ComiXology Submit

Mayhem is one of the coolest indie comics I've ever read. It's feminist, fierce and funny. The colors, the artwork, the characters and the villains --- all of it is so fresh and fun and new. It's the type of book you read and re-read and recommend to everyone. And chances are, you've never seen it before or even heard of it. But that's because you don't live in Austin, Texas (how dare you!?). See, that's where I was when I discovered this book, in among the indie comics. From the moment I saw the cover I was in.

Digital comics app Comixology pulled off a major surprise this week with the launch of Comixology Unlimited, a monthly subscription service that's hoping to be the Netflix of comics, the Spotify of sequential art, the Marvel Unlimited of books not published by Marvel. The Twitter reaction since the launch suggests the news wasn't just a surprise to readers, but to many of the creators involved too. ComicsAlliance spoke to Comixology CEO David Steinberger about the rollout, what is and isn't available on the service, and what the future might hold for Comixology Unlimited.

I love pretty much everything about digital comics. The accessibility, the fact that creators can reach a wider audience through the internet, even the fact that they don't take up a whole lot of space in your home! Those are all great things about the format. This year at New York Comic Con, however, Comixology is going to ask the question I think we've all been waiting for: What if those digital comics... were in print? That, it seems, is the premise behind a pretty cool project that they're unveiling as part of their sponsorship of this year's NYCC Artist's Alley: A set of five print versions of formerly digital-only comics that will be limited to 500 copies each. And, in what is arguably the best part, they're giving them away for free.

Comixology's Submit program is kicking off its third year as a channel for the digital sale of indie comics, and to celebrate, Comixology is offering a bundle of 30 Submit books for just $3. The books are a diverse group, including projects by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore, John Allison, Joe Benitez, Eric Grissom and Claire Connelly, and Andrea Tsurumi. Comixology co-founders John D. Roberts and David Steinberger will also promote the platform at SXSW this weekend with an appearance on the Geek Stage, which the company is sponsoring.

Starting today, ComiXology is opening its doors to new creators with the launch of ComiXology Submit, a portal that will allow creators to submit their work for self-publishing through the digital store. Submit is currently only available as an invite-only beta, but if successful, the process will be made public and allow self-publishers to sell their wares on the same virtual shelves as Marvel, D