So Comixology have “gone Amazon” and have unleashed Comixology Unlimited. Below are some of my thoughts on the move and some thoughts by others on Twitter. I will be interested to hear yours!
- This isn’t a complete surprise to me – Comixology are an Amazon Company now and Amazon already have Amazon Prime – Movies and Music and Kindle Prime, which works the same way as Comixology Prime seems to!
- Added into this fact and you already have Marvel Digital Unlimited, Scribd & Comic Blitz doing the whole “Netflix For Comics” thing and there is a precedent.
- How much did the creators know? Now there lies a question!
Publishers who signed with Comixology Unlimited are probably having a lot of fun talking to creators today I bet
— Warren Ellis (@warrenellis) May 24, 2016
Some are using it to promote their work:
US Readers:
ComiXology Unlimited has SKULLKICKERS and WAYWARD arc 1 you can read right now:https://t.co/peMBgIQIQL pic.twitter.com/RvwsztQ8bz— Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 25, 2016
Some were aware of the moves to go this route:
I give @DarkHorseComics a lot of credit for telling me about Comixology Unlimited back in *January*, and inviting me to participate.
— Brian Wood (@brianwood) May 24, 2016
Some were happy with the set up:
Just signed up for @comiXology Unlimited. Looks like most of the “free” books are Vol. 1s. Designed to get folks to pay for Vol. 2. Good!
— Greg Pak (@gregpak) May 24, 2016
Comixology Unlimited seems intended more as a way to sample books readers haven't checked out before, not read entire runs.
— Chris Roberson (@chris_roberson) May 24, 2016
Some were not happy!
So at what point were the publishers going to talk to the creators about ComiXology Unlimited?
— Pia Guerra (@PiaGuerra) May 24, 2016
Did any creators hear about Comixology Unlimited before it was announced?
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
The comparison to music streaming was also made:
I’m cautiously optimistic about Comixology Unlimited, since its goal is to increase paid sales. 1/3
— Ed Brubaker (@brubaker) May 24, 2016
But generally, subscription services are not great for creators, because they get little-to-no royalties on their songs/movies/comics. 2/3
— Ed Brubaker (@brubaker) May 24, 2016
This is most widely discussed in the music industry, where Spotify and Pandora pay next to nothing to artists. 3/3
— Ed Brubaker (@brubaker) May 24, 2016
I'd love to hear opinions about Comixology Unlimited's royalty policies from someone who actually knows what they are
— Kill the Cool Kids (@davidwynne) May 24, 2016
I think the titles provided will make or break this model, and I’m sure we will find out in the coming months how payments trickle down to creators! There is no UK release yet, so I suppose I will have to wait to comment on the content!