Joining Marvel, DC, BOOM!, and SCOTT PILGRIM, Image Comics now has its very own comiXology app for iPads, iPhones and Ipods. IDW has a bunch of storefronts via iVerse, while Dark Horse mostly sells comics through their own standalone apps. New Image comics are selling for $1.99, which is about industry standard. Initial offerings include CHEW, YOUNGBLOOD, and SAVAGE DRAGON. In case you’re wondering what to get first, Chris Sims has a good guide to what to download.
PR below:
Image Comics enters the digital market today with the launch of the Image Comics app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The app, developed on the leading digital comic book platform by comiXology, allows fans unprecedented digital access to the creator-owned comics that Image proudly publishes.
The partnership between Image and comiXology offers Image creators a direct line to digital distribution. Among the independent content now available digitally are Image’s most popular titles, including SAVAGE DRAGON, CHEW, BATTLE POPE and Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD. The Image Comics app will also be the first to feature work from Todd McFarlane with the inclusion of HAUNT, created in collaboration with Robert Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE).
“With the launch of the Image Comics app, we have an opportunity to provide our creators with the digital support that, for many of them, was unattainable before,” says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. “comiXology has established a very impressive track record of bringing independent content into the digital world. Today represents a milestone in our growth as a company and enables us to increase the availability of the fantastic titles we publish.”
“Our partnership with Image is indicative of our shared vision to help independent creators thrive in the traditional print community as well as the explosive digital marketplace,” adds David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “The demand for creator-owned content is at an all time high, and we are thrilled to be able to provide fans with what they want. We’re lucky now to work directly with Image and to offer the creators a clear path to the digital market.”
The Image Comics app is now available for free download from the iTunes App Store. In addition to individual issues for ongoing series, which are priced for $1.99, Image will also offer fans issues of several popular Image titles, sneak peeks of upcoming titles, and other exclusive content for free.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. My books are on this app, too, so I am hoping for all the best for Image Comics!
So… lots of comics for sale… but where are the e-books? The graphic novels?
Yeah, I can see the single issues being in print forever, but eventually, someone will complain about the cost or the annoyance…
“Man… I want to read the entire run, but I don’t want to waste all that time downloading 100 issues. Guess I’ll just find a torrent site.”
“What? Issue #4 is checked out from the library and there’s a waiting list? And when I do get that issue, I’ll have to wait on another list for #5? Eh… it wasn’t that great…I’ll read something else.”
Yeah, go ahead and discuss how color and larger pages don’t display on a Kindle or nook. Meanwhile, I’ll be reading “American Born Chinese”. ($8.99 at BN.com)
Did Longbox ever launch?
It’s true, these are early days in the digital market for comics. Prices and distribution of official digital-only copies and standards have yet to be ironed out on par with how iTunes chiseled the music industry into a unified front.
Nonetheless, as I’ve always said (no matter which publisher) someone has to get out there instead of waiting for perfect weather. Growing pains will be experienced. Until then I just keep making comics.
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