During a packed panel earlier today at this year’s Comic-Con
International 2012, Abrams ComicArts, an imprint of ABRAMS, the preeminent
publisher of illustrated books, announced a digital graphic novel distribution
agreement with comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform with over
75 million comic downloads to date and a selection of more than 25,000 comics
and graphic novels.
To celebrate the announcement, four full-length graphic
novels and one art book have been made available for download from the
expansive library of Abrams ComicArts’ catalogue of classic and instant-classic
comic works. Right now, comics and graphic novel fans across the globe can
experience these Abrams ComicArts titles through the power of comiXology’s
patent pending Guided View technology and CMX-HD. These launch titles are:
My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
Empire State: A Love Story (or Not) by Jason Shiga
Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies
Fairy Tales for Angry Little Girls by Lela Lee
Cats, Dogs, Men, Women, Ninnies & Clowns: The Lost Art
of William Steig by Jeanne Steig with illustrations by William Steig
Abrams ComicArts will immediately follow up this debut on
the comiXology platform with numerous titles from Abrams ComicArts’ award-winning
frontlist and backlist. Accessible across comiXology’s entire platform—iPhone,
iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web—the Abrams ComicArts’ collection of
comics and graphic novels is a welcome addition to the comiXology platform.
“It’s no secret that Abrams ComicArts is a shining star in
graphic novel and art book publishing today," said comiXology co-founder
and CEO David Steinberger. “Charles Kochman and his team have put together such
an impressive lineup of books over the years, it’s truly a privilege to be able
to bring their fantastic array of award-winning graphic novels to a worldwide
audience via comiXology. Partnering with Abrams ComicArts provides an
opportunity to expand the readership for these titles and for comiXology as a
whole.”
“We’re thrilled that readers everywhere will now get to
experience our comics and graphic novels via comiXology,” said Charles Kochman,
editorial director of Abrams ComicArts.
“ComiXology has quickly jumped to the top of the digital
comics marketplace with their superior reading and shopping experience,"
said Lindy Humphreys, director of digital assets and technologies at ABRAMS.
“We look forward to expanding the audience for our titles with this exciting
collaboration.”
In early May, comiXology revealed they had crested 65
million comic and graphic novel downloads since the beginning of the platform,
with 15 million of those downloads happening in 2012. ComiXology recently
unveiled that only one month later in June they had hit 77 million downloads — an
addition of 12 million downloads — continuing on a trajectory of
record-shattering growth.
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