As things currently stand, only Marvel and IDW currently have apps powered by ComiXology, with other publishers sunsetting their standalone apps at various points across the past few years. In the past, comiXology had been responsible for 'powering' standalone comic apps for Marvel, DC, IDW, and Image Comics, amongst other publishers. The matter was fixed within a matter of hours, and has not been repeated in subsequent weeks. While weekly releases of digital comics were not impacted for the web portal in the week following news of the Comixology layoffs, the same was not true for the Marvel Comics app, which is supported by comiXology while new releases were available via search on day of release, the front page was not reflective of that, leading many to believe that the app had simply failed to update as usual. What ComiXology’s layoffs have meant outside of the bubble One estimate from a source close to the company was that existing contracts for the remaining staff last through the end of July, although it’s unclear whether any additional contract extensions would be in place following the end of this period. At least a portion of those workers are on limited-term contracts, suggesting that Amazon’s plans for the company are not based in the long term as of writing. Unofficial estimates based on information from those with knowledge of the situation suggest that around 25-30 people remain active inside the current Comixology, down from roughly 100 staff before January’s layoffs. One estimate from a source close to the company was that existing contracts for the remaining comiXology staff last through the end of July, although it’s unclear whether any additional contract extensions would be in place following the end of this period. Popverse has also confirmed that Bryce Gold is still in place as head of content. The two took over leadership of ComiXology in the wake of the departure of former CEO David Steinberger in March 2022, although their titles remained static during the transition DiBartolomeo is the chief technology officer at the company, while Ashley is head of product, UX, and subscriptions. Popverse has confirmed that both Tom Ashley and Jeff DiBartolomeo remain with Comixology, and continue to head up the reduced company as it moves forward.
The current (temporary) state of ComiXology Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to ask: what is the future of Comixology, and of digital comics at Amazon as a whole? As the largest digital comics platform in the North American comics industry, it was a dramatic moment that left many questions unanswered. It’s been almost a month since widespread layoffs hit Amazon’s digital comics platform comiXology, with somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters of the company let go as part of wider Amazon-wide cutbacks.
0 kommentar(er)
