Los Angeles - Platinum Studios, a company that controls a library of more than 5,600 comic book characters that it adapts for various media, announced on Monday that it is in talks to acquire WOWIO, a digital distributor of digital books and comics.

Los Angeles - Web video content producer and syndicator 60Frames Entertainment said this week that it has signed a deal with comic publisher Oni Press, to produce a Web series based on current and forthcoming titles. The first Oni titles that will become Web series will be "Ark" and "Men With Guns: Assassin," scheduled to debut in 2009.

Arlington, Mass. - HeavyInk.com on Wednesday announced the launch of its online comics retail and community website. HeavyInk.com offers a social networking framework along with a broad selection of comics, graphic novels and trade paperback collections. HeavyInk president Travis Corcoran also launched SmartFlix.com, which offers an online library of arts-and-crafts and how-to DVDs.

New York - Marvel Entertainment's (NYSE: MVL) Marvel Comics on Tuesday announced the launch of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, a $4.95 per month subscription service that offers access to thousands of titles from the publisher's comic book archives. Features on the site, which will include early issues of classics like Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four, include a viewing mode called "Smart Panel" where readers "are taken panel-by-panel through the comic book in a smooth, action-packed progression." Marvel is initially offering a free sampling of 250 titles from the service.

Sausalito, Calif. - Video game developer and publisher Red Mile Entertainment said this week that it has signed game veteran Flint Dille ("The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay," "Dead to Rights") to spearhead the design, scriptwriting, story generation and production of "Sin City: The Game," based on the graphic novels from Frank Miller. Red Mile also said that Union Entertainment, which created "The Darkness," will collaborate on development of the game.

Los Angeles - Platinum Studios, the owner and rightsholder to an independent library of comic book characters, announced on Monday that it has raised $5 million in a new round of equity financing, and has filed with the SEC for an initial public offering of shares.

Los Angeles - MySpace announced on Friday that it has partnered with Dark Horse Comics to launch "MySpace Dark Horse Presents," an online revival of the popular comic anthology. The online series will include original content by top creators and premiere artists, the company said, and will be made available for free exclusively on MySpace.

Newark, N.J. - Telecom and investment firm IDT Corp.'s Internet Mobile Group said on Wednesday that it has formed Zedge Studios, which will develop and license digital content for distribution through Web and mobile platforms.

New York - Comic book publisher and licensing company Marvel Enterprises announced on Monday that it has authorized a $200 million stock buyback plan.

New York - Viacom's Nickelodeon children's network said on Tuesday it will launch several online features to complement its animated TV series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender." An animated online comic book from the series' creators, online game event, and new Avatar shorts will be added to a dedicated site. Kids can watch the show on Saturdays and use cheats announced on-air to unlock online animated shorts, as well as new levels in an online game.