Is Apple struggling again with content censorship? The second issue of a critically-acclaimed comic book is published online everywhere but iOS. October 23, 2013 5:33 PM PDT The cover to "Sex Criminals" #2, currently under review by Apple but available elsewhere digitally and in print. (Credit: Image Comics) Censorship problems are nothing new to Apple and iOS's App Store, so the fact that a comic called "Sex Criminals" made even one issue into the App Store is something of a minor miracle. The mature readers book, which publisher Image Comics describes as a "sex comedy," was not available from the iOS version of the Comixology comics bookstore app on Wednesday as expected. However, the comic was available from Comixology's Android app, the Comixology Web site store, and DRM-free from ImageComics.com. Related stories: The 404 1,363: Where we sit too close to the news (podcast) 'Say no to Internet censorship' petition nears 100K signatures China vows to shut down unapproved mobile news apps Affleck laughs on Fallon about Batman haters Facebook, Twitter once again on the outs in Iran Sex Criminals author Matt Fraction described the book's status as being "under review" at Apple. For its part, Comixology said that iOS owners can buy the book from the Comixology Web site, and then sync it to their iPhone or iPad. Image's director of marketing Ron Richards said that the publisher is working on getting Sex Criminals into the Apple's iBookstore, where other Image titles such as The Walking Dead are already available. Apple has long wrestled with the problem of being both marketplace and secondary content publisher, something that traditional bookstores don't have to figure out. The situation so far appears to be different from an App Store comic book content scandal from earlier this year, when Comixology pre-empted Apple censorship with an issue of the popular book Saga. So far, it seems to be more similar to instances when Apple has outright blocked books and comics from being sold in an effort to protect itself from criticism. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET will update the story when we hear back from the company. "Sex Criminals" earned generally strong reviewer notices when its first issue published last month.
Is Apple struggling again with content censorship? The second issue of a critically-acclaimed comic book is published online everywhere but iOS.
The cover to "Sex Criminals" #2, currently under review by Apple but available elsewhere digitally and in print.
(Credit: Image Comics)
Censorship problems are nothing new to Apple and iOS's App Store, so the fact that a comic called "Sex Criminals" made even one issue into the App Store is something of a minor miracle.
The mature readers book, which publisher Image Comics describes as a "sex comedy," was not available from the iOS version of the Comixology comics bookstore app on Wednesday as expected. However, the comic was available from Comixology's Android app, the Comixology Web site store, and DRM-free from ImageComics.com.
Related stories:
- The 404 1,363: Where we sit too close to the news (podcast)
- 'Say no to Internet censorship' petition nears 100K signatures
- China vows to shut down unapproved mobile news apps
- Affleck laughs on Fallon about Batman haters
- Facebook, Twitter once again on the outs in Iran
Sex Criminals author Matt Fraction described the book's status as being "under review" at Apple. For its part, Comixology said that iOS owners can buy the book from the Comixology Web site, and then sync it to their iPhone or iPad.
Image's director of marketing Ron Richards said that the publisher is working on getting Sex Criminals into the Apple's iBookstore, where other Image titles such as The Walking Dead are already available.
Apple has long wrestled with the problem of being both marketplace and secondary content publisher, something that traditional bookstores don't have to figure out. The situation so far appears to be different from an App Store comic book content scandal from earlier this year, when Comixology pre-empted Apple censorship with an issue of the popular book Saga. So far, it seems to be more similar to instances when Apple has outright blocked books and comics from being sold in an effort to protect itself from criticism.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET will update the story when we hear back from the company.
"Sex Criminals" earned generally strong reviewer notices when its first issue published last month.
