Digital comics are everywhere. They are on your tablet and on your computer now thanks to Inzeo they are coming to the Nintendo Switch. Founded in 2010 Izneo has been cultivating a huge catalog of European comic’s, manga, graphic novels and webtoons. I had the pleasure to sit down with the CEO Luc Bourcier Izneo to talk about mobile reading, the comic world at large and what can we expect with Izneo on the Nintendo Switch.
Kaos Blac: Luc tell me about Izneo.
Luc Bourcier: Izneo is the number one service for digital comics in Europe and so far we have been available on the Web, android, IOS and now we are planning to be on the Nintendo Switch e-shop really soon.
KB: So why did you decide to go with Nintendo and the Switch as a new platform?
LB: We wanted to be on the Switch for two reasons, number one the device, it self, is just meant for reading comic books, it’s very convenient with our easy comics reading tool that allows panel by panel reading so it’s ideal to read on the Switch, and secondly it gives us access to a world wide audience. We are coming from Europe and now thanks to the Nintendo Switch we can be able to reach new audiences like in the USA for instance.
KB: On the website for Izneo I notice you have three primary languages, French, English, and Dutch, will you be expanding to anymore languages?
LB: Yeah that’s a good question because our content is linked to the language people read in. We are planning to have Italian, German, and Spanish next year. We believe it’s important to address people in their languages with our content. English is our focus for the time being. We are currently signing more and more American catalogue’s to add to our service.
KB: Speaking of the service will you be able to download content that you bought online to the Nintendo Switch and vice versa on other platforms?
LB: I would say the good thing about the service now is that you will be able to buy and read your albums on the Nintendo Switch but also on your PC or your smart phones. So once you have a book or several books in your library you can access them from different places and and different devices.
KB: So why is now a good time to come to reach out to the US market with your European comics, even through it’s not just comics its a lot more like manga’s, graphic novels and other reading materials.
LB: Absolutely right, we believe that the market is becoming more and more global so now comic book readers are looking for and willing to access all sorts of formats and artist no matter where they are. Basically the market use to be very local – American’s reading comics, Japanese people reading manga and European people reading French comics, bandes dessinées, now the market is more global with digital I think it’s important we bring diverse content to all audiences.
KB: Of the titles that are on Izneo what do you think will be the most will be the most easily digestible book or series for American audiences if there is one or is the whole catalogue great content that you want to share?
LB: (ecstatically) Yeah, all the catalogue is great content,
(we share a laugh)
No it’s difficult to tell I don’t thin there is always one thing for everybody. Our purpose is to offer content adapted for each individual to have a choice currently we have 25,000 albums available on the Izneo service and its going to grow rapidly. The idea is that everybody can find the content that fits there taste. I can give you an example from last year as we had great success with Valerian, the comic book that inspired the film and we sold quite a lot of that and it shows that people are curious and want to discover new things.
KB: Izneo is available on ios and android and via PC when will it launch on the Nintendo Switch e-shop?
LB: So the plan is to have the app available in the e-shop by end the of November although it will depend on the Nintendo approval process so hopefully by year end.
I would like to thank Luc and his team for the sit down interview. If you happen to be at comic con this weekend head over to their booth on the main floor at 1558 and check out some of the books they brought along.
Kaos Blac
Kaosblac@comicattack.com
Twitter: kaosblac
