Tag: Comixology

Comics Lowdown: The impact of ComiXology Unlimited

David Steinberger talks digital comics, Akira Himekawa discuss Legend of Zelda and a Pakistani creator makes the world’s longest comic strip

The Digital Picture: ICv2 posts an interview with comiXology CEO David Steinberger, who talks about the platform’s gradual shift from something resembling a comic shop selling single issues to a more comprehensive service; how the company’s acquisition by Amazon three years ago has changed things; and the impact of ComiXology Unlimited, their all-you-can-read service, in terms of bringing in new readers:

One of the figures we’ve been sharing is that publishers that have been with [ComiXology Unlimited] for the year have seen overall double-digit growth this year. That’s totally opposite to what’s going on in the Direct Market.

One of the keys to their success is “personalization,” letting users tailor the experience and focus on what they are interested in—and, a la Amazon, recommend more items based on what they are reading already.

Continue reading “Comics Lowdown: The impact of ComiXology Unlimited”

Colonel Sanders, Green Lantern take on ‘thieving varmit’ in third DC/KFC comic

Tony Bedard, Tom Derenick, Trevor Scott and Sean Parsons complete the epic Colonel Sanders trilogy.

The third mega-crossover event comic from DC Comics and KFC will arrive tomorrow on DC’s digital outlets. KFC #3 Across the Universe will also arrive in print, as a giveaway at the DC booth at Comic-Con International later this week.

Tony Bedard, Tom Derenick, Trevor Scott and Sean Parsons tell the story of what happens when you steal the Colonel’s Zinger chicken sandwiches — you get the ring.

Continue reading “Colonel Sanders, Green Lantern take on ‘thieving varmit’ in third DC/KFC comic”

Comics Lowdown: Rest in peace Sam Glanzman, George Romero

Plus: teen romance, and Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and others become Disney Legends

Sam Glanzman (1924-2017): Navy veteran and and Eisner Award-nominated comic artist Sam Glanzman, 92, passed away July 12. Over the span of his 75-year career in comics, Glanzman worked for Marvel, DC Comics, Charlton, Harvey and Dell, among others, on titles like G.I. Combat, Sgt. Rock, Hercules, Jonah Hex, Fightin’ Army, Savage Tales, Semper Fi, Zorro and Kona, Monarch of Monster Isle. Marvel published his A Sailor’s Story graphic novel in 1987, a personal account of his time on the U.S.S. Stevens during World War II. A sequel followed. New stories about his time on the U.S.S. Stevens appeared in DC’s Joe Kubert Presents six-issue anthology limited series, and those stories, along with the two volumes of A Sailor’s Story, were collected in U.S.S. Stevens: The Collected Stories, which is nominated for the Eisner Award this year. A successful Kickstarter campaign to bring Red Range, a story drawn by Glanzman and written by Joe R. Lansdale, recently wrapped up.

Continue reading “Comics Lowdown: Rest in peace Sam Glanzman, George Romero”

Comics Lowdown: Graphic novel sales are up, floppies are flat

The comics market is growing, but monthly comics are not. Also: A week of great comics articles from NPR!

By the Numbers: The comics market increased by 5% to a total of $1.085 billion in 2016, according to an estimate by Milton Griepp of ICv2 and John Jackson Miller of Comichron. Graphic novels sold in bookstores accounted for almost all the growth, however; they were up 16%, while sales of monthly comics in comic shops, on newsstands, and in digital format remained flat. Griepp saw the graphic novel growth as evidence that the market is expanding, as more women and children find graphic novels, while Miller credited Marvel’s Star Wars comics and DC’s Rebirth event.

Whatever Happened to comiXology? Three years after the largest digital comics service was purchased by Amazon, they still have plenty going on, says comics-biz maven Rob Salkowitz, including using Amazon’s “affinity marketing” (if you liked this, you’ll like that) tools, expanding to foreign audiences, and bringing in new readers via the ComiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited, and Prime Reading programs.

Continue reading “Comics Lowdown: Graphic novel sales are up, floppies are flat”

Battle Angel Alita returns in new digital and print graphic novels

Yukito Kishiro’s post-apocalyptic classic manga Gunnm returns to English audiences with a new translation by Kodansha Comics and Comixology Originals. Known as Battle Angel Alita to English audiences, it was first published as a serial in Shueisha’s Business Jump magazine in the 1990s. This re-release is a digital exclusive through ComiXology Original and is free today for ComiXology Unlimited subscribers.

Battle Angel Alita on ComiXology

Battle Angel Alita tells the story of Alita, a female cyborg. Parts of her were found in a scrapyard and she was eventually assembled into a mercenary hunter-warrior with no memory and then as a player in the brutal sport of Motorball. Memories of life on Mars begin to return to her during combat.

Continue reading “Battle Angel Alita returns in new digital and print graphic novels”

Amazon adds comiXology’s ‘guided view’ to Kindle

Ability to read comics panel-to-panel will arrive via updates to the Kindle apps.

Amazon has added comiXology’s “Guided View” experience, which allows you to zoom in and read comics from panel-to-panel, to its Kindle app for iOS, Fire tablets and Android.

“Our customers are passionate about comic books and we continuously look for ways to make their experience even better,” said David Naggar, Vice President, Kindle, in a press release. “We are excited to debut comiXology’s best-in-class Guided View reading experience on Kindle.”

Continue reading “Amazon adds comiXology’s ‘guided view’ to Kindle”

Holiday shopping deals from comiXology, Fantagraphics, more

It’s Black Friday, the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season (Unless you’re my sister-in-law, and you started in July). But anyway, yes, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday season mean that lots of things are on sale. Here’s a rundown of some comic-related things to check out.

Continue reading “Holiday shopping deals from comiXology, Fantagraphics, more”

comiXology announces ‘Originals’ line with new Valiant, Kurtzman and ‘Adventure Time’ comics

The digital comics platform’s new program features exclusive comic content for comiXology and Kindle.

ComiXology has announced a line of exclusively digital comics, teaming with BOOM! Studios, Valiant Entertainment and the estate of Harvey Kurtzman on new content. Called “comiXology Originals,” the comics can only be found on comiXology and Kindle starting next year.

“Our mission is to make everyone on the face of the planet a comic fan, and with comiXology Originals we’re excited to offer a range of content by diverse creators,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger in a press release. “It’s fantastic to be working with publishers across the spectrum to deliver great comics to comiXology and Kindle, offering fans stories that they can’t get anywhere else.”

Continue reading “comiXology announces ‘Originals’ line with new Valiant, Kurtzman and ‘Adventure Time’ comics”

Koyama Press debuts on comiXology

‘Blobby Boys,’ ‘Drinking at the Movies,’ ‘Fata Morgana’ and more now available via the digital comics service.

Just in time for the annual Small Press Expo, 12 titles from Koyama Press debuted on comiXology this weekend, including material from Chris Eliopoulos, Julia Wertz, Britt Wilson and Jon Vermilyea.

Continue reading “Koyama Press debuts on comiXology”

Europe Comics and Cinebook debut on comiXology

comiXology debuts 15 new titles today, with many more coming soon, including ‘XIII,’ ‘The Survivors,’ ‘Thorgal’ and ‘Lucky Luke.’

comiXology debuted 15 new titles from Europe Comics and Cinebook today, including English versions of “XIII Vol. 17,” “Largo Winch Vol. 15,” “Lucky Luke Vol. 15” and other popular European comics. In addition, they announced more French comics will be available in the coming months.

“French comics have been making major inroads with U.S fans for the last few years at a rate never seen before. With both Europe Comics and Cinebooks, it’s wonderful to see the catalog of amazing English language BD grow at such a phenomenal pace,” said comiXology’s Chip Mosher. “Thanks to this deal, the ‘French Invasion’ of the comics on comiXology continues.”

Selections available today include:

  • 1066 Vol 1 by Patrick Weber
  • Antares Episodes 16 by Leo
  • Blake & Mortimer Vol 13 by various
  • Blast 1 by Mamu Larcenet
  • Crusade Vol 14 by Jean Dufaux and Phillippe Xavier
  • Harmony 1 by Mathieu Reynès
  • The Keeper by Yves Sente and François Boucq
  • Lady S Vol 15 by Philippe Aymond and Jean Van Hamme
  • Largo Winch Vol 15 by Philippe Francq and Jean Van Hamme
  • Lucky Luke Vol 15 by Morris, René Goscinny and various
  • Raptors by Jean Dufaux and Enrico Marini
  • Thorgal Vol 1-3 by Grzegorz Rosinski and Jean Van Hamme
  • Valerian Vol 110 by Jean-Claude Mézières and Pierre Christin
  • Water Memory by Mathieu Reynès and Valérie Vernay
  • XIII Vol 17 by Youri Jigounov, Yves Sente, Jean Van Hamme, William Vance, Jean Giraud and more

While those that are coming soon include:

  • Aldebaran by Leo
  • Alone by Bruno Gazzotti and Fabien Vehlmann
  • Alpha by Youri Jigounov and Mythic
  • Barracuda by Jérémy and Jean Dufaux
  • Berlin by Marvano and Mark Van Oppen
  • Betelgeuse by Leo
  • Billy & Buddy by Jean Roba
  • The Bluecoats by Raoul Cauvin and Willy Lambil
  • Cedric by Laudec and Raoul Cauvin
  • The Chimpanzee by Richard Marazano and Jean-Michel Ponzio
  • Cinebook Recounts by Chauvin, Uderzo, B. Asso, and Bergese
  • Clifton by Bob De Groot and Michel Rodrigue and Turk
  • Damocles by Alain Henriet and Joël Callède
  • Darwin’s Diaries by Sylvain Runberg and Eduardo Ocaña
  • Ducoboo by Zidrou and Godi
  • The Fascinating by André-Paul Duchâteau and René Follet
  • Insiders by Jean-Claude Bertoll and Renaud Garreta
  • I.R.$. by Stephen Desberg and Bernard Vrancken
  • Iznogoud by René Goscinny and Jean Tabary
  • Kenya by Rodolphe and Leo
  • Lament by Grzegorz Rosinski and Jean Dufaux
  • The Last Templar by Miguel Lalor and Raymond Khoury
  • Long John Silver by Xavier Dorison and Mathieu Lauffray
  • The Marquis of Anaon by Matthieu Bonhomme and Fabien Vehlmann
  • Melusine by François Gilson and Clarke
  • Namibia by Bertrand Marchal and Leo
  • Orbital by Sylvain Runberg and Serge Pellé
  • Papyrus by Lucien De Gieter
  • The Rugger Boys by Poupard and Béka
  • The Scorpion by Stephen Desberg and Enrico Marini
  • Spirou & Fantasio by Franquin, Tome and Janry
  • The Survivors by Leo
  • Wayne Shelton by Christian Denayer and Jean Van Hamme
  • Wisher by Giulio De Vita and Sébastien Latour
  • XIII by Youri Jigounov, Yves Sente, Jean Van Hamme, William Vance, Jean Giraud and more
  • Yakari by Job and Derib

Comics Experience launches digital comics line

Four new titles hit comiXology on Jan. 13.

bd6aa2a5-d416-4c2d-966a-29e5e94e4a2a

Comics Experience, the online school/community aimed at future comics creators that’s run by former Marvel and IDW editor Andy Schmidt, will begin publishing digital comics by its members and alumni later this month.

The comics will be sold through comiXology starting Jan. 13 and will include:

  • Past the Last Mountain by Paul Allor, Louie Joyce, and Gannon Beck, which “brings together an unlikely trio of fantasy creatures in a story of unity and survival.”
  • Karma Police by Chris Lewis, Tony Gregori, Jasen Smith, and Nic J. Shaw, “a bizarre generation-spanning mystery full of murder, intrigue, reincarnation and even luchador demons.” LUCHADOR DEMONS!
  • Wretched Things by Devon Wong, Ken Perry, and John Hunt, which features “a world where The Vermin reign supreme.”
  • Deluge by JD Oliva and Richard P. Clark, a crime drama set against the backdrop of a post-Katrina Gulf Coast.

“ComiXology offers us a unique way to get even more fantastic content to more fans around the world. And the more truly great creator-owned and controlled projects getting published, and that’s just good for everyone,” said Comics Experience founder and CEO Andy Schmidt in the press release. “The Comics Experience Digital Publishing program is the latest way for us to help bring new, talented creators to audiences around the world and put them in front of the industry’s largest publishers.”

This initiative follows the one announced last year where Comics Experience teamed with IDW Publishing to publish comics by members of their online community. That one brought titles like Tet and Gutter Magic to the publisher.

Check out covers from the new titles below.

b487f54e-0cab-4678-a729-3ab6dfb4a2be

a0ee0e23-fca5-435f-a0ae-4b62fa756821

511db3c2-0c3d-4f7c-a538-0f0a53f1ffc3

0efd5821-8800-4b0c-a6cf-c4706a764aba

Smash Pages Q&A: Neil Kleid on ‘King and Canvas’

Kings and Canvas is a monthly, ongoing digital comic by Neil Kleid, Jake Allen and Frank Reynoso, published by Monkeybrain Comics and released via Comixology. It explores the lengths a man will go to find purpose after liberty and career have passed him by. I was pleased to interview Kleid.

Continue reading “Smash Pages Q&A: Neil Kleid on ‘King and Canvas’”