Dstlry’s co-founders told BI that they began making plans for the business in the second half of 2022. The company released its first comic book, “The Devil’s Cut,” in August 2023.
Dstlry publishes physical and virtual versions of its comics. The company also sells t-shirts and clothing similar to its releases.
On this slide, the founders wrote that “DSTLRY is a high-end physical and virtual collectibles company with creators within it, offering virtual collectibles around the world. “
Dstlry says he’s a “different kind of editor. “
Co-founders Chip Mosher and David Steinberger worked together on Comixology, a virtual comics startup acquired through Amazon in 2014.
Steinberger co-founded Comixology before Dstlry. In Dstlry’s presentation, the company touted that he is a technical product manager with 15 years of experience, including:
The company noted that Comixology is one of the most successful non-gaming apps for three years.
The company quoted Forbes contributor Rob Salkowitz, who wrote in March 2022 on pop culture site ICV2 that “it’s hard to think of many other people who have had as big an impact on the 21st-century comics industry as David Steinberger. “
The company wrote that Mosher’s background included more than 30 years of experience as a comics entrepreneur, including:
According to Dstlry, between 10 and 15 of the intellectual assets Mosher has worked on have been optioned for Comixology Originals, the company’s content division.
Comic book artist and Steve Murray, known professionally as Chip Zdarsky, wrote in June 2022 that “it was Chip’s hobby for comedy ebooks and getting other people to read them that earned us our Eisner win for “Afterlift,” I’m sure.
Dstlry is structured to “encourage creators to do the best they can, in the most commercial way possible,” the company wrote.
“Creators are being exploited or poorly served by publishers,” Dstlry wrote above a series of clips reporting on comedian creators’ discontent with the industry.
Dstlry told BI that it allocated 3% of its shares in its first 3 years of publication to grant features to creators. It distributes those shares based on the amount of profit a creator’s paintings bring to the company.
The company also claims to offer royalties based on sales price, the same royalty levels for all parties, and a “human-readable contract” in an understandable order with a summary and signature page at the beginning showing what they want. the creators said. Maximum important details of a contract.
“We have shown that designers are at the center of our brand,” the company wrote.
The company drew quotes from recent media coverage, a New York Times article describing Dstlry’s early comic book writers as a “row of talented assassins. “
Dstlry offers physical and virtual versions of comics, and some purchases come with perks like “specials on collectibles, live events online and in real life, and more,” according to its website.
“DSTLRY consumers feel like they’re part of something,” the company wrote in its presentation. “They have the excitement and satisfaction of collecting digitally, with benefits. “
There is a giant component of e-comic culture building up. Dstlry’s formula allows users to collect physical and virtual versions of comics, as well as resell virtual copies on their marketplace.
In his presentation, Dstlry had several slides with a single general idea. It was on purpose.
“The slide just has to tell them exactly what they need to remember,” Steinberger told BI.
“The thesis works,” Dstlry writes on this slide, followed by the evidence supporting it.
In 2023, Dstlry released “The Devil’s Cut”, a project developed by about two dozen writers and artists; “Gone” via Jock, Will Dennis and Emma Price; and “Somna” via Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay.
The company plans to publish about sixty books this year.
Dstlry explained the functionality of the 3 comics in terms of sales, reception, and other criteria. Wrote:
“The devil’s cup”
“Missing”
“Sommena”
The comic book e-book store The Beat has named Dstlry its 2023 Publisher of the Year.
Dstlry surveyed their consumers’ social media and email list and found that 91% of them had a positive opinion of their company.
Steinberger said the company structured this slide, like others in the presentation, around what it wanted investors to take away.
“We didn’t say ‘Investigation results,'” Steinberger said. “It’s terrible. It doesn’t tell you at all what’s going on there. “
Dstlry’s team of investors and advisors, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, former president of Warner Bros. ; John Schappert, co-founder of video game developer Tiburon Entertainment; and technology, gaming and virtual media investor Mike Vorhaus.
The company cites investors 1AM Gaming, GFR Fund, Japanese publisher Kodansha, and French publisher Delcourt as key shareholders.
The company then included a flyer (a concept commonly used on Amazon to show how other parts of a company can help others grow).
Dstlyr’s flywheel is based on the company courting the most sensible creators to bring original content to its platform. It packages this content into a “premium product” and virtual experience, which then drives fan engagement.
At the end of his presentation, Dstlry presented a final slide with an “email for more information. ”
Gonna