By Variety, DC Comics has struck a pact with South Korean webcomics publisher Webtoon for new comics featuring the venerable company’s superheroes. The companies plan to announce more specific plans in the coming weeks, but revealed that the comics will initially be released in English, ahead of translations into other languages.
Hello WEBTOON fans! We collaborate with @DCComics to bring multiple webcomic series set in the DC Universe! Stay tuned for series releases, local language translations, and additional details. ✨
Read the exclusive ➡️ https://t.co/3q54JH7bJH pic.twitter.com/A5P0yb6z6e
— WEBTOON (@webtoonofficial) August 17, 2021
Launched in the United States in 2014, the webtoon site and app have a monthly average of 72 million active users, and they also host comics from Legendary, POW! Entertainment and Top Cow/Image. The partnership continues DC’s ongoing efforts to expand beyond single issue and bookstore markets, including their Walmart-exclusive books and early digital comics that debuted on platforms like comiXology and the service. DC Universe Infinite subscription.
Daniel Cherry III, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DC, said, “DC is thrilled to introduce our iconic characters to a new generation of fans around the world. He added that they “work closely with webtoon writers and artists to adapt our characters and stories to the webtoon mobile format. Our shared goal is to create fun and compelling DC stories that all readers will enjoy.”
Webtoon’s American CEO, Ken Kim, said the company would take “well-known [intellectual property] like DC to expand into content for younger generations,” indicating that the comics will be aimed at their primary audience of readers between the ages of 16 and 24. He added “it will be good for DC and Webtoon”. David Lee, Chief Content Officer at Webtoon, said, “This collaboration is a milestone for us as we work toward a new era of digital comics in the United States.”