ComiXology Launches Slate Of Creator-Owned Originals To Be Followed By Amazon Print Collections

In what’s being hailed already as a major game-changer in comics distribution, comiXology has announced a slate of four new Originals in their Originals line, which will be followed by print trade collections published by comiXology owner, Amazon.

As these titles debut digitally, they will be free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited.

Another features to be introduced with this slate of releases includes being able to “binge read” all five issues of these comic series on the day of release.

These are also the first creator-owned comics released in the comiXology Originals program.
The new comiXology Original releases include: Savage Game created byNFL player Ryan Kalil, written by Shawn Kittelsen, and art by Chris B. Murray; Superfreaks from writers Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet, with newcomer artist Margaux Saltel; Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty from writer Richard Starkings, and artists Axel Medellin and Boo Cook; Ask For Mercy from writer Starkings and newcomer artist Abigail Jill Harding.
The debuts feature a host of industry firsts, including:

• All issues of the Superfreaks series are available to read now – perfect for binge reading
• In addition to digital, Savage Game is available in print exclusively through Amazon.com via Print-on-Demand
• Collections of Elephantmen and Ask for Mercy will also be available in print via Print-on-Demand, with future comiXology Originals trade collections and graphic novels also available in print
• Savage Game sees noted cover and fine artist Chris B. Murray’s interior art debut
• Superfreaks artist Margaux Saltel also makes her series debut
• Ask For Mercy artist Abigail Jill Harding makes her series debut

Chip Mosher, comiXology’s Head of Content says:

We’re proud to offer these creator-owned titles where creators keep their IP rights and are motivated to bring their A-game to the benefit of readers everywhere. Helping bring these incredible titles to fans lets us experiment with different release strategies like a binge-style drop of a whole series, high quality print-on-demand, and day-and-date inclusion in Prime Reading, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited.

The new comiXology Originals titles were announced today in tandem with a livestream event on Twitch, hosted by noted esports personality Marcus “djWHEAT” Graham.
During the livestream, which was screened at viewing parties at Amazon Books retail locations and Amazon Pop-Up kiosks across the United States, comiXology unveiled its “Always Original” ad campaign that spotlights the characters featured in today’s new releases.
Customers attending the viewing parties were offered free print copies of the Savage Game graphic novel on a first come, first served basis.
The company also teased the next wave of comiXology Original titles to be released in the coming months, announcing the following list of creators:
Tyler Crook, Kristian Donaldson, Alti Firmansyah, Sam Humphries, Megan Kearney, Kel McDonald, Hope Nicholson, Mike Norton, MK Reed, Mark Sable, Tim Seeley, C. Spike Trotman, Jen Vaughn, and Magdalene Visaggio. 
More details on upcoming releases will be unveiled during Comic-Con International San Diego 2018.
Further information on these comiXology Originals debuts can be found below:
Savage Game
Created by Ryan Kalil, written by Shawn Kittelsen, with art by Chris B. Murray

From NFL player Ryan Kalil and his company Strange Turn comes an original 60-page sci-fi graphic novel that is high tech version of The Island of Dr. Moreau. What happens when a rogue titan of Silicon Valley creates his own island nation with no laws to hold him back? You get the Savage Game, where audiences watch genetically modified hybrid creatures fight to the death in a fantastic gladiator-style battle. But Conner Bowen isn’t having it. He’s on a quest to stop his mad father and the Savage Game. But is it too late?

• Original 60pg Graphic Novel – $4.99 on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited
• Available in print for $6.99 as a Print-on-Demand graphic novel exclusively on Amazon.com

Superfreaks
Written by Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet with art by Margaux Saltel

An all-new 5-issue superhero mystery debuting digitally in its entirety – a thrilling story perfect for binge reading – with art by rising star Margaux Saltel. All the world’s superheroes have disappeared overnight, and it’s up to their untrained, largely overlooked teenage sidekicks to find out what happened – while dealing with the biggest crisis Earth has ever known — much to the public’s displeasure. Can they save the day?

• 5-issue series – all issues available to binge read now
• Issue are $2.99 each on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty
Written by Richard Starkings with art by Axel Medellin and Boo Cook

The iconic Elephantmen debuts asacomiXology Originals title with issue 1 of Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty, a 5-issue monthly mini-series. Described by J.J. Abrams as “An Awesome and Unexpected Story. You Must Check it out!” and lauded by Andy Serkis as “Bold, mythic and heartbreakingly cool, Starkings’ universe is a breed apart!”, Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty, is the next adventure of the pulp science fiction series Elephantmen, which debuted nearly 15 years and 80 issues ago from Image Comics. This all-new story is a whodunit that draws our heroes, Hip Flask and Jack Farrell, into the curious death of an Elephantman known to his friends as “Shorty”.

• 5-issue miniseries – issues will be available monthly – $2.99 per issue on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited
• Print edition will be available via Print-on-Demand exclusively on Amazon.com

Ask For Mercy
Written by Richard Starkings with art by Abigail Jill Harding

An action-packed and artistically stunning dark fantasy story from Elephantmen creator, Richard Starkings and breakout talent, Abigail Jill Harding. Ask For Mercy is a World War II fantasy horror story in the tradition of John Carpenter’s The Thing and Sandman. Mercy is snatched from her own place and time to join a team of Monster Hunters who are actually Monsters themselves, and together they have to take on a Pantheon of Hideous Creatures summoned to our world by Nazi evil!

• 6-issue series – issues will be available every 6 weeks – $2.99 per issue on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited
• Print collected edition will be available via Print-on-Demand on Amazon.com

For more updates on comiXology Originals, check out http://comixologyoriginals.com and follow comiXology on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.