Panel Syndicate is an online publisher of DRM-free pay what you want digital comics in multiple languages, founded by Marcos Martín[1] [2] to publish his and Brian K. Vaughan's creator-owned comic The Private Eye in March 2013. To date Panel Syndicate has published comics in English, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, and French, with additional languages in development.[3] The Private Eye has received critical acclaim and media attention for its role as one of the first DRM-free, pay what you want comics by creators of Martín and Vaughan's caliber.[4] [5] Initially an outlet for publishing Vaughan and Martín's collaborations, Panel Syndicate is open to publishing other creators' works by using the same DRM-free, pay what you want model.[6]
In November 2014, Universe!, a science fiction book made of stand-alone stories created and written by Albert Monteys, was published on the website.[7]
In December 2015, Vaughan and Martín started releasing their second series Barrier, a five-issue series that finished in July 2017, on their website.[8] [9] It is a drama about violence and illegal immigration.
In April 2016, Vaughan and Martín released an authorized Walking Dead stand-alone story that reveals what happened to Jeff Grimes, Rick's brother, called The Walking Dead: The Alien; this story was allowed in exchange for letting Image Comics publish The Private Eye in hardcover.[10]
In April 2017, Blackhand Ironhead, a comedy that focuses on families with superheroes while not focusing on the superheroes was published on the website; it was created and written by David López.[11]
In November 2017, Umami, an adventure about Uma and Ami that are cooks for their king, by Ken Niimura was released.[12]
In May 2018, the complete mini-series Barrier was made available in print by Image Comics, starting with the first issue being part of that year's Free Comic Book Day.[13]
In May 2018, Glacier City, a police story about a remote Alaskan town, created by Jay Faerber and Michael Montenat was released.[14]
In 2019, Ken Niimura's Umami, a work published by Panel Syndicate, won the Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic.[15]