From 50-75% of Comixology workers let go in Amazon layoffs
This morning Amazon introduced its worldwide layoffs and it seems that the remnants of Comixology – the main digital comics service controversially-absorbed into Amazon Kindle in February 2022 – took a major hit. In response to one former worker let go at present between 50 and 75% of its workers might have been jettisoned.
Scott (@CocktailsAndInk), a ten+ yr Comixology veteran let go by Amazon this morning, took to Twitter to provide us an concept of the state of affairs and likewise how dispiriting it’s for former staff, prospects, and the realm of digital comics.
The destiny of particular person staff and applications together with the Comixology Originals program, stays unknown at press time.
Can affirm.
There have been quite a few cuts at @comixology this morning.
Myself included. https://t.co/Hzgo9WW5qK
— Scott (@CocktailsAndInk) January 18, 2023
So. Comixology.
My title is Scott and I spent my ~10 years at Comixology engaged on the pages and lists prospects clicked on, the pulllist (means again when)…. and the low cost gross sales that everyone likes.
It’d the very best job I ever had, and the very best individuals I ever labored with. 1/
— Scott (@CocktailsAndInk) January 18, 2023
The 11-part thread in full:
“So. Comixology.
“My title is Scott and I spent my ~10 years at Comixology engaged on the pages and lists prospects clicked on, the pulllist (means again when)…. and the low cost gross sales that everyone likes.
“It’d the very best job I ever had, and the very best individuals I ever labored with.
“This morning, there have been vital cuts to the Comixology workers. I’ve no numbers to share, but it surely seems like, from the surface, that no less than 50% of the workers have been let go.
“Presumably 75%.
“One of many issues I’ve observed over time is that CMX staff not often point out a lot about their jobs on social. Clearly, there’s clauses in contracts about all this, however we usually stored our mouths shut, even on the worst days.
“However there’s one more reason.
“We beloved our jobs.
“We beloved comics.
“We beloved manga, we beloved super-heroes, we beloved younger grownup & center grade, we beloved graphic novels, single points, all of it.
“All of it.
“And we beloved working with one another.
“We actually did – that’s not horseshit.
“See, lots of people at tech corporations transfer round each 2-3 years. They go someplace new, be taught one thing new, tackle new duties, get promoted, after which transfer on to their subsequent journey.
“Not us. Many people stayed.
“As a result of our ardour for comics and respect for one another was off-the-charts.
“How typically in life do you get work with individuals like this? How typically do you receives a commission a wage and healthcare and advantages that permit you to go on trip and take sick time, and all that in comics?
“It’s very uncommon.
“I’m so grateful for the alternatives I used to be given.
“And at all times, at all times, at all times grateful for the individuals I labored with.
“You actually don’t know, as a result of we by no means talked about it.
“However we labored our asses off due to our love of the medium – and one another.
“As for what occurs subsequent, I don’t know. You’ll must ask @comixology or @amazon .
“I suppose an announcement might be coming ahead sooner or later.
“Or not.
“I don’t know what the way forward for digital comics (@comixology) is at Amazon. Sadly, I’m not optimistic.
“However I do know that for ten years, 100’s of individuals busted their ass in each means attainable to make Comixology occur.
“And even understanding the way it ended, I’d do it yet again.
“To my co-workers, whom will at all times have my everlasting respect: It’s time to inform your tales. Inform the great components. Let individuals understand how a lot we beloved comics.
“And nonetheless do.
“Don’t lose religion or hope, my pals.
“Tom & Jeff – in the event you see this: It’s not your fault.
“All of us did the very best we may.
“As for me, I’m, uh, gonna be on the lookout for new work. Don’t know if I’ll keep in comics – though 15+ years in thee {industry} does add up.
“I feel although, this week, I’ll have a bourbon, possibly two.
“And take into consideration the nice work we did collectively, and all the great instances (and a few the dangerous).
“To you, my pals, and now-former co-workers. We didn’t deserve this ending, however what an journey.
“Thanks for every part.”
According to Bloomberg, some 18,000 Amazon staff have been let go at present throughout all ranges of the large worldwide company entity; the biggest job cuts in Amazon’s historical past. This transfer was signposted again in November however the hit was solely confirmed at present.
Related job losses are being introduced throughout the tech sector – including at Microsoft. Comixology was purchased by Amazon in 2014 and allowed to run as a strong go-to, industry-leading digital comics service unbiased of Kindle till February 2022. In late 2021 the service knowledgeable prospects and publishers adjustments have been coming and the service was being built-in totally into the Kindle code structure. The transfer was criticized as being rushed and filled with bugs, and solely lately has the platform grow to be extra steady and usable, though customers say it lacks lots of the options that made Comixology a market chief.
With the service subsumed into Amazon and the workforce reported downsized to half or 1 / 4 of its earlier dimension, one wonders if Comixology actually exists anymore – and if Comixology is gone, the place do digital comics go from right here? At the moment no service offered as complete entry to all kinds of publishers (although World Comix is catching up).
