Today, Comixology Originals announced its 2025 lineup, including five new titles, 17 projects in development, and a medical printing deal with Mad Cave Studios. There’s a lot to understand here, and Head of Comixology Jeff DiBartolomeo took some time to explain the program, how it fits with Amazon, and some of the reasons why we’re doing things like this. answered the question.
Heidi McDonald: Jeff, I feel like Comixology Originals has been under the radar for a while, ever since the standalone Comixology site was integrated with Kindle. But clearly, with these announcements, the program is alive and well and growing. Can you talk a little bit about how this program fits into Comixology’s overall business and why now is a good time to expand?
Jeff DiBartolomeo: Going back to when Comixology was founded, we always felt that our business was built around three things: serving comics customers, comics publishers, and comics creators. I’m here. And that’s how we still feel. Selling comics, graphic novels, and manga is a big part of our business, but it’s not all of it. Being able to help creators create is part of who we are.
I’ve been in my current position for a little over a year. We had our hands full with all our ongoing projects, but it wasn’t until the beginning of this year that we felt ready to start signing more. After quietly putting out the word that I was open to new offers, I was so taken aback by the number of applications I received that it took me some time to consider them all and decide which ones to pursue.
MacDonald: With this line-up of incredible talent, how do you find the projects for this program? Are there any special qualities that make the titles Comixology Originals?
DiBartolomeo: Our newly signed roster includes many established and critically acclaimed Comixology Originals creators, including Scott Snyder, Alex Segura, and Kim Joy. I am. We consider Comixology Originals a family of creative people, and we’re thrilled to have so many faces returning. But we also have a lot of new faces. Some of them are industry veterans, and some are newcomers.
What they all have in common is that they came to us through word of mouth. Our pipeline is completely organic. Creators who have been through Comixology Originals know that good things are happening here, and they help spread the word, vouch for it, and introduce us to new writers and artists.
When it comes to specific qualities, we run the gamut. The Comixology Originals program was built from day one as a place for creators to take risks. Some stories will move you, some will strike you as quirky, and some will leave you on the edge of your seat. For some, it’s the art that takes it over the top. For others, it’s the story. Some people don’t even know what the story is going to be, but we put together a great combination of writers and artists and let them take on the challenge. But we try not to be too picky about what we sign because we don’t want to be set in stone. For example, this next round will feature some very fun young adult titles that have nothing to do with Book of Evil.
McDonald: A stone tablet this big suggests a strong editorial team. Who helped put it together?
DIBARTOLOMEO: The Comixology Originals team is lean and mean. With a combined 32 years of experience at Comixology, our small group, along with Pamela Mullin Horvath of Superfan Promotions, an integral part of the CO team, read through every proposal that comes in. We have a process of voting, debating, debating, crying, and ultimately deciding which books to pursue.
MacDonald: Previously, Dark Horse was CO’s printing partner, but they expanded to Abraze and now Mad Cave. Why were these partnerships a good fit?
DiBartolomeo: We are still working closely with Dark Horse. They plan to print 20 Comixology Originals in 2024. More titles will be printed at Dark Horse in 2025, and more titles will be printed in the future. We maintain a strong and ongoing relationship with Dark Horse. Although it has been great to work with them, we have always been open to the idea of collaborating with other print publishers. We produce so many titles that no publisher can commit to printing every title while delivering their own release slate.
Ablaze contacted me and we immediately hit it off. They are passionate about what they do and have chosen their first three titles very wisely. Harvey Cartman’s “Marley’s Ghost” had already won an Eisner Award, but “Parliament of Rooks” and “Grammaton Punch” were also selected before receiving their respective nominations for the 2024 Eisner Award ( PoR as part of Richard Starkings’ nomination for Best Digital Comic and Best Lettering, and as part of Lee Lowridge’s nomination for Best Coloring (GP). I think he has a great eye for quality. And it’s been really great working with them, the first book that’s currently going to print is great, and we’re excited to be working with Abraze further. In fact, we just extended our contract with Ablaze for six more titles.
Mad Cave is a publisher we’ve long admired. they are doing great things. And when we started talking about working together, it didn’t take long before they selected a slate of 10 titles to print. That’s a bold step out of the gate. We like boldness.
What’s important to both Ablaze and Mad Cave is that, like Dark Horse, they’re easy to work with, they care about creators and want to collaborate on releases, and they care about the quality of the products they produce. is. So do we.
MacDonald: Obviously, Comixology Originals has one of the biggest companies on the planet behind it as part of Amazon, and some of Amazon’s biggest streaming hits are comic-book-based, like The Boys , “Invincible”). I think perhaps the most obvious question is: What does publishing comics owned by the original creators do for Amazon? And how does Amazon support them?
DiBartolomeo: When Amazon first acquired Comixology in 2014, one of the things they valued was the relationship and respect they had with comic creators. We work closely with Amazon MGM Studios and review all Comixology Originals at various points from initial pitch to release. The studio has optioned several CO titles in various stages of development, and creators are also part of the process. Being part of a diverse company like Amazon opens up exciting possibilities.
But that’s not the driving force behind Amazon’s commitment to its Comixology Originals program. The way we see it, the more great comics we produce each year, the better it is for the market and the long-term health of the comics industry. Our goal is to curate a list of titles that will appeal to both long-time fans of the comics medium and those reading comics for the first time.
(Dark Horse Comics/Comixology Original)
MacDonald: I know the numbers are a closely guarded secret, but are there any reader trends you can share? For example, romance is the hottest genre in publishing, and how is that reflected in Comixology? Do you think it has? Also, have any CO titles become big hits?
DiBartolomeo: Publishers always talk about creating comics with new readers in mind. Again, this is about the long-term health of the business. According to our data, nearly one-third of our customers purchased a comic, graphic novel, or manga from us for the first time in the last year. It’s really exciting to see these numbers, especially as sales and borrowings remain very strong for our core and long-standing comic readers. There’s a lot of pessimism online regarding the current state of the comics industry, but the actual data from Comixology is very positive.
When we think of blockbusters, we think of comics that resonate with die-hard fans and can also appeal to casual readers. The unifying factor for success is not determined by genre. We’ve had success with horror, crime, science fiction and romance, all of which resonate with a variety of audiences. Our goal is to give great writers and artists a platform so they can do their best work without getting in the way. Our history of Eisner Award nominations and wins shows we’re doing the right thing.
McDonald: Not a real question, but you’ve been telling us for a while that Comixology Originals is alive and well. It would be a good feeling to be able to show that with such a great lineup of titles.
We’ve put together a great lineup so far! In 2024, we plan to deliver 94 Comixology Originals digital releases (a combination of single issues, collections, and original graphic novels) and 23 print releases. And with six of this year’s CO titles tied to four Eisner Award nominations, the future looks bright. It’s very exciting to announce 17 new deals with some truly amazing writers and artists, and it’s thrilling to have multiple routes to print distribution. It gives us options for the future.
One of our goals is to continue to provide new readers with an avenue to discover comics. Both digital and print. Singles, collections, or graphic novels. Whether young adult or adult, we want to meet new readers and connect with great storytellers and artists. Comixology’s long-standing mission has been to “turn every person on the planet into a lifelong fan of comics, graphic novels, or manga.” Comixology Originals is one way we accomplish that mission.
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