comiXology Originals Debuts First Creator-Owned Titles, Including Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty

After a week of teasing banner ads on their homepage, comiXology announced today via Twitch livestream that the service is releasing creator-owned comic books and graphic novels for the first time as part of its comiXology Originals program, which previously ran digital-first licensed comics from publishers including Marvel Comics and Valiant Entertainment.

The initial batch of comiXology Original releases include: Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty from writer Richard Starkings and artists Axel Medellin and Boo Cook; Ask For Mercy from writer Starkings and newcomer artist Abigail Jill Harding; Superfreaks from writers Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet with debut artist Margaux Saltel; and Savage Game created by NFL player Ryan Kalil, written by Shawn Kittelsen with art by Chris B. Murray. These titles are free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited and are also available for purchase on Kindle and comiXology. All issues of Superfreaks are available now for “binge reading,” and Savage Game is available in print exclusively through Amazon.com via Print-on-Demand. Future graphic novels and trade collections of comiXology Originals will also be available in print through Amazon’s Print-on-Demand program.

Image via comiXology

“We’re proud to offer these creator-owned titles where creators keep their IP rights and are motivated to bring their A-game to the benefit of readers everywhere,” said Chip Mosher, comiXology’s Head of Content, in a statement. “Helping bring these incredible titles to fans lets us experiment with different release strategies like a binge-style drop of a whole series, high quality print-on-demand and day-and-date inclusion in Prime Reading, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited.”

As part of the livestream event on Twitch, hosted by esports personality Marcus “djWHEAT” Graham, the company teased the next wave of comiXology Original titles arriving in the coming months, with contributions from popular creators including Tyler Crook, Kristian Donaldson, Alti Firmansyah, Sam Humphries, Megan Kearney, Kel McDonald, Hope Nicholson, Mike Norton, MK Reed, Mark Sable, Tim Seeley, C. Spike Trotman, Jen Vaughn and Magdalene Visaggio. More details on upcoming titles will be revealed during San Diego Comic-Con International in July. Check out an exclusive preview of Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty, a continuation of the long-running Elephantmen series from Image Comics, below, along with full descriptions of the first four titles, and then head over to comiXology to read the series for yourself.

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty Cover Art by Boo Cook

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty

Writer: Richard Starkings
Artists: Axel Medellin & Boo Cook
Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty is the next adventure of the pulp science fiction series Elephantmen, which debuted nearly 15 years and 80 issues ago from Image Comics. This all-new story is a whodunit that draws our heroes, Hip Flask and Jack Farrell, into the curious death of an Elephantman known to his friends as “Shorty.”

“Once I realized Elephantmen sold more digitally than in print, I suggested to my friends at comiXology that we create a brand new Elephantmen series exclusively for digital readers,” creator Richard Starkings said in a statement. “And yet—for those who’d rather hold a print version—you’ll still be able to order a Print-on-Demand paperback collection as soon as it’s complete! I’ve seen what Amazon can do with Print-on-Demand and it’s absolutely unbelievable!”

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty will be available as a five-issue monthly miniseries for $2.99 per issue on Kindle and comiXology.

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty Interior Art by Axel Medellin & Boo Cook

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty Interior Art by Axel Medellin & Boo Cook

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty Interior Art by Axel Medellin & Boo Cook

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty Interior Art by Axel Medellin & Boo Cook

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty Interior Art by Axel Medellin & Boo Cook

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Ask for Mercy Cover Art by Abigail Jill Harding

Ask for Mercy

Writer: Richard Starkings
Artist: Abigail Jill Harding
An action-packed and artistically stunning dark fantasy story from Elephantmen creator Richard Starkings and breakout talent Abigail Jill Harding. Ask For Mercy is a World War II fantasy horror story in the tradition of John Carpenter’s The Thing and Sandman. Mercy is snatched from her own place and time to join a team of Monster Hunters who are actually Monsters themselves, and together they have to take on a Pantheon of Hideous Creatures summoned to our world by Nazi evil!

Ask for Mercy is a six-issue monthly series available for $2.99 per issue on Kindle and comiXology.

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Superfreaks #1 Cover Art by Stephen Byrne

Super Freaks

Writers: Elsa Charretier & Pierrick Colinet
Artist: Margaux Saltel
An all-new five-issue superhero mystery debuting digitally in its entirety—a thrilling story perfect for binge reading—with art by rising star Margaux Saltel. All the world’s superheroes have disappeared overnight, and it’s up to their untrained, largely overlooked teenage sidekicks to find out what happened—while dealing with the biggest crisis Earth has ever known—much to the public’s displeasure. Can they save the day?

“Not only am I ecstatic about Superfreaks being released today, but doubly so having the entire series being available all at once,” said Superfreaks writer Elsa Charretier. “Readers will experience all the cliffhangers we intended as storytellers, while binge-reading the entire series the same day it’s released. And when the world’s superheroes have disappeared overnight, you don’t want to wait to see what’s happened.”

Superfreaks #2 Cover Art by Marguerite Sauvage

Superfreaks #3 Cover Art by Naomi Franquiz

Superfreaks #4 Cover Art by Elsa Charretier

Superfreaks #5 Cover Art by Jamie McKelvie

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Savage Game Cover Art by Chris B. Murray

Savage Game

Writers: Shawn Kittelsen & Ryan Kalil
Artist: Chris B. Murray
From NFL player Ryan Kalil and his company Strange Turn comes an original 60-page sci-fi graphic novel that is a high-tech version of The Island of Dr. Moreau. What happens when a rogue titan of Silicon Valley creates his own island nation with no laws to hold him back? You get the Savage Game, where audiences watch genetically modified hybrid creatures fight to the death in a fantastic gladiator-style battle. But Conner Bowen isn’t having it. He’s on a quest to stop his mad father and the Savage Game. But is it too late?

“Working on Savage Game has been a labor of love for everyone and I am really thrilled that it’s finally coming out with comiXology Originals and via Amazon’s Print-on-Demand,” said Savage Game creator Ryan Kalil. “I am very excited for the reader response and for the future of Savage Game.”

Savage Game is available as a 60-page graphic novel for $4.99 on Kindle and comiXology, or in print for $6.99 as a Print-on-Demand graphic novel exclusively on Amazon.com.