In a rather shocking move, Amazon will be purchasing the leading digital comics provider, comiXology. ComiXology is a widely used site around here at Major Spoilers and I’m sure you might just use it too, so this is a fairly large announcement.
In the press release sent out by comiXolgy the details of the deal are not disclosed and simply let us know that the acquisition will happen. As of now we don’t know how how much Amazon will be spending to purchase comiXology, but that isn’t the news I’m most interested in. I’m wondering what the relationship between the two entities will be.
Will my Amazon Prime account let me have access to more free comics? Will my Amazon gift card allow me to buy the latest issues of Chew? Will we be able to purcahse comics after clicking on the Amazon link located at MajorSpoilers.com? All questions that I am dying to know answers to but will just have to wait to find out.
The press release did say that the deal would be finalized within the second quarter of 2014 so we should know more within the coming weeks.
What do you think about this announcement? Do you think it will push the digital comic medium farther along than it is now? Do you not like the big company buying up the up-and-comer? Give all your thoughts in the comments and read the full press release below!
SEATTLE—April 10, 2014—(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon.com today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire comiXology, the company that revolutionized the digital comics reading experience with their immersive Guided View technology and makes discovering, buying, and reading comic books and graphic novels easier and more fun than ever before.
“ComiXology’s mission is to spread the love of comics and graphic novels in all forms,” said David Steinberger, co-founder and CEO of comiXology. “There is no better home for comiXology than Amazon to see this vision through. Working together, we look to accelerate a new age for comic books and graphic novels.”
“Amazon and comiXology share a passion for reinventing reading in a digital world,” said David Naggar, Amazon Vice President, Content Acquisition and Independent Publishing. “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.”
Founded in 2007, comiXology offers a broad library of digital comic book content from over 75 of the top publishers as well as top independent creators. Following the acquisition, comiXology’s headquarters will remain in New York.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Subject to various closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.
9 Comments
Give me free comics with Prime!!
Maybe this will convince Dark Horse to make their digital comics finally available on Comixology. *fingers crossed*
This whole deal would be worthwhile if Dark Horse finally decided to get on comiXology.
I have a kindle fire and when I bought it I expected to use comixology, but as soon as I got the Kindle the comixology app was removed from their app store. Now I don’t know if that is because I’m Australian even though I buy American ebooks, but perhaps now I’ll be able to get comixology on my Kindle.
I use Comixology on my Kindle Fire, just purchased it within the last month, but I am in the US so it may be a different option.
I find this announcement encouraging, and like most I wonder what this means for combined services. I wonder also if the comics I bought through the kindle app will give me credit for the same issue in Comixology (guided view is much better on Comixology).
I do think it increases the chance that Dark Horse may join in.
The real question here is what does this mean for iPad Comixology users? Will Amazon stay on the “competing” tablet? Will Apple allow them to?
That last question is the one that matters! No current Amazon product supports in app purchases on iOS! I’m going to be so pissed if they take it away! :(
Amazon is a content provider. This just gives them more content. I doubt much will change.
I just checked the website and found comixology, but when I select it for download it goes to apps and tells me it’s unavailable. I guess it just won’t give it to an Australian :(
This could be good. I have never had any issues buying ebooks or other services from amazon, so for the moment I’ll trust that this is a good thing for comixology, for the consumer and for the legitimatization (is that a word?) of the comic book format.