Platform to host 100 Marvel, ‘Star Wars’ titles as shares bounce 28 % on information
Webtoon Leisure, the US-based dad or mum firm of Naver Webtoon, struck a multiyear partnership with Walt Disney Co. to convey round 100 titles from Marvel, “Star Wars” and different Disney properties to its vertical-scrolling platform, the businesses introduced Wednesday.
The partnership will launch variations of present comics for smartphone viewing in addition to authentic content material developed for the cellular format. The content material will seem in a devoted part of Webtoon’s English-language app, Webtoon stated.
“Wonderful Spider-Man” debuts this month, adopted by “Avengers,” “Star Wars” and different titles. Customers can learn preliminary episodes totally free earlier than buying further chapters with in-app cash.
The deal helps fill a serious content material hole for the Naver Corp.-backed firm because it expands past Asian markets. The platform boasts 155 million month-to-month lively customers globally, however has lacked superhero titles — which Disney’s Marvel catalog will now ship in earnest. The platform’s demographics skew youthful and extra feminine than conventional comics readers, and its widespread titles lean towards fantasy, romance and slice-of-life genres.
For Disney, the partnership marks a shift from Marvel Comics’ conventional distribution by way of comedian retailers and obtain companies that cater to older followers. The leisure large might faucet into Webtoon’s youthful, mobile-first consumer base whereas opening new income streams for its in depth again catalog.
“The Disney, Marvel, twentieth Century and Star Wars manufacturers are among the many most legendary, inventive and profitable within the business,” stated Yongsoo Kim, Webtoon’s chief technique officer. “We’re bringing this legendary storytelling to a brand new technology of mobile-native comedian followers.”
The announcement despatched Webtoon shares up 28 % in after-hours buying and selling Tuesday, coinciding with second-quarter earnings introduced the identical day. Webtoon reported income rose 8.5 % to $348.3 million, whereas internet losses narrowed to $3.9 million from $76.6 million a 12 months earlier. The corporate tasks third-quarter income between $380 million and $390 million.
Webtoon Leisure went public on Nasdaq in June 2024. The US-listed firm serves because the dad or mum of Korea’s Naver Webtoon following a Could 2020 restructuring, with Naver Corp. sustaining majority management. The corporate reported 2024 income of $1.35 billion with a internet lack of $152.9 million.
Monetary particulars of the partnership weren’t disclosed, however Disney’s Daniel Fink, head of digital innovation, referred to as it “one of many largest” publishing partnerships his firm has undertaken.
Each corporations confirmed the comics wouldn’t use synthetic intelligence expertise.
moonkihoon@heraldcorp.com
