Most of the major comic book publishers are moving beyond just offering some of their popular titles in a digital format. These days, on the websites for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and many others, you could spend hours clicking through their digital comic book catalog. A really cool feature on almost all of the sites that offer digital comics is that you can preview a number of titles for free; and, in some cases, read full issues of certain titles for free.
This is all great news for those of us who enjoy the digital comic book experience, but what if you want a little variety to spice up your reading smorgasbord? What if you want to have hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of digital comic books, from a number of different comic book publishers, available at your fingertips and accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week? What if you want the option to purchase digital versions of brand new, freshly released titles on the same day as they are released in the traditional ink-stained pulp format?
No problem.
ComiXology is one of only a handful of stops along the Information Superhighway where you have all of those options and much more. So, let us peer through the looking glass at this somewhat enigmatic, definitely eclectic, and potentially apocalyptic (in a good way!) thing called comiXology.
Ladies and Gentlemen, comiXology!
The comiXology website launched in 2007. So, even in by the ever-expanding, still-evolving world of the internet’s standards, comiXology is a babe in the woods; however, the brain wizards running the show behind the site’s electronic veneer are proving to be mature beyond their years. This is profoundly noticeable after you have spent a little quality time checking out the seemingly endless catalog of titles they offer from several different publishers, and realize how easy and user friendly they have designed the process.
ComiXology uses its unique reader technology and digital platform not only to run its own applications, but also as an electronic engine to run several of the biggest U.S. comic book publishers’ digital comic book services, including the two super mega behemoth companies DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
ComiXology remains progressive and aggressive in its desire to provide its customers with a full-service digital comic book oasis. Partnerships with local comic book retailers make it easy for folks to obtain printed copies of their favorite titles through the comiXology website via Pull Lists. These Pull Lists allow readers to pre-order their comics and then pick them up at their local comic book retailer.
In 2009, comiXology began offering a digital comic book reader called “Comics” that also functions as a storage unit and is designed specifically for portable electronic devices, such as the iPod, iPad, and iPhone. So you can get your comics fix at virtually anytime and from virtually any place.
Here is a list of all the current publishers you will find on comiXology:
- A wave blue world
- Adhouse
- Alterna Comics
- Antarctic Press
- Arcana Studio
- Archie Comics
- Asylum Press
- Bluewater Comics
- BOOM! Studios
- Com.x
- Creative impulse
- Creator owned
- Dark Horse Comics
- DC Comics
- Devils Due
- Digital Webbing
- Dynamite Entertainment
- EigoMANGA
- Evil Twin Comics
- First Salvo
- Icon Comics
- IDW Publishing
- Image Comics
- Keenspot
- Markosia
- Marvel Comics
- Moonstone Books
- NBM Publishing
- Red 5 Comics
- South Fellini
- Slave Labor Graphics
- Studio 407
- Th3rd World Studios
- Top Cow
- Viper Comics
- Zenescope Entertainment
Kevin P. Hanson
kevin@comicattack.net
