A surprising NYT announcement was made by former Comixology heads David Steinberger and Chip Mosher. After meeting together several times since the dissolution of the Amazon Comics service, it’s been revealed that the duo, along with a slew of acclaimed writers and artists in the industry, have formed a new comics creator-focused company called DSTLRY.
A different comics publisher, DSTLRY has offered its founding creators’ character and concept ownership along with equity within the company. The organization aims to be a creator-focused business first and foremost, a space focused on ethical practice in tandem with the modernization of the comics space; all in efforts to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of how readers consume comics IP.
DSTLRY also aims to optimize the release of digital drops and re-sellable items on a limited-window basis, with a percentage of profits going to pay its creators for fair equitable exchange.
The company will also be releasing digital comics to coincide with their physical releases and will host a bountiful of goodies on an online market space for the exchange of collectibles, artwork, and posters. Though DSTLRY also stresses that these items are, in fact, not NFTs.
Creators of comic books are “famous for being mistreated by publishers,” said David Steinberger, co-founder and chief executive of DSTLRY.
“The main drive here is to create a more sustainable and equitable future for creators,” followed Chip Mosher, the other co-founder of DSTLRY and its chief creative officer. “That’s our macro goal — benefiting the creators, and in turn benefiting readers and retailers.”
Steinberger and Mosher’s vision is for a more modern and ethical industry, with fair compensation for its numerous creators. The list of creatives alright signed on features some of the best creatives in comics within the past decade.
Talent includes big-name creatives such as Will Dennis, Mirka Andolfo, Brian Azzarello, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, Becky Cloonan, Lee Garbett, Jamie McKelvie, Jock, Joëlle Jones, Tula Lotay, Junko Mizuno, Stephanie Phillips, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Ram V.
