It’s a big week with a lot of news, so let’s get straight into it in another edition of Comics Disassembled, as I write about ten things I liked or didn’t like from the week of comics, led by directions being changed.

Webtoon and Marvel, Teaming Up

Back in 2021, Marvel launched its Infinity Comics line in the Marvel Unlimited app. These original comics were vertical scroll only, working perfectly on a smart phone or tablet because vertical scroll is quite literally designed for that shape. It was a smart move in a way, if only because vertical scroll was and is a format younger readers prefer, so you might as well lean into that to some degree. It was smart, but given that it came right during the same stretch of time that DC had announced a collaboration with vertical scroll supergiant Webtoon to produce original comics for that platform, it felt like a half step in the direction of progress for Marvel rather than something significant. Vertical scroll was good, but discoverability would be low because these comics would be trapped in the walled garden that was Marvel Unlimited, away from the readers who were most familiar with the format and not likely to be Marvel readers to begin with.

Now, that Infinity Comics effort has seen success in its own right. It’s delivered some good, even award-winning comics, ones people quite like. But based on this week’s news that Disney and Webtoon have formed a partnership that will result in 100+ comic titles from Disney, Marvel, 20th Century Fox, and Star Wars being published as vertical scroll comics on Webtoon, they may have come around to the idea that access to that audience is a good idea after all. It’s a deal that will result in existing material being reformatted for vertical scroll — including titles like Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena’s Avengers run as well as Zeb Wells and John Romita, Jr.’s polarizing efforts on Amazing Spider-Man — as well as original material being developed for the platform and format itself. The latter is where the magic will likely happen, as connecting with this audience isn’t just a question of format but content, with Webtoon readers typically preferring a different type of story than what your hardened superhero fan prefers.

That’s why I’m a little surprised some of the Infinity Comics weren’t amongst the first announced titles to migrate over. Something like Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru’s It’s Jeff! is such an obvious fit in terms of both format and content that it was a clear answer. Maybe Marvel prefers to keep its original material in the format on Marvel Unlimited itself and hope that readers will migrate from Webtoon to Marvel Unlimited. Maybe, but it’s a bit surprising nonetheless.

This is obviously a smart move, and seemingly more of a Disney move as it goes beyond Marvel in what it entails. It seemingly reflects the new era we’re in for the comic side of that broader company, as Marvel’s Disney connection has been solidified of late. Will it help more younger readers discover the magic of Marvel and the other comic universes that are a part of this deal? Maybe. I suspect much more movement will happen when the comics designed for the format start to drop, but it’s undeniably the type of thing that could have a substantial impact. I’m just surprised it’s taken this long to get there.

Begun, the Digital Wars Have

If there’s one side of comics that have really revved up of late, it’s been digital, as it seems like the varying players in that space have been jousting for position for a while now. Sometimes that’s someone new entirely, as was the case with Neon Ichiban and Sweet. Other times that’s platforms like GlobalComix expanding its footprint. Either way, the goal seems to be to win the day as the replacement ComiXology, even if they’re each taking wildly different routes in that direction.

The latest news comes from the latter group, as GlobalComix announced a deal this week with manga giant Kodansha. The publisher and digital comics platform have struck an accord that will bring 500+ titles — including Witch Hat Atelier, Attack on Titan, and Vinland Saga — and 6,000+ volumes to GlobalComix, where that library will be available for purchase with new releases hitting day-and-date going forward. While the digital wars in comics are far from won, I’ve long viewed this as a battle of material. Who can put together the strongest list of publishers with the best and easiest user experience? That company will likely earn the victory.

Is that GlobalComix? Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t think this ends anything, as much as it’s just another step in the direction of the escalating battle to decide this space. There’s plenty more to come, and it’ll be interesting to see what comes next in the world of digital comics.