While ComiXology was making some inroads and progress when it was just an iPhone app, they really came into their own as a force to work with when the iPad hit and the growth of the web based side and the Android app. Add in its expanded presence on other devices such the as Kindle Fire and its reach just grows with every new physical device that comes onto the market. And now after just under three years since launching their first app back in July of 2009, ComiXology has announced that they’ve had over fifty million comics downloaded, five million of which came from just December of 2011 alone. And that five million compares with the 6.4 million print comics shipped in the same period in retail stores but not all were purchases. But the comparison stands since there is a selection of free books available on ComiXology as well. What publishers have seen is that there has been no real cannibalization of the print market as the digital market has grown. There is some crossover to be sure, but the majority of people coming on are either new readers or lapsed readers. “This milestone shows the tremendous demand for digital comics from comiXology and the strength of our partnerships and reach, from device manufacturers to publishers to brick-and-mortar retailers,” comiXology CEO David Steinberger told ICv2 in an exclusive interview. “And it shows the huge opportunities that exist to grow the comics market by bringing in new or lapsed readers that want a digital option for reading comics.”
ComiXology CEO Steinberger stressed his support for a healthy comics business in both digital and print formats. “Our business started by creating tools for consumers and retailers of print comics, and it’s an important part of comiXology,” he said. “With our Online Pull List service for fans, our free comic store locator system on the Web and in our digital comic apps, where we have a “Buy in Print” button that leads users to their local comic store, and our Comic Store Websites and other services for retailers, we’re the only digital comics company that supports the full ecosystem of comics, from the comic stores to digital sales.”
Manga publishers have for the most part not worked with ComiXology so far, instead pursuing their own apps and having a much more limited reach when it comes to gaining eyeballs for new releases.
[Source: ICv2 ]
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