Amazon's Comixology Now Offers DRM-Free Backups of Comics

Comixology, an Amazon-owned digital comics store, has announced that it will allow readers to make DRM-free backups of comics they've purchased on the store. For the first time, readers will be able to read comics purchased on Comixology outside of the company's apps. However, the offer is limited to a select few publishers - Dynamite Entertainment, Image Comics, MonkeyBrain Comics, Thrillbent, Top Shelf Productions and Zenoscope Entertainment.

(Also see: Beyond Comixology: 6 Amazing Apps For Comic Book Lovers)

Some of the biggest comics publishers, such as Marvel and DC Comics, have not yet participated in this offering. But that doesn't mean readers don't get to make DRM-free backups of good comics. Participating publishers have some great titles such as Alan Moore's From Hell, Brian K. Vaughan's Saga series and Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead series. To learn how to make a DRM-free backup, visit the section on Comixology's site.

This isn't the first time that these publishers have offered DRM-free comics to readers. They have participated in Humble Bundle, where they offered many comics for a throwaway pay-what-you-want price. At the time of filing this report, several comics including The Walking Dead series are available at Humble Bundle.

After Comixology's acquisition by Amazon earlier this year, the company disabled in-app purchases on its iOS app. While users could earlier buy comics from within the app itself, now all comics can be purchased on the Comixology website and can be accessed in the iOS app. Android users can still buy comics from within the app.

(Also see: Amazon's Game of Thrones: Comixology Changes Aren't About Selling Comics, But Fortifying Ecosystems)

There are several digital comics stores and apps for comics fans, but Comixology has the Guided View technology, which zooms into every frame and lets you read comics frame-by-frame without having to zoom in or out. If you're taking a DRM-free backup of your comics, know that Guided View won't be available to you in these backups.