Via The New York Times, comiXology co-founder and former CEO David Steinberger, and former head of content Chip Mosher, have formed a new publishing company, called DSTLRY (“distillery”). Writers and artists will receive an equity stake in the company, as well as proceeds from oversized print comics and collectibles.
The publisher’s emphasis will be on print comics, with digital copies of single-issues only available for a limited time; afterwards, they can only be bought secondhand in a virtual marketplace. (And before you ask: the official site states “You buy, you own, you can sell. Creators get a cut every time. No NFT hustle or crypto hassle.”) Digital and print versions of trade paperbacks/hardbacks will be widely available.
The comics creators who’ve already signed up with DSTLRY are Mirka Andolfo; Brian Azzarello; Marc Bernardin; Elsa Charretier; Becky Cloonan; Lee Garbett; Jock; Joëlle Jones; Tula Lotay; Jamie McKelvie; Junko Mizuno; Stephanie Phillips; Scott Snyder; James Tynion IV; and Ram V. The company’s editor will be DC/Vertigo veteran Will Dennis, who’s worked with many of those creatives.
Per the press release, “Each Founding Creator holds an equity stake in the company, and DSTLRY has set aside an additional 3% of company equity to be distributed among all creators who release projects during the first three years of DSTLRY’s publishing slate; allocation will be based on title performance. This innovative structure aligns DSTLRY with the comic creators, whose creations dominate the pop culture landscape but are too often under-recognized and under-compensated.”
For comments from the creators, head below after the jump. The company’s investors include publishers Kodansha and Delcourt, video game developer John Schappert, tech strategist Mike Vorhaus, and film producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the latter three of whom make up DSTLRY’s Advisory Board. For more in the meantime, you can sign up for updates here.
Mirka Andolfo: “Having produced comics from both Europe and America, DSTLRY excited me with a solution that redefines digital distribution, collecting, and sales in a way that could profoundly disrupt the global comics market. When David and Chip first talked to me about the company (it was just an idea, at that point), I was hooked by their vision, which is now our vision. I can’t say how proud I feel to be among such big names, with my fellow founding creators!”
Brian Azzarello: “These are exciting times for our medium, and it’s thrilling to be on the cutting edge. As most comic readers know, it’s where I do my best work.”
Marc Bernardin: “Life is too short to make comics with people you don’t like. I had the most wonderful time working with Chip and David on Adora and the Distance and Census, so when they told me they were launching a new publishing company — one that would feel different from every other and incentivize creators to do their best work — I jumped at the chance to hop aboard. I’m excited to see how it all comes together!”
Elsa Charretier: “I’m incredibly excited to join DSTLRY and be a part of what might very well be a revolution in creator-owned comics. David, Chip, and the team have an outstanding track record when it comes to bringing a breath of fresh air to our industry, and I couldn’t be happier to tag along.”
Becky Cloonan: “My heart has always been in creator-owned comics, and this bold new opportunity celebrates the medium while keeping its eye on the future of sequential storytelling. Me and my collaborators are cooking up something ambitious and winding and dark—a story that feels right at home with DSTLRY.”
Lee Garbett: “Having produced comics for both the big two superhero publishers as well as the creator-owned staples, I’m ecstatic to be a part of the next era of comics. DSTLRY is forward-thinking, sustainable, and ambitious in ways the industry has yet to witness. Stay tuned. Exciting times ahead!”
Jock: “I’m hugely excited to be working with a publisher as aggressive and progressive as DSTLRY. It’s no surprise that the team that heralded comiXology is approaching digital collectibles ethically and smartly in a way that should grow the comics market, while still embracing our local comic stores. Chip and David have created something special here and I can’t wait to share what we have coming up!”
Continued belowJoëlle Jones: “I started my career in creator-owned comics and it was hard to resist returning after discovering DSTLRY. The new strides in digital and creator-owned incentives immediately grabbed my attention. I can’t wait to show you the next-level comics we’re crafting.”
Tula Lotay: “I’m so excited to be part of this new chapter in comics. I can’t believe I’m among such great talents. It feels like the beginning of something very special.”
Jamie McKelvie: “I’m really excited to be working with DSTLRY to move comics in an entirely new direction, and honored to be among the founding lineup that features some of the best creators in the industry. Chip and David have created something unique with DSTLRY and I can’t wait to see where we all take it.”
Stephanie Phillips: “I’m very excited to be working with DSTLRY to bring new stories to life alongside a host of incredible creatives. Chip and David are committed to finding new ways to engage readers through print and digital comics, while also supporting creatives and allowing us to tell the best stories we can. I can’t wait for readers to see what’s to come from DSTLRY…”
Scott Snyder: “I’m truly thrilled and honored to be a part of the launch of DSTLRY! I’ve been in comics for a decade and a half and I’ve never been more excited about an opportunity than this one. DSTLRY’s commitment to creators is unparalleled, from the creative to the fiscal, which is why they’ve attracted such an inspiring murderer’s row of talent. Bottom line, this is the best new space in comics for creators, and I can’t wait for you all to see the books we’re all making for you.”
James Tynion IV: “What excited me most about my conversations with Chip and David was their creative ambition. I had a whole line of titles in my head that I knew I couldn’t do alone, and now I can do them bigger and better than I had ever imagined, alongside a truly stellar roster of creators. I’m very excited about what the future holds for DSTLRY, and more than that, I’m excited to bring these new titles to life.”
Ram V: “I’m very excited to be creating new stories at DSTLRY alongside some incredible creative talents. Chip and David are bringing a modern, innovative approach to comics publishing in the creator-owned space — one that is supportive of my ambitions as a writer/creator/storyteller while bringing forth exciting ideas in terms of a new digital playground for readers. I’m looking forward to telling these new stories and I cannot wait to see the new ideas DSTLRY fosters among both its creators and its readers!”
Will Dennis: “I’ve based my entire editorial career on bringing together the best talent and helping them to do what they do best, so joining up with Chip and David seemed like the natural culmination of that ethos. They are building an incredibly innovative company where creators can really have fun making the comics they want to make, and I couldn’t be more excited about the amazing projects we have cooking. Watch this space!”
