Digital comics distribution platform GlobalComix has partnered with Top Cow to release high-quality PDF packs of the publisher’s most popular titles.
Under this new initiative, readers can purchase and collect Top Cow titles, including Witchblade, Postal, The Darkness and more, which can be downloaded as high-quality PDFs for permanent archiving. They can then be viewed on any device and through the reader’s choice app.
Apparently, this sales model will allow buyers to share their PDF library with whoever they want, without necessarily sharing app logins or other personal information. To access purchased PDFs and download them to a device, users simply visit their account’s download page, select the file, and save it.
Each PDF will be uniquely generated for download, which means that if the original file is deleted, it will not affect the buyer. Individual titles and bundles will be available at fixed prices with one-time payments, so there’s no risk of readers hitting a paywall once they’ve bought what they want.
GlobalComix users can search for titles using a variety of filters, and content owners can set their own prices, run sales, offer free promotional codes, and earn the same percentage of revenue from subscriptions and direct sales. They can also decide if they want their works to be available for PDF downloads or not. According to your FAQ (opens in a new tab)GlobalComix typically takes 25 to 35 percent of the money readers spend in page credits, but revenue sharing agreements can differ between creators.
Creators and readers alike have been looking to new digital comics platforms as alternatives to Amazon’s Comixology, which has made a number of changes in recent months that have drawn widespread criticism about the changes and affected functionality of the app. GlobalComix appears to be bidding to become the new digital comics distributor of choice and allowing users to archive PDF files permanently could be a major draw.
The announcement of the new model along with its association with Top Cow will probably also attract more users to the GlobalComix site.
“Top Cow is an immediately recognizable name in the world of comics. Whether you’ve followed Witchblade or Cyberforce from the beginning, lost your way in the Infinite Dark universe, or simply believe in the creative teams led by Matt Hawkins and Marc Silvestri: We’ve all been moved by the storytelling power of Top Cow at some point,” says GlobalComix CEO and founder Christopher Carter in the ad.
Adds Carter, “As relative newcomers to the game, GlobalComix is delighted to have forged this partnership with such an industry powerhouse. Combined with our own expertise and customer-focused approach, we look forward to leading the world of digital storytelling from ways that have yet to be seen.
“We’ve been approached by dozens of startups who wanted to get into the digital comics business,” says Top Cow president Matt Hawkins. “GlobalComix is one of the few that has a real business plan and the strength to see it through. We look forward to a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.”
The entire Top Cow library is now available on GlobalComix and new titles will be added at a later date. The site also has works from Valiant, various independent outlets, and individual creators.
Top Cow’s Witchblade is one of the best non-Marvel or DC comic book superheroes.