After some teasing, comiXology announced today it is releasing creator-owned comic books and graphic novels for the first time as part of its comiXology Originals program. The service announced four new titles which can be read for read through Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited. They can also be purchased through Kindle and comiXology.

What’s particularly interesting is these comics are available digitally as well as in print. Yes, the leader in digital comics is moving into the “physical space” with print comics which will be print on demand.

The new comiXology Original releases include: Savage Game created by NFL player Ryan Kalil, written by Shawn Kittelsen, and art by Chris B. Murray; Superfreaks from writers Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet, with newcomer artist Margaux Saltel; Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty from writer Richard Starkings, and artists Axel Medellin and Boo Cook; and Ask For Mercy from writer Starkings and newcomer artist Abigail Jill Harding.

The debuts feature a host of industry firsts, including:

• All issues of the Superfreaks series are available to read now – perfect for binge reading
• In addition to digital, Savage Game is available in print exclusively through Amazon.com via Print-on-Demand
• Collections of Elephantmen and Ask for Mercy will also be available in print via Print-on-Demand, with future comiXology Originals trade collections and graphic novels also available in print
• Savage Game sees noted cover and fine artist Chris B. Murray’s interior art debut
• Superfreaks artist Margaux Saltel also makes her series debut
• Ask For Mercy artist Abigail Jill Harding makes her series debut

Also noted is the inclusion of Elephantmen from Richard Starkings and Axel Medellin. The series had been released through Image Comics and this is a steal for the digital publisher.

The company also teased the next wave of comiXology Original titles to be released in the coming months, announcing an impressive list of creators, including: Tyler Crook, Kristian Donaldson, Alti Firmansyah, Sam Humphries, Megan Kearney, Kel McDonald, Hope Nicholson, Mike Norton, MK Reed, Mark Sable, Tim Seeley, C. Spike Trotman, Jen Vaughn, and Magdalene Visaggio. More details on upcoming releases will be unveiled during Comic-Con International San Diego 2018.

Check out the details on all of the launch series below:

Savage Game

Created by Ryan Kalil, written by Shawn Kittelsen, with art by Chris B. Murray

From NFL player Ryan Kalil and his company Strange Turn comes an original 60-page sci-fi graphic novel that is a high tech version of The Island of Dr. Moreau. What happens when a rogue titan of Silicon Valley creates his own island nation with no laws to hold him back? You get the Savage Game, where audiences watch genetically modified hybrid creatures fight to the death in a fantastic gladiator-style battle. But Conner Bowen isn’t having it. He’s on a quest to stop his mad father and the Savage Game. But is it too late?

• Original 60pg Graphic Novel – $4.99 on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited
• Available in print for $6.99 as a Print-on-Demand graphic novel exclusively on Amazon.com

Superfreaks

Written by Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet with art by Margaux Saltel

An all-new 5-issue superhero mystery debuting digitally in its entirety – a thrilling story perfect for binge reading – with art by rising star Margaux Saltel. All the world’s superheroes have disappeared overnight, and it’s up to their untrained, largely overlooked teenage sidekicks to find out what happened – while dealing with the biggest crisis Earth has ever known — much to the public’s displeasure. Can they save the day?

• 5-issue series – all issues available to binge read now
• Issue are $2.99 each on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited

Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty

Written by Richard Starkings with art by Axel Medellin and Boo Cook

The iconic Elephantmen debuts as a comiXology Originals title with issue 1 of Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty, a 5-issue monthly mini-series. Described by J.J. Abrams as “An Awesome and Unexpected Story. You Must Check it out!” and lauded by Andy Serkis as “Bold, mythic and heartbreakingly cool, Starkings’ universe is a breed apart!”, Elephantmen 2261: The Death of Shorty, is the next adventure of the pulp science fiction series Elephantmen, which debuted nearly 15 years and 80 issues ago from Image Comics. This all-new story is a whodunit that draws our heroes, Hip Flask and Jack Farrell, into the curious death of an Elephantman known to his friends as “Shorty”.

• 5-issue miniseries – issues will be available monthly – $2.99 per issue on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited
• Print collected edition will be available via Print-on-Demand exclusively on Amazon.com

Ask For Mercy

Written by Richard Starkings with art by Abigail Jill Harding

An action-packed and artistically stunning dark fantasy story from Elephantmen creator, Richard Starkings and breakout talent, Abigail Jill Harding. Ask For Mercy is a World War II fantasy horror story in the tradition of John Carpenter’s The Thing and Sandman. Mercy is snatched from her own place and time to join a team of Monster Hunters who are actually Monsters themselves, and together they have to take on a Pantheon of Hideous Creatures summoned to our world by Nazi evil!

• 6-issue series – issues will be available monthly – $2.99 per issue on Kindle and comiXology
• Free to read for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited
• Print collected edition will be available via Print-on-Demand on Amazon.com