ComiXology Unlimited Raises More Questions That It Answers For Comic Creators
The readers seem happy with the idea of ComiXology Unlimited, a new all-you-can service from ComiXology featuring a number of non-Big Two publishers and big name comics. It's focused on introductory volumes with the intent of increasing readership.
$5.99 for @comiXology's Unlimited service? I am so there!! pic.twitter.com/vUTFhlFl8H
— Fangirl Jeanne (@fangirlJeanne) May 24, 2016
But there are lots of worries from creators to this model.
Until creators can walk into Target and get as much of whatever they want for only $5.99 a month, Comixology Unlimited is not a good thing.
— Dan Jurgens (@thedanjurgens) May 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/cameronMstewart/status/735138077161730052
Some seemed rather concerned to find work they didn't expect on there.
@comiXology hi i need to talk to someone about taking a comic off comixology- quite important
— steve pugh🌐 (@stevepughcom) May 24, 2016
Especially those creators of creator-owned titles who didn't know this before it was coming.
So at what point were the publishers going to talk to the creators about ComiXology Unlimited?
— Pia Guerra (@PiaGuerra) May 24, 2016
Well, Dark Horse, it seemed were ahead of the game.
https://twitter.com/brianwood/status/735168919867129856
But not everyone at IDW…
am I? I heard it here first!
— Joe Hill (@joe_hill) May 24, 2016
App guys love to reduce books, TV, movies, comics & music to "content." But each is different. The Netflix model may not be ideal for all.
— Joe Hill (@joe_hill) May 24, 2016
Or at Image Comics.
Literally the first i've heard of it. Have emailed to find out.
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
Did any creators hear about Comixology Unlimited before it was announced?
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
Were you asked?
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
I'm looking through emails – perhaps they just emailed Kieron
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
I'm trying to see if I missed an email or something…
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
I'm trying to find out. I see it's just our first trade on there at the minute.
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
You're a publisher too, right?
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
So I guess that's it then. Talked to publishers, but not creators.
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) May 24, 2016
The CBR interview with ComiXology's David Steinberger says it "answered the big questions" but they were mostly stymied by them.
How will royalties for creators will work? Again, this is another example of it being a different model for comics that we haven't really seen before, not at this scale.
All of our business terms are private, confidential between us and our partners.
But maybe that actually gave us the answer as to why a number of comic book creators weren't told. Business terms are private.
https://twitter.com/warrenellis/status/735136987527675906
I bet they are. Oh, one more thing from that interview.
Is there any consideration at this point for content created exclusively for the service?
Nothing to announce for that, no.
So, yes, then….