Do you remember when there were comics in the newspaper? Once a staple of almost every publication, comics were often one of the first things to go when newspaper circulation went into decline. However, today has seen a sharp increase in comics included in nws publications today with Marvel Comics and USA TODAY announcing a publishing partnership that will include an exclusive Spider-Man series and select comics from Marvel’s back catalogue.
The exclusive Spider-Man series will be called “Spider-Man TODAY“. Written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Todd Nauck, the comic is in the vertical-scrolling format – popularised by WEBTOON and other platforms and now adopted by the likes of Marvel and DC Comics – and will live on the USA TODAY PLAY portal alongside the news publication’s other entertainment offerings. Spider-Man TODAY will be published in weekly instalments for at least 48 weeks and will see Spidey team-up with a variety of Marvel heroes.
Along with Spider-Man TODAY, USA TODAY PLAY will also feature roughly 1000 comics from Marvel’s back catalogue. This includes many modern classics such as Thor: God of Thunder, Planet Hulk, Daredevil: Guardian Devil, Ultimate Spider-Man (2000), All-New X-Men, and many more. If you’re new to comics or haven’t read a Marvel comic in a while, this will allow you to sample a variety of characters. The comics will require a USA TODAY subscription to read, but a rotating selection will be made available for free for nonsubscribers.
For Marvel Comics, this partnership is one of a few that expands their digital footprint. Last year, Marvel and the wider Disney group partnered with WEBTOON to bring a variety of comics featuring Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, and 21st Century Fox properties. This partnership will eventually include a dedicated platform for the wider Disney umbrella. This joins the already established Marvel Unlimited, Marvel’s all-you-can-read subscription service that launched in 2007 and offers more than 30,000 comics.
For USA TODAY, the partnership gives the news publication a point of difference. While USA TODAY PLAY offers puzzles and games, it has becomes an increasingly crowded space lead by the New York Times. Having an exclusive Spider-Man comic will bring eyeballs to the platform (especially with Spider-Man: Brand New Day in cinemas next month) and provide entertainment offerings that other publications cannot.
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