Andrews McMeel Publishing and Universal Uclick have announced that they will be releasing for the first time three Calvin and Hobbes ebook collections. The ebook collections include The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes, and The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes. All three will be available on November 12, 2013 for $12.99. The ebooks are formatted only for tablets.
Hugh T. Andrews, chief executive officer and president of AMP:
“Calvin and Hobbes is firmly established in the hearts of millions, who have been eager to enjoy the antics of their favorite duo in a digital format. We are delighted the technology has evolved to ensure the quality and high-resolution of images to accommodate the exceptional creative mastery of Bill Watterson, one of the greatest comic artists.”
Earlier this year Universal released a mobile app for iOS, Android and Windows devices that allowed readers to read all the comics found on GoComics for free (subscription required for archived comics).
$12.99?! Methinks they chargeth too much for an ebook.
Ah, I see Amazon has already discounted it down to $9.99. Amazon wont let you charge too much no matter how much you argue with them.
The thought of reading Calvin and Hobbes on a mobile device kind of makes me scratch my head. Is this mainly aimed at new readers? Are they searchable or cut and pasteable?
What ever, as long as Watterson gets his cut.
You can take an ebook with you anywhere with a library of others. You can buy them fast and easily. They are cheaper. They save trees. And the kids these days love their mobile devices.
Oh- and you can crack it open, remove the encryption and share it as though it were a library book.
Dan Collins- I was interested to read your comments, I wish you or anyone would comment further on ebook pricing. Is $3.00 always a deal breaker, or do you go by the seat of your pants?
Its just my personal feeling that reading Watterson’s work in book form is less satisfying for me than the strip a day newspaper format I first experienced. It is much the same with Krazy Kat, which I love above all other comic art. I think this is because the work of these two cartoonists really speaks to me on a viseral level. Reading more than two or three of either strip begins to reduce my attention and enjoyment of subsequent ones at a sitting.
Others I enjoy, like Tumbleweeds, Peanuts, Segar’s Popeye, Little Orphan Annie, Mutts, Captain Easy I happily rip through a whole book.
I just bought the Calvin ebook for $9.49. I’ve seen it priced at $12.99, $10.99… My wife says she’s noticed that if you put it on your wish list it eventually comes down after awhile. Nicely made; it’s orientation is fixed at portrait; no zooming or double tapping, the strips are laid out sideways which is nice. I had thought about that trick for strips and now I know it works well in practice. I’ll have to try that with my own strips.