In a surprise announcement, DC Entertainment, Amazon and ComiXology have announced a new partnership that will make certain DC and DC Vertigo titles available on Amazon’s comic book subscription services at no additional cost for the first time.


Titles including All Star Superman, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, The Sandman, Preacher and Watchmen are now available to subscribers of ComiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading. Additionally, ComiXology Unlimited and Kindle Unlimited will have access to curated selections of single issues, with Prime Reading featuring a curated list of graphic novels and collections.


The addition of DC to the services means that Amazon and ComiXology now has almost every single major publisher in the American market, with Marvel Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Oni Press, Valiant Entertainment, Archie Comics, and Fantagraphics Books also available through the service, which launched in mid-2016 with the aim of being the Netflix of comics.


For some time, DC had been the holdout on the service — Marvel signed on in May 2017, despite having its own Marvel Unlimited subscription plan — and has traditionally been resistant to subscription plans in general. That changed with last year’s launch of its own DC Universe streaming service, which features a constantly changing curated list of comic material, intended to act as an introduction to DC’s comic book catalog for curious newcomers. The same attitude might explain the new Amazon partnership.


“We are thrilled to now include an incredible selection of DC’s vast library of superheroes and DC Vertigo titles as part of ComiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited, and Prime Reading, bringing an even bigger benefit to all our subscription members,” ComiXology CEO and co-founder David Steinberger said in a statement. “With the addition of DC and DC Vertigo titles we’re providing more convenience and a great opportunity for readers to discover and explore some of the best stories comics have to offer at no additional cost to their current Prime, Kindle Unlimited or ComiXology Unlimited subscription.”