Press Release
ComiXology is proud to announce today that customers have downloaded over 50 million comic books and graphic novels from their Comics by comiXology platform to date — with 5 million of those 50 million downloads coming about in December alone. These download numbers include both paid and free downloads.
“It’s humbling to have helped create new comic fans – and to help make so many current fans happy – by making comic books and graphic novels available at a click of a button and delivering a compelling reading experience across multiple devices,” said co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “Who would have thought three years ago that comics would be a driving force in the iPad economy? Much less see almost 10% of our gross downloads for the lifetime of our platform happen in only one month! The acceleration is just incredible.”
Pop Culture industry website ICv2 reported yesterday that comiXology’s 5 million comics and graphic novels downloaded digitally in December compares roughly to 6.4 million print comics and graphic novels sold into retail comic book specialty shops in the same month.
“With print comics showing strong growth at the end of 2011 simultaneously with comiXology’s record growth, comic books have proven to be one of the few examples of an entertainment medium transitioning to digital without disrupting the analog sales channel,” said comiXology co-founder John Roberts. “I’m more confident than ever that digital comics are additive to print sales.”
Comics by comiXology launched in July of 2009 as an app on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The digital comics platform was extended into the iPad on its launch in April of 2010, with extension to the Web in July 2010 and onto Android at the tail end of that year. 2011 saw the platform add Amazon’s Kindle Fire to its outlets.
The milestone announcement of 50 million comic downloads comes on the heels of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform solidifying it’s status as the “go to” platform for current, lapsed and newly interested comic fans. This past October saw Comics by comiXology consistently chart as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store on new comics release day — a trend that has continued throughout 2012. Then in November, Comics by comiXology was selected as a pre-loaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire alongside Facebook and Twitter. By the end of 2012, comiXology had powered three of the top 20 grossing iPad apps — with Comics by comiXology coming in at number 11 for the entire year.
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. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.
