Comics Immersion - The New Audio-First Webcomic Platform
Comics Immersion logo - a yellow speech bubble with black text that reads Ci and two sound waves inside.
The webcomic world just got a little more inclusive. Comics Immersion is a new audio-first webcomic platform that engages readers in new ways. Birthed from an idea of an author who has autism, Comics Immersion offers new ways to address reading comprehension.
Caghan Bonnough, Embersail Studio’s Director for Business Development and Marketing, guided us through this new webcomic platform and the impact they hope it will have.
Diversability: What inspired the creation of Comics Immersion?
Caghan Bonnough: The idea for Comics Immersion actually came from one of our authors. He was diagnosed with Autism at an early age, and technology ended up being the thing that helped him grow his reading and writing skills. He wanted a platform that broke down the barriers standing between people and the simple enjoyment of a good story, and that's really where this whole thing started.
Diversability: What does the launch of Comics Immersion mean to you?
Bonnough: Honestly, as we get close to full launch, I'm just filled with excitement and pride. This app is a place where creative integrity actually gets respected, and where every kind of reader gets a real shot at experiencing the world of comics. For me, it's never been about one person's vision coming to life. It's about the vision of a whole group of people who wanted a place to share their work, dive into new stories, and keep the human element front and center while doing it.
Diversability: Walk us through how and when you'd like to see Comics Immersion used.
Bonnough: I'd love to see Comics Immersion become a home for authors of every size, a place where they can bring their work and expand their reach. On the reader side, I want our app to reach people who never really got the chance to dive deep into a story because of comprehension issues or where they're at in their reading development. Through introducing audio in Comics Immersion, we get to open reading up in a completely different way.
Diversability: What makes Comics Immersion unique compared to other webcomic platforms?
Bonnough: A lot of webcomic platforms let you upload your work and that's about it. At Comics Immersion, we built it with real voice actors and included speech bubble overlays so people can follow along with the story if they need that reading assistance. Also, we added background sound effects that pull you into the story instead of just having you look at it. The goal is to make you feel like you're actually part of it.
It’s also important to us to reach readers who enjoy reading comics and still want the classic experience. These immersive app features can be toggled on and off, depending on readers’ preference.
Diversability: What's next for Embersail Studios? What are your plans for Comics Immersion?
Bonnough: We've always got a few new things cooking at Embersail Studios, and we're excited to bring them to market when they're ready. We'll keep working as a for-hire studio, too, while we build out more of our own portfolio. As for Comics Immersion, we're rolling out some upgrades that'll support Creators further in their journey and help readers feel a lot more connected to the authors on the platform.
Diversability: Anything else you want to highlight before wrap up?
Bonnough: Definitely keep an eye on us as we bring more indie comic authors into the fold. We're right on the edge of launching a bigger series with one of our author partners called Forge of Fate. It's a fantasy story, but underneath it, it's really about the struggles of learning about Autism within a family. It’ll be available on the Comics Immersion app very soon.
A special thank you to Caghan Bonnough and the Embersail Studios team. To learn more about Comics Immersion, visit their website comicsimmersion.com. If you’re a writer, you can become a Creator and upload your comics to the app. If you’re a reader, Comics Immersion is available on the App Store and Google Play!
Comics Immersion is also active on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. They welcome you to reach out at any time; they’re happy to welcome readers and authors alike into the community.