Turns out Amazon, who bought the digital comic book platform ComiXology has just transferred it over to their own website and relabeled it Kindle Comics.
Now if Kindle Comics still functioned like ComiXology’s original platform, this wouldn’t be a problem. But it doesn’t. It functions like Amazon Kindle.
Everything that made ComiXology great, like the ability to zoom into panels, and switch between single and double page layouts is gone. In fact, you might not even be able to find your ComiXology library of previously purchased books without navigating several layers deep into the site.
If you are wondering by the way how to read your ComiXology books on Kindle Comics, go to Account & Lists > Content & Devices, Books, More Actions, Read Now.
Well that should allow you to find them, although I haven’t had any such luck with my own library. I can find them, but I can’t read them, at least not on my PC. So my guess is, I’m going to need a Kindle to do that.
As you can imagine this has annoyed a lot of ComiXology users. And is it any wonder? The original ComiXology website, despite its flaws, was one of the best platforms to read digital comics on. It took the reading experience of a comic, and enhanced it with click of a button functions, like the panel zoom, page navigation, and viewing options.
Yes, ComiXology did occasionally freeze, among its other issues. But compared to what Amazon has left digital comic readers with now, it’s a massive downgrade.
This does beg a larger question though that might be worth considering for both creators and readers alike - what is the future for digital comics, and is there an opportunity here to fill the gap ComiXology has left?
Up until this point, nothing could really compete with ComiXology’s go to platform for purchasing and reading digital comics. After making this move however, Amazon has essentially created an opening for developers to come along and clone all that was good about Comixology, and reincarnate it as a potentially better product.
Yes, Amazon may have superior marketing power, but Kindle Comics is turning readers away from the idea of reading digital comics altogether at this point. Without a change, there’s room for developers to swoop in and make something far better.
And maybe, just maybe it’ll be a tech savvy comic creator or reader, who has a real passion for comics that’ll do it.
Large companies like Amazon, and even the mainstream comic publishers are taking more and more missteps, at the expense of losing readers. And it seems small independent creators are picking up the slack with their innovative ideas.
With resources such as crowdfunding, social media, and very affordable, easy to use development tools for websites and apps, there has never been a bigger opportunity for independents to seize the moment and become the new and improved mainstream.
Who knows, a new ComiXology may already be in development under a different name you’ve never heard of, one that works better, looks better and gives us the epitome of what a digital comic book reading experience should be.
Do you think Amazon will wise up before it happens, and put ComiXology back the way it was? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Alright, see you later
-Clayton