Top Cow Announces Major Digital Distribution Plans

Los Angeles-based entertainment company Top Cow Productions has announced major news that will place them squarely in the middle of the digital media evolution. The company gave word today that they will be partnering with amazon.com, comiXology, iVerse Media, Longbox Digital and WOWIO to have their digital comics and media on mobile, portable and desktop readers. Filip Sablik, publisher of Top Cow, said, "The potential to reach out and connect to a new audience and hopefully drive those new readers to physical comic book stores are all driving forces for this coordinated push. And partnering with comiXology, iVerse, WOWIO, Amazon and Longbox ensures we're using the most up-to-date technology to provide our readers with an easy, accessible and satisfying experience." In keeping with that philosophy of having reader interest in comic books high, Top Cow's partnership will allow them to digitally allow readers to find out of print or hard to find issues of a series just before the next one hits store shelves. Numerous first issues of series will be distributed, along with pay-per download features and content for devices such as Amazon's Kindle and the iPhone. Sablik was confident that this move would promote more readership of paper comics, saying, "We value our direct market partners a great deal and are taking measured steps to ensure we help grow our business with them, rather than cannibalizing sales." For the month of December, Top Cow is planning on releasing the following titles for free: Witchblade #1, Wanted #1, Witchblade #80, Tracker: First Look, Berserker #0, The Darkness (volume 3) #1, Impaler (volume 2) #1, Hunter-Killer #1 and The Darkness (volume 1) #1. The Darkness/Pitt #1 is already available through comiXology. More issues will continue to roll out in January, but these digital partnerships are a signal that Top Cow is ready to move more and more into a medium that will marry many aspects of the comics industry with the 21st century and beyond.