MARVEL Expands comiXology Partnership

An increasingly firm indispensable backbone to the sale and distribution of digital comics on the domestic front, comiXology is a young company that has facilitated the proliferation of comic books to the digitally savvy since day one. Although pricing wars, day-and-date debates, and consternation over whether "this viewer has to be in Flash" will inevitably grind on in some form or another (on one platform or another), comiXology finds itself sitting pretty having recently inked a long-term agreement regarding MARVEL Entertainment's single-issue projects.

MARVEL, of course, is the home to several thousand characters and brands the comic book community has grown fond of through the decades. The new agreement admirably tethers the publisher to a more consistent digital release strategy for future years. To that end, comiXology eases the progress of digital delivery by providing the "technological infrastructure," as the company states, through which publishers can swiftly and efficiently send content to mobile devices as well as PC terminals. Multiple sources confirm that the company's 65 million users seem to indicate a rather healthy sign that comiXology is doing something right.

MARVEL already sells several
volumes through comiXology.

According to the multi-year agreement, comiXology will become the exclusive distributor of single-issue, English-language digital comics, published by MARVEL Comics. The digital hub already distributes 550+ volumes from the MARVEL archive; the addition of single-issue digitals is a convenient, if anticipated addition. ComiXology already distributes single-issue digitals for DC Comics, and according to sources, is the sole digital distributor of DC, Valient Ent., and others.

"We're extremely proud that Marvel has chosen comiXology as its partner," David Steinberger, CEO, comiXology, commented on the deal. "Our expanded relationship will foster increased innovation and accelerate plans for more points of distribution and reading. I'm more than thrilled."

MARVEL's new pact with comiXology likely folds into the company's widening perspective of digital distribution on the whole. The publisher's digital redemption program, where readers can claim a free version of their physical copy in digital form, appears to have witnessed a spike in usage these past few months.

The push for tablet tech upgrades has brought an interesting challenge as well. Branded apps are starting to cover an important middleground in servicing readers who graze their favorite works via iOS, Android, or Kindle Fire-enabled devices.

Recent Comics News:
"The Art of Ramona Fradon Goes on Sale" at
AnimationInsider.net (04/2012)

Recent comiXology News:
"ComiXology Joins the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund" at comiXology Official
"Peter Levin Joins comiXology Advisory Board" at AnimationInsider.net (04/2012)
"Ron Perraza: VP, GM of Creative Services" at AnimationInsider.net (02/2012)