Neon Ichiban, the visionary digital comics and manga platform from US publisher DSTLRY, built by Comixology veterans David Steinberger and Chip Mosher, officially launched worldwide earlier this month, exiting beta and “redefining what’s possible for digital comics”, say the company.
Participating publishers include 2000AD publisher Rebellion and Titan Comics, alongside IDW Publishing, DC Comics, Marvel Comics and more.
Fans got their first taste of Neon Ichiban during beta – buying, reading, and collecting digital comics and manga across an ever-expanding catalogue.
Fans can buy, read, and resell digital issues, including download their purchases from participating publishers – and obtain digitally signed and sketched editions of their favourite creators via Neon Ichiban’s patent-pending Neon Ichiban Digital Remarques technology.
Downloadable PDF backups from participating publishers are now part of the project, with titles from Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing and Titan Comics joining the ever-growing catalogue.
Easy to Use, Plenty to Choose
Signing up is easy, although “personalisation” of your account didn’t yet include the option to choose either Rebellion or Titan as “Publishers I Follow” during the set up process last week, presumably because their content had only just been added. (Rebellion started promoting its inclusion on social media on Monday).
Select a comic, and, after choosing a payment method, away you go. It’s that simple.
Once you’re set up, the interface is easy to understand (choosing your preferred reading format, for example “Guided View” the default) and, after steering the platform towards the comic format and genres of your preferred choice, there’s plenty to dig into.
Choose science fiction right now, for example, and 2000AD characters and series are front and centre as suggestions, although, having read most of those on offer, I went with the brilliant Cruel Universe anthology from Oni Press as my first Neon Ichiban provided read. (This, admittedly, is one of several free reads, but it served as a grounding in the simple to use interface)
The Neon Ichiban Team
Neon Ichiban founders David Steinberger and Chip Mosher bring decades of digital comics innovation and leadership to the new platform. David Steinberger, former CEO and co-founder of Comixology, led the revolutionary digital comics platform acquired by Amazon. Under his guidance, Comixology transformed how readers access and enjoy sequential storytelling.
Chip Mosher previously led content acquisition and marketing at Comixology and Amazon. A comics publishing veteran, Mosher is known for his editorial eye and creator-first publishing approach.
Together, they co-founded DSTRLY Media, which launched in 2023. The company’s first year debut series SOMNA won the 2024 Eisner Award for Best New Series. DSTLRY’s innovative digital marketplace – pioneering resellable digital comics – laid the foundation for Neon Ichiban, where fans don’t just read, they collect and connect.
“Neon Ichiban is more than a store,” says David Steinberger, CEO & Co-Founder. “It’s a platform devoted to bringing reading and collectability to a united global audience for comics and manga.
Writing on Reddit earlier in the year in direct discussion with beta testers, David outlined how Neon Ichiban has its roots in the sale of ComiXology to Amazon in 2014. After “many good years there” he and Chip Moser left in 2022 after ComiXology merged with Kindle, David to start a new business for Amazon (he decided that wasn’t for me after a month or so) and Chip to start DSTLRY, which David joined. “Are there things we would do differently if we could go back? Of course. Seeing how things unfolded after we left wasn’t easy, and made us realise we needed to build something better.”
Now, he explains “We’re empowering fans with access, control, and engagement – and with features like providing creators with tools to directly connect with their audience like never before.”
• Anyone can sign up for an account on Neon Ichiban at: neonichiban.com
• An iOS Neon Ichiban Reader application is also set to debut shortly. Readers can sign up to test a beta of the Neon Ichiban Reader app here
Participating Publishers
Neon Ichiban offers digital comics and manga from an impressive slate of publishers, including (in alphabetical order) Dark Horse Comics, DC, DSTLRY, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Kodansha, Mad Cave, Marvel Comics, Oni Press, Rebellion, Titan Comics, Vault Comics with content from Legendary Comics and UDON Entertainment coming soon.
Coming soon: Commissionable Remarques
Coming soon to the platform will be Commissionable Remarques, a Cameo-style model where fans request sketches and signatures from their favourite creators, no convention lines required. Instead of requiring fans and creators to meet live, artists can accept signature and sketch requests on their own schedule, from anywhere in the world.
For fans, it means global access to their favourite creators; for artists, Commissionable Remarques creates a new revenue stream where creators can set their own prices, work on their schedule, and connect without convention constraints.
“We’re reimagining what’s possible when you combine cutting-edge technology with a deep respect for comics, manga, and their creators,” said Chip Mosher, CCO & Co-Founder. “This isn’t just a revolution for comics – it’s setting a new standard for digital content across all media.”
Free Comics on Neon Ichiban
If you want to “try before you buy”, there’s a slew of free comics on offer on the Neon Ichiban platform, including EC Cruel Kingdom #1 and Rick and Morty Go to Hell #1 from Oni Press, the Endeavour: Ashcan from DSTLRY, B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs #1 and Frankenstein: New World #1 from Dark Horse, Marvel Zero: 2024 #1 from Marvel, and more.
What the Publishers say…
“We’re very excited here at Kodansha to be the premier manga publisher at Neon Ichiban from the start, at what promises to be a major new digital platform at the comics x manga crossroads.”
Alvin Lu, CEO, Kodansha
“David and Chip have built something powerful with Neon Ichiban. I’m proud that Dark Horse comics will be available at launch on this new digital comics and manga marketplace. It’s one more way to grow our comics community.”
Mike Richardson, Founder & Publisher, Dark Horse Comics
“With decades of experience fostering comics and manga on paper and screen, the folks behind Neon Ichiban have shown a commitment to sequential storytelling that’s as strong as their commitment to technological innovation. We’re excited that Dark Horse comics are on the platform and look forward to being along for the ride as Neon Ichiban takes comics and manga collecting to another level.”
Mark Bernardi, Vice President, Book Trade & Digital Sales, Dark Horse Comics
“This is the right platform by the right team at the right time. David Steinberger and Chip Mosher are the most experienced management team in the history of digital comics, and we’re excited to partner with them to realize a new strategic vision for what this important and innovative sector of comic publishing can be.”
Hunter Gorinson, President & Publisher, Oni Press
“The comics business needs a cutting-edge digital marketplace built by people who care about comics and know how to build a platform that fans want to use. It needs to be a one-stop shop offering all the fan-favorite publishers. It’s hard to imagine a better team than David and Chip to get that done. After all, they already did it once. Everyone at Vault is excited to be a part of the launch of NeonIchiban.”
Damian Wassel, CEO & Publisher, Vault Comics
• Anyone can sign up for an account on Neon Ichiban at: neonichiban.com
• An iOS Neon Ichiban Reader application is also set to debut shortly. Readers can sign up to test a beta of the Neon Ichiban Reader app here
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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