Yesterday the Internet comic fan community erupted as it appeared Apple had banned comiXology from selling Saga #12 through their iOS app. Well earlier this afternoon comiXology CEO David Steinburger released a statement stating it was actually the digital comic provider making the decision. Read his statement and one from Saga writer Brian K. Vaughan after the jump.
Here is Steinburger’s letter:
To our customers –
In the last 24 hours there has been a lot of chatter about Apple banning Saga #12 from our Comics App on the Apple App Store due to depictions of gay sex. This is simply not true, and we’d like to clarify.
As a partner of Apple, we have an obligation to respect its policies for apps and the books offered in apps. Based on our understanding of those policies, we believed that Saga #12 could not be made available in our app, and so we did not release it today.
We did not interpret the content in question as involving any particular sexual orientation, and frankly that would have been a completely irrelevant consideration under any circumstance.
Given this, it should be clear that Apple did not reject Saga #12.
After hearing from Apple this morning, we can say that our interpretation of its policies was mistaken. You’ll be glad to know that Saga #12 will be available on our App Store app soon.
We apologize to Saga creator Brian K. Vaughan and Image Comics for any confusion this may have caused.
All the best,
David Steinberger
CEO and co-founder
comiXology
And here is what Vaughn wrote as a follow up to his post yesterday:
A follow-up to yesterday’s press release:
I wanted to apologize to everyone for this entire SAGA #12 kerfuffle. Yesterday, I was mistakenly led to believe that this issue was solely with Apple, but it’s now clear that it was only ever Comixology too conservatively interpreting Apple’s rules. I’m truly sorry. I never thought either company was being homophobic, only weirdly inconsistent about what kind of adult material was permissible. I’m grateful that the situation was cleared up so quickly, and I’m delighted I can go back to reading smutty comics on my Retina Display iPad.
—Brian K. Vaughan
So, alls well that ends well? Saga #12 is currently available on the iOS store front and amazingly enough so is SEX #2. Hopefully this will be the last time we have to discuss a comic being censored for sale on the mobile devices.
4 Comments
So what are the chances this was just a PR stunt?
Just wanted to mention, when I logged in to buy my digital comics that I noticed not just Saga #12 in the store, but also Joe Casey’s Sex #2,and I went back and found #1 as well. Interesting, because I think Sex #1 was not in the store originally.
Yes! Power to the people.
To me it seems that you guys ( Major Spoilers and the rest of the media ) showed your worth. You found and followed up on an injustice – the people (costumers) mobilised, and “the men in power” changed their way.
A great day for the internet. Thank you.
Comixology even have Saga 12 on the front page of the app right now.