Startup digital comics marketplace and reader Omnibus is to close its doors as the turbulent space continues to struggle in the wake of the staggered death of Comixology. The app has been removed from iOS and Android marketplaces.
In a message posted within the Omnibus app and on their website, the company stated the reason behind this decision:
“We aren’t growing fast enough and would require a significant amount of external funding to proceed and become sustainable. This is a tough business to achieve that within the current landscape.”
According to Omnibus, users who have spent more than $100 within the service can request a refund, and can download PDF backups of their books (publishers permitting). Users will still be able to access their books until August 21.
Omnibus was one of the hopeful (and most publicised) successors that emerged in the wake of Amazon’s decision to force the Comixology app into its Kindle ecosystem and service starting in 2022. A public relations disaster, jaded publishers and readers were actively looking for the next big thing and Omnibus and GlobalComix were two potentials eager to fill the gap.
Founded by tech industry veterans and fans Kenny Meyers and Travis Schmeisser in 2022, it formally launched in 2023 – first as an iPad-only app before expanding to Android and iPhone in 2024. It attracted a number of publishers including Ablaze, Ahoy, Archie Comics, Black Panel Press, BOOM! Studios, CEX, Dark Horse, Humanoids, IDW, Image, Mad Cave Studios, Oni Press, Scout Comics, Silver Sprocket, Titan, Valiant and Vault. The app offered a shopping and integrated reading experience in the vein of the Comixology app of old. Crucially it ran on a pay-per-book system instead of a Netflix-style subscription and it did not allow the clear purchase of DRM-free backups – something which rival service GlobalComix has handled on both counts.
In a January 2023 interview with SKTCHD’s David Harper, co-founder, co-president and chief software engineer Kenny Meyers said:
“Simply, Omnibus is a digital comic book store and reader. Travis and I have been friends for about 10 years, and always talked about doing our own thing. I was bored as all hell with a bunch of unfulfilling tech jobs and got in touch with Travis to see if he wanted to try and do something. We initially were trying to create software for small businesses, but we kept talking about how bad Comixology had gotten. We decided the time was right to challenge the throne.”
With fellow co-founder, co-President and CEO Travis Schmeisser adding:
“Our goal is to stand out and win fans over through an obsessively designed app, paying attention to details and bringing more fun into using our app than what people have gotten used to. The bar that customers expect has been raised and right now it’s not being met. Digital comics have gotten so boring and it’s the most rad subject matter and artwork possible! We just want to make somewhere that you love spending time and reading in.”
While the service seemed to be rapidly growing with each funding round – reportedly racking up over a million dollars in venture capital – the company hit a major roadblock earlier in December 2023 when Meyers left the company.
Via LinkedIn post, Meyers said:
“It’s with great sadness that I announce that Omnibus and I have parted ways.
“Omnibus was the dream for me, – a project I conceived, initiated and wholly dedicated myself to for the past 18 months. I was excited to bring the digital comic store to the next level for all comic lovers like me, especially with the dissolution of Comixology.
“Although the decision wasn’t mutual, I leave with tremendous pride in the many contributions I made to Omnibus in every aspect of the business.”
With the loss of Omnibus, the digital comics space remains in disarray. Amazon has – at least on the public side – almost entirely consumed Comixology such that you need to use the (still buggy) Kindle app to find your books, and the (even worse) Kindle webstore experience to attempt to find new ones. Some publishers continue to minimise their presence – Dark Horse shuttered its Android app, directing fans to its website and iOS services; and some services have slimmed their offerings (French app Izneo entirely cut off its presence on the English language market, with only Cinebook and Europe Comics retaining a presence). Marvel and DC are sticking to their own dedicated subscription services. Omnibus rival GlobalComix is still hanging in there – following a comparatively more cautious growth path. Meanwhile there are still new entrants: in March, New Zealand based digital collectible company VeVe launched their own bid – with Marvel Comics onboard from the get-go.
The full statement:
OMNIBUS IS CLOSING
What happened? We aren’t growing fast enough and would require a significant amount of external funding to proceed and become sustainable. This is a tough business to achieve that within the current landscape.
You’ll be able to read in-app and download your backups until August 21. We’ll send everyone a few reminders via email.
For our team: I’d like to personally thank Ernest, Jon and Andrey who helped create everything you’ve been using. We made a good run of it and moved quite a few mountains with a tiny team! I hope you all are as proud as I am.
We have a lot of thanks to give too! We couldn’t have gotten here without:
The publishers that took a chance on us
The mind-blowingly talented creators whose work we sell
Chris and Aaron at the Oblivion Bar Podcast, our besties and brothers. Thanks for the positive vibes, friendship and funny text threads (Aaron, you’re a dirty bird).
Brad and Lisa at Comic Book Couples Counseling have been integral to spreading the word.
Lorelei at Image, thanks for being the first to give us a shot and all the advice and help!
Finally, to our customers and fans: Thank you for supporting us! Your feedback, kind words and participation mean the world to us.
For our super supporters: Since every publisher doesn’t allow PDF backups, we’re going to be processing as many refunds as we can for our super fans. If you spent more than $100 on comics please: Request a RefundComics are rad. Thanks again for your support,
Travis & Team Omnibus ✌️
