Complex feeling about Amazon as a mega-corporation aside, at least one of its subsidiaries is consistently doing good by the little guy. Digital comics and graphic novel service comiXology, with their comiXology Originals line of exclusive content, is really pushing the boundaries of comic entertainment in favour of both creators and readers.
For a handful of years now, through the comiXology Originals programme, a diverse roster of creators, both established and upcoming, have been given the space to tell diverse stories from a multitude of genres. In the past, at Pfangirl.com, we’ve looked at comiXology Originals titles like young adult fantasy Adora and the Distance, and Forgotten Home, an action fantasy fuelled by family drama and informed by urban sensibilities.
You can browse the entire comiXology Originals line here. For the record, it’s possible to purchase each book individually, although all of the titles are also available at no additional cost for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited.
Now, that library is getting bigger courtesy of a three-way deal between comiXology Originals, Best Jacket Press and Dark Horse. Best Jacket Press is the publishing company of Scott Snyder, arguably the definitive Batman writer of the past decade (Court of Owls, anyone?), and an Eisner Award winner for his own creator-driven projects American Vampire and The Wake.
With the new deal, Snyder will be working on eight wildly different titles in conjunction with big name creators such as Rafael Albuquerque, Greg Capullo, and Tula Lotay. Each title will appear digitally first on comiXology and Kindle before going to print via Dark Horse Books.
Offering something for everyone (no exaggeration), the creator-owned titles are:
BARNSTORMERS written by Scott Snyder with art by Tula Lotay and colors by Tula Lotay and Dee Cunniffe—A high flying adventure romance set just after the First World War.
BOOK OF EVIL written by Scott Snyder with illustrations by Jock—A prose story about four young friends growing up in a strange, near future where over 90% of the population are born as psychopaths.
CANARY written by Scott Snyder with art and colors by Dan Panosian—It’s 1891 and a mine collapses into itself. Find out what the dark substance found 666 feet underground is in this horror Western!
CLEAR written by Scott Snyder with art and colors by Francis Manapul—A sci-fi mystery thrill-ride into a strange dystopian future, where a neurological internet connection is transforming reality.
DUCK AND COVER written by Scott Snyder with art by Rafael Albuquerque—A manga-influenced teen adventure set in the strange post-apocalyptic America… of 1955. In conjunction with Albuquerque’s Stout Club Entertainment.
DUDLEY DATSON AND THE FOREVER MACHINE written by Scott Snyder with art by Jamal Igle and Juan Castro and colors by Chris Sotomayor—A rollicking adventure story about a boy, his dog and a machine that controls time and space! What could go wrong?
NIGHT OF THE GHOUL written by Scott Snyder with art and colors by Francesco Francavilla—A dazzling work of horror, intercutting between the present day narrative and the story of a lost horror film.
WE HAVE DEMONS written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion and colors by Dave McCaig—The conflict between good and evil is about to come to a head when a teenage hero embarks on a journey that unveils a secret society, monsters, and mayhem.
TLDNR? Here’s a trailer for the eight projects, the first of which – though currently unidentified – will arrive this October.
Regardless of how many of these titles intrigue you (I’m eyeing Canary, Barnstormers and Book of Evil especially), the Snyder deal is a big… deal. It paves the way for future similar agreements that equip comics creators with the backing to explore their creative capabilities with greater confidence and less distraction. This in turn invites in a whole new audience of comics readers enticed by more diverse fare.