Electronic comic books have started taking off on tablet computers. While they have been around for a long time, the experience and quality were not enough to change the face of the industry. That all changed with the tablet computer, and now Barnes & Noble is getting into the market. The book company has just updated its NOOK for iOS app making over 8,000 comics and graphic novels available through the NOOK store, as well as a new ‘Zoom View’ feature so readers can go to s specific panel or follow the page layout designs.

 By downloading the iOS app, users will also get a free copy of the DC Comics 2013 Superman Sampler. The sampler includes: “Superman: Last Son of Krypton,” “Superman: For Tomorrow,” “Superman: Earth One” and “Justice League Volume 1: Origin.” All of the more popular top comic and graphic novel companies will be available for purchase via the iOS app, including giants DC Entertainment and Marvel, as well as IDW and Dark Horse.

The app also includes enhanced features such as animated page turns, the ability to enlarge book illustrations, improved organization for NOOK Newsstand periodicals and updated improvements to PagePerfect/PDF titles.

Unlike the book publishing industry, comic book publishers have embraced the digital distribution of their products. The [traditional] distribution of comics is lame," David Steinberger, Comixology's CEO said. "They're not on newsstands anymore, they're not in the corner stores. They're only available to direct-market retailers and there's less distribution than it used to be. There's great opportunity here to gain a larger market [of comic readers]."

Comic books apps provide a means of discovery that was not present in years past. Previously, comic enthusiasts had to accept the products on the shelf or the newsstands, and there was little way to find the most popular other than word of mouth.