Digital comics platform Neon Ichiban is introducing a new system for creators to earn from their work by digitally signing and sketching on comics, turning them into unique, resellable collectables.
The new patent-pending feature, called Neon Ichiban Remarques, was announced today by the company, which launched in late summer. The system allows comic book artists and writers to add a digital signature or a unique sketch directly onto a fan’s digital copy of a comic. This process authenticates the comic as a one-of-a-kind item, with the provenance of the signature recorded. Oh, and in 2023, they said;
We have nothing to do with [the NFT market.] It’s a closed marketplace, you have nothing to do with any sort of distributed, decentralized network that’s taking up energy consumption.
Crucially for the creator economy, these remarques generate royalties for the rights holders every time they are resold on the Neon Ichiban secondary marketplace. This model ensures that creators can benefit from the long-term value and collectability of their work, a feature often lost in the digital space.
The process is designed to be straightforward. Fans can generate a QR code for a comic in their library, and a verified creator can scan it with their own device to add their mark.
Creator Becky Cloonan endorsed the new technology. In a statement, she said,
I’ve joked for years about signing someone’s iPad, and now I actually can! I love that fans with digital collections can get in on the fun, and creators like me have a chance to reach new readers!”
To mark the launch, Neon Ichiban has given 350 unique remarqued covers to fans who joined their pre-launch waitlist. These editions feature art from creators including Tula Lotay, Natalie Andrewson, Joshua Hixson, and Patrick Horvath, alongside Cloonan.
Following this debut, the platform plans to expand the feature with Commissionable Remarques. This upcoming service will function similarly to platforms like Cameo, allowing fans from around the world to request and pay for a custom digital sketch or signature from their favourite artists, who can fulfil the request on their own schedule.
David Steinberger, CEO & Co-Founder of Neon Ichiban, positioned the feature as a significant evolution for digital comics. He explained,
Remarques prove that digital comics can do something print can’t: offer creators new ways to connect with readers while extending the value of their work. We’ve built a sustainable model where creators benefit not just at release, but across the lifetime of their work.”
Chip Mosher, CCO & Co-Founder, added,
This is just the beginning. Neon Ichiban is live, and with Remarques we’re showing how digital comics can truly empower the people who make them.”
This creator-focused technology is part of a wider strategy that has seen the new platform aggressively court major publishers. As previously reported on Geek Native, Neon Ichiban has already secured significant partnerships, bringing a host of popular titles to the service. Both Titan Comics, the publisher behind Doctor Who and Blade Runner comics, and Dynamite Entertainment, known for The Boys and Red Sonja, have signed on, ensuring their catalogues are available alongside launch partners like Marvel and DC.
