AppleInsider Staff
Online sales giant Amazon on Thursday announced the purchase of digital comics platform comiXology, which is responsible for the popular iPad app 'Comics' that consistently ranks near the top of the iOS App Store's top grossing charts.
While Amazon did not disclose the exact terms of the comiXology acquisition, including price, the company did say the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.
"Amazon and comiXology share a passion for reinventing reading in a digital world," said Amazon Vice President of Content Acquisition and Independent Publishing David Naggar. "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."
A statement from comiXology cofounder and CEO David Steinberger echoed Amazon's sentiments. The comic platform is to retain its own identity as an Amazon subsidiary and will continue to operate out of its original headquarters in New York.
Amazon will keep comiXology's Comics iOS app in place for the foreseeable future, but is likely working to more tightly integrate the comic reader's technology into the Kindle Fire lineup, reports The Verge. Steinberger alluded to such an initiative in his message.
"With the Kindle, Amazon has shown a passion for reinventing the reading experience, just like comiXology has shown for comics and graphic novels," he said.
ComiXology was founded in 2007 and won praise for "Guided View," a patent-pending technology for reading made-for-print comics on a tablet. Aside from deals with a broad range of publishers, including Marvel and DC Comics, the company holds exclusive iOS content rights to major titles like "The Walking Dead." The Comics app is available on all major platforms, including iOS, Android, Kindle Fire and Windows 8.
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11 Comments
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/178135/amazon-buys-digital-comic-book-platform-comixology#post_2514375"]"Amazon and comiXology share a passion for reinventing reading in a digital world," said Amazon Vice President of Content Acquisition and Independent Publishing David Naggar. "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."[/quote] oh, bullshit.
Yeah, I'm down to a grand total of 2 comics I read anymore, so this isn't tragic or anything. But I could easily see this going south quickly. Hopefully Amazon won't screw the pooch with this.
This implies comiXology was making good money. Apple should be looking at why, if iBooks also offers a similar selection, at sometimes cheaper prices. If anyone else has used either of these apps for the same content, they'll know immediately know why too. Looks like no-one at Apple has bothered. Will in-app purchases continue? Contentious.
I had a grand total of one comic on my Comixology account - Batman '66 issue 1.
It's not that I don't like to pay for digital comics. I do have a Mad subscription, but the digital version is free with my physical subscription.
I also subscribe to Mac-Life digitally. But somehow, I didn't like either Comixology, or Marvel's digital offering.
I think I am a little more invested in comics actually, so I'd rather know where my digital files are and I'd like to have control over them.
I use the ComicBookLover app for reading digital copies. I know I have safe backups of my .CBZ files and can use them anywhere, anytime.
All part of the grand design of the dark Sith Lord. Been watching Clone Wars. Not sure how I feel about this. No doubt Amazon has a greater plan and not the BS that the president of Content etc., is spouting. We shall see.