This week, DSTLRY, the next-generation publisher redefining creator-owned comic books and collectibles, launched their digital marketplace beta, a new platform designed to evolve the future of digital comics and collectibles that can be found at dstlry.co. With this release, fans can buy and sell their DSTLRY digital comics and collectibles to each other, with creators receiving a royalty on each resale. Additionally, all digital purchases are tied to a stream of benefits and opportunities that transfers on resale to new owners. The marketplace is the latest development furthering DSTLRY’s vision for premium storytelling, hassle-free digital, and a more equitable comics industry.
DSTLRY’s marketplace beta establishes a revolutionary new standard for the digital collectibles community. The iteration debuting today focuses on the resale of digital comics and several rare digital art prints. This release gives comic fans a brand new way to engage with their digital comic libraries, while immediately establishing new revenue streams for creators via secondary market resales. More types of digital collectibles, in addition to the art prints available today, will be offered in the future.
“We’re creating a new digital platform that never stops delighting readers and collectors, while helping secure the future of the comic medium’s most valuable storytellers and artists,” said DSTLRY co-founder & CEO David Steinberger. “Today’s marketplace release is a revolutionary take on digital collecting and comics. Not only can you finally buy and sell digital comics, but the narrative doesn’t stop after the last page of one of our digital issues—it’s an invitation into Friday Happy Hours with creators, exclusive merch opportunities, and convention engagements.”
“We’re excited to see fans dive into buying and selling their DSTLRY digital collectibles to each other. Then to see what happens to the value of a digital comic when fans see that Scott Snyder, Tula Lotay, or Marc Bernardin owned it first. And how will they react to all the cool benefits that we provide with ownership?” asked DSTLRY co-founder & CCO Chip Mosher. “There’s never been anything like the DSTLRY digital marketplace before and we’re stoked to see fans’ reaction to doing digital different, the DSTLRY way.”
DSTLRY’s single-issue digital comic releases, debuting last December, mirror the limited-run cadence of print comics and limited-run merch drops that fuel the thrill of collecting. The single-issue digital releases are available directly from the publisher on dstlry.co for one week from release. Now, with the release of the marketplace beta, readers who purchase those digital single issues can sell and buy them exclusively through dstlry.co’s digital marketplace beta, following that window. Digital owners can resell their items on the DSTLRY marketplace at a price of their choosing, with a percentage of every resale —whether the first or the hundredth—going back to the creators, generating a new revenue stream for creator-owned storytellers.
Buying digital issues and collectibles on dstlry.co also provides benefits to fans; owners will be eligible for an array of exclusive opportunities and engagements, including access to exclusive digital and print variant covers, posters, collectible art toys, and discounts on select physical and digital drops. Benefits also include IRL fun at conventions and creator interactivity, like online Happy Hours, creator gaming sessions, and more. Fans who receive their copies through the secondary marketplace will also get the benefits attached to their collectible—unlocking unused, multi-use, and future benefits upon purchase, while the previous owner will no longer receive those benefits.
While DSTLRY’s digital single issues and collectibles will be exclusive to dstlry.co, DSTLRY will be releasing mass market collections in print via comic shops and big box bookstores, with digital collections available on all major platforms including Kindle Store, Google Play Books, and Apple Books.
Announced in April 2023, DSTLRY debuted as a revolutionary creator-owned comics and collectibles company, with premiere sequential storytellers joining the company as Founding Creators. These Founding Creators include Mirka Andolfo, Brian Azzarello, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, Becky Cloonan, Lee Garbett, Jock, Joëlle Jones, Tula Lotay, Jamie McKelvie, Junko Mizuno, Stephanie Phillips, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ram V, and Founding Editor Will Dennis. Within the year and with only three comics published, veteran industry publication Comics Beat lauded DSTLRY as 2023 Publisher of the Year, while DSTLRY’s second series—Somna by Becky Cloonan & Tula Lotay—was called one of the Best Comics of 2023 by Newsarama with only one issue released. DSTLRY launched its digital reader beta—allowing fans to read any of its comics on computers, tablets, and phones via dstlry.co—to much acclaim in December of 2023 .
To sign up for news regarding DSTLRY’s upcoming drops, visit www.dstlry.co and follow the publisher on social media via @DSTLRY_Media.
