Comixology is the largest digital comic reseller in the world. They account for the vast majority of sales for DC, Marvel, Archie, GI JOE and many other top publishers. Not only do they sell the comics in their own app, but they have developed custom apps for these publishers as well. Amazon has announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire comiXology.
The writing was on the wall for the last year that Amazon was in negotiations to purchase Comixology. This prompted Marvel to make sweeping changes to their Marvel AR and Marvel Unlimited subscription program and lay the groundwork to sell their own comics.
The purchase of Comixology will finally allow Amazon to make a series bid to control the entire digital comics market. The comics giant has had over 200 million downloads since its launch in 2007. Comixology recently expanded their European offerings—the digital vendor opened a French office last year—announcing a manga digital distribution agreement with VIZ Media Europe and its French subsidiary, Kazé.
Amazon has always sold digital graphic novels in their Kindle store. One of the pitfalls of their strategy is the series are rather dated and series comic lovers often buy the single issues as soon as they are released. Amazon will now be selling single issues from over 70 publishers in their store in the near future. Amazon also expressed great interest in the self-publishing platform Comixology Submit and it is currently unknown if this program will play a part in Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle Lending Library and Create Space.
“ComiXology’s mission is to spread the love of comics and graphic novels in all forms,” said David Steinberger, co-founder and CEO of comiXology. “There is no better home for comiXology than Amazon to see this vision through. Working together, we look to accelerate a new age for comic books and graphic novels.”
“Amazon and comiXology share a passion for reinventing reading in a digital world,” said David Naggar, Amazon Vice President, Content Acquisition and Independent Publishing. “We’ve long admired the passion comiXology brings to changing the way we buy and read comics and graphic novels. We look forward to investing in the business, growing the team, and together, bringing comics and graphic novels to even more readers.”
Amazon controls digital books by a wide margin compared to the competition. With the acquisition of Comixology the company will now dominate the digital comic market too.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.