Comixology's David Steinberger: Electronic Comics Not Cannibalizing Print

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Digital versions of print comics are not reducing the demand for the print versions, according to David Steinberger, CEO of Comixology.com in this week's Deconstructing Comics Podcast.

July 26 (TOKYO) Digital versions of print comics are not reducing the demand for the print versions, according to David Steinberger, CEO of Comixology.com. He discusses the reasons for this in an interview on this week's episode of the Deconstructing Comics Podcast.

"Comixology was born out of the desire to see what comics were shipping to stores and to create virtual pull-lists, and trying to build a community of services around that, and then entering into digital comic books eventually," Steinberger says. Comixology is now selling electronic versions of comics from a variety of publishers, including DC and Marvel, via applications available in Apple's iPhone App Store, as well as through Comixology.com.

Though all the electronic comics Comixology sells are available via the Comics by Comixology iPhone application, the company has also produced publisher-specific apps through which Marvel, DC, and Boom Studios comics are sold. In the interview, Steinberger explains to host Tim Young the reasons for making publisher-specific apps, and also talks about the process of preparing the comics for electronic viewing.

While many commentators have said that comics are sure to move to digital sales in the same way that music did, Steinberger feels that electronic comics are not cannibalizing print sales, and may even be boosting print. In the interview, he discusses the peculiarities of the American comics market that make this the case.

ABOUT DECONSTRUCTING COMICS
Deconstructing Comics is a weekly podcast dealing with all aspects of comics creation and appreciation. The podcast originates in Tokyo and includes comics reviews, interviews, and discussion of comics-related issues. The podcast is published every Monday at deconstructingcomics.com, and on iTunes.