. This was actually a correction of a mistake. you see, the DC Comics App is a 12+ App. That means it can’t have anything rated as “Mature Content” available for in-App purchase. However, if you purchase a Vertigo book on the Comics by ComiXology App or on the website, Comics.ComiXology.Com, it will sync into your DC App via your account. No mystery, no conspiracy, just the way the apps were designed so that they could offer/market the DC App as an “All-Ages” application, and still have the mature imprint comics available digitally.
Hope that clears up any confusion.
Original Story: Hrm, it’s quite the vanishing act that even Harry Kellar would be mystified by.
Over at the comics for ipad blog , came an interesting observation that was brought to my attention about DC’s app, and the Vertigo comics are gone. “Nope, no Fables or The Unwritten or DMZ anywhere.” Though, the most recent digital releases of those titles are still available on the comiXology app, as well as the PSP.
So the question is , did DC pull the Vertigo books because of the mature content? I mean, yeah, Unwritten isn’t exactly kid-friendly. So did they feel it would get more exposure and would sell better exclusively on comiXology as well as to the PSP crowd? Is there workings of a deal in motion for them to be distributed elsewhere? Is it a temporary move? Will Vertigo have their own app?
The last scenario is the most unlikely, but it’s a shot.
August 6th, 2010 at 10:51 am
I’d look to Apple and their App Store guidelines for a possible reason.
They have a fairly strict approval process, always looking to “protect the consumer,” even to the point of banning eBook Apps that could be used to read the Kama Sutra (Eucalyptus or any App that indexes the Gutenberg public domain archive).
Some Vertigo books are definitely outside of Apple’s guidelines, so I wouldn’t be surprised if DC was asked to remove them. Smaller companies have had their comics apps banned outright for containing Vertigo-style content, but DC is a big enough player that they probably negotiated a deal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Vertigo App appear later as a compromise (so Apple can promote the DC App to push iPad sales without appearing to support the riskier Vertigo material).
Just a theory.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been fed up with Apple’s content policies for some time. Luckily, there appear to be some good Android-based tablet computers around the corner for those of us who don’t want to help protect their corporate image.
August 6th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Although this partially answers my question – does the Comixology app offer everything the DC app offers?
August 7th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Obviously Diane Nelson doesn’t like mature comic titles and more a fan of homely Harry Potter stories.
August 10th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
“Obviously Diane Nelson doesn’t like mature comic titles and more a fan of homely Harry Potter stories.”
Screw Potter! Give me Tim Hunter!
January 17th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Man I love this post and it was so informational and I am gonna bookmark it. One thing to say the Superb analysis you have done is greatly remarkable.Who goes that extra mile these days? Well Done.. Just another suggestion you shouldget a Translator Application for your Worldwide Audience !!!
February 28th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
First of all, allow my family appreciate a person’s command during this matter. Even though this is certainly brand new , nevertheless soon after registering your site, this intellect has exploded extensively. Allow all of us to take hold of one’s rss to help keep in touch with at all probable messages Sincere understand but will pass it on to help admirers and my personalized are living members