Comics Giant Marvel Cuts iPhone Deal

Fans of comic books who have iPhones and live in the US will soon see Marvel titles come to their mobile devices. Three different comic book readers, Comics, iVerse Comics and Panelfly Comics have struck a deal with Marvel to bring its content to their apps.

Over 80 percent of published comics are released by comics giants Marvel or DC. This is the first time one of the two has entered the digital comics market on the iPhone.

Marvel comics will be available using the in-app purchasing features of iPhone OS 3.0. Comics has already released 71 individual Marvel issues. The price is $1.99 per issue, matching iVerse Comics pricing. Panelfly is offering issues for 99 cents during a promotional period.

The first Marvel titles offered by Comics include Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men, Ed Brubaker's first 30 issues of Captain America, Robert Kirkman's Marvel Zombies miniseries, X-23 and X-Men: Age of Apocalypse.

Marvel is also offering two "motion comics" for purchase via iTunes. An adaptation of Whedon's Astonishing X-Men and Spider Woman.

DC looks poised to enter the digital comics market now that president and publisher Paul Levitz has been replaced by Warner Premiere's Diane Nelson.