Press Release
During a packed panel earlier today at this year’s Comic-Con International 2012, Abrams ComicArts, an imprint of ABRAMS, the preeminent publisher of illustrated books, announced a digital graphic novel distribution agreement with comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform with over 75 million comic downloads to date and a selection of more than 25,000 comics and graphic novels.
To celebrate the announcement, four full-length graphic novels and one art book have been made available for download from the expansive library of Abrams ComicArts’ catalogue of classic and instant-classic comic works. Right now, comics and graphic novel fans across the globe can experience these Abrams ComicArts titles through the power of comiXology’s patent pending Guided View technology and CMX-HD. These launch titles are:
My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
Empire State: A Love Story (or Not) by Jason Shiga
Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies
Fairy Tales for Angry Little Girls by Lela Lee
Cats, Dogs, Men, Women, Ninnies & Clowns: The Lost Art of William Steig by Jeanne Steig with illustrations by William Steig
Abrams ComicArts will immediately follow up this debut on the comiXology platform with numerous titles from Abrams ComicArts’ award-winning frontlist and backlist. Accessible across comiXology’s entire platform—iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web—the Abrams ComicArts’ collection of comics and graphic novels is a welcome addition to the comiXology platform.
“It’s no secret that Abrams ComicArts is a shining star in graphic novel and art book publishing today,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “Charles Kochman and his team have put together such an impressive lineup of books over the years, it’s truly a privilege to be able to bring their fantastic array of award-winning graphic novels to a worldwide audience via comiXology. Partnering with Abrams ComicArts provides an opportunity to expand the readership for these titles and for comiXology as a whole.”
“We’re thrilled that readers everywhere will now get to experience our comics and graphic novels via comiXology,” said Charles Kochman, editorial director of Abrams ComicArts.
“ComiXology has quickly jumped to the top of the digital comics marketplace with their superior reading and shopping experience,” said Lindy Humphreys, director of digital assets and technologies at ABRAMS. “We look forward to expanding the audience for our titles with this exciting collaboration.”
In early May, comiXology revealed they had crested 65 million comic and graphic novel downloads since the beginning of the platform, with 15 million of those downloads happening in 2012. ComiXology recently unveiled that only one month later in June they had hit 77 million downloads — an addition of 12 million downloads — continuing on a trajectory of record-shattering growth.
About ABRAMS
Founded by Harry N. Abrams in 1949, ABRAMS is the preeminent publisher of high quality art and illustrated books. Now a subsidiary of La Martinière Groupe, ABRAMS is the publisher of bestsellers such as the wildly popular The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, the award-winning cookbooks of Alton Brown, and the stunning photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s Earth from Above. ABRAMS publishes books in the areas of art, photography, cooking, interior design, craft, fashion, sports, pop culture, as well as children’s books and general interest. The company’s imprints include Abrams; Abrams Appleseed; Abrams ComicArts; Abrams Image; Abrams Books for Young Readers; Amulet Books; Stewart, Tabori & Chang; and STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books. www.abramsbooks.com
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology – in just five short years – has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform – available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web– comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
