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So I figured I would make a post to discuss the streaming/comic services here and let people who might not know but be interested know what I know about whats happening.

For those that were not part of earlier discussions and don't know, I have a personal contact with someone who was a part of the team developing the DC Universe app. So some of my information is second hand insider information. Still, take what I say with salt if it has not been substantiated yet. Whatever.


So DC Universe was the streaming/comic app that was competing with everyone. It had a comic library to compete with Marvel Unlimited. It had original shows both animated and live action. It had a library of classic DC shows, cartoons, and movies.

DC being part of Warner Brothers, is ultimately owned by Time Warner, which also owns HBO. It's why HBO makes Watchmen the show.

Well, Time Warner got some new leadership and they wanted a new steaming service for HBO. Here comes HBO Max. But they also wanted more content for it. So the order comes down the pipeline that all not comic related materials will be moved from DCU to HBO:M. This comes on the back end of DC:U making some pretty neat changes. Like... if you watch an episode of Batman the Animated Series, during the credits it recommends to you a comic based on the episode. It might be the comic that inspired the episode (or vise versa) or an iconic issue with prominent characters. It's neat cross media integration that nobody else is doing. Also, just imagine the sheer volume of work that it took to create the tables referencing all those characters in all those shows and movies and everything and then be told in about 4 months it was all for nothing. Oh well, by early next year DCU will no longer have any of that content. It will all be on Max. I think I heard February? But it might be as early as Jan or as late as March when the content is fully migrated.

In return DCU is changing its name to DC Universe Infinite as a rebrand and they will be massively expanding their library. A LOT of stuff they did not have before. Including things like the original Watchmen, and Vertigo, and other crap. Stuff that because of weird ownership clauses and other crap they just couldn't put on the service yet. Well they are basically getting it all. So maybe the DCUI service will have vastly expanded comics content at a cheaper price point (oh year, it's just 7-8ish bucks a month now).

Meanwhile Max is picking up the DCU original shows. Titans, Swamp Thing, Harley Quinn, etc... Apparently they are looking into a s2 of Swamp Thing after it's premature cancellation. Harley has been green lit for a S3.

This is the current or soon to be state of things. I have personally made feedback suggestions to DCU through my contact that they should publish original content comics onto the service. Take smaller characters that they don't want to risk publishing and printing costs on and give them monthly issues on the service. Some Static Shocks, Blue Beetles, other crap. They recently cancled Batman Beyond... well don't! Publish ti to DC:U instead! We will see if that goes anywhere. Probably not.

Eight bucks for virtually the whole catalog isn't bad. What's Marvel's version...$10? The catalog is already many times better than that curated selection they started with.

And don't forget that the books will be available only 6 months past the release date instead of 12. Dunno about you, but I can be a couple months behind anyway. So basically it's 'here, read all of our books every month for $8.'

How long until no "prints" comic books anymore? Instead, they will all just go to a digital service to be published?

 Easy E wrote:
How long until no "prints" comic books anymore? Instead, they will all just go to a digital service to be published?

It depends a bit on adoption, but probably more on how much comic shop culture endures. Comics are weird in the sense that no one treats them like a business anymore. They're closer to a marketing R&D branch of more profitable forms of entertainment. Sales are less important than exposure.

Trades sell well. Individual issues dont. Digital services should double as a store front for trade sales

 Easy E wrote:
How long until no "prints" comic books anymore? Instead, they will all just go to a digital service to be published?

That may depend upon where you are, and the company involved.

Sadly, I now can’t find the article, but in the U.K., 2000AD, which is published by Rebellion has seen a surge in sales despite lockdown.

Why? They weren’t affected by a major comic book distributor (my Google fu is weak tonight, apologies), because they self distribute.

Sure, the high street big boys weren’t open, but local Newsagents were. By self distributing, they simply swapped from the big boys to local newsagents in terms of who got what.

Net result was an increase in sales.

God Bless Rebellion. They’re serious Good Guys in the industry, and have even bought the archives of defunct British publishers, and are producing collected volumes.

Yeah, infinite comic book movies and tv shows....

Just what we need.

Your comment makes no sense. Why even bother replying to the thread if that's what you have to add?

The Suicide Squad's Peacemaker Blasts His Way to HBO Max

.. never ever thought I'd see this character in their own TV show.


.... mayhaps my longed for Heckler live action show will occur after all !

They are going all in with Gunn at WB/DC.

Plus, still doing GotG! That is mad!

The Heckler...LOL. I had to look it up but then I remembered the character. Edit: Many, many years ago I tried to get the same concept -- basically Bugs Bunny as a superhero -- to work in the Champions RPG. Kinda/sorta got there via presence attacks, IIRC.

It surely is the era of deep dives.