Pros and Cons of comiXology Unlimited

This morning comiXology announced a new Netflix-style service called comiXology Unlimited.  For $5.99 a month readers will be able to sample the first volumes of many popular comics from Valiant, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse and more.  The Big Two of Marvel (already runs their own Marvel Unlimited) and DC Comics are absent.

Comic book fans rejoiced at this news.  Having unlimited access to hundreds of comics from multiple publishers is a Godsend.  Its a great way for new readers to sample a series at a low introductory price.

Comic book creators, however, may not be too pleased at this new service.  The question arises on how will creators be compensated for an unlimited subscription service.  Normally when a customer buys a comic on comiXology the creators receive a percentage of the purchase.  Will the creators receive part of the $5.99 if a reader decides to sample their book?

This is the same argument that recording artists have made with Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming music services.

As a fan I’m excited over comiXology Unlimited.  This gives me a chance to try many series I’ve always wanted to read at one point or another — Chew, Lazarus, Outcast, and The Wicked + The Divine to name a few.  But I also support creators being properly compensated for their work.

Hopefully comiXology will come out with a statement setting the record straight on what deals they are working out with creators on the matter.

You can read the full press release on comiXology Unlimited below, and if you are a creator who has an opinion to share on this announcement, reach out to me at thekliqnation@gmail.com

Introducing comiXology Unlimited: Endless Access to Digital Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga for just $5.99 a Month

Read freely from thousands of digital comics — available on any device anytime

The most cost-effective way to discover your new favorite comics including selections from The Walking Dead, Attack on Titan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Peanuts, Adventure Time, The Umbrella Academy and thousands more

The only subscription service featuring titles from Image Comics & Dark Horse Comics

Start a free 30-day trial today

May 24, 2016 – New York, NY – ComiXology, Amazon’s premier digital comic shopping & reading platform, today introduced comiXology Unlimited — the best way to explore the amazing world of comics, graphic novels and manga at an unbelievable price. For just $5.99 a month customers can explore selections from thousands of incredible titles, like The Walking Dead, Attack on Titan, Hellboy, Adventure Time, Peanuts, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lumberjanes, Saga, The Umbrella Academy, Outcast, Transformers with more on the way. ComiXology Unlimited is available today on the comiXology app for Fire Tablet, Android, iOS and on the web at comixology.com. Start your free 30-day trial at comixology.com/unlimited.

“We’re in a new golden age of storytelling with more incredible comics, graphic novels and manga than ever before,” said comiXology’s CEO and Co-Founder David Steinberger. “ComiXology Unlimited is fantastic portal to tons of great comics at a ridiculously great price. Get in there and start exploring.”

With comiXology Unlimited it’s never been easier for readers to explore the world of comics. The only subscription service to feature books from Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics, comiXology Unlimited also includes great titles from IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Kodansha Comics, Oni Press, Valiant Entertainment, Archie Comics, Fantagraphics Books, Humanoids, Action Lab Entertainment, Aspen Comics, Zenescope Entertainment and more. ComiXology Unlimited debuts today in the U.S. and will expand to other regions in the future.

ComiXology Unlimited features include:

• Unlimited reading, on any device: Access thousands of digital comics, graphic novels and manga including best sellers like The Walking Dead, Attack on Titan, Hellboy, Adventure Time, Peanuts, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lumberjanes, Saga, The Umbrella Academy, Outcast, and Transformers. Enjoy offline reading using the comiXology app on Fire Tablet, Android, iOS, or streaming on the web at comixology.com.

• Exceptional Content:  Whether you’re into sci-fi or slice-of-life, comiXology Unlimited offers the widest subscription selection of digital comics in the world. With an immense catalog and cinematic Guided View reading experience, the comic you want is always at your fingertips.

• Free one-month trial: Not sure if you’re up for binging on comics? Enjoy the first month free and explore our expansive digital library.

“You may have heard of Love and Rockets, Krazy Cat and Ignatz, or Lumberjanes – but had no idea where to start reading or what collection to buy. Now you can simply start reading all these great titles today,” said John D. Roberts, comiXology Co-Founder. “ComiXology is changing the game again. First, we ignited digital via our Guided View reading technology. Now, with comiXology Unlimited, everyone can easily explore the expansive world of comics.”

Selections from the following great series are available today, and we’ll continue to add more titles over time:

Adventure Time by Ryan North, Braden Lamb, Shelli Paroline and various (BOOM! Studios)
Aliens by Mark Verheiden, Sam Kieth, Peter Milligan and various (Dark Horse Comics)
Archie by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples (Archie Comics)
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (Kodansha Comics)
Atomic Robo by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener (Tesladyne)
Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro (Image Comics)
Bloodshot by Duane Swierczynski, Manuel Garcia and Arturo Lozzi (Valiant Entertainment)
The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (Dynamite Entertainment)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Joss Whedon and various (Dark Horse Comics)
Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image Comics)
The Complete Peanuts by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics Books)
Conan the Barbarian by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (Dark Horse Comics)
Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima (Kodansha Comics)
Fatale by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image Comics)
Ghostbusters by Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening, and various (IDW Publishing)
G.I. Joe by Chuck Dixon, Robert Atkins and various (IDW Publishing)
Grimm Fairy Tales by Ralph Tedesco, Joe Tyler and various (Zenescope Entertainment)
Godzilla by Duane Swierczynski, Arthur Adams, Simon Gane and various (IDW Publishing)
Hellboy by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse Comics)
Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor (Fantagraphics Books)
The Incal by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius (Humanoids)
Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (Image Comics)
Letter 44 by Charles Soule and Alberto Alburquerque (Oni Press)
Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima (Dark Horse Comics)
Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)
Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW Publishing)
Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson and Brooke Allen (BOOM! Studios)
My Little Pony by Katie Cook and Andy Price (IDW Publishing)
Outcast by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta (Image Comics)
Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios (Image Comics)
Princeless by Jeremy Whitley and various (Action Lab Entertainment)
Red Sonja by by Gail Simone, Jenny Frison, and Walter Geovanni (Dynamite Entertainment)
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Serenity by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews and Will Conrad (Dark Horse Comics)
Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)
Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky (Image Comics)
Spawn by Todd McFarlane (Image Comics)
Star Trek by Mike Johnson, Stephen Molnar, Joe Corroney and various (IDW Publishing)
Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less by C. Spike Trotman and (Iron Circus Comics)
Transformers by John Barber, Andrew Griffith, Marcelo Matere and various (IDW Publishing)
The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá (Dark Horse Comics)
Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse Comics)
The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard (Image Comics)
The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (Image Comics)
Wonderland by Raven Gregory and Sheldon Goh (Zenescope Entertainment)
Wuvable Oaf by Ed Luce (Fantagraphics)
X-O Manowar by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord (Valiant Entertainment)
…and many more.

To start the free 30-day trial of comiXology Unlimited today just visit comixology.com/unlimited.

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE