If Marvel does renew the digital agreement they are likely to add a provision for Comixology not to be solely responsible for single issue sales. Not being able to buy anything through the app will daunting for the average consumer.

Kozlowski posits that with the Amazon deal, Marvel will probably see a decrease in sales on the official ComiXology app, and that “Marvel is likely not going to renew their single issue contract,” which prevents them from selling individual issues directly. There’s also Marvel AR (augmented reality), which uses the camera in a phone or tablet to unlock additional content like animations, music, and commentary, for people who buy a hard copy of a comic. In addition to its dedicated app for buying and reading comics, Marvel has a Netflix-style subscription based app, Marvel Unlimited, that lets customers read as many comics as they want, provided that they were published more than six months ago. Vice President of Digital Products for Marvel Entertainment Kristin Vincent says that one has recently been overhauled, redesigned specifically for each operating system (iOs, Android, and online) with a simpler user interface. Marvel still has its own proprietary app that allows direct purchases, and which is “powered by ComiXology,” as Kozlowski puts it, and there shouldn’t be any further changes until the time comes for the publisher to renew its contract in 2015. Now, Michael Kozlowski writes for Good E-Reader, Marvel Comics is taking steps to give itself distribution options beyond ComiXology, which has been the platform of choice for the majority of digital comics readers.

Both parties insisted that the user experience wouldn’t change-only for a new version of the ioS app to debut, which doesn’t allow in-app purchases, sending users on an extra step to buy comics and cutting Apple out of the commission it’s previously received, as my esteemed colleague Sal Robinson discussed here. The world of digital comics has been in something of an upheaval in recent weeks, with the hugely popular ComiXology platform being purchased by Amazon. Marvel might leave its deal with ComiXology now that it’s owned by Amazon.

Comixology reader