Last month saw the announcement from Amazon of the Amazon Kindle Fire, a new entry into the personal tablet space, promising a tablet device that could read books, as well as play audio and video. Comics fans took note at the inclusion of DC Comics Graphic Novels collections such as Watchmen and many other titles being available. Today, Barnes and Noble countered with the announcement of the Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet. Building off of their already established line of Nook products, the Nook Tablet joins the Nook Color in being able to read books and comics, as well as adding audio and video. To sweeten the deal, Barnes and Noble announced that Marvel Comics will be available on the Nook Tablet as well.
Comics and Graphic Novels on the Nook platform is nothing new. Graphicly (iFanboy’s parent company) has released over 40 titles for enjoying on the Nook platform already and today announced several more releases including Midnight Nation and Impaler from Top Cow as well as Charmed from Zenescope and several other titles. These titles join The Walking Dead from Image Comics, Return of the Dapper Men from Archaia and many other comics available on the Nook platform.
The announcement of Marvel Comics on the Nook platform can be seen as a direct response to the DC Comics on the Kindle Fire announcement. Marvel announced that titles such as Civil War, Invincible Iron Man, Captain America, Marvels and Astonishing X-Men and more will be available on the Nook. Whether or not Marvel has plans to release these comics on the Amazon platform has yet to be revealed, as well as any sort of mention of DC Comics on the Nook platform (although DC later clarified that the Amazon exclusivity was temporary).
The Nook platform, and the upcoming Amazon Kindle Fire release holds huge opportunity for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and pretty much every other comics publisher out there. While the entry into digital comics has been making strides this past year, these devices hold the chance to market to and sell comics to potential new readers who aren’t necessarily lifelong comics readers. The chance of discovery from readers not previously “into” comics via these platforms is the kind of new markets and new readers that comics publishers have been seeking for years now.
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It would make sense as a publisher to have your comic be available on as many devices as possible wouldn’t it?
I ordered the Kindle Fire and look forward to entering into the world of digital comics (my first tablet)
Me too! I had the first Kindle, but didn’t like the navigation or the flash of the screen. The Fire has me excited for next Tuesday.
I’m more interested in a tablet that allows me to upload .cbr and .cbz format to read rather than just buy issues. Right now I can choose from the iTouch/iPhone, iPad, and iPad 2 for that and my wallet just does not appreciate that.
My money is still on the Kindle Fire for being the better tablet when it comes to iPad alternatives.
I’m buying a Kindle Fire for a few reasons. One of them is that I have $170 in Amazon gift cards. More importantly, I’m more confidant in Amazon being around to support the device and they have said that they’re not going to lock out hackers from the device. That sort of openness is important to me.
My concern is that we. The readers will need to purchase one of every tablet put on the market so we can follow our favorite comic. If you like Green Lantern & X-Men are you going to have to own a Kindle and a Nook? I just purchased an iPad and now I’m wondering if I shouldnt have gotten a Nook instead. (naw, I love this iPad) Digital is great (no matter which tablet you choose) but the tablet wars is not something that will help the industry move forward as a whole.
The iPad’s the only one that isn’t exclusive. You can get Marvel, DC, and whatever.
I would love for a 7’x10′ $100 tablet that does nothing but display comics.
Excuse me, that would be 7″x11″
how big is your computer monitor or tv?
I don’t really use my TV, but my monitor is probably 20 inches? Not easy to travel with though.
Anyone know if this goes for the Nook Color as well? Or is this exclusively to the new tablet?
From what I understand the Nook Color will have the same access to the comic book portion, they major change is the integration of Netflix and Hulu…I am reading the Irredeemable series on mine currently and will be taking on the Walking Dead when I am done.
can you download android apps like you can on the fire? i was thinking about getting the fire and getting my graphicly and comixology apps and getting my comics that way.
You know, it’s strange, but I find that $249 price point bristling, especially since it seems, to me, basically the same thing as the Kindle Fire (granted it does have some hardware differences, but in terms of functionality). I preordered my Fire months ago, so I’ll just have to see how this plays out. Who knows? Maybe this Nook will rock and I’ll be owning it in the next year or so.
why then check out the nook color then? it’s already out.
The wife and I are going to share the Kindle Fire. If I hear good things about this new Nook Tablet, and we find ourselves at an impasse with the Fire, this may be a nice addition to the tech in the house.
I live in Canada and just found out last week about the KOBO Vox, which seems to be like the nook or fire. Pretty cool. I am seriously contemplating buying one. Maybe even checking out some digital stuff.
Is the kobo vox and the new nook identical?
the comixology app is not on the nook so its the fire for me.
I looked for a quick comparison, and Gizmodo seemed to indicate that on first blush the Fire performed faster despite is technological limitations as compared to the B&N device.
Barnes & Noble, the nation’s biggest retail book-seller, entered the tablet computer market Monday with the launch of its brand new Nook Tablet. The Nook Tablet tries to compete directly with Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle Fire. It retails for $249. Source for this article: Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet competes with Kindle Fire and iPad