Warner units develop online comics

Batman, Superman graphic novels include moving images, sound

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 10/8/2008

 OCT. 8 | Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution are developing additional online Motion Comics, Batman: Black & White and Superman: Red Son.

Like the companies’ first such collaboration with its Watchmen Motion Comic, these next installments make existing graphic novels come alive digitally with moving images and sound.

Batman: Black & White is based on three volumes of short stories and features various run-ins between the Caped Crusader and such villains as The Joker, Harley Quinn and Two-Face.

Superman: Red Son is based on the novel by Mark Milar and Dave Johnson and chronicles the superhero siding with the Communists and battling American President Lex Luthor.

Street dates for Batman: Black & White and Superman: Red Son have not yet been specified.

Additionally, Warner has now made available the second Watchmen Motion Comic episode for download via iTunes, Amazon Video on Demand, Xbox Live and Sony PlayStation Store. In this chapter, character Silk Spectre details her assault by The Comedian, as he evolves into a puzzling hero and villain hybrid.

The Watchmen third chapter will street on these platforms on Oct. 20. Its premiere episode debuted in July.

Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital also have recently bowed the Motion Comic Batman: Mad Love.

“We’re delighted to bring these graphic novels to our Motion Comics slate,” said Diane Nelson, Warner Premiere president. “We are working diligently and in constant collaboration with our colleagues at DC Comics to ensure the artwork and story of the original creators are as authentic as possible.”

Watchmen original illustrator Dave Gibbons added, “Working with Warner Premiere on the creation of the Watchmen Motion Comics has been great. The level of care and detail the team is putting into the animation is amazing. I think fans will be very pleased.”