Winjit Technologies owned Comics Circle Apps Pvt Ltd has launched its iOS app, Comics Circle which is meant to be a storefront to showcase and sell content from Indian publishers. The app is currently available on iOS as a free download and the company also plans to release the app on Windows & Android in Q1 of 2014.
The platform has currently signed up Indian publishers such as Campfire, Holy Cow, Manta Ray, Champak from the Delhi Press, Jazyl, Orange Radius, Chariot Comics, Vanayu as its content partners and is about to close a partnership with ACK Media.
Winijit claims that the app displays content based on genres and publishers. Each content has 3 preview pages with information on the publisher, creator, art, writer, illustrator and allows users to rank the content. Apparently, through the app, users can also write to a publisher with feedback about a particular comic. The platform also has pencil and eraser tools to allow users to doodle around the comic that they read and solve sections like Champak’s Q&A, maze puzzles, among others.
The company states that it plans to release BoxView technology as part of its next update, where all comics can be read pane by pane in a chronological order.
Speaking to Medianama, Abhishek Gureja, Director of Winijit Technologies said that the app is monetized through in-app purchase of comics done by users. The pricing for the comics is decided by the publisher. He said the app was launched on iOS first, since it is targeted towards serious comic fans who wouldn’t mind paying for good content.Some of the in-app purchases include Ravanayan Issue 1 for Rs 110 and Draupadi : The Fire Born Princess for Rs 220.
Other developments in this sector
Graphic story telling company Graphic India is releasing an original digital comic series and comic magazine called Krrish: Menace of the Monkey Men, in partnership with Filmkraft Productions (I) Pvt. Ltd., producer of the Hrithik Roshan starrer, Krrish franchise. It also plans to convert the series into an animated mobile comic that will be released as weekly chapters through an exclusive Krrish Comics App, to be launched by Hungama Digital, its digital partner for Krrish 3.
In May 2013, online digital content marketplace Readwhere had partnered with Comic Con India to launch a new initiative called ‘Free Comic Book Weekend‘, to allow Readwhere users to download Indian comics for free on May 4-5, 2013. Users could read these comics on Readwhere website or across its iOS, Android and Windows 8 apps.
In August 2011, Geodesic, the digital messaging and content solutions company which acquired renowned children’s magazine Chandamama, had launched the magazine on the iOS platform, with a universal (iPad/iPhone) app, that lets users buy and download the magazine’s monthly issue, and read it on their tablets, mobile phones or iPods.
Some of the other players offering online purchase of comics include Magzter. ACK also has some of its titles published on iOS apps such Great Rulers of India Digest and India Comics developed by iRemedi Corp.
