Batman writer James Tynion made news when he announced that he was leaving DC for Substack, a digital subscription newsletter service where he will be posting all his creator owned titles as digital firsts before selling the rights to publishers for physical copies.
With a model similar to Patreon or OnlyFans, fans subscribe to the creators of their choosing who can offer customizable packages for monthly rates as well as higher end packages with additional perks. Tynion, for instance, will be offering a subscription to his Substack for $7 a month or $75 up front. There is also a $250/year option that gives you exclusive physical variants for Tynion's upcoming Substack offerings.
This made major waves in the industry with Tynion being arguably the #1 or #2 writer in comics (depending on who you ask) and choosing such a radical release method. While just having happened this week, we have seen the effect in the creative world as other A List writers have followed suit, with Skottie Young and Chip Zdarsky announcing subsequent moves to the platform, the momentum is only growing. Time will tell the potential success of this system, but there are definitely moves being made in the digital space and I am positive it had the attention of the Big 2.
Overall, no matter what service you use, whether it's free or a paid subscription, physical or digital, as long as you're reading and enjoying comics and graphic novels then the industry and hobby will continue to flourish. It's all about accessibility and bringing comics to the masses by delivering in ways that are most comfortable for the end user. Add in new services like Substack, which gives power to the creator, and we may be seeing a digital revolution in the graphic novel space. We are entering a true Digital Age.