Scott Snyder has signed a deal with comiXology under which comiXology and Dark Horse Comics will publish eight creator-owned titles, seven comics and one illustrated prose novel.  All will be published digitally as ComiXology Originals and later in print by Dark Horse.  The first comiXology titles will appear in October, and the Dark Horse editions will follow, likely in a number of different formats.

The lineup of artists, which Snyder described as a “murderer’s row” in the initial announcement from comiXology, includes Rafael Albuquerque, Greg Capullo, Francesco Francavilla, Jamal Igle, Jock, Tula Lotay, Francis Manapul, and Dan Panosian.  Former DC/Vertigo editor Will Dennis will edit the comics, which will be produced by Snyder’s studio, Best Jackett Press.

This is the largest comiXology Originals deal to date, and marks a significant expansion of the major original comics content headed to digital-first formats.

In his newsletter, Snyder explained that he and his co-creators at Best Jackett were just getting to work on the first wave of new series when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.  Dennis suggested they talk to comiXology, which already has a robust original comics program, doesn’t take ancillary rights (such as TV, film, and merchandising), and has page rates that are competitive with Marvel Comics and DC Comics.  In terms of affordability, which was very important to Snyder, all the series would be available for a single comiXology Unlimited subscription, along with all the other comics on that service.

In addition, comiXology had recently inked a deal with Dark Horse to publish comiXology Originals in print (see “Dark Horse Brings comiXology Originals to Trade”), and comiXology’s Head of Content Chip Mosher suggested the books could be published in different formats.  “Each book would be its own consideration and follow its own organic sensibilities,” Snyder wrote.  “For example, a book like We Have Demons, which has a lot of direct market serial appeal, could come out digitally and then possibly be published in single issue format for the direct market, with variant covers, all of it...!  Other books that might have more direct market appeal as graphic novels, like Barnstormers, could be published in that way as well.  The whole conversation was about how to do digital AND print in exciting and complementary ways, new ways, and all of it was incredibly inspiring to me.”

“And to top it all off,” he concluded, “our deal here will help fund our program to promote, support and realize works by emergent creators under the Best Jackett label."  Details on this program have yet to be released, but, Snyder said, “it’s a crucial part of what we have planned.”

The eight new properties span a variety of genres and styles. All are written by Snyder.  Here’s the lineup:

Barnstormers, with art by Tula Lotay and colors by Tula Lotay and Dee Cunniffe, is a romance set in the world of aviation just after World War I.

The Book of Evil, a prose novel with illustrations by Jock (Snyder’s co-creator on Wytches), follows four young people growing up in a world largely populated by psychopaths.

Canary, with art and colors by Dan Panosian, is a horror Western about an evil substance seeping into a collapsed mine.

Clear, with art and colors by Francis Manapul, is a sci-fi mystery set in a dystopian future world where reality is transformed by a neurological internet connection.

Duck and Cover with art by Rafael Albuquerque and produced in conjunction with Albuquerque’s Stout Club Entertainment, is a teen adventure set in 1955, in a post-apocalyptic America.

Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine, with art by Jamal Igle and Juan Castro and colors by Chris Sotomayor, is an adventure story about a boy, a dog, and a time/space machine.

Night of the Ghoul, with art and colors by Francesco Francavilla, is a horror story that alternates between present-day life and scenes from a lost horror film.

We Have Demons, with art by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion and colors by Dave McCaig, is a monster story with a teenage hero.

Click Gallery for covers!